AN: Hey guys! Here is the long awaited (not really) Chapter 3! Things are really starting to change! And now the races are off! Hope you all enjoy the chapter!
The clank of armor sunk into his ears. His tired eyes motionless. Anduin stood; his head against the wall, as his face was swallowed by shadows. The tick of time draining his thoughts. Dread mixed with fear. His heart stilled. Cold air swept through his broken lips. His armor sank his feet into the ground. "Not again…" his voice died inside. Chills crawled up his legs.
Terror gripped the edge of his mind. Dried tears slipped past his eyes. The howls of night crept in from the outside. The flicker of candles sank into his vision. Ragged breath filled his lungs. His strength waned. 'Why, Light?' he thought. His words drowned in anguish. Doubt slipped into his heart. Visions of his people blurred inside his mind. Drips of cold anger invaded his spirit.
A grit of teeth seeped throughout the cold room air. Beads of cold sweat glistened his jawline. White-blonde hair fell across his face. The far-off yakking drifted into passing. A chain, tethered to himself, loosened in the recesses of his mind. Duty faded into nothingness. Boots clicked closer; the very sound drowning in his mind.
"It appears that you are ready." Sylvanas spoke; her haunting voice chilling Anduin's ears. Her dusky hair fell towards her waist. Pointed ears broke through the veil of hair. Her red eyes boring holes into his heart.
"Sylvanas…" Anduin sighed. His heart cracked. Tiredness hung below his eyes. Unease settled into the void of his spirit.
A fraught erupted inside her eyes; hidden to the world. Emotions hurled throughout her mind. Twisted thoughts churned her lifeless heart. Banter upon banter flared inside. Her lips curled. "You didn't rest, did you?" She questioned. Her alluring voice carried out. Her steps opened into the cage.
Silver eyes briefly caught a glimpse of pain. Pain that vanished like smoke. Anduin straightened. His strength begging to fail. Ragged breath seeped through his teeth. Stubble ached his neck. Sarcasm fled to his mouth. Will pressed forward. "No." The only word to escape. A free hand held tightly against the wall.
Her nails grazed the hairs. A caring flick stroked through her. Her inner turmoil sat on her heart. "So, you disobeyed your Queen then, little lion?" Her voice tainted by the prey before her. Screams echoed off into her mind. Worry sank further into her cold heart. The graze of hair against her nails seeped into the air. Glowing red eyes glancing up upon the tired King.
Eyes met eyes. The chain further loosened. A desperate pain of restraint flew through his nerves. Chapped lips sank further. Memories swept through his tired mind. "You…" Anduin stopped. His glance hung in the very balance. Strength fell from his arm. "Why do you play these games, Sylvanas?" He finished. Each word drifted lower in sound. His ending sigh vanished light from within him.
Silence fell between them. Sylvanas watched her prey closely. Torment of times old crept through her thoughts. A flash of agony mixed with rage. Her spirit screamed at her. Heavy silence continued to suffocate the room. Seconds melted into the pressure. Time seemingly halted before them. The churning of the Maw sank away from reality.
Time hurt his heart. A dry laugh died inside his chest. Sorrow swept through his eyes. Hope grasping for light before dying in his heart. The torture of silence hung around his head. "Is this what you felt?" He asked. His gaze still settled on the elf before him.
Anger grew in her vision. The glow of red intensified inside her eyes. A twitch ricocheted across her lips. Every beat caught by Anduin's vision. "The time that Ar-" He started. His voice; hurt and heavy, weighed the air.
"Don't say that name." Sylvanas warned. Her aura on full alert. The once painful memory brought back. An angry torrent burst through. Her teeth clenched behind her lips.
A pause broke through Anduin's mind. His thoughts keen to his captor's. The pain reflected in her eyes burned. Stubbornness bled through his heart. "When Arthas claimed you, is this how it felt? The gnawing darkness that destroys all defense. The void that sucks in your spirit and mind. The bone-crushing cold that grips you, and never lets go? The fear that spreads through your mind before all fades to black?" Anduin pressed. Small steps dragged him closer. Closer to the beauty in his eyes.
Dusky hair whipped around. A hiss escaped her pressed lips. "You know nothing, boy-king." She mocked. Her anger blazing underneath her chill. Sides warred within her heart. Her glare shot off towards the side. Nails curled into her palms.
Another step. Anduin stood close. His skin victim to her chilling aura. "That may be," He paused. Chills blasted up his legs. His voice waned against his heart. Darkness clung to the depth of his spirit. "But I feel as though I am beginning to understand."
Walls surged along her heart. Memories, ad nauseum, floundered about inside her. Pain, misery, darkness, void, cold. All sweeps blasted against her spirit. Rage built behind her eyes. "So, the boy-king, in his never-ending empathy, feels that he can understand the Banshee Queen?" She chided. A snarl flashed through her lips.
His hair fell before his eyes. His head weighed heavy. Darkness crawled through his vision. Silence escaped his open mouth. His mind stalled. Tiredness gripped his nerves. Awareness curtailed. His legs gave way. The ground ever closer in his sight.
Her sight caught him, and then her arms. Sylvanas watched the young human. Her rage fighting. Desire fought against desire. Weight, much less than expected, fell into her arms. Darkness churned in her heart. "I can't have my weapon getting injured." She mocked, though her voice betrayed her. Each word sprinkled with worry. Her face tensed. Her mind captured in the race to betray. Betray herself, her prey. Each battle dented her spirit.
Heavy breaths escaped Anduin's lungs. The world spun around him. The heels of his boots slipped against the ground. Each foot fighting to gain traction. The darkness further crept. Cracks splintered in his heart. His teeth grit. Her words rang inside his mind. Mergers of thoughts split his reality. Chains drafted past his thoughts. "Thank you." He swallowed. Sweat hung to his brow. Cold, lifeless breath escaped his chest. Light dying behind his eyes.
A push of strength ripped through her arms. Her hands pressed against the King's armoured chest. Her inner battle continued. "Time is running short, little lion." She spoke, her voice carried the eeriness of care. Hunting twinged inside her. Her prey stranded in her sights. "Time to leave."
Fear trickled into his tired heart. His eyes drifting between the elf before him and the door. Each second pinned his mind. Saliva dampened his throat. His feet brayed his soul. Step after step. The walls slowly passed his vision. Silence took him. Attempts to speak drowned in doubt and darkness. Flickers of light passed his drained face. Color escaped him. Screams of the Maw fell behind. Agony weighed on each step.
Red glow lit the halls. Sylvanas' eyes glared ahead. Her mind tortured by itself. Inner screams of hollow sank into her heart. Her cold skin turned colder. Pain grew inside. Memories, brought forth by the human, pranced to her dismay. Her prey obediently following her. A wayshot glance fell on the weapon. Her lips dawned a cruel smirk. Cracks split through her mind. "Do not fear, little lion. The void before you is just the beginning." Sylvanas smirked in the darkness.
A chuckle broke free from his lips. His eyes fell on her. "Such kind words." He replied. His dryness fully visible. Torches passed his vision as the drowning of steps fell in his ears. The tug of flight gripped him. Waves of sorrow crushed his heart. His grip slipped in his thoughts. Further linkage failed. The chain almost undone.
Moments bled into the other. Each hall identical. The destination neared. His captor skillfully leading him. Her figure burned into his mind. The dusky hair haunted his thoughts. His heart tore by confusion. Light simmered under his vision. "I'm sorry." He spoke. His words dying in the air.
Her heels clacked. The stop shook her hair. A twitch befell her elongated ears. A glare shot back towards the King. "What?" She replied. Her voice cold and void. Anger gripped her thoughts. Her mind bent on battle. The walls grew larger.
His eyes caught hers. Pain dwindled behind him. "I'm sorry…" he continued. His voice weak. Each word barely hung to life. "About what Arthas did to you." His words shattered the distance between them.
Her hand gripped his collar. Her eyes beating into the boy-king. Teeth snarled under her lips. "How dare you!" Sylvanas spat. Her voice drenched in anger. Cracks slithered across her mind. "Do not speak of which you do not know!" Pain rippled behind her eyes. Her lips hung down.
"I'm just-" Anduin started. His eyes drowned in the pressure on her vision.
"Your just what?" She hissed. Her grip tightened. The words echoed further down the hall. "You think that, just because you gained some understanding, that the boy-king could save the elf in distress? That your words would heal all wounds?!"
His eyes darted. The cold of her voice gripped his heart. "That was not my intent…" he whispered. His will lost. Darkness fell back into his sights. Pictures burned behind his mind. Emotions tore through all barriers.
A huff escaped her lips. Her grip tossed the boy's collar to the side. Her eyes barreled ahead. "Of course not." She chided again. Her hair whipping back. Her heels carried her forward.
The halls broke. The swirling Maw dominated his vision. His sights glancing up towards the endless sky. Crisp air burned his lungs. A tear dripped through his eye. His mind swallowed by the haunting before him. Hope faded against angst. Chains curled around the inner workings of his spirit. The giant Eternal blended into the background. Light drifted through his being.
Sylvanas approached, her vision set on the Jailer. Torment ran through her mind. Her thoughts split. The scream of the Banshee echoed inside her spirit. Cracks filled her walls. "I have brought the weapon." She reported. Her turmoil threatened to break. Her demeanor masquerading the tornado inside.
His glowing eyes burned down on the undead elf. The Titan of the Jailer smirked. His aura seeping in Dominance. "Good, and the portal is ready." He stated. His voice boomed throughout the air. Each word demanding respect. His glance fell onto Anduin. Cruelty glimmered behind his face. His hand extended out. The cold grasps of his fingers directed towards the young King.
Void surged behind Anduin's eyes. The crawling death gripped every fiber of his body. Jolts slithered up his spine. Cracks splintered his heart. His mind chained. A scream bellowed out from his mouth. His thoughts stopped. The crush of his spirit increased. Each blow forcing the knee. Light faded from his eyes. His vision black. Reality split before him. The king ceased to be.
Sylvanas pained. Her eyes watching every end. Rips of emotions blew through her heart. The inner battle surged. A twitch fled her face. The battle tore through her mind. Each second furthered the crack. Her teeth grit silently. Each second furthered the pain and joy. Her twisted thoughts dominated her. Confusion turned on its head. Her mind bent.
The lifeless doll stood before her. The once proud High King now laid low. Her sight beheld the very edge of change. The boy's eyes; deathly still, stared out into the void. His body awaiting the Jailer's command. Her grip intensified in her hand. Rotting skin broke on her palm.
"Good." The Jailer chuckled. His guffaw rumbled the room. His dominance reigned. The heavy thumps of steps echoed off. His gaze directed towards the portal. The whirl drenched the room in magic. Particles splintered off. "Time to deploy our weapon."
The hollow husk of Anduin walked. His steps like an automaton; rigid, void, and cold. Sylvanas fought inside. Her prey escaping into the wild. Her battle to betray continued. Silence carried through the room. Her eyes watching as Anduin stepped closer towards the portal. Thoughts raced through her mind. Each portrayed a sense of pain. Her ears fell deaf to the Maw's screams. Her world collided inside herself. Splits ransacked her spirit.
The room flashed. Magic split the air. The blaze flashed past her red eyes. The brightness blinded her. Her hand blocking her sense of vision. Eerie silence drowned the halls. Cold gripped her nerves. The empty room returned. Her vision falling on the portal. Her prey gone. Teeth grinded together. Anger surged through her veins.
"Come, Sylvanas." The Jailer commanded. His being gleaming in Dominance. "Now, it is time to prepare for the second key."
Her mind further bent. The want to obey surged under her skin. Glowing eyes followed the Eternal One. Her feet planted. Whips of emotions slashed her thoughts. Rage teetered on the edge of her lips. Her palm fully clenched. "Of course." She replied.
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