Chapter 17
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Notes: There are several.
Subtitle for this chapter: In Which Our Confidence In Evain Is Restored... Sorta
So I recently too the liberty of planning out the rest of the chapters, and it looks like there will be about 23, including the epilogue. Don't worry, I DO plan on finishing this. And I'm considering a sequel, depending on how I feel once I've finished this.
Listen up. Bullfrog owns Dungeon Keeper. I own Dungeon Secrets. I also own the weirdy concepts in here like the Darknesses and whatnot. Don't steal, unless it's from Bullfrog, in which case steal, but be nice about it and don't make profit. If you like my fic and want to archive it just ask and I'll probably say yes.
This story contains slash (male/male relationships)! If this bothers you, just leave now, don't waste your time and mine flaming me about it.
For a glossary of terms and concepts, as well as a map of this Realm, go to this address: http://dragonnest.freeservers.com/fics/dungeonviewshelp.html
As always, I'd like to thank my wonderful beta reader, Vagabond.
Pronunciation Key:
Kaelay: [KAY-lay]
Seiat: [SAY-aht]
Tarkasas: [Tar-KAH-sas]
Ramasha: [Ra-MAH-sha]
Mortagui: [Mor-tah-GUY]
Evain: [Eh-VAIN]
Tukash: [TOO-kash]
Kethian: [KEH-thee-un]
Zannos: [ZAHN-nos]
I think that's all, so on with the fic!
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Kaelay
Something is up. Something strange. Mortagui is attacking me over the minefield. It is a stupid, pointless manoeuvre, and one that I'm sure Zannos would never allow an ally of his to do. I can build up that minefield almost as fast as he destroys it, so the only net result is an unholy amount of damage to his creatures. Even if he did manage to get through, he would be so weakened that I could crush him without a struggle. There is only one conceivable reason why he might be doing this.
A distraction.
I set a few guards to watch over the minefield just in case. Dark Elves are the best in this situation; they can pick off the few creatures who manage to get close before said creatures can begin to inflict damage on my dungeon. Now that that is taken care of, I will go on patrol.
I take a handful of creatures with me - mostly Skeletons and Mistresses. I place a few of them at each entrance to my Dungeon, along with one Ghost each to check for invisibility spells. If Mortagui is attacking me openly, then it probably means that Zannos is planning to use that as a cover for his own, more covert attack. They still think that I do not know that Zannos is here. They're in for a surprise.
I am beginning to worry. I don't see anyone at the entrances. Nothing should be able to get by my guard rooms now. Still... I place a Hellhound at each entrance as well. Their sense of smell is invaluable in letting them know that an enemy is approaching, even when using an invisibility spell.
Still no one. Is it possible that this foolish attack of Mortagui's is real? Does he really hope to break through my defenses? I travel over there curiously, to watch his progress.
Many of the fear traps on the front lines have been destroyed, and my Imps cannot get close enough to replace them. No matter though. There is still much space for the creatures to trudge through. Already the ground is littered with corpses. Still, these dead fighters were lower level. I know that Mortagui has stronger creatures than that. If this were really an attack, I don't think that he would hold back so much. Maybe-
PAIN!
Suddenly a throbbing pain shoots through my Heart. I scream, but it is cut short. I cannot breathe! I cannot move! No!
Your Dungeon Heart is being attacked! the Darkness yells unnecessarily. I can hardly register the words through the pain. My vision is beginning to cloud over. I am dimly aware of the fact that I am heading back towards my Heart, but movement is difficult and I am disoriented. This pain is not ordinary. A being attacking my Heart should not be able to inflict this much damage at once. He must be using a spell of some sort.
I'm turned around. This is the way to my Heart, isn't it? My mind is clouding. Why is this happening? Pain has never done this to me before. Is it another spell? I can feel the beating, but I don't know where it is coming from. Has it always been this slow? Is it fading? Why is it so loud in my mind? It shouldn't be this loud! Is it dimming? Shouldn't the dimming make it quieter as well as slower? What is happening to me?
And then suddenly it is over as quickly as it began.
My bearings return to me immediately and I speed towards the Heart. I am so stupid! Zannos must have used a spy of some sort right before Mortagui created his distraction. I should have been watching more closely! I'm a fool!
I reach the Heart to find a rather interesting scene.
There is a charred corpse on the floor. Judging by the scorched appearance of the ground around it, I'd say it was hit by either a lightning spell or an inferno spell. Probably the former. The fading energy signal tells me that the creature was indeed Blue. From the little I can make out, it appears to have been a Rogue.
The Heart on the other hand, reeks of a destructive green spell. I was right. Mortagui must have given one of his spells to one of Zannos's creatures. I have no idea what it was, but it was powerful. In addition to doing considerable damage - my Heart is a fraction of the size it was before, the beating has slowed, and the color is off - it also disoriented me so much that I never would have been able to make it here in time.
Which leads me to the other component of this scene. Evain, in the formless energy cloud of a Keeper once more, hovers above my Heart. I can feel the scowl he is wearing in his emotions. He is angry. But more than that. He appears... frightened?
I expected you to be more careful than this, Kaelay, he admonishes. A swift retort rises in my mind, but I stop myself before I say it. He just saved my life, and besides that he's also right.
I... I'm at a loss for words. My impulse is to apologize. But why? He should need no apology from me! I am his superior. I do not have to defend my actions. And yet...
I'm sorry Evain, I hear myself saying. You are right. I should have been more careful. Thank you for coming to my rescue.
He seems less surprised than I am by what I have just said. Hmmm. Well, I suppose that you know what you are doing, he says rather grudgingly. Then abruptly, his tone changes. Just... try not to let something like that happen again, okay?
It is all I can do to nod, and he leaves swiftly. All of a sudden I am filled with an irrational anger. I have been made a fool of in front of Evain! A mere novice compared to me! And I let my guard down. I need to make someone suffer. My Heart is still aching a little from the bashing it took. Someone should hurt as much as I hurt.
Well... why not? I know the perfect subject. The one who got me into this mess...
Seiat
Maybe I should do something. But what? I'll go to the Lair again and see what the situation is. But there's still so much to be done. I feel the Pull. Keeper wants us to-
"Are you Seiat?"
A voice from behind me. I turn to find the speaker, only to come face to face with a Dark Mistress. A very tall, evil-looking Dark Mistress. I don't like Dark Mistresses. They scare me.
"Y-yes," I reply hesitantly.
"Good," she says decisively. "Come along then like a good boy."
Without thinking, I begin to follow her. It takes me a few moments to remember that I do not know what is going on.
"I'm sorry," I begin, "but where are we going? And why?"
The Mistress does not stop walking. "Oh right, I forgot to mention," she says nonchalantly, "Mistress Kaelay wants me to torture you."
That stops me cold. "T-torture?!" I squeak.
"Of course." The Mistress looks over her shoulder at me. "Oh come on Cutie, if Keeper ordered it, then you know deserve it."
Deserve... But why? What did I-
Oh yeah. The Angel.
So I deserve it. I brought the wretched Angel in here. I do deserve to be tortured. Mistress is right. Mistress is always right. But... I do not want to be tortured. I'm afraid.
I don't realize that the Mistress is waiting for me until she lifts me by the shirt and drags me forward. I squeal slightly in protest, unable to help myself. She simply giggles and continues dragging me.
The torture chamber is empty, but that only seems to increase its sense of menace. The wood and metal torture devices lie there like a dragon preparing to pounce on an unsuspecting victim. All around us the ambient red light flickers and dances, the light seeming to watch; the crowd of spectators at an execution. If I listen, I can almost hear their screams.
I try not to shake as the Mistress chains me to a wall, but I cannot seem to help it. I can hear the cold unyielding metal of the chain around my wrists clanking as my vibrations repeatedly knock it against the wall.
The Mistress sees this and snickers. "Don't worry," she says casually, "the Keeper has given direct orders for me not to kill you. I'm supposed to make you suffer as much as possible." With that she winks at me bawdily and picks up a whip.
I shudder, knowing that this is what my Mistress wants.
Tarkasas
I open my eyes suddenly, wondering how long I have been asleep. I shake my head, trying to clear it. I never meant to sleep, simply to rest for a moment. Is Ramasha okay?
I look over to his bed, but he is not there! What could have happened? Is he alright? I look around wildly, but he does not appear to be in the Lair. I fear the worst. Could Tukash be after him again?
Scrambling out of bed, I head for the Lair exit. A sleepy-looking Dark Angel enters as I pass through the doorway, and I halt her.
"Have you seen Ramasha?" I ask. "He's a new Dark Angel here, large scar across one shoulder?"
"Hm?" She blinks at me. She must be very tired. "Angel... yeah. I think so. I think I saw him. He was... by the bridge."
I thank her quickly and move on. There's only one bridge currently in our dungeon. It's small, and right outside the gem seam we discovered when we first sealed this alliance. As I near the Treasure Room, I break into a run. Please let him be there.
I round the corner of the gem seam and catch a glimpse of his back through the doorway. I come to a stumbling halt, suddenly feeling silly for being so irrationally worried. I slow my pace and walk quietly toward him.
He's sitting on the very edge of the bridge, dangling his feet into the stream below. I don't think he realizes I'm here. I approach him and something glints in his hand. He's staring at it. What is it?
Curiously I walk closer, until the glint takes on shape and becomes... a dagger? Yes. He holds it, turning it over and over in his hands. As I watch, he suddenly halts its motion and presses the point to his wrist. Taking a deep breath, he tenses and-
"NO!" I scream, running towards him. Not that me reaching him matters. He is so startled at the sound of my voice that he drops the dagger and turns to stare at me, wide-eyed.
I reach his side and kneel down next to him, snatching up the dagger and tossing it away from us. I grab his wrists to prevent further movement.
"What were you doing?" I try to meet his eyes, but he keeps his face turned downwards, not even looking at me. He remains silent.
"ANSWER ME!" I don't mean to yell, but the fear is getting to me. He was trying to kill himself.
"You should stay away from me." His voice is so quiet; I almost don't hear him. Stay away? Why? Is he... is he mad at me? Have I done something?
"Why Ramasha," I ask, "why should I stay away?"
"Because." I can hear a slight tremor in his voice. He's holding back tears. "I'm cursed. Everyone around me dies."
I'm rather confused at that. What happened before... "Is this about Kethian?" I hazard.
He flinches at the mention of the name. "Kethian... Oh God. You don't know what I did."
"Tell me," I plead. I relax my grip on his arms, and he seems to sag in on himself, as though I had been holding him up.
"Kethian," he murmurs again. "I was so in love with him."
I feel a pang go through me. Even though I have no idea who this Kethian is, it hurts me to think of Ramasha in love with someone else. I'm hurt, and irrationally jealous on top of it. This is not the right mind frame to talk to Ramasha in. Forcing myself to calm down, I pull Ramasha gently into my lap. When he doesn't resist, I also put my arms around him hesitantly.
He turns his head into my chest, clutching a bit of my tunic (I'm not wearing my armor at the moment). For a while he doesn't speak, simply drawing deep, shuddering breaths.
When he finally does decide to talk, the story that spills from him is disjointed and blurred by pain. I gather enough of it however to ascertain exactly who Kethian was and what happened to him.
"I killed him," Ramasha finishes. "I'm such a monster. I don't deserve to be with you. I thought it would be best if I just... got rid of myself."
"No. Oh Gods no, Ramasha. Don't think that." I love you. Please don't think that.
He takes another deep breath. "I'm sorry. I know I should be stronger. I was once, you know. I was strong."
"You are strong Ramasha!" I tell him. "You're one of the strongest people I know. I don't know anyone who could have lasted as long as you have under the kind of torture you've been through. I don't think I could."
Finally he looks up into my eyes. Gods. His eyes are such a beautiful blue. "Really?" he whispers.
I nod. "Without a doubt."
He seems satisfied with that. Closing his eyes, he leans back against my chest contentedly.
I decide to let him stay like that for a while.
Ramasha
I know he should have let me die, but... I feel so safe like this, in his arms.
I don't deserve to live. Not after what I did to Kethian. I don't want to die, but I feel I have to. I am simply making the world a darker place by existing within it. Tarkasas doesn't deserve that. I don't know what sort of infatuation he has with me, but I'm sure that it's not that important.
So safe. And warm. Why does it seem so warm in his arms like this? Was I cold before?
There's something simply wonderful about the way his arm circles around my back, just below my wings. Almost subconsciously I lower them slightly around us. It's a normal physical reaction really. An Angel's wings make him more secure. They are what set us physically apart from ordinary humans after all. So it is comforting to wrap oneself in them. Except that in this case it has one rather unanticipated side effect.
The situation suddenly becomes much more intimate.
I don't realize it at first, but my wings have the effect of confining us both to a very small space indeed.
I am now quite aware of Tarkasas's breathing, and the sound of his heartbeat under my ear. My heartbeat.
I look up, slightly embarrassed, only to find my face scant inches from his. Now I'm sure I'm blushing. Yet I can't seem to bring myself to look away. He has very beautiful eyes I notice, not for the first time.
Tarkasas, for his part, seems very calm. How can that be? I can hardly breathe.
He looks into my eyes for a moment, then down to my lips, then back up at my eyes. I know what he's going to do. He wants to kiss me. He begins to lean forward slightly.
And I lower my head. I'm not ready for this yet. When I killed Kethian, I was unaware of my own past. Now that it has been returned to me, it is as though I lost Kethian only yesterday. I have never been given a chance to mourn him.
I can feel Tarkasas hesitate, then shrug lightly. He does not push it, for which I am thankful.
We sit that way for a long time. It begins to grow cold. It is late, and though the sunlight does not reach this realm, the darkness does.
"We should get back," Tarkasas says eventually. I nod, but make no effort to move. Finally he stands up, bringing me with him. I cannot meet his eyes. I'm too embarrassed, and ashamed of what I tried to do.
"Ramasha. Ramasha, please, look at me." I tilt my head up, afraid of what I will find in his gaze.
I have nothing to worry about. He merely shows concern. "Please," he says again, placing a hand on my shoulder, "don't try this again. I couldn't bear to lose you."
My breath catches slightly. Does he really feel that deeply?
I remember belatedly that he asked me a question and nod, unable to voice my affirmative.
He is satisfied, and puts an arm lightly around my waist, leading me back to the Lair.
I lie down in my bed. The entire evening seems suddenly to be a dream. I can't seem to recall if the emotions were real or imagined. Did I really try to kill myself? I shouldn't have. That was almost a betrayal of Kaelay.
I glance over at Tarkasas, but he seems caught up in his own thoughts. Yawning, I give myself over to the darkness of sleep.
Oh God, that was hideous. Take me back.
or
Oh God, that was hideous. Let me complain to the author.