Frozen Blood – Chapter OneA sudden chill raced up Eugeo's spine rousing him from a deep sleep. "It's freezing." He shivered and then proceeded to wrap his arms around himself; only to discover that he couldn't. His green eyes popped open in alarm. "What's going on?" He attempted to stand but was jerked back; his butt landing on a cold, damp floor; his back hitting up against a frigid, stone wall. "What the?" Eugeo glanced back and saw his hands shackled behind his back and then those manacles were linked to a chain that was bolted to the wall behind him. He could see droplets of blood around his restraints and beneath them creating a pool of red wine. "This can't be good." He swallowed nervously; only to feel the icy grip of a chain around his neck. Eugeo tested his restraints and found he had very little mobility; all he could do is sit and wait. Wait for what exactly, he had no idea. He was just talking and enjoying time with young Alice when he awoke in this place; where here was.
"How'd I even get here?" He winced from the pain of his shackles and his stiff body. "Kirito would tell me to take a deep breath and then assess the situation." A small candle placed just out of Eugeo's reach, illuminated the dire scene before him. Iron bars forged into squares stacked on top of each other formed the front, left and right sides of his small cell. The cell itself contained nothing except manacles and chains attached at different lengths along each side. Thick, stone pillars marked each corner and extended past curved stone archways up to the ceiling. The oversized door in front of him was padlocked shut. "Am I in a holding cell beneath the Axiom Church Central Cathedral?" He narrowed his eyes, barely making out steps that led down from his slightly elevated cell. "Did my failure to rescue Alice condemn me in the afterlife?"
"Of course not." A calm voice spoke from the shadows. "You were brought here by me."
"Administrator?" Eugeo bit out. "You're supposed to be dead."
"So are you." The Pontifex stepped closer to the cell. "And yet, here we both are."
"How is that possible? I was bisected by you and I know Kirito defeated you."
"Both events did happen but I didn't like how they turned out. This is my world and I decide who lives and who dies."
"You think you're some type of goddess?" Eugeo struggled against his restraints. "Playing with people's lives as if they mean nothing?"
"Each person has a role to play and I make sure they follow that." The Pontifex stood in front of Eugeo's cell; still hidden in the shadows. "Although, you've always intrigued me; being the first to complete your sacred task, becoming a promising swordsman and then breaking your seal."
"If I didn't meet Kirito, none of those things would have happened."
"My dear Eugeo, your fluctlight is indeed special. It just needed the interference of that other world boy to prove it." She grinned as her hands traveled along the bars as if caressing a lover. "Too bad Kirito and Alice aren't here to see it blossom."
"What do you mean? They are the protectors of the Underworld. I left that task to them."
"Those two haven't been here since the war ended." The Pontifex smirked. "I highly doubt they are giving you, a dead AI, or your request a second thought."
"…"
"Well enough about them." She fished between her breasts and brought out a key. "I'm sure you're curious about things." She opened the cell but instead of moving closer to the blonde, she pushed the door closed and leaned against it; remaining in the shadows. "I always knew that being the ruler of the Underworld would put a target on my back. And so, I made a copy of myself that would spark to life once my original self expired; however, it was not without its flaws."
"What are you saying?" Eugeo raised a brow.
"System Call, Illuminate Element." She lit the area with a small ball of light giving Eugeo a better look at the woman before him. Her once long, beautiful silvery hair was now cut short and grazed her shoulders. Confident eyes that once reflected the prism of all colors now reflected back only milky white. The face of an angel now peppered with burns and scars. Pontifex's body was still as voluptuous as before; however, it was currently covered with a purple and white dress. Her once pristine skin now peppered with angry red splotches.
"Did Kirito do that?" The blonde was shocked.
"No, that boy's methods of battle were too refined." The Pontifex sank to her knees. "But I plan to rectify this appearance soon."
"How?"
"So curious, Eugeo." She cupped her chin and smirked. "It's my secret but I promise you'll be there when I do."
"…"
"Do you like your cell? I wanted you chained because I'm not sure how my new Piety Module will take to you. It's been affecting each knight differently."
"I'm not going to just sit here and let you put that thing in my head again." Eugeo tried to back away.
"My dear Eugeo, I will re-synthesis you." Pontifex crawled over and placed a hand under his chin. "The other knights have succumbed and so will you. And since I was the one who saved you…"
"I never asked you to save me." Eugeo's voice was full of defiance. "I was prepared to leave this world."
"Were you?" Administrator locked gazes with the blonde. "Your eyes say something very different."
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"Administrator?" A new voice echoed throughout the hallway. It belonged to a young girl named Linel Synthesis Twenty-Eight. "We have brought who you requested." Her double braids flopping around as she restrained a feisty red haired girl. Her fellow Integrity Knight, Fizel Synthesis Twenty-Nine, was on the captive's other side.
"She's tougher than we thought." Fizel spat in annoyance.
"Is that another Integrity Knight?" Eugeo struggled against his restraints hoping to catch a glimpse of whose there. "I hope they're putting up a fight against whatever you have planned for them."
"Oh, I'm sure this one won't be hard to persuade." Administrator chuckled.
"You seem rather confident of that."
"I have confidence in all I do. Perhaps, you should learn from me."
"Never."
"Hah, I'm actually enjoying this; however, I'm needed elsewhere at the moment. Now, be a good boy and take a nap. System Call, Sleep Status." The blonde's eyes glazed over and his head bowed.
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"Your timing isn't exactly convenient." The Pontifex sighed while leaving Eugeo's cell. "You two better consider yourselves lucky that he didn't hear her." She walked down the steps meeting the three new people in the hallway.
"We have her gagged, just like you told us." Linel piped up.
"She certainly is a fighter." Fizel kicked at the captive girl causing her legs to buckle and fall to the floor.
"Kinda reminds me of those two rebels on the staircase years ago. Right, Linel?"
"Yes," Linel gave a quick nod.
"So this is the girl whose heart belongs to Eugeo?" The Pontifex stood before the frightened yet angry girl. Tiese, now 18, was dressed in a red Elite Disciple uniform; her shiny, long red hair flowing down her back. A gag muffled her cries but her red eyes held a look of hatred. Her arms were forced behind her with ropes. "Not much to look at." She scoffed. "My sources tell me that you're looking to worm your way into a higher status." Pontifex ran her hand through Tiese's hair. "Is that why you set your sights to marry Eugeo?" She pulled down the girl's gag.
"Eugeo sempai is dead."
"What my knights told you is the truth. They have no reason to lie."
"I saw the Blue Rose Sword Sword…" Tears formed in the corners of Tiese's eyes. "I…I… held it…"
"That's right…" Lacking any empathy towards the girl, Administrator crossed her arms beneath her ample bosom. "…the Blue Rose Sword. You have it, don't you?"
"I'd never give it to you."
"Silly girl, I don't want it but I'm sure Eugeo does."
Tiese's eyes widened. "Is Eugeo sempai really here in this horrible place?"
"He's in that cell." Administrator gestured toward the stairs. "However, if you want to see, you must first bring the Blue Rose Sword here."
"I'll do it." Tiese glared at the Pontifex. "But not for you. I'll do it for Eugeo. I know he loves that sword."
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"I can't believe I'm doing this." Tiese climbed the steps to Eugeo's cell; the Blue Rose Sword clutched tightly in her arms. "But I need to know. Is he really in there?" She reached the top, placed the sword against the bars and pulled the key from around her neck. "And if he is what then?" Tiese inserted the key but hesitated. "What should I say? How should I act?" She turned the ornate sword in her hands. "Should I ask about the battle with the Pontifex?" Sadness crossed the girl's face. "That might trigger unwanted memories." Taking up the sword, she pushed open the cell door and walked inside. "Eugeo sempai?" she softly spoke; her breath coming out as a puff of air. It was eerily quiet, dark, cold and damp. The chains hanging from the sides clanged against each other as she brushed past them; the haunting sound resonating throughout the cell. She was horrified just thinking about Eugeo being in this place.
"Eugeo-sempai?" Only the sounds of soft breathing filled her ears. "Eugeo-sempai!" she dropped the sword and quickly knelt next to the boy. "It really is you." Tiese wrapped her hands around Eugeo in a tight embrace; tears streaming down her cheeks. "I don't know how but I don't care. I've missed you so much." Tiese didn't want to let go. She was elated to be hugging her mentor. Ever since hearing about Eugeo's death; she'd felt empty while going on with her everyday life; her motivation gone. But now? "I can finally tell you…" she sniffled and then sat back. "…Oh, I forgot, she mentioned that she put you under a sleeping art." Tiese brushed his hair from his face. "Which is probably a good thing for now, this place is a nightmare."
She continued to gaze at her mentor; memories coming back to her. It was a well-known fact that meeting Kirito and becoming best friends with him was one; if not, the best thing to have happened to Eugeo but Alice? It angered Tiese that Alice didn't care about Eugeo's sacrifice. Alice never cried when his name was mentioned of even feel remorse that his death was her fault. Eugeo's life was full of sadness and regret over that one event years ago; all because of her. "She doesn't deserve your affection or your dedication." She bit out.
Before meeting Eugeo, Tiese was shy with her feelings; often discouraged to be more open for fear of what people would think. She'd been criticized for only things for personal gain but with Eugeo, things were different. She felt she could truly express her feelings and felt a connection with him. "I brought your sword. I've been taking really good care of it. I polish it every day, kept it in a safe place…"Her red eyes glanced at the Blue Rose Sword. For the past two years, it was a constant reminder of the blonde and her time at the Academy. Kirito had asked her to watch over it when he left with Alice. "Listen to me, it's been over two years since I was told you were dead, and here I'm babbling about a sword." She looked back at the blonde and bit her lower lip in anticipation. "Pontifex told me you'd want your sword back and I'm happy to give it to you, but is that where we'll end? You'll say thanks and then go after Alice again? Honestly, I can't stand the idea of you chasing her." Tiese gently placed her hands on the blonde's cheeks. "Why can't I be the one you want?"
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"How interesting." Administrator graced the scene with her presence.
"ACK!" Tiese scrambled away; her face turning a deep crimson.
"You don't have to be shy. Eugeo is very attractive."
"It doesn't matter how I feel." Tiese muttered. "He'll never look at me the way he looks at Alice."
"Jealous, are you?" The Pontifex stepped in front of the young girl, a smile gracing her lips. "What if I told you there's a way to change that."
"That's impossible." Tiese looked up at the overpowering stance of the Pontifex. "He's so obsessed with her. "
"You naïve little girl," The Pontifex pulled out a replica of the Piety Module. "If you want something, take it. It's not a hard concept."
"I can't Alice away from him."
"If I gave you the ability to, would you?"
"…"
"This crystal will alter any memories that the placer of the module desires…" Administrator reached out to pull the young girl to her feet. "…as long as the one who developed it has no issues with those alterations." She then handed Tiese the crystal and cupped her hands over the young girl's encasing the module. "All you have to do is envision a past and present with Eugeo. Create memories with him and for him and then I'll insert the module into his forehead and things will be as you made them."
"I….I…." Tiese was struggling with what to do.
"Don't you want Eugeo to be happy? Don't you want to be happy?"
Tiese nodded slowly.
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"You're to stay in the shadows and not make a sound until I call for you, do you understand?" Administrator's clothes vanished. "I'll give you plenty of time to be creative." Tiese stepped back into the shadows; blending into the stone wall behind her.
Administrator picked up the Blue Rose Sword and then ran her hand along the sharp blade; slicing her hand open. She then flipped the sword over and cut her hand again, coating both sides of the weapon with her blood. The Blue Rose Sword slowly changed from a bluish tint to a purplish / black hue. "How fascinating. System Call, Release Weapon Essence." A combination of blue, purple and black swirls surrounded the weapon. The Pontifex then snapped off one of the ice thorns from the hilt. "I wonder…" she thought to herself before placing the sword in front of the blonde; the chipped piece held before her eyes. "Time to find out. System Call, Wake Status."
Eugeo opened his eyes, drowsiness clogging his senses. He found himself to still be sitting; legs out stretched and pushed up against a damp wall; his restraints still in place. The only difference before and now, was that the Pontifex was currently straddling him. His eyes quickly diverted to the edge of his hilt laying on the ground behind her. "Your Blue Rose Sword is stunning." Adiminstrator ran her delicate, soft fingers along his jaw line. "Just like you." Eugeo tried to squirm away from her affections but to no avail.
"I am curious though…" she leaned in to whisper into his ears. "...is this sword what gives you the potential to be a great swordsman or did it come from something inside you?"
"What do you want from me?"
"I want your loyalty as my Integrity Knight…" she lazily draped both arms around the blonde's neck. "…and I want you in my bed; for much longer than last time." She started to twirl the little hairs at the back of his neck. "There are things only you can do for me."
"I don't understand your fascination with me. I'm no one special." Eugeo sadly spoke the truth; his eyes glazing over as he recalled his pathetic life. He wasn't an expert swordsman like Kirito, who was loved and adored by the female species nor was his life anything to be proud of. For eight, long years, his goal was to fix the one mistake that would haunt him until his death at nineteen. Feelings of guilt and sadness; a constant companion in his life. He hated to admit it, but after learning that adult Alice had no memories of their childhood together, or him in general, he lost all hope.
Suddenly he felt the Pontifex's warm lips pressed against his own; bringing him back to the present. Her kiss started out soft and gentle but turned more heated as she pulled herself closer to the blonde to deepen the kiss. Eugeo's eyes widened in surprise for this was his first kiss; even if it wasn't with Alice, he did find he liked it. This shared moment with the Pontifex seemed to diminish his feelings of guilt and melt away his self-doubt. "Is this the love she was talking about? Is this how it feels to be loved by someone?" Eugeo's mind raced with an explanation and surprisingly, he didn't want the kiss to end. He closed his eyes and kissed her back; prolonging their connection.
"You're actually pretty good at this." Administrator murmured against his lips. "Makes me wonder what could happen if you weren't restrained." She placed butterfly kisses along his neck while running her hands up and down his lean arms. "I think you'd like to know too."
"…"
"Do you remember the incantation?"
Eugeo flinched at the memory of being an Integrity Knight and what he'd done under her influence.
"Alice bought you nothing but painful memories and Kirito left to continue life in his own world; with his fiancé."
"He's engaged?"
"Yes, so not only did he leave you, he also lied about protecting Alice and keeping her safe."
"…"
"Do you really want to live knowing this? Without me, there is no one else to care about you."
"I don't want to feel how I did before. I can't go through that again." Eugeo stated pitifully.
"Then say the incantation."
"Remove…"
"That's right." She brushed his bangs above his eyes.
"…Core Protection."
Administrator smiled as the blonde fell into a trance; now an empty vessel just waiting for what would happen next.
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"I wish he'd kiss me like that." Tiese pouted as she emerged from her darkened corner.
"Have you finished the task I gave you?" Administrator regenerated her clothes once more and then reached for the Piety Module she previously gave Tiese.
"Yes, I'm happy with what I came up with." She handed the module back. "But are sure it'll work?"
"Eugeo's fluctlight should make this a success."
"Fluctlight?"
"It's another term for a soul." Administrator brushed off the girl's incompetence. "However, before I use this, there's something I want to try." She picked up the small thorn piece from earlier.
"What's that for" You're not going to hurt him, are you?"
"Just be quiet and watch." She placed one hand on his neck and then tilted his head to the right. Next, she leaned over and placed the shard behind his left ear; holding it as if it were a writing instrument. The Pontifex etched the numbers 3 and 2 into his soft flesh. The numbers themselves weren't large, they resembled a small tattoo. Blood trinkled down his neck; however, before it reached his collar, the blood crystallized into ice. Seconds later, his ears elongated becoming more elf-like than human. "Interesting." She flicked off the ice with her fingernail and ran her finger along the underside of Eugeo's new ears. "These I like."
"What's happening?" Tiese stepped closer to the Pontifex. "What did you do to him?"
"I didn't do anything besides mark him as mine, the sword did the rest." The Pontifex looked to the Blue Rose Sword. "What other things can you do?" She placed the thorn piece on top of the Piety Module; instantly the shard was absorbed into the module. "Hmmm…." Administrator picked up the module, quickly said some words as she palmed it and then angled it to be placed into Eugeo's forehead.
"Wait!" Tiese shouted. "You said that I can alter his memories but just now, I saw you mutter something to it. What if whatever you said changes what I wanted?
"Calm down," Administrator began to push the module in. "You'll have what I want and so will I."
END CHAPTER 1
