Yuri opened his eyes, slowly. Something told him that opening them quickly would be a bad idea. In fact, opening them at all was a bad idea. Yuri winced at the light and closed his eyes. He reopened them when he realised that his wrists and ankles were chained together. Again. Yuri sighed.
"Took your time, didn't you?" Death Emperor said acerbically. "In case you're wondering, your useless exorcist called for help from the nearest church. Seems that they 'trained' her." Death Emperor's tone suggested that 'train' would not have been the word he would use to describe what the church had done.
"Yuri I take it?" a man's voice asked from behind him. Yuri turned his head to the noise.
"My name is Father Cassiel. Juliet tells me that you exhibited some behaviours that we of the Faith call possession. After observing you, I'm inclined to agree."
"Pompous ass, isn't he? That girl couldn't even tell you if it was sunny or not!" Death Emperor commented. Yuri repressed the impulse to giggle. He was inclined to agree with Death Emperor. Juliet was quite hopeless at the whole exorcism business and that Cassiel guy just gave him the creeps.
Yuri's opinion of Cassiel was well deserved.
"We began the exorcism process immediately after we realised, and soon you will be free of your demon possessor - Praise be to God!" the Father continued fervently. Yuri rolled his eyes. This was becoming tedious and he was getting hungry.
"Excuse me Father, but I haven't eaten since Wednesday. Is food out of the question?" Yuri asked tersely. To a fourteen-year-old boy, there is nothing worse then some boring old person interrupting valuable eating time.
"I'm sorry my child, but part of the process is that you must fast," Cassiel said apologetically. "Rest assured, the ceremony is only four days away!"
"I don't think you're my father. I'm not a whore's get," Yuri replied. He smiled sweetly.
"Idiot!" Death Emperor shouted. "Very true, but you shouldn't have said it! That'll only make this harder!" Death Emperor broke off suddenly as Father Cassiel backhanded Yuri.
"Foul demon, I will force you to leave this innocent soul!" he spat and walked away. Yuri waited until he could no longer hear Cassiel's footsteps then whispered, "What do you mean?"
"Now that you've shown that you're unwilling for the rite, he will use force to supposedly weaken the control your so-called demon has on you, namely me. You idiot!" Death Emperor said angrily. Before Yuri could reply, Cassiel returned, holding a whip with nine tails on the end.
"I'm sorry, Yuri. It's for your own good," Father Cassiel said apologetically then swung the whip back and flicked the ends into Yuri's back. Nine leather straps, each ended with a metal ball bearing, ripped open the skin. Yuri gasped. The only thing Cassiel said was, "One."
This torment went on for either an eternity, or an instant. Yuri had no sense of time. He distantly heard Cassiel say "Ten," but ignored it as inconsequential. The flaying paused, and Yuri hoped desperately that Cassiel wouldn't start the pain again. His hope was in vain when Cassiel sprinkled a powder on his back. When the powder encountered raw or bleeding flesh, it burned. His back a mass of agony, Yuri passed out.
The next four days were spent in a similar manner. Cassiel required no provocation to whip Yuri, convinced that inflicting the cat of nine tails on him was eventually benefiting his soul. Yuri wasn't convinced. In fact, Yuri was barely conscious, which was probably a good thing. He would rouse occasionally to Death Emperor's increasing desperate shouts, and then pass out again.
"Yuri, they're beginning! Yuri, wake up!" Death Emperor screamed, knowing it was futile. Yuri hadn't responded to him in over a day and quite frankly, Death Emperor was worried.
"Our Lord, our Savior, protect this child from Evil. Through no wrongdoing of his own, a foul demon has possessed him. Exorcise him, oh Lord and preserve his immortal soul!" Father Cassiel shouted. Death Emperor really didn't like him now. However, Yuri might be lucky, this guy probably had no idea what he was doing. Maybe.
Death Emperor's hopes were dashed when Cassiel's eyes rolled into his head and he shouted some phrase in Latin. Death Emperor felt his hold on Yuri slip, and then fall away completely.
Father Cassiel looked in satisfaction at the limp Yuri. He had saved another soul from the lures of the Eternal Enemy. He turned to walk away, but was tapped on the shoulder. He spun around and was greeted by Death Emperor, one very annoyed ex-god. Cassiel only had time to register this before Death Emperor ripped him apart.
Juliet gasped, betraying her position. Death Emperor dissolved, and then reappeared in front of her. She met the same fate as late Father Cassiel. Death Emperor's rage was not sated though. He drew on power that he had last experienced centuries before and released it explosively. The church started to collapse.
A glimmer of reason invaded Death Emperor's brain. He apparated in front of Yuri and picked him up. Yuri's head lolled on his shoulder. Death Emperor's rage was ignited again, but controlled himself. If the last Hyuga should die….he didn't finish that thought. The two disappeared.
They reappeared in the forest about 5 kilometres from the church. Death Emperor put Yuri down gently. He then rummaged desperately through Yuri's backpack. He pulled out all of Yuri's thera roots and shoved them down his throat. Some colour returned to Yuri's face and his breathing became easier.
Relieved, Death Emperor properly looked at Yuri for the first time. He shook his head. Yuri looked so young from the outside. Too young. A twisted smile crossed Death Emperor's face.
"Feeling sorry for the boy?" he asked himself sardonically. "You sad bastard. Wake him up. If he doesn't accept you again soon…" Death Emperor shuddered at that thought. He had no intention of becoming a powerless wraith. Whatever his reasons for his sentiment, Death Emperor shook Yuri awake. He opened his eyelids slowly, gaze hazy and unfocused.
"Whatre doin?" Yuri slurred. "I c'n s'you. Shouldn't."
"Yuri, you have to touch me, and your power at the same time. Can you do that?" Death Emperor asked softly. Yuri shook his head.
"Hurts…" he complained. Death Emperor resisted the urge to sigh in frustration.
"I know it does. But if you do this quickly, it won't hurt anymore," he coaxed. An intense look on concentration crossed Yuri's face. Death Emperor took this as a good sign. Yuri extended his hand and grabbed Death Emperor by the wrist. A familiar feeling of being absorbed was the last thing Death Emperor felt externally, and then he was back in Yuri's mind. Frowning, he began the work that would get Yuri well enough to get help. Hopefully. Death Emperor was not optimistic, but was resolved.
Authors Note: In response to Greyfriers-Spirit (I can't spell to save myself), there is in fact a Mary Sue….sort of. If I understand it correctly, a Mary Sue is a desperate attempt by a female writer to try and score with a fictional character by inserting herself in a story. If that is the case, then Yuri is a modified Mary Sue. What can I say? I like being sardonic, rude and bad tempered. It's more fun then being nice. I have no intention of trying to score with any of my characters though!
Yes this chapter is much darker then the recent ones. That's probably going to continue….when necessary. And the relationship between Yuri and Death Emperor is a sort of twisted father-child thing. I spent ages trying to establish that, so tell me if it's ok. Don't worry, DE will be his usual abrasive self in the next chapter though!
Nights Mistress