Bonds of Fate


Devon loved only four things in life. Pain, power, money, and himself. Right now he was enjoying the pain of the monsters below him, and the power he had to make them fight. Giant stood beside him, his features twisted into a menacing scowl. Devon spoke to him, carrying on a more or less one sided conversation.

"Isn't it magnificent Giant?" he gestured to the field, grinning as Oberon sent flames of darkness to envelope the Naraku. "Real sport, eh?"

"Yes Master."

"Don't you find it so much interesting when the monsters fight for their lives?"

"Yes Master."

"We're running out of powerful monsters. Isn't my new acquisition superb?"

"Yes Master."

"How do you think that hybrid would do, Loki I believe they call him. Wouldn't that be something?"

"Certainly Master."

"Try to get him next time, isn't much useful for anything else."

"As you wish, Master."

"I dare say, these two have lasted longer than all the others. Who is their breeder? I'm never good with unimportant names."

"Shindri, Master."

"Mm," Devon mused. "I'll have to fetch her someday, remind me will you Giant?"

"Yes, Master."

Devon turned back to the battle, smiling as a cry of pain echoed through the room.

-*-

Seta cried out angrily as his companion was enveloped in flames. His shoulder bled openly from when Oberon had got him with his scythe. Nonetheless, he barreled into the monster's side, snapping his concentration. The flames fell away and Dante fell to his knees, then rose again, battered as he was, and shot a sphere of red energy at his opponent. Oberon batted it away easily, grimacing as Seta's claws dug into his back. He spun and sent a torrent of water at the fire type monster. Dante looked on in horror as Seta was engulfed, then collapsed, flames burning weakly. He shrieked in rage and gathered his remaining power. A spiral of dark energy barreled into Oberon's chest and knocked him into the wall. Breathing heavily he fell to his knees. He didn't even try to fight back as a gust of wind rose up and crashed him into the wall behind him, then everything went black.

-*-

Oberon leaned on his scythe as Devon's applause swept over the arena. "Excellent! You truly are unsurpassed."

Despite his weariness, Oberon turned and knelt before his Master. "I've obeyed your wishes."

"Good," Devon smiled cruelly. "Finish them."

Oberon's head shot up in shock. "What?!"

"You heard me. I've researched you Oberon, you have a finishing ability I'd like to see. And you are sworn to obey whoever released you till the day you die. So I command you to finish them."

"But Master," Oberon protested, gesturing toward Seta's prone form. "I thought you said that one was one of your favorites. Why would you want me to destroy him?"

"I could always create another," Devon scoffed. "And as for the other, I could merely buy one from the expedition overseas. Now finish them."

Oberon drew a shuddering breath. He closed his eyes, and then blocked out any other sensation from the real world. A black aura surrounded him, and his cloak began to flare out and rise. Tongues of red flames edged with black appeared, surrounding his mask. Devon tapped his foot in anticipation.

The same black aura that surrounded Oberon now surrounded his two opponents. Even though unconscious their faces contorted with pain. Suddenly, Oberon's eyes snapped open and he cried out. The darkness that surrounded the two zans intensified, then shot toward Oberon. He cried out again as he absorbed them, then there was a flash, and then nothing.

Oberon drew a shuddering breath, supporting himself on his staff. Devon's voice rang out again. "Well?"

"They'll live for only a few hours more," Oberon said softly, then melted into shadows. Devon thought awhile, then smirked deviously.

"Giant, take them back to their breeder, I'm sure she's worried sick over them."

-*-

Shin paced nervously about the barn floor. They had been gone for hours! She stopped and ran her fingers through her hair, then assumed her pacing. Silvern watched her quietly, while Dis, Shade, Loki and Zephyr gambled on the floor. Zephyr threw down his cards again. "Dammit Dis, I know your scanning with your eye! Cheater!"

"Shut up all of you!!!" Shin yelled. "Seta and Dante have been gone without a word for the good part of the day and all you can think about is your stupid card game!!!"

"Calm down," Silvern said, quietly. "You're a nervous wreck."

"I have a reason! I can feel it, something bad has happened to them, and I just, and I just-"

She bit back a scream and continued pacing. And then she resumed it as the door flung open and Giant strode in, carrying the two limp forms and then dropping them on the floor like a sack of potatoes. He dusted off his hands and turn to face Shin. "I wouldn't expect them to live."

Shin rushed over to them. "You-What did you do to them?!?!?!?!?"

"The Master's business is his own, I am just his messenger."

With that he walked out of the barn and into the chilly night, slamming the twin doors behind him. Shin turned her tear-stained face toward the remaining monsters in the barn, all frozen in shock. "Get the medical kit. Loki, I want you to go get Nysine."

Like a movie coming out of pause, everyone rushed to do as they had been ordered, and all Shin could do was cry.

-*-

"There's nothing I can do," Nysine murmured, her voice heavy with sorrow. "I'm afraid they're dying."

You could've heard a pin drop. Shin spoke up, her voice shaking from trying to hold back from crying again. "What happened?"

Nysine started to pack up her medical bag. "Well, they look like they've had their life drained out of them. I'm guessing it's that new monster Devon got. Brought it straight from hell that's what I say. I've seen cases like yours before, but never as bad. I hate to tell you this kid, but your going to have to hope for a miracle, 'cuz that's all that can help them now."

She stood up and walked out. Shin buried her head in her knees. "I'll kill them both," she hissed from between clenched teeth. "I'll kill them!"

Loki put an arm around her comfortingly. Zephyr looked at Dis and Shade, unsure of what to do. They both shrugged, then retreated to the top loft where they slept. There was nothing they could do or say that would make it any better. Silvern remained below, staring at the ground with unseeing eyes. Every now and then they would flicker toward Dante, then back, then to Shin, then back. Shin leaned in toward Loki, dropping her tough exterior and just cried some more. She couldn't fight it, she couldn't pretend. She couldn't be Shin, now she was just weak, pathetic Shindri, the small little girl so alone, and longing for a shoulder to lean on.

-*-

"You're a fuckin' monster!"

Devon sat with his arms crossed, a bored look on his face as Corren vented and raged. "You just ordered your, your creature to kill them?! You just wasted their lives for nothing!!!!!"

Devon yawned. "Corren, Corren, Corren, we've been through this before. You a child has a new toy, he has to play with it doesn't he?"

"Not when it means life!! Shin is going to be crushed!! Dammit, crushed!! You might lose one of the best ranchers you have!!! You asshole!!!!"

"Tut, tut, watch the language."

"And all you do is sit your imperious ass in that chair and act like the world is your fucking plaything!!!"

"It is."

Corren looked at him in shock. "You're damn crazy."

"No, I'm quite sane. You see, now that I have my monster, the world is as well as mine. It's all just a matter of time before-"

He was cut off short as Corren's fist collided with his cheek and sent him spinning to the floor. "Shut up. Just shut up about your world domination and your almighty monster. You better find away to help save those monsters' lives or I swear I will kill you myself."

Devon laughed. He laughed as he picked himself up, just kept on laughing like a maniac as he fingered the bruise on his cheek. "You fool, you damned fool. You'll regret this when I have my power, you'll all regret it!"

He cackled insanely, throwing his head back. Corren shook his head. "He's crazy."

Meanwhile in the shadows, Oberon's eyes flickered. There was something he had to do about this. It could mean his entrapment again, but he had promised himself never to kill like that again. The only way he could make it up was to give them back their lives. Swiftly, silently, he melted into the darkness of the night, traveling invisibly toward the zan's barn.

Wow, this was ever-so dramatic. Don't you just hate Devon? Don't worry he'll get what's coming to him, eventually. I'll try to get the next chappie up soon. I love your reviews! ^-^*