I really tried not to make this chapter too choppy, enjoy my lovelies.

This has been edited to the best of my ability.

Warnings: M. M/M Yaoi. Mpreg. Supernatural themes. Language. Violence. Adult themes. Character death. The plot is mine.

Chapter: 28: Escaped.

Malik wrapped his arms about himself as the rush of chilly air against his face almost took his breath away. He stood on the step of Ishizu's house fighting back the nervousness that flooded him. He turned to go back inside not ready for anyone to see him or wanting to see anyone else for that matter. "It's ok," Ishizu grabbed his arm gently. "I'll not let anyone hurt you." She reassured him. She frowned stepping up closer to him, "are you in pain?"

He mutely shook his head. He didn't feel much of anything thanks to the potion she gave him to drink on the hour, every hour. "You need fresh air," her hand ran down his arm and took hold of his own and gave a little tug. He slowly obeyed and followed the Witch through the small village, those they passed stopped what they were doing to stare a moment, some whispered behind their hands, a few growled at him and bared fangs. Not that he blamed them, Marik, Bakura and himself had killed many of their friends and family in their attempt to kill the Witch. "It's a beautiful day," Ishizu smiled at him seemingly unaware at the reactions he was receiving or she didn't care at all.

Malik wanted to turn back and lock himself away in that solitude of the room she had given him. He didn't know how long he had been in that room sitting in the corner drowning in the nightmare that had been his life, turned upside down by being recused by the Witch… Marik wouldn't let him go, the Witch wouldn't let him go and they had been fighting over him for as long as he could remember. He had been taken from one hell and forced into another. His vision blurred as his eyes filled with tears and stopped in his tracks and he reached up and grasped at the Collar about his neck. The abuse he had suffered at Marik's hands his mate had never gone so far before nor had he ever been Collared. His breathing came in short and quick as pain etched its way in and he could feel the clamps and chains on his wings, it all became far too overwhelming. "I need to go back," he gasped out pulled his hand free and turned for the house, a few steps and he fell to his knees with a cry of agony.

"Breathe," a hand firmly gripped his shoulders. "Take your potion," his head tipped back by her fingers under his chin and the cold glass of the vial against his lips. He placed his hands over hers as he took a small mouthful. "Better?" She asked pulling her hands and the vial away.

She offered him words of comfort rubbing one shoulder and arm until his mind quietened and the pain of his half served wing eased. He fixed on the clear blue sky, how easy it would be to spread his wings and fly away, to just vanish from existence and not feel like anyone's property. He had speed when it came to flying, faster than anyone he knew, not even Marik could catch him, until the harsh reality of the bandages straining against his chest and ribs with the expansion of every breath. His chest constricted in grief as he clutched at his arm where his mated mark used to be, remembering at some point that he loved his mark having others know that he had belonged to Marik and now that too was taken from him. He fought back the urge to breakdown again.

"I wish I had gotten you out sooner," she placed her hand on his head and ran it down to his cheek and held his gaze as she spoke. "Everything will get better, you'll see." She rose to her feet and held her hand out for his.

The Healer's house he had escaped from was repaired and put back in an orderly manner. The Healers looked downright terrified to see the Witch again, one Healer had gasped and passed right out on the spot.

Malik spent a good part of the day being examined and healed and at the end of it the same outcome. He'd never use his wings again and should be amputated and the infection would never be completely healed so long as he wore the Collar. A glare and a few words had the Healers changing his bandages and sending him on his way. "Ishizu," Dartz swiftly approached them. "We found one of the item you've been searching for."

"Good work. Gather everyone, we are going to collect it," She glanced at Malik as she clicked her fingers and moments later both Malik's arms were grabbed onto by two Werewolves. "Take him back." Malik didn't fight as he was practically dragged away, and once they reached the house they shoved him in side so hard that fell to the floor. The sound of the door slamming echoed throughout the house.

He got himself to his feet and stared at the door, it was the first time she had left him alone that he knew of. Until now, he had been sleeping or huddled in the corner of his room, wondering what the Witch was going to do with him. He reached out and just inches from the door handle his hand was struck with a powerful shock that he recoiled swiftly and backed away.

He entered what might be a living area, it sure looked like one, with armchairs, a sofa, fireplace, a small table with glass jars and small drinking glasses upside down ready for use and books stacked on the floor around the armchair. Malik went straight for the window, whatever plans the Witch had he wanted no part of and if he could escape he would go into exile and hide out until the end of the Gathering and live out the rest of his life in the Human Realm.

He drew back the curtains, unlatched the lock of the window and tried to lift it, it didn't budge at all. It was the dark marks untouched by the feet of snow outside on the ground. Runes. Malik sighed as he dropped his hands from the window. The runes would be surrounding the house to keep up a barrier that would effectively keep him locked in, no wonder Ishizu had no issues with leaving him alone.

Malik explored the small house of two bedrooms, a living area, bathroom and small kitchen in rubble with holes in the ceiling that snow drifted into and holes in the floor, it seemed now that Ishizu placed some kind of spell on the house to make it livable. He soon found the Witch's study right next to her bedroom.

He stood in the threshold wondering if the Witch had placed any protective spells on the room to stop any intruders from entering. Taking a chance he stepped into the room and when nothing happened stepped again further in. Nothing happened. He slowly walked to her desk, she wasn't tidy at all, her work laid spread out all over the desk and on the floor around it. The books piled up here and there, scrolls and paper with handwriting on them. The bookshelves behind the desk and around the room not only held books but vials and jars of coloured liquids, some bubbled as if boiling in their containers.

Malik eased himself into the chair and jumped right out of it when the fireplace came alight with fire and the scones around the room lit up as well as a lamp on the desk. Malik eased himself back into the chair again and moved a few books and papers towards him, maybe he could find a spell to destroy the runes and escape. He reached up and clutched at his Collar, not that he could use his powers.

He sat in the chair and began to slowly read through the Witch's notes, marked tabs in books and even the bits of paper she had scrunched up and had fallen onto the floor about the chair. He even took referenced books off the shelves to read through them, some of it was incoherent angry words scribbled across pages of her failings or notes heavily crossed out though still readable. Failed had been mentioned but Malik couldn't find what she had failed at.

"Malik!" His name snapped and Malik leapt out of the chair, knocking books, scrolls and papers from the desk as he backed up into the bookshelves behind him. The Witch stood in the threshold a furious scowl on her face as she stared at him with a jar in her hands and covered in blood and filth and the air filled with the smell.

A loud clap shook the house with a bright flash of lightening that lit up the room. Malik glanced at the small window. He hadn't noticed how late it was and hadn't heard the storm rolling in either. "What are you doing in here?"

"Looking for something to read," Malik had nowhere to go as she started forward, he was completely at her mercy if she took him being here in her study intrusive.

"Didn't know that you have an interest in the ways of a caster," Her blue eyes narrowed as she slammed the jar onto the desk, the thick clear substance shimmered though didn't move at all inside the jar. "You'll never cast a spell again in your life," her eyes lingered on the Collar.

Malik wanted to tell her that it was only until he escaped her and surely someone out there would remove the Collar for him. "What is that?" he didn't like the cruel grin that formed on her lips.

Her grin got wider as she spoke the words, "Dragon marrow."

"Who's?" Malik's heart started to race, only two Dragon's it could be long to and since Ishizu claimed Ryou's carrying her child and wouldn't harm him for the sake of the baby, it could only be Touzoku's. Malik's insides twisted up like he was going to be sick as he imagined her killing Touzoku and taking his bone marrow.

A heavy pounding on a door echoed through the house, Ishizu glanced over her shoulder and Malik dove for the jar and ripped it from her hands and backed up again into the bookshelves. He'd not let her use it for some twisted spell. "Put it back before you regret it." Malik shook his head no as he raised the jar in both hands above his head to smash it on the ground. He yelped as an unseen force wrapped about his neck, arms and hands and he was yanked forward and slammed face first onto the desk. His hands opened against his will and the Witch took the jar. She lent down so that her lips were right next to his ear. "I'm not above letting Alister of Valon teaching you a lesson and reminding you of your place or the whole pack for that matter." Malik froze as she placed the jar in front of his face and released him. "Chose your next words and actions carefully." He had no doubt whatsoever that she would hand him over to her Wolf pack.

Malik pushed himself off the desk and backed away, "I won't do it again."

"Let's see who's at the door, shall we," she turned leaving the jar on the desk, Malik followed at a slower pace.

The Witch walked to the door and opened it as Malik hung back some feet wanting to keep his distance. Hawk and Touya the Council members of the Demon court stood there. "We must talk, it's important," Touya spoke first, shoulders hunched against the downpour.

The Witch was silent for a few moments and Malik was excepting her to shut the door on them. "Fine." Ishizu turned motioned for Malik to follower into the living area, leaving the two old Demons to close the door.

Touya shoved Malik out of the way with a hiss of hatred, "step aside half-breed," as he entered the living area first, followed by Hawk. Malik stepped just inside the room staying by the door. "What brings you here?" Ishizu asked pouring them both a drink and handing them the glasses and taking a seat in the only armchair. Malik thought it odd that she didn't pour herself a drink, she drummed her fingers on the armrest impatiently.

Hawk and Touya looked dishevelled their hair a miss as well as their clothes as appose to Malik always having seen them primed all the time, even darkness under their eyes stood out, both old Demons look shaken up as the liquid in the glasses sloshed so much that some of it split over the rims. "Ella is dead," Touya muttered the cup trembled violently as he brought it up to his lips to take a mouthful only to spill the dark red liquid a little down his chin and quickly wiped it away with his arm.

"How?" Ishizu stopped drumming her fingers.

"Atem. Atem killed her." Hawk's voice trembled as he gripped the glass tightly in his hand as he slumped down onto the sofa. "He escaped. He came to the Castle and killed everyone in his path… he was accompanied by a Dragon."

"I did suggest Atem be killed but he was Ella's grand scheme of things in taking over the Realm."

"Who's Atem?" Malik asked, never hearing the name before but wanting to know who had taken on the castle's guards to kill Ella.

Hawk took a few large gulps of his drink. "Atem will seek out those that might be still loyal to him and launch an attack and take back the Castle and the throne."

"He has every right, he is the King of Demons," Ishizu informed them.

"I thought Yami was to be King," Malik spoke.

"He's Yami's older brother and rightful King," she answered him.

"What do we do now?" Touya slumped down next to Hawk on the sofa as if his legs no longer supported him. "If we return to the Castle we'll be tried as traitors and killed ourselves." Malik only hoped, they had been just as cruel to those around them as Ella had, made many suffer since they had joined the Demon Court.

"Exile," Ishizu simply offered. "Once Atem comes for his throne no one will take you in, you're both as good as dead."

"Exile," Hawk spat offended, "Is that all you could come up with?"

"What did you expect I was going to offer you?" the drumming of her fingers started again, Malik had noticed that her attention often drifted to the glasses, watching both old Demons drank from. What was in the drink? "A place in my army, protection?" She laughed. "You both think to highly of yourselves."

"It never stopped you in the past exiling those that spoke out or stood against you and even then you have exiled many for less." Malik added, they both deserved nothing less than the punishment they so loved dishing out, besides public executions and floggings.

"You do not speak in my presence half-breed," Touya growled baring fangs and Malik rolled his eyes the insult never got old with the purebreds, but it had lost its offensiveness decades ago.

"Be mindful of who you are talking to," The Witch's warning came in the sounds of fabric ripping by her nails. "Always grovelling and snivelling at Ella's heels when things didn't go your way."

"You have an obligation to help us!" Touya snapped his eyes glowing red, his greying wings puffed up.

"Do I?" Ishizu shifted a little in her seat. "I just don't find either of you as useful to keep around as Ella had, again you think yourselves too highly."

"Ella still had plans and you have to stick with the deal you both made," Hawk growled. "You must keep your word and complete the task she had set out for all of us!" He threw the glass down shattering it between them.

"The contract is void upon Ella's death and I don't remember ever making a deal with either of you."

"We wish to make a deal with you," Hawk becoming livid.

"I'm no longer making deals," Ishizu shot back.

"I'll see you flogged and mount your head on a wall." Hawk angrily raised his voice.

"I'm no longer interested because the both of you are not going to live long enough." She laughed again as if it was a good joke and the Council members looked dumbfounded. "I need to accomplish my own plans now."

Hawk started an odd hacking cough that forced him to bend over with his hand to his mouth, when he stopped and took in a breath. He pulled a blood stained shaking hand from his mouth. He glanced at Touya wide eyed as his body started to convulse and blood ran from his mouth, nose, ears and eyes. He clawed at his own throat tearing at his flesh like a wild animal and then fell forward onto the floor. "What have you done?" Touya stumbled backwards from his fallen companion, looking panicked and horrified at the glass in his hand and dropped it as he took a few steps back.

"Like I said I have no need of you. Ella thought far too small." Touya started the same coughing, clutched at his throat as blood dripped out of his mouth and down his chin. "Why rule over one Realm when I can merge the two and rule over just the one."

Touya rushed her before Ishizu could stand or doing anything and as their bodies collided and his hands gripped tightly about her throat, the armchair tilted backwards and hit the floor while both still struggled, one trying to kill the other. "You are insane!" Touya gasped and spat blood in Ishizu's face before he collapsed on top of her.

Ishizu made a sound of disgust as she kicked and shoved at the dead Demon off her and stumbled to her feet, she gave him a few swift kicks in his side.

Malik stood there his back to the wall, processing what she had just said about merging the Realms. The Witch gave a heavy irritated sigh as she straightened her clothes and hair and left the room. He heard the Witch open the door and call out and moments later she returned with two Werewolves. "Dispose of them and clean this up." She again left the room.

Malik ran a hand through hair as he watched Touya and Hawk being carried out… The Demon Council was dead.

Malik stood in the threshold of the Witch's study, Ishizu sat behind her desk already writing and glancing through her books. "Are they done already?" she asked without looking.

"No, just took the bodies," He glanced down the hallway to see as few Witches vanish into the living area. "Can we talk?"

"Sit down," Malik did as told and took the armchair by the fireplace, the jar sat on the edge of the desk and a chill ran up his spine.

"What Realms are you merging?" He had a fair idea but he needed to hear it from her, since there are many Realm.

"Ours and the Human one." Her attention wasn't even on him but on her work.

"Why?"

"Why not." Malik stared at her, she had lost her mind. "You want some master mind genus idea behind it?" She closed the book with a snap and lent back in her chair and stared at him.

"I want to hear," Malik pressed.

"Our Realm is ending."

"It sounds more like you should be on a corner somewhere with a sign. Repent! The end is nigh."

"Hilarious. Though make fun all you like because we started it with the Annihilation." Malik knew that Dragons nourished the Realm and in turn all others drew their energy and powers from the Realm. Since they wiped out the Dragons every creature in the Realm had become weaker, but their home itself remained whole. "I know that parts of the Realm have come back life, like the water in Arkham that is feeding fresh water throughout the Realm, all because Ryou stepped foot back in our home. One Dragon is not the Realm's cure."

"It's not a reason." Malik held back the urge to snap. "Besides there will be three Dragons soon."

"Two, Ryou will not survive when I cut my baby from his body." Malik gripped the armrests digging his nails into it. "Merging the Realms will put less strain on ours. The limitations we all endure will be gone. No more feeding on Human restrictions or turning and those with crossbred offspring will no longer be faced with a crime punishable by death. We can coexist with the Humans."

"No, the Goblins alone could wipe out all Humans in a matter of months, top that off with Vampires and every other flesh eating creature in the Realm, the Humans would last only weeks. Once the Humans were eaten or turned, starvation will have flesh eating creatures turning on each other, merging the Realms would be genocide on both sides."

"Malik it's not about the Humans and I could careless if half the races in both Realms are wiped out. Merging the Realms." She rose to her feet and walked about the desk and held her hand out for Malik's, which he ignored and got to his own feet and guided him out into the hallway. "I will gain complete immortality, I'll be that of a god."

Malik stood there watching as she turned her back on him and returned to her desk, he had to find a way to kill her.

"And flex out," Malik grit his teeth as he tried to straighten his wing and the Healer praised him on his efforts. Two weeks he had been the Witch's prisoner, locked within her home and taken for a short walk to the Healer's house only to be told the same thing over and over again to remove his wings completely. The Healer had pushed Ishizu too far in her patience and she had killed him for it.

The Healer re badge his wing in place and sent them on their way. The bone was slowly healing due to the Collar but no one dare mention to remove it. "I should be back later." Ishizu informed him as they reached the house and Malik stepped inside the runes already activating becoming his invisible bars.

He spent his time in Witch's study while Ishizu was off plundering Covens or out in the woods just outside the village trying to merge the Realms. He spent his time reading through all her books and scrolls, hoping to find something that she has missed and promptly destroy it, though he hadn't found anything. The Witch would return late in the evening in two ways, covered in blood and filth and carrying whatever items she taken by force or in a livid mood of her failed attempts.

"Bye," He frowned when she hadn't left and just stood there staring at him.

"Malik," she stepped into the house. "Would you like to come?" He wasn't sure that he heard right, until she stepped closer and repeated herself. "I do wish for you to be at my side." Malik mutely nodded not trusting his voice and slightly flinched as she reached up and cupped his cheek. "You are going to be a loyal good brother, do everything I say. If I have even a shadow of doubt that you can't be trusted, I'm going to snap those wings off myself." He had no doubt that she would.

"Yes," Malik swallowed the lump in his throat.

Malik stepped out of the portal and took in his surroundings, they were in Brazath village, the largest village in the east and close to Goblin territory. "My Lady," an older Witch and Warlock swiftly approached and stopped before her. "We have been talking to the Father of Willowbark Coven, he knew we are working for you and shunned us and you." Ishizu made an irritated sound.

"The book?" The Witch asked and the two before her shook their heads no. "Fine," she snipped and muttered a few words and portals started opening up around them and Ishizu's army marched through them.

Malik shifted on his feet, did she expect him to fight? Not that he would, even in full health he would not follow the Witch into battle and pointlessly slaughter those for a bit of paper. Ishizu started forward towards the Coven and her army followed a few steps behind, Malik flanked her.

The doors of the Coven opened and Witches, Warlocks and their familiars filed out into the court yard, many more stood on the balconies and the roof ready to defend to their Coven. "Ishizu you have been shunned," an older male most likely the Father of the Coven stood out in front. "Leave now, we have nothing for you here."

Ishizu ignored him as she placed her hands on the gate, Malik jumped back startled by a loud clap sound and the Witch was thrown backwards into a few of her casters who had tried to catch her and failed as she knocked into them and all five ended on the ground. The sounds of laughter came from those defending the Coven. "That was rude," Ishizu muttered getting to her feet, she dusted herself off as she re-approached the gate.

Ishizu once again placed her hands onto the gate and within moments Malik could see what looked like orange glowing threads leading from the gate and around the property and into the foundations of the building. Her own powers wrapped about those threads and severed them, there was a loud metallic screech as the gate melted to the ground and vanished.

A shock of silence it would seem from the Coven residence for a moment before Ishizu's minions gave a battle cry and rushed forward. Malik was pushed forward along with them until a burst of energy hit someone beside him and the blast knocked him back rendering him unconscious.

Malik's body convulsed with the intake of air and he cried out as pain reaped his body, his ears ringing, disorientated he sat up. It took a few moments to realize what was going on around him and where he was. The battle raged on around him, the Coven was on fire and bodies littered the ground around him. He searched the area for the Witch and didn't see her, everyone to busy fighting for the lives.

Malik rose to his feet holding his sides as he limped his way to were the gate had been once. The more he walked the more his head cleared. Once passed the gate he moved as fast as he could, through the streets and crowds that had gathered though dared not get to close.

Malik fell against the first tree outside the village, trying to get his breath back and not collapse. His legs felt weak and the pain in his back was growing. He was startled by a howl somewhere back in the village, a victory cry or a hunting one, he wasn't sure as he pushed himself from the tree and started running again, he'd not stick about to find out. He'd not let himself be captured by the Witch again.

The deeper Malik ran into the forest the darker it got, the sunlight almost completely blocked by the treetop canopy. The ground became slush under his feet and Malik had fallen multiple times from roots and uneven ground, pushing himself up and kept running.

Howls echoed behind him, so damn close and with the endless forest and no real direction to run in or the possibility of being saved by anyone in the middle of nowhere made him slow to a stop and fall to his knees. Ishizu's Werewolves would no doubly catch him, and the Witch would most likely keep her word and snap his wings off right here resulting in a painful slow death.

The desperation of the weeks and torture he had endured at the hands of the Witch overwhelmed him and he wrapped his arms about himself doubling over and screamed almost into the mud he knelt in.

Malik clutched his teeth trying to hold back the flood of tears, if his life was worth nothing then he would give it away to someone of his choosing. He reached out and with his fingers drew in the mud a Human summoning, since his powers were blocked this was the best he could do. "Please answer me," Malik whispered over and over again.

The blow came to his back before he could hear or see it knocking him face first to the ground. The flesh on his back burned and Malik screamed out. "What did I tell you?" The Witch sneered as approached him with her Werewolves leading the way. "I saved you!" she yelled angrily. "You belong to me."

"I belong to no one," Malik snapped as he pushed himself up by his arms. Ishizu moved swiftly and kicked him in the side and he collapsed back on the ground. "I remember you taking me from Marik, the torture you inflicted on me before you claimed you saved me." Ishizu gave an enraged growl and she threw herself on top of him straddling his waste and wrapped her hands about his throat.

"If I can't have you no one will," she snarled as she squeezed tightly and Malik didn't have the strength to fight her off, he clutched at her wrists as his air was cut off and felt something pop as his vision darkened.

Suddenly her weight was gone and he sucked in air and hands were upon him, muttering that he was ok now. He pushed at them and tried to crawl away only to be pulled back. "Malik look at me." His face was cupped and his head turned staring up into blue eyes. "We have been looking for you," Cecelia gently smiled down at him for a moment. "Can you stand?" Malik only nodded and it took effort even with Cecelia's help and it was only on his feet that he noticed Pegasus, Weevil and Rex.

Ishizu rose to her feet as well, her clothes had caught fire and she patted it out. "He's mine," the energy she sent towards them and Pegasus side stepped it and it hit a tree behind him and imploded, sending bark, branches and leaves everywhere. Ishizu looked shocked and stumbled back a step. "You have no right to interfere." She snapped gathering more of her energy as she started to rush forward along with her Werewolves, Pegasus, Rex and Weevil met her half way.

The battle was brutal, Pegasus didn't hold back every swing and strike were made with deadly accuracy that the Witch was only just barely able to avoid. Rex and Weevil tore with fangs and claws into the Werewolves. "Let's go," Cecelia wrapped her arm around Malik's shoulder and she ported them both.

TBC

R&R