"What have you gotten us into now Phil?" Wildwing asked as Nosedive drove through the fog that had rolled in over the streets.
"We were invited to a once in a lifetime occasion by a very charitable hostess, we couldn't pass this one up Wildwing," Phil insisted.
"I'm getting bad vibes," Grin commented as they continued on.
"Sounds fun already," Mallory said as she rolled her eyes. "Was it necessary to dress in costumes?" Tanya questioned.
"It's a Halloween party, of course we're supposed to dress up!" Phil said shaking his head.
Wildwing had been pushed into dressing like a slasher from a horror movie Nosedive made him watch. Mallory was dressed as a zombie. Tanya a mad scientist. Grin was a Frankenstein's creature. Nosedive was a robot. Duke was dressed as a phantom of some sort. Heart was a pirate. Even Phil was dressed as a super hero, "What, you guys get to be heroes all the time!"
The others shook their heads, sharing a light laugh. Yet Heart couldn't shake the unease creeping over her in some sort of warning. She agreed with Grin's comment of something just feeling off. Then again she realized that most things had been rather tense as of late.
"You alright Heart?" Duke asked from his seat.
She nodded her head, reassuring them both, "Yeah."
As they drove further into the mists, their vehicle's treads would splash through the dank and soaked ground. As they headed deeper into the fogs, the paved road gave to a dirt road. Despite the illumination emitting from headlights, the visibility lessened. Claw like branches reaching towards them from old, gnarled trees as a strong wind whistled through them. As it became more and more difficult for the driver to see, suddenly a set of wrought iron gates stood before them, appearing from the mists.
"I guess we're here," Wildwing said with some frustration in his voice while Nosedive parked the Migrator.
Then one by one they stepped out of the Migrator, but waited to approach the gate together. Heart placed herself between Duke and Grin. She tried to convince herself it was simply the fog giving her a slight chill as she reached for Duke's hand. Without skipping a beat he held her hand tightly in response.
"Maybe it's because of the baron, but manshions like this just gives me the creeps now," Tanya shuddered.
"Come on guys, this is perfect for a Halloween party!" Phil assured, "Just relax and have some fun for once! You really need it!"
"Last time you said that we were almost experiemented on!" Nosedive retorted bluntly.
"Well this time it's safe! You've been invited by the owner of this manor," Phil insisted.
"What's the deal this time Phil?" Mallory questioned.
"There isn't any deal! We're just guests at a party! Sheesh!" Phil went on, "Though it would be nice if you guys gave a good impression!"
"For future deals?" Wildwing raised a brow.
Phil simply shook his head now, exasperated at this point, as he pushed them along, "Come on guys, we're already here! We may as well go in!"
As they walked up to to iron gates, they slowly creaked open, and the mists parted to reveal a pathway. Off in the distance, a brisk trek's away, stood a grand and opulent manor. The light from within illuminated the windows with an orange glow. After they went through, the metal barrier slammed behind them, as a strong gust of wind blew through the marshland they'd found themselves in.
"Well that's a good start," Wildwing grumbled as they continued along the path.
As they walked along the cobblestone pathway Duke pulled Heart closer to him instinctively.
"This place is the perfect setting for a horror movie," Nosedive commented.
"I have faced aliens, dragons, monsters, and giant snakes. Why is this making me nervous?" She asked nervously as she glanced up at Duke.
He offered a calm and collected smile, "Jus' stay close to me. Maybe it's like Phil said an' we just have a very eccentric host?"
"And last time you said that we got knocked out with sleep gas by the baron," Wildwing pointed out.
All Duke could do at that point was shrug and say, "Well we are already here, may as well go in?"
Heart found his confidence to be a bit contagious as she smiled up at him.
The team followed the old path, which lead the to the mansion. It loomed over them, massive, somehow both inviting and imposing. In the windows they could see shadowy silhouettes, dancing and celebrating despite the gloomy night outside. However, it seemed a few stopped, and were watching the group coming up to the large doors. Before somebody could go for the knocker, in the shape of a gargoyle's head clenching on a ring between it's teeth, the door swung open. Standing before them was a tall, lanky man dressed in a butler's uniform... and with the head of a black owl with deep ember eyes. Placing a white gloved hand over his chest, he stepped to the side as he gave them a bow. "Welcome to the DeVal estate, our guests of honor."
"Uh...are we somehow back on Puck World guys?" Nosedive asked in confusion.
"Is that a costume mask sir?" Wildwing asked curiously.
One by one they entered the mansion, each giving a polite nod to the butler.
After the last of the party entered, the butler closed the door behind them. Looking them over, he clasped his hands together, "Oh yes, I knew there was something I forgot."
The foyer of the manor was ornately decorated, with gold gilding upon the walls, and a grand staircase spreading out upwards to the higher stories. At the top was a woman of generous proportions, wearing a flowing red gown that tailed behind her. She looked down upon her guests with piercing, icy blue eyes. As she took a step down, her blonde locks bounced softly. A pale, alabaster coat of fur covered her skin, as a large, fluffy tail followed behind her. The heavy set feline placed a hand upon her chest, and smiled, revealing sharp teeth. "Suivez-moi. Je vous attendais. Vous serez ma proie."
Each duck and human looked to one another as though a bit lost.
"I'm afraid we aren't familiar with that language madam," Wildwing apologized politely while turning back to face their host.
He wondered if she were wearing an elaborate costume.
"Is that Kazor's cousin maybe?" Nosedive continued to wonder a bit.
Duke looked around the room curiously as their hostess made herself known. Heart's own sapphire blue eyes watched their hostess carefully.
"Oh! Mah apologies! Ah am just ever so excited to have such celebrities as the guests of honor for my party tonight!" She replied as she and her entourage walked down the stairs to them.
Approaching the team, she let out a short gasp, "Oh mah! Where are mah manners! Ah am your most gracious of hosts, Madame Lucille DeVal, but y'all can just call me Lucille."
With that, she grasped the skirt of her dress, and gently lifted it up as she gave a curtsy. At the top of the stairs she emerged from, a few more figures appeared, each one appearing to be one animal or another. Rats, wolves, a dog, and even a moth girl came forth, watching their matron welcome their guests.
Each team member gave a bow in return.
"It's always an honor to meet a fan Miss Lucille," Wildwing said.
Duke watched the guests up the stairway carefully.
"So then maybe all of you are aliens too?" Nosedive attempted still for answers when he saw the other guests.
Heart stayed between Duke and Grin as they greeted their host.
The feline raised a brow at Nosedive's comment, before letting out a laugh. Covering her mouth, their hostess eyed the duck dressed as a machine, "Aliens? Oh mah word, ya have quite a sense of humor, ya little darhling~"
Going through the group, she approached Phil. "Ah take it that ya are the man Ah spoke with? Why.. ya just as handsome as ya voice suggested!"
Phil beamed with sudden pride before remembering his own manners and saying quickly, "You're quite lovely yourself, thank you again for inviting us!"
"I wasn't joking?" Nosedive muttered to his twin, still confused.
"So what happens next?" Mallory enquired.
Letting out another laugh, she shook her head, "Such a flatterer, good sir! And... I suppose ya could say we aren't exactly locals either."
Heading back to the stairs, she gestured for them to follow, swaying her hips with each step up, "The parlour is this way, Ah have spared no expense! Ah hope ya all prepared for a night of music, dancing, and good food!"
"Sounds fun," Duke encouraged as he gave a slight bow to Heart and offered his arm to her to escort her up the stairs.
She allowed herself to ease up and take that offer.
The team followed Lucille up the stairway, trying to relax a bit more as they explored the mansion together.
The estate was illuminated by candles sitting in their sconces. As they traveled up the stairs, their host's shadow seemed to move oddly, perhaps because of the method of lighting. Reaching the top of the stairs, she lead them into the parlour, and then inside of a great ballroom, already filled with many others dancing and cavorting. A small concerto played a slow and graceful piece that gave the feeling that they had stepped back a few centuries. At a long table, various foods were arranged for the taking; sweet fruits, pastries, breads, meat and drink were at the ready.
Lucille turned back to the group, spreading her arms out, "Mah dear guests of honor, eat, drink, and be merry! For this is a very special night, mah dearies; and if there is anything that ya desire, don't be shy to bring a request to me."
Once in the ballroom the team began to enjoy the party a bit, though they stayed in pairs. Duke kept Heart with him, Nosedive stuck with Grin as they talked and joked around a little, Wildwing asked Tanya to dance with him, and Mallory kept an eye on Phil as they got something to eat. Duke asked Heart to dance, finding her quite willing as she eased up a bit more with him.
"See, everythin's alright love," Duke said as he lead her to the dance floor.
"Perhaps we were jus' bein' paranoid after everythin' that's happened lately?" he mentioned to her.
With that he carefully slid his hand up along her back. A strengthened smile came over him as he looked her over, taking a moment to appreciate that she was there with him after what they'd been through recently.
He noted how her pirate costume was dressier than she normally wore and smirked a bit, "What brought this on? No one said ya had to wear somethin' like that?"
"I thought you might like it?" she admitted cheerfully.
Duke couldn't help but smile as he lead her into a waltz. As he did, the drake assured her, "Of course I do sweetheart, but it's always a treat gettin' to dance with ya."
The band struck up the music, as their fellow party goers waltzed about. While Grin and Nosedive made their way through, in the middle of laughing at something they'd watched recently, the young moth in a white dress followed closely behind them. She wrung her hands together, shyly looking upon the two.
Nosedive noticed the moth girl and smiled, "Wanna dance? Or are you eyeing my buddy Grinster here?"
Nosedive looked at the moth girl curiously, "Do you want to dance?"
The blonde drake offered a hand out to her, after noting to himself what Duke or his older brother would do in this situation, with a cheerful smile.
The mothgirl glanced up at the avian, and gave a nod. She extended a hand, and as she drew near, neither Grin or Dive could see a mouth upon her face.
Nosedive, none the less, gave a kind smile and polite bow as he began to dance with her. The moth's pale face blushed softly, as she looked down to the ground meekly.
As Phil helped himself to the banquet with Mallory in tow, the owl from before stood behind the table, "Is everything is to your liking?"
Phil looked up at the butler, holding up a plate of food, "Everything is great!"
While the married couple continued their waltz, Heart would notice her brother doing the same with Tanya. She gave a warm smile at this and remarked, "I'm happy to see them finding each other."
"They seem to encourage the other," Duke mentioned while noting their team captain actually relaxing a bit as he danced with their engineer, "Whether super heroes or anythin' else, we all need that in some way."
Heart looked up at him and realized she was blushing at his sweet remark and smile. His hands grew firmer against her back and holding one of her own. Her free hand resting naturally at his shoulder, she replied with a bit of a giggle as he tried to pull her closer, "That's dangerous with you, my thief."
"Is it now?" he smirked while pausing in step briefly to steal a kiss he placed against her cheek.
As Duke and Heart danced together, their host approached them. Clasping her hands together, she smiled at the two of them, "Ah must say, Ah do admire y'all's costumes. Though it does feel like that mah explanation of tonight's affairs may have been misinterpreted. Ah hope it isn't causin' any undo distress."
"We were just told it was a costume party by our manager," Duke explained apologetically, as they paused in their dance to talk with their hostess.
Heart watched Lucille carefully, grasping Duke's arm as she did. No matter how at ease she was with him, something in her couldn't help but tense up before their gracious host. Though she couldn't place just why.
"Oh, no need to apologize dears! If anything, it's a much needed chance of pace! Things can be so droll without something to liven things up!" The feline answered with a smile, before looking over to the human, "Is everything alright? Ya seem a little tense. Why if Ah had such a dashing gentleman to accompany me, Ah would feel safe even in the lion's den."
Heart glanced up at Duke, who smiled at her.
"We've jus' been through a lot recently," Duke answered carefully while Duke slid his arm along her shoulders to pull her securely against him.
Heart felt her nerves starting to relax as she leaned her head against his chest.
"Mah deepest apologies, Ah didn't know! Ah do hope that y'all enjoy ya stay here. Ah have made sure to have guest rooms ready for all of ya. Now, if ya may excuse me."
And so, their host left the lovebirds to themselves.
"I didn't know we were stayin' the night," Duke commented as he started to turned to Heart again, "but everythin' seems alright so far right?"
"Y-Yeah," Heart confirmed as he kissed her hand to invite her into another dance.
And so, the night of festivities carried on. Despite their misfitting costumes, an evening of fine music, food, and the occasional game went on without a hitch. Though eventually it all came to a close. The guests were lead to their rooms for the night, all split off into pairs.
Nosedive stayed with Wildwing. Mallory with Tanya. Grin stayed with Phil. Heart was with Duke.
"We really don't want to impose," Wildwing said to no avail.
They were then bid a goodnight and escorted to their guest rooms.
"Rest well everyone," Wildwing attempted to say to the others.
Once in their room, Heartstarted went ahead and quick changed into a red burgundy long sleeved shirt and black leggings. When she turned back to Duke, who was sitting on the soft bed provided, she found herself relaxing a bit. He opened his arms for her as she sat in his lap as he asked, "Feelin' better?"
"Thanks to you," she replied as he wrapped his arms around her tightly.
And so, the guests took to their rest. Soft rainfall pattered against the windows, as the moon glowed faintly behind the overcast obscuring the sky. As they slumbered, their hostess strolled down the hall, with a violin tucked into her chin. Drawing a bow across the strings pulled across the frame, she hummed as sweet, tantalizing music filled the air. As the enchanting tune crept into each room, in every one, a single occupant arose from their slumber, but not awakened. Their leader, the gentle giant, the soldier, and the thief, each in a trance, followed the source after their oh so generous host.
It wasn't long before Heart felt Duke's absence, causing her to awaken only to find him missing. Quickly she wandered out to the hall in search of him.
As Wildwing left Nosedive alone, along with the tapping of rain, there was also the rapping of a hand against the pane, as the pale moth fluttered just outside the room.
The blonde drake had awoken to the tapping of the window, immediately noticing Wildwing was missing, and seeing the moth girl fluttering outside.
"Hey, do you know where our big bro is?" He asked her while still half in shock and asleep while opening the window.
Heart too had come to Dive's guest room at this point in a semi-panic. Her twin spun on his heel and quickly went to let her in. Seeing the unease in her eyes he asked, "You okay girly-girl?"
When Heart hurried into the room, the moth gave a startle, before quickly flying away, leaving the two behind.
"I can't find Duke," she told him.
"Wing is missing too," Nosedive mentioned as he masked his own growing worry, "Maybe they went back to the party?"
"I don't think either of them would just up and leave without saying anything," Heart replied, and Nosedive found he couldn't argue with this statement.
"Hey! Wait!" Nosedive called to the moth girl before she flew out of sight, "Do you know where they are?"
Heart couldn't help but feel the energy of her magic softly sparking around her in warning. Nosedive gripped his sister's shoulders, "Try to stay calm sis. We'll find them."
"Do you think anyone else is missing?" She asked, still sparking electricity.
"Let's head downstairs and see what we can find out," Nosedive suggested jn a surprising calm, "We'll stick together okay?"
Heart finally nodded, trying to calm down, "Okay Dive."
Meanwhile, as Lucille lead the four with the musical enchantment, the owl came up to her. She glance over to him, and smirked, "Ah think Ah made mah pick, dear. I'll take them to mah chambers. Ah trust ya readied what Ah need for the ritual. Go ahead, and have the staff take the others to the larder for... later~"
"You mean the dungeon, madame?" He replied, to which she chuckled, "Ya call it what ya want. Now, make sure they don't get away."
And so, she continued to go down the dark halls, with her new playthings in tow.
As he followed their host and the others, Duke couldn't pull away. Though he couldn't help but feel a pain in his chest as he walked, like an energy reaching and catching him from miles away. Yet he still walked on, pausing for a brief moment until the pain stopped, and then falling into step beside Grin.
Soon Heart and Nosedive were downstairs, finding Tanya and Phil along the way who reported that Mallory and Grin were missing as well. Heart's eyes began to shift, becoming darker with her pupils becoming slitted as a result as she tried not to panic. Tanya made quick note of this and said, "We're going to find them."
"Yeah sis, we've all been captured and stuff before and you never did this?" Nosedive pointed out.
Phil scratched his head a bit in response to all of this, "It could be a defense after all that's happened lately?"
"That makes sense actually," Tanya said while looking to their mostly human teammate, "Still you need to be careful with your magic."
"Tanya's right sis, we don't want you losing yourself to this again," Nosedive told her, "And we need your help to get them back, right?"
Heart's eyes didn't shift back, but she did nod her head and say, "I-I'm trying...believe me. You won't lose me though, not to this."
"Alright sis," Nosedive nodded while giving her a hug before taking the lead.
As the four of them gathered their wits, trying to figure out what to do and where the others were; from the darkness of the manor came forth a group of crimson robed figures, each with a porcelain mask obscuring their faces. In their grasps they carried cruel looking daggers, as they approached, they began circling around our heroes.
Energy began sparking around Heart once again, lashing out at the hands holding daggers.
"Where are our friends?" Nosedive demanded, "What kind of party is this?"
Tanya stayed close to Phil to defend their defenseless manager, who was screaming in fear at this point. Nosedive stayed close to his explosive twin.
"You guys don't know what you woke up," Nosedive warned the hooded figures.
Nosedive, Tanya, and Heart all quick changed to their battle gear now.
Drawing closer, the cultists looked towards each other, a few growing a little hesitant...before one of them grew brave enough to strike. Emboldened, the others followed after, trying to grab and overpower the guests. One of them went for Heart, but as he did so, a crackle of electricity sparked from her, sending him toppling down to the ground, the scent of ozone in the air. Another swiped at Nosedive, as more went after Tanya and the fear struck human.
"Leave them alone!" Heart snapped, her voice growing distorted as though cutting in and out of reality.
"Careful sis," Nosedive warned.
"Where are the others?" Phil finally demanded, realizing his friends and livelihood were at stake, though he was still terrified.
Somewhere unknown, Duke still in his trance felt a strike of energy in his chest that he couldn't shake, nor could he fully wake up to. He half heartedly placed a hand over his chest to try and endure it in some way.
As Lucille played, her bow struck a sour note. Furrowing her brow, she turned back to her new entourage. As she saw the one eyed avian grasp as his chest, she raised a brow inquisitively, and walked up to him. "Oh, poor thing... whatever is the matter? Well, whatever it is, ya won't need to worry about it much longer."
A wicked grin crossed her face, as she leaned up against him, caressing the side of his face with a hand, "Ah am ever so lucky to have such a roguishly handsome man for mahself now."
Taking her bow back up, she resumed playing, leading the four along, further into the recesses of the mansion.
Though when she had spoken to him, or even when she touched his face, it had felt quite alien to Duke. Even cold. His hand ached for a warmth he vaguely thought he missed, but was unable to remember the source of it. He could feel the hand over his heart bearing a wedding band, yet couldn't recall who it's match belonged to. .
Meanwhile as the brawl went on, Nosedive was able to fend off a few of the devotees alongside Heart, despite the difficulty. Two of the robed men gave up and went to grab onto Tanya, and were starting to drag her into the darkness. In all the commotion, the faint flapping of wings could be heard under the heavy rainfall.
"Tanya!" Nosedive exclaimed as he hurried to his friend to fend off the men.
Hearing this, Heart barely registered as claws grew from her fingertips to allow her to slash instinctively at their attackers. A furious panic continued to erupt in her. By now Phil had also grabbed a torch and began swinging it defensively. The group backed off as first, as they defended themselves with flame and fire of their own. However, despite their best efforts, the ones that grabbed a hold of Tanya hurried off, vanishing into the shadowy corridors of the manor.
"Tanya!" Nosedive cried out.
Seeing their quarry's numbers down, they went again to strike, but, the beating of wings grew louder. A pale figure swooped down, leaving behind a glittering powder that engulfed the masked attackers. One by one, they collapsed where they stood. The moth girl from before landed in front of them. Clutching her hands to her chest, she looked away meekly, before stealing a glance at Dive.
Yet the panic that gripped Heart's chest did not leave. Phil grabbed her arm before she tried to follow.
"You can't just charge after them!" He reminded the young part dragon.
Nosedive turned to the moth girl with a relieved smile, "Thanks for the help. Do you know what happened to our teammates though?"
He then turned to his sister, and he saw how blue scales were beginning to emerge after a very long absence. Her twin also noticed the claws at her fingertips. His own unease tugged at him to see her this way, but forced it down as he took hold of her shoulders until she had no choice but to calm down. Her claws reverted back, the energy around her grew less volitile; but her eyes remained in their dragon-like state.
"We'll get them back," Nosedive assured her in a firm tone that almost mimiced their older brother's, "but you have to stay calm before we lose you too, okay?"
Heart managed to nod her head in understanding as she took a breath and eased up slightly. Though she did turn to face the hallway Tanya had been taken into.
Nosedive then looked to the moth girl, "What's going on here moth girl? Can we trust you or not? Where are they taking our teammates?"
The pale girl placed a hand on her arm as she avoided making eye contract with the trio. Stepping forward, she grasped at Dive's hand. Giving a tug, she gestured at them to follow her. Nosedive, without much other choice, followed the girl's lead. Phil was pushed into formation, with Heart taking the back to watch her remaining family from behind them.
"Can you talk at all?" Nosedive asked curiously.
Her face blushed at the question, as she covered the lower part of her face. Her feelers, sticking out from her hair, whisked towards him. As they walked through the mansion, the one brilliantly illuminated before and incredible to behold; now in the dark every shadow seemed like it was ready to pounce, like a feral beast in wait. With just the pale light of the moon and the glow of the torch Phil carried, the moth lead them into the study, and began to look over a large bookcase. Her hands wandered the bindings of the tomes, until they took rest on one, which she began to pull out. A loud click echoed in the pitch black room, as the case slowly began to slide to the side, revealing a winding staircase heading downwards.
"That's unsettling," Phil commented as they followed behond the girl.
Heart looked for signs of their friends; voices, footsteps, feathers, anything.
"Thank you again for helping us, I hope?" Nosedive commented with lingering optimism.
Heart was at the mercy of this new girl.
"Why are they doing this?" She tried to ask, ignoring the fear that made her chest begin to ache, "Did our host do this?"
At last the pain in Duke's chest had eased and he continued to follow the others quietly. His ringed hand fell to his side for the moment. As the four went down the dank passageway, in another part of the mansion, Lucille was getting ready with the aid of her loyal servant. It took a bit of searching to find robes that would fit each of them, Grin in particular, but they were able to make due. In the ceremonial chambers, with the flickering light of dancing flames emerging from braziers surrounding them, Lucille placed the violin down. While she looked over the masks they had set out, she commented, "Hmmmm... well, wasn't anticipating them having beaks, but... we can work with it. No offense, Stryx."
The owl shrugged in response to her comment, as he offered over a large tome, bound in leather with scarlet writings.
Though as the music drifted away, Duke felt a thread back to reality beginning to pull at him.
"Heart...?" He asked still half in the trance.
Beside Duke, Grin also felt his mind starting to clear without the music trailing on. With his own trail in his head to follow, he quickly started fighting through the fog that lingered to cloud it. He started to realize where they were, but listened carefully with a closed tight beak before reacting. He noticed as Duke rested a hand against his heart again, feeling it burning somehow as though trying to wake him up.
The feline's ears perked up at Duke's voice. As she turned around towards him, snickering as she sauntered up to the drake, a hand on his hand, "Why, this one has abit of fight to him! Ah can admire that... but, that can be a problem if Ah let it go unchecked."
Taking him by the chin, she looked him in the eyes, her gaze an icy blue. He could feel his will weaken, her domineering glare overtaking him, "Now then... where were we... oh yes, hand me that book dear, Ah must get the incantations started!"
"Let go..." Duke tried to remember from within..."Where is she?"
Her touch was so sharp and cold to him.
"You're not her..." he quickly remembered while he looked on as though still in a trance.
Grin's mimd had cleared by now as he witnessed the feline's powers. He waited for the perfect moment to break free, knowing he might not have another chance if he acted too quickly. Duke tried to maintain the thread he had found back to his memory and consciousness, remaining at a neutral state, but barely. His heart felt hot as a presence grew closer from down the twisted halls. It were almost as though it were reaching out to him as some sort of signal, or maybe even trying to protect him in some manner.
Back with the rescue team, heading below the mansion, the moth kept quiet as Heart asked her questions. Instead she became more withdrawn, and kept herself close to the blonde drake leading the way with her. There was the fetid stench of dank mildew, filling the air, and the tang of rust and iron. As they got to a entryway, she stopped, shaking in place.
Despite the distressed pressure building in her chest, Heart continued forward through it.
"Can't you give us some sort of answer? We can help you too if you are in trouble," Nosedive tried again, "is Lucille doing this?"
The moth took a deep breath, and nodded. Gathering herself, she started to head in through the door before them. As They followed, they found themselves in what looked like a scene from a horror movie. A torture chamber, filled with all manner of tools of cruelty. A wrack, the wheel, cages of various sizes, and an iron maiden sat in wait for new victims. As they looked on in disgusted awe, they would find Tanya shackled to the wall unharmed, but dazed. The door slammed behind them, as a nasty laugh echoed through the room. Coming forth was a scrawny grey rat, donned in what was once fine evening wear like what the other men wore during the party, but now tattered and ragged. His balding hair was a long greasy mess, and his eyes were so slightly asymmetrical, "Thank you Mina for leading them here... now, I get to have my fun preparing them for the kitchen!"
Heart turned and slashed at the door with emerging claws, but to no avail, "Let us out!"
Energy began to spark around her again. Yet as she looked over the door, her gaze would fall on the lock. Taking a quick breath she glanced at Nosedive who exchanged a nod with her. She then forced her claws back again as she remembered the tools Duke had given her. With that she began discreetly picking the lock while Nosedive distracted their captors, "You guys are insane!"
Phil helped in this endeavor by panicking in his own way behind them, huddled in the corner.
In mere moments that might have made Duke proud, there was a click as Heart swung the door open. Yet she was already fighting the surge of anger in her again as she caught sight of the rat, somethin in her snapping as her tail lashed out now.
"Where are they?" She demanded, her voice growing distorted again, as she grabbed the rat by the throat.
Nosedive and Phil both looked on in shock to see this rapid shift in nature in Heart. While she was always protective, this was quite different. Nosedive in particular, knew that he'd never seen her like this before.
Fatigue tried to set in, but adrenaline kicked in harder as Heart growled in warning, "Where are they? Tell me where is Duke and the others before I fry you!"
Nosedive quickly got Tanya free with the keys he was able to grab from the wall while Heart got answers. Yet when she'd said the last part he felt a jump in his own unease getting his attention. With Tanya released and her arm swung over his shoulder, he glanced back at his sister, "Sis, what is this place doing to you?"
Down the corridors they'd been lead through, Duke felt a burst of pain in his chest again. With a hand gripping for his heart, he gritted his teeth to keep from yelling out. From beside him, Grin noticed and whispered calmly to his friend, "Remember Duke."
The darker feathered drake nodded his head, "She...She's in trouble...an' so are we!"
Grin gave a subtle nod before cracking his knuckles quietly, "We can get out of it."
With that as his only signal, Grin began tearing his robes away as though he were hulking out and rushed towards Lucille and her companion, "Duke, go to her! I will free our friends here!"
Duke nodded as he finally snapped awake. In this moment he slipped off the robe and quick changed to hurry back down the hall. Without looking back he promised, "I'll come back if ya don't get out!"
As the large duck rushed at Lucille, the owl swooped in before him, quick to divert his attack and trip him to the ground. Sneering, the cat clenched her fist, "Ah knew Ah should've had Anton poison them! Now, after him Stryx... ! Ah'll have the new help deal with mah Adnonis here!"
In near flight, the black owl made haste following after Duke, drawing his rapier as he gave chase. The madame of the house took back up her violin, and with a sharp strike of her bow, chuckled to herself as she puppeteered Wildwing and Mallory in her defense.
Grin looked to his leader and friend apologetically as he charged forward to knock them down for now. Mallory was lighter than Wildwing, and was pushed over easier. Their team captain, on the other hand, was a bit harder to force back.
"What have you done to them?" He demanded, "Wildwing! Mallory! Mellow out my friends!"
Continuing her diabolic melodies, she intensified the tempo.
"What have Ah done? Why, mah Herculian boy, Ah have given them the chance of a lifetime! To remain young eternally, with just the prerequisite of being my servants! Ya can join in too, hun, all ya need to do is submit." She carried on, bringing the bow back and forth, each note pulling the strings of her marionettes.
"Frankly, Ah should've thought of this years ago! Luring athletes and making them my servants? Strong, strapping, and oh so capable! Though ya tastes are abit... lacking. Perhaps I could teach y'all a finer sport, like croquet, instead of that brutish passtime... what was it called again? Hockey?" She let out a taunting giggle, a twisted cheshire spreading ear to ear.
"So you are evil!" Grin said as he checked his friends into the walls long enough to try and reach for the madame.
Despite her heavy figure, the feline proved to have some agility. Jumping out of the way of Grin's grasp, she as able to avoid the blow... but he was able to pull the violin out of her grip.
Her fur on end and her pupils narrowing into slits, she hissed at the large brawler, "How dare ya! Why, Ah never! To think... Ah thought ya were cute."
She pointed the bow at him, her ears folded back as she snarled, staring at him in contempt. The cat quickly tossed the bow at his face, and ran out of the chamber as it distracted him. "Now, if ya excuse me, Ah believe Ah have dinner waiting for me... oh, and do play nice with ya friends~"
Grin glared at Lucille as she disappeared. Then he quickly smashed the violin, causing his friends to collapse as though simply asleep. He hoisted them up on his shoulders and then started to follow after where Duke had disappeared.
Back in the dungeon, the rat narrowed his eyes, a slimy smile spreading across his face, "Fry you say? Oh! Perhaps a nice ortolan! Though ducks are not traditional with that. Maybe I could prepare their livers instead into a nice patte for the madame instead!" He said with a wheezing chuckle.
His tail grasped at a blade behind him, before he slashed at her. The moth cowarded, grasping at her head in fear. Heart tried to jump back, but cried out as her side was slashed, causing a decent gash to start bleeding.
"Sis!" Nosedive cried out.
Behind them, as he watched on from his corner, Phil stood up with an anger of his own coming forth. Upon seeing their youngest teammate in pain and bleeding, Phil rushed at the rat with the torch in his hands.
"That's enough!" He yelled, "Tell her what she needs to know, or else I'm going to cook myself a rat for a snack!"
Heart and Nosedive both looked on, stunned by their manager's sudden bravery.
With the portly man coming at him with the torch, Anton let out a yelp, the flame held just before his face. His beady, uneven eyes focused on the dancing fire, he grimaced nervously, putting his hands, nails broken and dirty, up between him and the other.
"She... she didn't use her dust on you..." He responded, his eyes darting towards the insect, narrowing with spite, "Well... I don't see the harm in telling you... Our madame has your other friends off in a private chamber, where she is going to make them her new thralls. They should be grateful, our madame has very discerning tastes."
He gave out a cackle, as he walked backwards, away from the fire. Up against the wall, he smirked, before grabbing for a torch behind him. He yanked on it, and the sound of stone grinding erupted forth, as the ground shook beneath them. The middle of the room sank into a pit, at the bottom vicious spikes gleamed. "I guess I'll be roasting you over a spit for her now!"
Heart jumped to her feet instinctively, pushing Phil outside the door to safety. Then almost out of desperation, while Heart hurried to her two comrades, she forced herself to focus through the pain as fresh pair dragon wings burst from her back. She didn't have time to wonder over this as she darted over to Nosedive and Tanya, who were both shocked to see Heart's wings returned as they scrambled for the door. Heart quickly reached out, grabbing them tightly by their shoulders with her clawed hands. Nosedive also grabbed the moth girl, holding onto her so she wouldn't fall. As the floor continued to crumble under them, Heart managed to keep them just afloat in the air until they they were through the door. As they crossed the threshold to safety, Heart tossed her teammates onto the safe stone flooring before collapsing to the ground, barely caught by her hands and knees.
She cried out as her wings tried to stretch out at first, but were clearly not quite ready to remain just yet. Nosedive, Tanya, and Phil all looked to one another with shared concern in their eyes. Both ducks felt their cores twist as Heart's wings merged back into her, and exhaustion finally started to take over her. Heart's vision blurred from fatigue and tears as her voice trembled, "Duke...guys..."
Nosedive hurried over to his twin now, and he soon had her hoisted up onto his back, "We'll get them back sis, just save your strength okay?"
He then stood up and turned to the moth girl with an unusual gleam of anger in his own eyes, "I don't know what is going on with you! I should be angry you tried to get us cooked, but for some reason I just feel sorry for you! Come with us or don't! We'll find our teammates either way!"
Mina looked away in shame, her feelers drooping sadly. As they were about to head away from the dungeon, the rat lunged from across the pit. He grasped at Phil, snarling and frothing at the mouth, drawing his head back and revealing a maw full of jagged and rotten teeth, "You won't get away so easily! If the madame can't have a taste of you, I certainly will!"
However, before he could rend into their manager, Mina darted at him. Where her mouth should be, a red probosces jutted out from the fuzz on the lower part of her face, as sharp as a needle, and she jabbed it into the rat's shoulder. Holding onto him, she beat her wings hard, forcing the two of them back into the dungeon, and into the abyssal pit, Anton's screams fading away as they plummeted.
Heart watched in horror and exhaustion of what transpired before them. Then, without much more said between them, Nosedive began to carry her down the hall as she struggled to stay awake.
"Let's get going," Nosedive said bravely as they made their way down to where they'd come from.
Along the way they paused briefly when Tanya recalled Heart's injury. They stopped long enough for her to tend to it.
"I've never seen her change so quickly back and forth, even when she first got her scales. She's also much more volitle than before," Tanya commented while she tied the bandaging around Heart's waist.
Nosedive put a hand to the chin of his beak as he pondered aloud, "You know, earlier those party goers all seemed confused when I asked about them being aliens. They seem native to this planet, aside from how they look. Do you think, maybe this place does something to them?"
"Well, we've seen a hungry rat, a moth fluttering between sides, a stoic looking owl, and of course the madame being a cat," Phil mentioned in an attempt to help.
"It could be drawing out a trait of an individual," Tanya pondered while double checking Heart for any other injuries in the calm they found.
"And changing them into a creature of sorts based on that trait maybe?" Phil suggested.
"Maybe it's tapping into Heart's protective side?"
"Or perhaps her magic is clashing with it. Lucille and the others didn't act like this was out of the ordinary for them, while we could," Nosedive said.
He knelt down before his sister while trying to form a plan, "We need to find the others, and get her to Duke."
Heart looked up while trying to regain her senses a bit, "Dive? Tanya?"
Tanya gave her a stern look as she said, "Don't you lose yourself to this place Heart L'Orange! You hear me?"
Heart attempted a nod, but her whole body trembled from fear and fatigue at this point.
Meanwhile Duke had heard Stryx coming after him. Out of instinct, he quickly turned, drawing his saber to then block the blade swinging towards him.
"I don't really have time to dance!" He growled half jokingly, "But if ya insist!"
Duke dodged swipe after swipe and blocked others. After a bit of this, he told his adversary, "It's a shame someone so skilled is tryin' to keep me from her, if it weren't for that I might be havin' fun sparrin' with ya!"
He tried to find an opening to try and get away to find her. For now as he fought back, he felt the pain in his chest lingering with a sharp burning. As her limits were nearly reached, she seemed to be calling for him somehow.
The clash of blades gave to the sounds of steel on steel, sparks flying from each blocked impact and parry. Poise, precision, and finely aimed intent, the two were quite well matched. Despite his silence at first, Stryx gave an amused smirk. "If I may say, you put on quite a good show. So hard to come by somebody so well versed in swordplay these days."
He narrowly dodged Duke's lunges and slashes, before advancing. "However, Madame DeVal wants you for herself, and I can not simply leave her in wating. From what I've seen, you understand what it means to do what is needed to fulfill the wishes of a woman important to you."
Duke blocked and dodged the attacker's blade. "Which is why I won't let her down. I already belong to her."
Duke's one eye held an unshakable intensity. Despite the aching radiating in his chest, the dark feathered drake continued to fight. He then pushed a little in another way, "Besides, if your madame has someone as loyal an' devoted as you, why does she need a thief like me or anyone else for that matter, friend?"
As the two avian swashbucklers carried on their duel, the storm outside grew more intense, the darkness of the room brilliantly banished all for a moment over and over again as lightning struck outside. The rain cascaded down, and the owl was just as relentless. However, at Duke's words, he gave a pause. "If nothing else, your dedication is something I admire. I do certainly hope your lady appreciates it."
Duke gave a nod and a smirk, "She loves me, that's all I need to know."
With that, he rushed froward..., and stopped as Duke blocked, leading their blades in a mock parry, before tossing his own to the side. Crossing his arms, he shook his head, "Hmmm... it looks like you have bested me. I suppose I have no other option than to let you go off then. I just hope you don't go down the hall, into the study, and pull the red book on the last shelf, leading you to the dungeon below... whoops... did I just say that?"
With the match ended, Duke gave a silent look of thanks before hurrying down the hall. He didn't stop until he found the room Stryx had mentioned. There, he was surprised and relieved to find Nosedive's group on the other side of the book shelf.
"Duke!" Nosedive exclaimed with slight relief in his exasperated voice, "Where's Wildwing and the others?"
Duke didn't miss a beat when he saw Heart hanging onto her twin's back. By now she was all but passing out.
"Heart?" He exclaimed, "What happened?"
Nosedive let out a sigh, "It's a long story, and one straight out of a horror movie, man. We need to find the others and get out of here!"
"We think this place is messing with her magic," Tanya mentioned.
"She's been using it like crazy and changing back and forth a lot," Phil added.
Duke's remaining eye widened when Tanya said in a cautious tone, "Her wings even came back for a short bit at one point."
"How did they...?" he shook his head, deciding quickly that this didn't matter much at the moment.
Instead he looked to Heart as she opened her weary eyes, as though he knew she was waking a bit at hearing his voice.
"Give her to me Dive," Duke said as he reached for the barely conscious girl,who in turn was holding her hand out to him, "It's okay Heart, stay with me alright sweetheart?"
"Duke...we have to find the others..." Heart said tiredly as he held her close to him.
"Jus' stay with me, okay-?"
Suddenly thunder cracked and caused them all to jump a bit, as the door to the library slammed open. Looming in the doorway, one hand used to prop herself up against the the door frame stood the imposing form of the madame of the house. Her hair a mess, her blue eyes glowing in the darkness, her toothy smile spread unnaturally wide. In her other hand was a large, sadistic dagger with a ruby sitting in the hilt. Taking a slow, purposeful step, she licked her lips, "So... ya decided to join my morsels, did you? Oooh... just wonderful! After dealing with ya, Ah have built up quite the appetite. But... Ah must admit... I do have the nasty habit of playing with mah food."
She pulled out a crude poppet, and a feather she plucked from Duke when he was entranced. Slipping the feather into the cloth doll, she bit into her tongue, and spat a droplet of blood onto it. With the flash of lightning, the study was illuminated, revealing the many shelves packed with tomes and manuscripts, scrolls and maps... and upon the wall, a large portion was covered with a black sheet.
Duke held Heart close to him, protectively.
"What are you...?" Heart tried to question, while attempting to find some strength, "Where are the others?"
"Dive go down the hall to help Grin with Mal an' Wing!" Duke ordered quickly, "Take Tanya an' Phil with ya! Heart, go-" He started to try and hand Heart back to him, but seeing the poppet made them both freeze.
Though unfamiliar with this brand of magic, something in Heart's core told her not to leave him. She dug her fingers into the cloth of his shirt, refusing to let go.
"Hurry!" Duke shouted.
"Be careful man!" Nosedive urged before leading Tanya and Phil to meet the others.
Slowly making her way to the couple, Lucille began to poke at the doll with her dagger, letting out a giggle with each prod. Duke would grit his teeth as he felt something digging into him, jabbing into old scars and creating new ones.
"Ya could've just let me have mah way... but no, ya had to be uppity, didn't ya? Well, don't worry dearies... Ya won't have to be apart anymore... Ah'll make sure ya last moments are together! Ya should thank me for such a blessin!" And so, she pressed the tip of the blade into the shoulder of the doll.
Duke couldn't help but yell out in pain as he felt a stabbing in his shoulder. He tried to hold onto Heart, but with each prod he began to bleed more. Heart felt the warm flow staining his battle gear as she held onto him, pleading, "Stop!"
At last he unwillingly lost his grip as he collapsed onto his knees. Heart fell onto her backside as he dropped her.
"Stop it! Leave him alone!" Heart tried to get up, finding shreds of energy left in her to at least stand.
"Heart..." Duke winced in pain as he grasped for her hand, as though trying to stop her.
He told Lucille in a sharp breath, "Ya couldn't make me forget...!"
Heart looked to Duke in confusion for a moment, "What are you talking about Duke?"
Then she turned to face Lucille, wanting direct answers as an anger began to return in her, "What did you do?"
The feline chuckled, coming closer to her prey, "What did Ah do? Well, simple darhlin', Ah was gonna make him mah own. Ah mean, he is quite a catch after all, so ya really can't blame me! But..., if ya gonna be so resistant, Ah might as well take care of the two of you right here and now... a shame... he had such potential... and ya, little missy, well... Ah was looking forward to keeping ya for a good, long time. Been so long since Ah had draconic blood. Such a rare treat."
That very blood began to boil in Heart when she heard these words. She stood shakily between their vampiric host and Duke. Heart started to try and tap into what reserves she had left.
"Heart if ya give much more..."Duke warned as Heart's energy sparked, trying not to sputter out as it danced weakly around them.
"I was alone before Duke and the others came along. I won't let anyone take them like this," Heart's eyes started to shift at first, but with a breath taken, changed back, "You won't hurt him!"
Trembling, she lunged at the vampire, tackling her and knocking the doll out of her hands. She then struggled against Lucille, trying to keep her strength up. Lucille scuffled with Heart, though being much heavier made it nearly effortless for her to hold her ground. With the red haired girl tapping out her last bit of strength, it made it all the easier for the cat to shove her off, and then pin her against the wall, using her bulk to her advantage.
"Why ya little!" She hissed, before taking a moment to compose herself, "Now... ya didn't have to be impatient... if ya wanted to be first, well... ya should've just asked."
Heart tried to get free, but her energy was all but gone. Lucille opened her mouth, revealing a set of long, sharp teeth. A cold breath emanated within, as she came in closer, taking her time to savor the fear of her victim before going in for the bite.
Yet Heart did not cower as Lucille opened her mouth to bite her. Instead the feline would find a pair of sapphire eyes glaring back at her with a calm anger remaining in her. The deep blue of a raging storm watched Lucille as Heart glared at her, speaking firmly, "I don't really care as long as he is safe! I'm not afraid of what you can do to me, it's Duke and the others I care about. As long as you try to hurt him, I will stand up! Take my blood, my magic, but you can never steal him from me!"
Heart was exhausted, but she remained steady with her sapphire eyes open and fixed on Lucille, before glancing towards Duke as he said to her, "I care what happens to ya, Heart."
This drew out a weak smile from the dragonblood as her energy all but sparked out from exhaustion.
Her fur standing on end, Lucille took Heart by the shoulders, and slammed her against the wall again. Heart gave out an unwilling cry as her back collided with the unforgiving stone behind her. Yet she remained conscious out of stubborness at this point.
"Oh! Ya two think ya so special? Ya think ya love can prevail and save the day, don't ya?! Awh, bless ya heart, ya really think that!" She sneered, her cold eyes glaring intensely at the draconian blooded girl, "Ah hate to break it to ya, but, things don't work out like that! But, ya know, Ah'm a merciful lady. Ah'll let ya go together! So ya don't have to suffer the pain of surviving!"
With that, she took Heart from the wall, and tossed her at Duke on the floor. The rogue instinctively held out his arms, pushing past his fresh wounds to catch Heart. As he pulled her close against him, the two kneeled before Lucille on the cold floor. They looked to one another for a brief moment before facing the madame of the manor. She could see as Duke shielded Heart with his hand against her head, and she in turn rested a firm hand over his chest.
However, as Lucille had thrown Heart, she shook the wall enough to loosen the sheet, which fell from it's perch. It came down with Lucille's back turned to it, revealing... what looked like the cat before them, abit thinner but still plump. Yet more importantly, she was with a wolf of a man, dressed in the regalia of a antiquated high ranking soldier. In the painting, the two of them held onto each other, looking into one other's eyes... and looked truly happy, unlike the monster that stood before them.
Kneeling before her together still, holding onto one another, shielding the other with what strength they had left in them. Then they looked up as the painting was uncovered, revealing this tucked away possibility? Heart looked up at the painting widening blue eyes that soon met with Lucille's spheres of icy fury.
"Is this why?" She asked softly.
Glaring down at the two, she sneered at them with spite, "Oh, what are ya going on about now, childe?"
Looking behind herself, she gave a gasp, and dropped the dagger. Taking a step back, her hands trembled as her voice quivered, "Victor... please... please don't see me... like this..."
Backing up further, she glanced down at Duke and Heart on the floor before her still. Heart's eyes were oddly steady as they watched her.
"Like... a monster... ya would've done anything for me... like... these two would for each other... oh... Victor Ah... Ah'm so sorry..." Her eyes began to water, as she covered her mouth.
Upon witnessing this, Heart carefully pulled away from Duke. He got to his feet as well as he watched Heart approaching Lucille carefully. By now the others had found them, Wildwing and Mallory now awake and out of their trance. They watched on in quiet aw as Heart reached out to Lucille and pulled her into a hug. While the madame wept Heart didn't pull away, against her defenses and better judgement.
"Being alone...it twists the heart. If I hadn't found Duke and the others...I...I'm not sure what would have happened," Heart admitted gently before adding, glancing at Duke briefly, "but you can choose to change, to be better?"
Heart's tired body trembled, but she stayed standing none the less. "If I ever lost Duke...I don't know if I'd be the same..."
Lucille's body was large and soft, but cold to the touch. As Heart embraced the predator, Lucille's ears lowered, her tail faintly swishing behind herself. This girl, whom moments ago she was ready to butcher and consume, was now trying to comfort her. Lucille couldn't help but laugh, but, unlike before, there was no hint of pride or cruelty. Placing her hands on Heart's shoulders, she chuckled, as her eyes welled up. "Oh sweet childe... Ah... Ah really miss him so... but... it's far too late for me..."
Stryx emerged from the corner, behind Grin, Mallory, and Wildwing. He stood in silence, watching this unfold.
"Ah've made mah decisions... can't undo what Ah've done now..." Lucille said,"... Ah don't deserve him anymore... if Ah ever did to begin with."
"That's what they said about me. As a thief, I knew I didn't deserve to even meet Heart, but fate gave me a chance to be with her," Duke stated as he walked over to them, "An' I know for certain that someone in this room cares enough about ya to support ya. Ta see past everythin' an' help ya go forward?"
Heart's strength began to waiver as she nearly collapsed from fatigue, but Duke, despite his injuries, caught her with ease and swept her up again.
Shaking her head, she let out a weak chuckle, "Ah think that what ya done is not really... comparable..."
She looked over towards Stryx, and made her way to him. He met her halfway, and took her hand. Looking up at her, his ember eyes met her cerculeans. Turning back towards them, she waved her hand at them dismissively. "...ya are free to go. Off with ya now..."
The others turned to leave, but Duke paused as the others left the room. Instead he turned back to Lucille while Heart had at last passed out in his arms. It was this that made him say to the madame, "Heart wouldn't have reached out to ya if she didn't see some good in ya. Especially after tonight's...events," he told her, "It would be a shame to turn that kindness away."
Duke then added thoughtfully, "This is all still very new to her, an' we can only help her learn so much about it. Her dragonblood. Perhaps you could help her understand that magic somehow? An' Stryx there is a good fencing partner."
Stryx smirked at that, before looking to Lucille for her answer. "... perhaps... just... Ah need some time to mahself... Ya kindness will not be forgotten though. Mina, show them out."
And standing before them in the hall was the mothgirl... though her pale tone was flushed a shade of pink now. She gave a nod, and began to lead them back to the entry.
Duke nodded in understanding before looking over Heart as trusted him to keep her safe, knowing somehow that he and the others were now. As he went to leave he said quietly to the feline and owl, "I'm sorry for whatever happened to ya, an' thank you for not takin' her from me."
With that he followed after the others. Once outside the manor he briefly looked up at it. Then he turned to see the see his teammates near the Migrator parked just outsie the gates. With a sigh of relief he gazed over Heart as she began to stir a bit.
"Ya risked a lot tonight sweetheart," he told her as he kissed her forehead gently.
"You guys are insane!" Phil exclaimed, "You were all either enslaved or eaten! I was going to be cooked in there!"
"Aw, it's cool Phil!" Nosedive laughed a bit tiredly.
Wildwing patted his brother's shoulder, "I'm proud of you for this one baby brother."
Nosedive shrugged before waving goodbye to the moth girl with a wink and a friendly smile, "All in a night's work as a super hero and big brother!"
Once everyone was inside and seated, with a cot pulled out for Heart, Wildwing took the wheel and began driving them home. Heart opened her eyes long enough to lookup at the windows of the mansion, waving a tired hand goodbye to the two she thought she could see watching from inside. She then, after briefly glancing over to see Duke as he said to her, "We're all here sweetheart, don't ya worry okay?"
Heart gave a relieved, but still very tired, smile before she drifted off to sleep again. As she did, Duke looked up as well and waved farewell, wondering, "Ya find the oddest friends don't ya Heart. Then again, I guess I'm lucky for that aren't I?"
Her answer was holding onto his hand tightly, along with the energy in his chest easing up as he held hers in return.