Chapter Warning: Predatory behavior
Riku peaked his head out from the stairway leading into the dungeon, his eyes scanning the seemingly empty courtyard for any signs of life. The ground itself was made of layers upon layers of fine stone, surrounded by four outer walls of what appeared to be a grand mansion. At the center of the courtyard sat a large obelisk, unfamiliar writing adorning the front and sides of the stone structure. There were two noticeable stone tunnels built into the far sides of the building, likely used to more easily leave this area without the need to enter the mansion each time. Slowly he stepped out, Braveheart in hand, just in case they had any trouble trying to escape.
As if on cue, four Heartless materialized before him. He narrowed his eyes, having expected some level of security for this place. They each had a bright and colorful face mask adorning their otherwise pitch-black faces, eyes bright yellow with a vest and pants that matched the mask's vibrant color scheme. The colors were a swirl of red and white stripes, which almost reminded Riku of the circus colors he'd seen on the tents in Prankster's Paradise. In their hand they each held a thick leather whip, which they swung in his direction, the weapons causing a loud crack to echo as they struck the empty space between them.
It didn't take long for Kairi and Donald to reach his sides, the two raising their Keyblade and Staff respectively as they glared at the twitching Slaver Heartless. Goofy remained behind, his shield raised protectively as he stood in front of the young girls the group had saved just a moment prior. Riku nodded his approval to the captain of the guard, raising his weapon as he brought his full focus back to the whip-wielding Heartless.
In a flash of darkness, he rushed to the center of the group, stopping just in the middle as he swung his Keyblade in a circular motion, waves of darkness radiating from the tip of his blade as he struck the two closest Heartless, knocking them backward. They landed on opposite sides, each now standing closer to the other Heartless who materialized beside them moments prior.
Kairi rushed toward the two who now stood before her. She slashed upwards, an arch of light following after her Keyblade as it struck both Heartless, lifting them into the air. Quickly she spun, releasing her weapon as it flew around her in a circular motion, filling the area with a bright, blinding light. The blade struck both Heartless as it spun until she grabbed it once more and swung downward with all of her might. The two Slavers burst into shadows as she landed beside Riku, their hearts floating into the stary night sky.
Donald lifted his staff next, targeting the remaining two Heartless as he called out his attack.
"Thundaza!"
Suddenly a rain of thunder struck from the heavens, littering the Heartless with strike upon strike of merciless magical power. Riku quickly pointed his blade at the two, a ball of fiery darkness leaving from the tip, only to burst into several smaller dark orbs which flew into the enemies, causing them to burst into shadow much like the previous two. He didn't have a moment to relax, however, as Goofy quickly pointed behind him with a look of worry spread across his face.
"Look out!" he called suddenly. Riku turned sharply as he processed the warning but soon learned he was too late, being struck in the arm violently by another of the whip-wielding Heartless. He let out a pain-filled scream, Raphtalia, and Rifana gripping Goofy's trousers in fear as they saw him drop Braveheart and take an involuntary step back. He reached out to his throbbing arm with his free hand, Kairi and Donald stepping protectively in front of him as they faced the new group of enemies.
Two more of the Slaver Heartless twitched before them, as well as several of the more familiar Shadows. The smaller pitch-black creatures had a round, spherical head with circular, glowing yellow eyes. They had two long, twisted antennae sprouting from their head and three clawed fingers at the end of each hand. They sunk into the ground and they approached the friends, surrounding them.
"Curaga!" Donald yelled, causing the pain throbbing in Riku's arm to vanish as he was washed over by the grand healing magic. Quickly he called Braveheart back to him, it appearing in his hand in a flash of light and darkness. He lifted the blade and thrust it forward, spinning the blade and striking three of the Shadows as they rose from the stone flooring.
Kairi flung her Keyblade forward then, the weapon spinning rapidly as it struck one of the whip Heartless in the jaw. Suddenly she vanished in a flash of light, appearing before the stunned enemy as she took hold of her blade once more, unleashing several strikes onto its body. Donald lifted his staff, watching for the right moment to strike. As the remaining Shadow's rose from the ground, he aimed his attack to hit all of them at once, including the last remaining Slaver.
"Blizzaza!"
A flurry of freezing cold wind erupted from his staff, shards of sharp ice particles flowing along with the violent breeze. They struck the Heartless much as he intended, causing the remaining enemies to burst into shadow. Seeing the area was clear, he lowered his weapon and turned to his friends, delighted to see they appeared to be unharmed.
Keel opened her tired eyes, that throbbing pain in her back and head having remained despite however long she lay unconscious. Her eyes scanned the seemingly empty room, having expected to awaken once more in that dreadful dungeon alone. Yet she found herself on a comfortable and luxurious bed, the room adorned with fine tapestry and expensive furniture. She couldn't begin to comprehend why she was brought here, but she knew it wasn't for anything good.
She wasn't bound in place, but she still wore the tattered rags Idol Rabier had given her. The slave seal sat proudly on her chest, mocking her inability to fight back or escape. Slowly she forced herself to sit up on the bed, despite the protests from her heavily abused body. Bruises and marks were present on every portion of her visible skin, some from his whip, others from his fists. She moved to climb off the bed and search the room but froze as she spotted a pair of eyes watching her from the corner. Her blood turned to ice, her eyes wide in unbridled terror as she recognized the face of her captor.
"You were unconscious for quite some time, little one. I thought I'd lost you for a moment," Idol purred, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, "it would have been a real shame for you to die before I had to opportunity to truly experience everything you have to offer"
"What?" Was all Keel could manage, her hands gripping the sheets of Rabiers bed as he slowly began his predatory approach. His eyes were filled with lust, looking down upon her as if she were nothing but property to be used for his pleasure. She felt a fire in her heart suddenly alight, a fierce desire to fight this monster and all like him, not only to protect herself but to protect her people. Yet fate had been so kind as to leave her at his mercy, unable to lift even a finger due to the slave seals power.
Her look of terror shifted into one of utter contempt, glaring openly at this pig of a man as he reached the side of the bed. He only chuckled in response to her expression, licking his lips as he leaned ever closer.
"You always give me that look, little one. You have no idea how much it excites me"
His voice came out as a sickening coo, his hand reaching for her inner thigh. She wanted to remain defiant, to keep her expression clear of the terror she felt inside, but at this moment she felt as if she would break under the pressure. Just as his fingers lingered mere inches away, the sound of roaring thunder stuck from outside the bed chamber window. Idol jumped from the young girl and turned sharply, startled by the loud and unexpected noise.
"What the devil?" he muttered, rushing to his window as he peaked outside. To his surprise he found intruders in the courtyard, fighting the angels he'd been gifted by god. Two of them were beastmen, the most wretched of creatures he'd ever had the displeasure to gaze upon. It was then he noticed the young demihumans he recently purchased, clinging to the beast who carried a shield. His growing displeasure was evident on his face. With an angry snarl, he turned, snatching his whip and blade from the desk and rushing out of the room.
"That was so cool!" Rifana gushed, rushing forward and stopping just before Donald, Riku, and Kairi. Her eyes were alight with wonder, a happy giggle escaping her lips as she jumped up and down in excitement.
"Yeah, it's no surprise that the Shield Hero would have such powerful friends!" Raphtalia added, smiling up at the silver-haired boy as her tail wagged behind her. The friends could only laugh in response, happy to see such enthusiasm radiate from the small children.
"Thanks, but we shouldn't linger here," Riku began, "It's very likely whoever-"
"You will be going nowhere!"
The voice echoed throughout the courtyard, venom, and hatred painted clear across its tone. Raphtalia and Rifana froze as they heard the familiar voice, their happy disposition vanishing in an instant as both began to tremble. They shakingly turned to the source of their fears, their ears folding against their heads as they began to whimper upon seeing him. Riku immediately stepped in front of the children upon noticing their fear, watching the man approach with his whip in hand. Donald and Kairi were quickly by his side, Goofy once more rushed beside the children, kneeling down and pulling them both into a protective and warm embrace.
"You not only wish to steal my property but openly travel with beastmen?" the other man taunted, a sick grin spreading across his face, "with a shield, no less? you must have a hard time surviving here in Melromarc. How tragic."
His voice was mocking, cracking his whip as he openly glared between Donald and Goofy. He was a nobleman with a revolting appearance. He appeared to be an overweight, middle-aged man with an unkempt mop of strawberry-blonde hair. He had a mustache of the same color over his upper lip. He was dressed in elegant clothing of black, golden, and purple hues, a dark purple cape clinging to his shoulders, flapping in the late-night breeze.
"You're the one who tortured Raphtalia and Rifana. Why?" Kairi asked, unable to hold back the look of rage that spread across her face. The nobleman merely laughed at the question.
"Because I can, dear child. Demi-humans and especially beastmen are tools for our pleasure, nothing more"
Riku's grip tightened as he heard the words leave the nobleman's mouth, his expression shifting into a hate-filled glare.
"This ends here, we won't let you hurt anybody else!" he yelled, raising Braveheart as Kairi and Donald raised their weapons too. Idol only chuckled at the words, raising his free hand as several Slaver and Shadow Heartless materialized beside him.