This is my first fanfiction so please go easy on it. If you like the story I'll keep chapters coming. If not keep it to yourself, please don't hate on it. If you find any errors, whether it be spelling, grammar or anything else please just let me know. I've been reading many of the fanfictions on this site but I just wanted to add my own to them.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Underland Chronicles or any of the characters, save the ones that I will be adding. Both the Underland Chronicles and the characters within belong to Suzanne Collins.
-Ssi
Gregor stood motionless as his eyes stayed, unwavering, on Luxa's body. She lay sprawled out on the stone floor of the counsel room. Blood poured from her abdomen, staining her purple dress a gruesome maroon. Her eyes were shut and her face showed no sign of emotion or life.
Gregor remained frozen as Vellac turned to face him. Luxa's killer nonchalantly placed the blade of the dagger in his hand and wiped Luxa's blood off onto his palm. "Ah, Warrior, I always hoped to have met you. However your untimely arrival forced me to move my schedule ahead, earlier than I personally would have liked." Vellac sighed out, almost bored, before raising his blood soaked hand to his forehead and running his fingers through his own hair. Luxa's blood was smeared through his hair and glimmered bright scarlet in the torchlight.
Remaining silent, Gregor simply continued to stare blankly at Luxa.
"Speechless?" Vellac flaunted as he returned his dagger to his belt. "I always wondered how you were able to do it. YOU let the Bane live, YOU stopped Solovet from freeing us of the Gnawers indefinitely, YOU allied yourself with the Gnawers, and YOU watched as hundreds and hundreds of humans died. I always wondered how you could forsake your own kind, but it seems clear to me now, that YOU simply are not one of us."
"You know nothing about me," Gregor retorted coldly as his eyes switched to Vellac. His blood was solid, cold as ice. He tried to welcome his rager side, but it never came.
"I know all I need to know," Vellac sneered, "However, why you would trust the Gnawers over the humans, only Sandwich knows. You were even cunning enough to puppeteer this insufferable disgrace on the Underland," Vellac motioned to Luxa's lifeless form, "into creating a truce with the beast. Now they linger upon this city under the belief that they are welcomed. Those that would have themselves allied to them are mere weaklings."
"You speak as if you aren't the reason they're in the palace right now," Gregor was sick of this talk already but he couldn't will anything save his lips to move.
"To me they are but a means to an end, their time shall come. Just not before the weak are weeded out and dealt with," Vellac grinned sadistically. "To which I have already begun as you can bluntly see. Our Royal Highness here would have us break bread with the animals that have hunted us for centuries. She is a stain upon Regalia that had to be cleansed before the city could truly begin to heal."
He felt no sign of his rager side, his veins did not pump heavily with heated blood nor could he see any of Vellac's weaknesses, but Gregor could not hold it in any longer. Gregor's anger burst out as he charged Vellac blindly. Before he knew it, Gregor was laying on his back on the stone floor after getting punched in the gut. Jumping to his feet, Gregor sprinted back towards Vellac and swung his right fist into the traitor's face. Before it made contact however, Vellac grabbed Gregor's arm and flung the young man into the wall over a table.
"When I had heard you were a rager, I suspected you would be more like Ripred. I saw him fight during the War of Time, now that was impressive. This… I am not quite sure what to say." Vellac taunted him.
Gregor pushed himself back to his feet and barreled into Vellac's stomach with his shoulder. No sooner had he done so before Vellac's knee made contact with his chest sending him hurled back onto the stone floor. Gregor rolled onto his side and saw the sword that Luxa had dropped lying on the ground. He dived for it and clambered off of the ground as he rose to his feet with the sword grasped in both hands.
Vellac drew the thick broadsword from his side and welded it in one hand with ease. Gregor hacked away at Vellac but each of his blade strokes met with an empty clang of metal clashing. For the first time in his life Gregor missed his rager abilities. Often they seemed more like a curse or burden than a gift, but this wasn't one of those times. Upon the next stroke, Gregor's blade once again met with Vellac's unmovable sword. Taking his own retaliation, Vellac moved fast than Gregor could see. But Gregor could feel it alright. The back of Vellac's left hand made contact with Gregor's cheek and sent him stumbling backwards and dropping his sword.
Gregor lay next to Luxa as Vellac stood over the scene. Gregor moved to his knees and bowed over Luxa's body. In reality he no longer cared whether he lived or died. Although she had been out of his life for over four years, Gregor couldn't imagine living in a world that he knew Luxa was no longer a part of. He stared at her face. She looked so peaceful, so calm. Her expression was emotionless but beautiful none the less. Gregor felt a tear escape his eye as he waited for Vellac to let him join Luxa.
That when Gregor heard the cough. It was a small cough, almost inaudible. I single drop of blood trailed across Luxa's cheek as it fell from her lips. Within a fraction of a second Gregor felt his heart start up again and beat ferociously against his ribcage. The blood boiled in his veins as they began to pump fast and strong throughout every muscle in his body. Luxa coughed again, but this time it was louder, loud enough that it echoed off of everything and everyone in the room. Gregor's echolocation lit the room up like a Christmas tree as his senses heightened. He saw himself clearer than a mirror. Luxa's body continued to lie out in front of him. And he saw Vellac, standing directly behind him as his arm rose, positioning his blade for the killing strike. Gregor's rager sensation woke from hibernation as Gregor's vision fragmented. Gregor's vision went black; he couldn't see or hear anything. All of his senses left him.
Gregor blinked a few times as his sense of sight returned to him. He stumbled around still dizzy. Gregor blinked again and saw Vellac in front of him barely conscious. Blood ran from a cut under his eye and a dark purple bruise covered his cheek. Gregor's left hand held the top of Vellac's chest plate holding him up, while his right hand held the dagger from Vellac's belt aimed straight at the traitor's face. Gregor could easily end his life right there. All he would have to do was bring the knife down to meet its next victim.
Gregor couldn't bring himself to do it. His fingers ripped themselves away from the hilt of the dagger as it dropped to the ground. Gregor released Vellac and let him fall backwards onto the stone before turning and sliding into place a Luxa's side.
"Luxa, Luxa stay with me." Gregor cried out as he stroked her forehead. Her eyelids fluttered but didn't open. Gregor tried hard to think of what he could do. He had to try to stop the bleeding before thinking of what else to do. Blood still seeped out of Luxa at an alarming pace. Gregor removed the rest of his sweater over the makeshift bandage still over his bicep. Placing his sweater over the hole in Luxa's abdomen, Gregor tried to keep pressure on her wound.
"HELP! HELP! SOMEONE!" Gregor screamed as loud as he could over his shoulder. "Everything is going to be ok, Luxa, I promise, you're going to be fine" Gregor whispered quietly to her. Luxa moved her hand over Gregor's and laid her fingers on top of his. Her lips moved as if she was trying to say something but Gregor couldn't hear her. "ANYONE? PLEASE HELP!" He screamed again over his shoulder in desperation.
Hearing shifting near the door, Gregor looked to see Mareth round the corner and stop in his tracks.
"Howard, Luxa's injured," Mareth shouted over his shoulder before running over to her and Gregor.
Gregor watched as Howard, Perdita and a few other soldiers and doctors entered the room. Gregor couldn't make out any words as Howard and another doctor maneuvered around Luxa's body and started to work. Gregor felt Howard move his hand every once and a while as the doctor began to stitch up Luxa's wound.
"Gregor!" Howard shouted as Gregor's eyes shot up to the sound of his name. "I said push harder or the stitches won't stay!"
Gregor added more pressure around Luxa's wound and felt a shiver run down his spine as more blood pumped out of her. Gregor closed his eyes and took long dep breaths as he tried to calm himself down. Once the stitched were in, Howard pushed Gregor's hands away and started to wrap a bandage around the wound. A small pool of blood soaked the stone around Luxa. Gregor backed away and looked down at his hands completely covered in her blood.
Gregor looked over at Howard waiting for his diagnosis. Howard finished wrapping her up and looked around the room. Howard took a deep breath and cleared the silence from the room, "She should live, she has lost a lot of blood but it does not look as though anything important has been torn. She will need time to recover however. What happened?" Howard asked as he hand Gregor a washcloth.
Gregor began to wipe as much of the blood from his hands as he could. "Vellac betrayed her. By the time I got here I saw all of the counsel dead and I saw Vellac stab her. And… I didn't know what to do I just shouted until you showed up." Gregor choked out.
"You are telling us Vellac is working with the rebels? Why? He is the only reason anyone survived at the Fount!" one of the soldiers shouted out. "He has proven his loyalty to the Queen already, who are you to say he is a traitor?"
"Because I just saw him stab her!" Gregor retorted angrily at the soldier.
"So just your word?" The soldier shouted back.
"Silence, Vulkor," Perdita commanded. "If the Warrior claims to have seen this than we shall take his word for it, when Luxa wakes I am sure she can explain what happened before Gregor arrived but until then we shall remain faithful to his word."
Gregor shot Perdita a grateful look, among everything else going on right now he'd rather not have to deal with anyone calling him a liar.
"You truly believe this Overlander over your own people?" Vulkor spat at Perdita.
"Yes we do," Mareth spoke up, "and considering he is the only reason any of us are alive today I would suggest you to do likewise." Mareth then turned to Gregor, "But, if you saw him stab Luxa where did he go, why would you let him leave with his life?"
The question confused Gregor. "Leave? I didn't let him leave, he's right over…" Gregor looked over at the ground where he had released Vellac. It was empty. "…there," Gregor's voice trailed off.
Mareth exhaled briefly and Vulkor spoke up again, "Oh great. A warrior that cannot make sure to finish the job."
"Cease your bickering, and leave if you wish to harass the Warrior any longer!" Perdita spat at Vulkor. "My biggest concern right now, and yours should be as well, is the Queen." She turned to Howard. "You say she needs time to recover, but where? The palace is no longer safe, we cannot simply have her recover in the hospital, nor can we place guards in front of her chambers. If Vellac was involved then there is no way of telling who else could be working with him."
Gregor thought for a moment and assumed Howard was thinking as well. Gregor glanced over at Mareth whose eyes met his own. "If it's not safe here, we could take her there?" Gregor asked.
"It would be less than ideal but he is right," Mareth replied.
Perdita looked horrified however, "No, she would be too unsafe there."
"Where? Take her where?" Howard asked.
Perdita answered him quickly, "Gregor would like to suggest taking Luxa to the Overland."
"Just until she recovers," Gregor said defensively, "look, she needs to recover and right now the only place we know that the rebels will not be able to find her is the Overland. Hazard is already up there, it's not a perfect plan but it beats her staying here unable to defend herself."
"No, I shall not allow it." Perdita put her foot down.
"Perdita, as much as I hate to say it he is right. She would be far safer there. Gregor, can you take her there and keep her safe until she can return?" Howard asked.
Gregor nodded his head as Perdita gave a look of defeat.
"Then quickly we must get to High Hall before any others may hear of this plan. We may agree here but I guarantee you, not everyone will." Howard said as he picked up Luxa and started to walk through the halls.
Gregor sprinted on ahead and slid into High Hal which was crowded with humans and bats. "Iris!" Gregor called out into the crowds. "Iris!"
The white bat upon hearing her name fluttered down beside Gregor, "Is everything alright? Did you find what you were looking for?" Iris asked.
"In a way," Gregor responded, "Do you know how to get to the Overland passageway near the stadium where you and I met?"
"Yes of course, why?" Iris asked, puzzled.
Iris' question was answered when Howard entered the room carrying Luxa. "Look she's really badly injured and I need to get her to the Overland where she'll be safe only until she is recovered. Can you please trust me just this once? I promise I won't ask you for anything more I just need your help."
Iris looked around uneasily before nodding to Gregor, "I believe I owe you more than my life already, this is a start to paying off that debt." She murmured quietly.
"Thank you so much," Gregor exclaimed as he helped Howard lay Luxa onto Iris' back. Gregor hesitated climbing onto her back as well. He lamented the idea of riding any bat that was Ares, but he needed to keep Luxa safe and this was the only way of doing so. Climbing onto her back Gregor turned to Howard, "Fly you high, Howard. Please tell Aurora or someone to meet me at the entrance to the Overland tomorrow morning, so I can keep you guys updated."
"I will, fly you high, Gregor, be safe," Howard said as Iris lifted into the air and beat her wings against the air as she bolted towards the stadium.
The fight wasn't particularly long but Gregor felt the minutes elongate as he held the unconscious Luxa hoping everything was going to be alright. When they arrived Gregor carefully pushed Luxa through the grate and followed after. After saying goodbye and thanking Iris one more time, Gregor pick Luxa up and quietly started to move out of the laundry room. Gregor was beyond glad that no one was out walking around to see him carrying around the strange looking recently bandaged young woman.
Gregor didn't bother knocking when he reached Mrs. Cormaci's door and quickly pushed down the nob and walked into the apartment.
"-If he is even- Gregor, if that is you I swear I'm going to…" Zoey stopped midsentence as she turned to see Gregor.
"Luxa!" Hazard shouted out. Before he could run forward to her, Mrs. Cormaci grabbed his shoulder and pulled him closer to her.
"Hazard, she's fine she just really needs to rest right now," Gregor said, as Kyle and Zoey started to barrage Gregor with questions. Ignoring them Gregor walked over to the guest bedroom and laid Luxa down onto the bed carefully. Gregor carefully pulled a blanket over Luxa and made sure she was still breathing slowly before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
"I'll explain in a second," Gregor said, "Mrs. Cormaci, I'm so so sorry to impose like this on you but I had to."
Mrs. Cormaci immediately responded, "If you hadn't we both know I would've slapped the snot out of you. You're family Gregor, that makes this home one for both of you as well."
Gregor calmed down in relief, "Do you have any sowing needles and thread?"
"Of course what do you-" Mrs. Cormaci started before she saw him remove his makeshift bandage to reveal the three long gashed etched into his bicep.
"Gregor, what the heck happened?" Kyle asked.
Zoey quickly added, "How many of those do you have?" pointing at the scars that completely covered his arms. This was the first time either of them had seen Gregor without a sweater on, so for the first time in four years, Gregor had revealed to an Overlander, the scars that plagued him from the Underland.
"I'll explain… and too many," He responded as Mrs. Cormaci handed him the sowing kit.
"I don't exactly have medical string or anything, is that safe?" She asked as Gregor tied the string onto one of the thinner needles.
"This'll be fine, thank you." Gregor responded.
"Don't you want to take a pain-" Zoey started as Gregor shoved the needle through his arm and began to sow shut the first gash. "-killer… first." She finished.
Gregor took a deep breath and looked at Zoey and Kyle. There wasn't any way that he could cover this up any longer. "A little over five years ago, at the start of the summer- I sort of, um, fell…" Gregor began to recount the events in which he had kept a secret for basically as long as he could remember now.
There is Chapter 13. I meant to have this up last week but my Grandfather passed away last Saturday so i just wasn't up for writing and posting up the chapter. But it is here now and I really hope all of you enjoy it. It may seem slightly rushed closer to the end just because of the sheer length of it so i'm sorry for that. Feel free to give me your thoughts on the chapter in a review. Thank you to everyone who reviewed my last few chapters, they're really helpful! Thank you! Please rate and review. Any and all feedback is welcomed.
-Ssi
