Ziabach's Worst Enemy!

Part 14

"Marel!? What are you doing here?!" I demanded. I looked to Dilandau, who stared at me. "Why is she here?"

"I came to get you." Marel's voice came in. I looked down to her.

"Why? I told you, I have to stay." I said.

"You got me out, so I have to get you out." She said.

"Well, a fine job you did." I said sarcastically. She looked around and noted the two guards around her, then looked up to me and gave me a look with a mix of amusement and a form of betrayal. I turned to Folken, and bit down my anger. Oh, what I would have given to strike him at that moment. How I wanted to reach out and just smack him across the face. "I demand that you let her go." I said.

"And let her become as much of a threat to Zaibach as you have?" he asked, a tone of mockery clearly ringing in his voice. "Never." He said, staring at me.

I narrowed my eyes. I had not done it in a while, as there was no need, and the action seemed unpracticed and foreign. "It's part of the deal. Or if you insist on her staying then I believe that gives me the right to go free." I said. "So, who would you rather contain, my sister or me?" I asked.

He looked at me, testing my strength in the matter. "We'll hold both of you." He said. He spoke to the guards, although his eyes still tried to pierce mine, although I remained unaffected. "Tie her up and take her to a cell."

I stood for a moment, a little surprised. I turned quickly and allowed my foot to fly out and knock the first guard in the temple, knocked him out of course. As he tumbled to the sandy-covered ground I grasped the hilt of the sword, dragged it out swiftly, and spun quickly, placing the tip of it at Folken's neck. "Let me say again. I DEMAND you release her." I said. He stared at me, surprised at my quick movements.

To be honest I had been rather shocked I could still move as quickly, considering as how I had not needed the skills to fight anyone anymore. Although sometimes I did ask to spar with Dilandau, who was now standing, waiting, in the corner of the cell by the door. He made no move to come and help Folken, although he did speak. "Tora, don't do anything drastic." He said.

I was so close. I had the blade to his throat; I could so easily just kill him here. I could so easily put my quest of revenge to rest, so easily encase my family's memory in a crystal ball of happiness. I was so close. So close…

I edged the tip of the sword closer to his airway, the tip placed upon his flesh. "Well?" I asked. He moved. His mettle hand emerged and grabbed the sword, bending it—BENDING the mettle, pulling me towards him and then kneeing me in the solarplex and shoving down upon my shoulder to force me to the ground.

I didn't stay down for long however. I grabbed his knees and squeezed them together as my shoulder rammed into his stomach and I pushed against him. He fell of course, and I scrambled on top of him, grasped the sword from his hand that had opened on account of his surprise, and placed the now bent, but still ever-so-sharp blade to his neck once more. "Release her." I said one last time.

He watched me for a little, and when I slid the blade across his neck a little to cut his skin and draw blood he was surprised. I set my fingers on his neck so they gathered some of the blood and then I showed it to him. "See? I can kill you and then we can both escape, or you can make a decision now and decide to release one of us." I said.

"Dilandau, release Marel." Folken said right away. Obviously they still thought that I was too much of a threat, not to mention I had practically just killed him. That was dangerous for them too.

Dilandau moved swiftly in taking Marel from the cell. The guards that had once been watching my sister now came and lifted me from Folken, as the one whom I'd knocked out had awoken. I tossed the sword down, and when I turned to leave the cell my eyesight was flooded with the picture of the hilt of a sword that came and struck my eyebrow. Because of lack of practice from not being knocked out, I did black out.

~ * ~

When I came to I was back in my room, and Gatti was ringing out a cloth, which I had anticipated was white once, but was now stained at pinkish-red kind of colour. I looked up to him.

"So, the ever-dangerous Tora has finally awoken." He said, a smile playing his mouth. I smiled back. "You know, everyone had thought that you had calmed down." He said as he dabbed the gash on my head. "You hadn't caused trouble for so long, we thought you had lost your fighting spirit."

"I almost had. You people all started acting like I was suppose to be here, so I got used to it that way. But when I saw Marel, it was just as though I had never managed to get her out two months ago, that I still had to do it. I mean, I knew I had all ready done it, but it was as though I had to do it again, you know?" I asked. He just looked down at me quizzically. "No, I don't suppose you do." To which I laughed. "Give me that." I said, taking the rag from him in a playful manner and dabbing my scar as I sat up against the back of the bed.

"Dilandau-sama will be coming to see you soon." He said. He stood. "I thought you might like to know. You're the talk of the station. It was very exciting for all of us who had seen you fight to find out that you had done it again." He said, smiling. "Rest well Tora." He turned and left briskly, and for once in a long, long while, I heard the 'click' of the mettle lock being set in place.

~ * ~

I had gone back to sleep after fixing my injury. I did, after all, have a terrible headache. Nothing I was used to of course, for I had gotten many from the beatings I'd received from both Dilandau and the other soldiers. But I hadn't had one for a while. I was sitting in my bed, wondering if Marel had made it out safely, when Dilandau came into my room.

I was surprised at first, and jumped when the door suddenly opened. Usually they knocked before coming in. "Hello." He said simply.

"Hi." I responded. We hadn't really done too much couple-wise, as I'm sure most of the slayers thought we did. Just a hug to something here or there, but we never really sat down and cuddled or anything, which I was fine with, as Dilandau didn't seem like the kinda person who would do that. I knew I wasn't. "Did you see that Marel got out unharmed?" I asked. He nodded.

"You know, everyone was talking about you." He said, coming and sitting on the foot of my bed.

I nodded. "Yup, Gatti told me. I also noticed that he locked my door." I said.

Dilandau raised his eyebrows. "He did?" He asked. I nodded once more. "Hm." He said thoughtfully. "You must have scared Folken-sama a great deal in order for him to lock you into your room once more."

"Will you get into trouble for not getting me off of him?" I asked.

Dilandau shook his head. "I told him that if I stepped any closer I was afraid that you would slit his throat." He shrugged. "The emperor wasn't too happy when he found out about your little spar." He said.

I laughed. "Well, perhaps he should do something about it." I joked.

Dilandau suddenly got a very serious look on his face. "He did." He said. I felt my smile slip away.

"He did?" I echoed. Dilandau nodded.

"He set you in a smaller room, with cameras, and limited time to speak with the slayers." He said.

"What?!" I asked, enraged.

"He says that now that you know Marel is willing to help you escape your desire to get out will flair up again." Dilandau said.

"But-!" I started, but Dilandau held up a hand and silenced me.

"I have to take you there now." He said. He stood and waited. I grumpily threw off my covers and stood before him, wrapping my arms around myself, as the air was cold compared to the warm softness of my covers. "Come on." He said, starting to lead the way.

I followed him down a couple corridors, until he stopped in front of a room, and opened the door. It was indeed much smaller then my room from before, which had contained a bed, a dresser, a closet, and a built-on bathroom. This only had room for a Bed, a closet (Formed into the wall) and my bathroom was half the size. It did however, have a window, which lead to a balcony. Not very big mind you, just enough for someone to stand on and breath some fresh air.

I looked to Dilandau. "I won't stay here." I said. I suppose that being in such a big room for so long had spoiled me to an extent. Dilandau raised an eyebrow. "I won't stay here!" I said again.

"You have to." He said.

"No!" I said. I looked around again, calming myself. It wasn't very big, but it had a cozy turn to it. I sighed and slumped to the bed I had made my way to. I dropped my hands onto my lap and looked at them. I glanced up at Dilandau, who was watching me, then back to my hands and spoke; "I wanted to kill him Dilandau." I said. I looked up at him again and held his gaze. "I was so close. I could have just slit his throat and have been done." I said. I looked back to my hands. "It scared me. I haven't hurt anyone in a while. I wasn't used to thoughts like that." I said.

Dilandau came and took a seat next to me. I looked up at him, not knowing what I should expect. "He killed almost everything you hold dear. Anyone would have wanted him dead. Anyone would have killed him if they had your chance." He said.

I felt my anger flair up towards him again. Yes. He had taken everything dear to me, accept Marel, which he nearly took as well. He deserved what I had stopped myself from doing. I felt my rage forming a new quest. I would kill Folken. I had always thought about it, but I didn't know. Now I did. I would kill Folken. My mind was made up. Nothing, not Dilandau, or Gatti, or even Miguel (whose nose was still working on healing by the way) could change my mind.

Pictures of my family flashed through my mind. I remembered our town. Maybe after he was dead I could go back with Marel and visit. But one thing was for sure. I would kill Folken, like he had made so many others; I would do what he had done to so many others; I would hurt him, like he had done to so many others. Yes I would.

Authors Note: YAY! Aren't you all SO proud of me?! I FINALLY got another part up! I'm so sorry that it took so long too. I had a major case of writers block, not to mention I was working on about 3 other stories at the same time. And yes, I am aware the ending is very weak and corny, but it's about 1:30 in the morning and my creative juices aren't on a major dam-break here. I'm kind of more like a shallow river in Africa during the dry season.

Didn't my grammar and everything get so much better though? I was so proud! Look at it! It's so beautiful! Anyway! As always, reviews are always much appreciated. ^_^ I have no idea where I'm going with this, so just bear with me people! Please? I know I'm planning to do something with Marel, but I'll shut up now because you're all still there! SO HA! Sorry there wasn't too much Tora*Dilly stuff in this one, I'll try and work on that. But, like I said, I'm tired. SO! I shall bid you all a very fond good night. Quel Undome!

Sephron/Tora/Artemis