Diablo 2: Visions of You (Chapter 5)
By Amethyst Haze (amethyst_haze@hotmail.com)
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Disclaimer: I do not own Diablo II, its concepts, its designs or anything else related to it. Those are the property of Blizzard Entertainment, this story is simply a non-profit tribute and parody. This story is Rated R for moments of sexual content, offensive language and violence.
Amethyst Haze's comments: If this story sounds EXTREMELY familiar to you.... then you've read the original fanfic as the NC-17 version when it was under my old pen name. I will not be writing like that anymore. Also, you might want to have read through "Longing to be with you" first since Visions of You is the second in that series. :P
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Discarded bits of food, dirt and water vegetation lay strewn on the stone ground and beneath Rune's heavy leather boots as he plodded around the market square. Upon straw-woven mats sat merchants with their merchandise that proved to be tempting to all but the druid. He turned his eyes away from the bolts of cloths, bunches of fruit and bundles of other items being waved about to catch a buyer. The chatter of the market place and the sharply warm smell of the spices permeated into his brain, disturbing the silence he longed for and was so used to in his years of peace as a druid.
From the corner of his eye, one merchant managed to catch his eye by waving a small slab of stone. A rune! He thought, stalking over without missing a beat to inspect the item. However, a moment away from his destination, a woman blocked his path, her bare back facing him as she picked the stone from the merchant's hand with an exchange of currency before leaving.
Rune cursed at himself for not being quick enough. He watched the tanned and toned woman glance back with an odd regard before smiling mockingly as she raised the rune in her hand and turned away.
The druid sighed, feeling the sounds of chatter of the marketplace overwhelm his senses again. A feeling shot through as contrasting as the white bolt of silk that lay nestled in a bundle of rough wool on the cloth merchant's mat. He whirled around, staring far into the densely-grown jungle just several meters away. His finely tuned sense recognized that foreboding chill as it ripped up his spine. Danger.... he knew it.
On edge and on alert, two of his fingers tapped the hilt of his long sword to leave a feeling of assurance that he was prepared for whatever nightmare lurked in the thick jungle.
***
His eyes half-lidded and narrowed, Ferrum sighed. The pressure in his abdomen had steadily grown since he laid his eyes upon Alys as she ran down the docks. Right now, she was supposed to be in his arms; they were supposed to be spending time together and, more importantly, time alone. And despite his hopes and the long months of waiting to see her beautiful face again, there he was: in her house, on her pallet, feeling amorous... and horribly ALONE. He could all but imagine a giant rock crushing his hopes, but not the passion he still longed to let Alys feel.
Ferrum's mouth thinned to a grimace as he studied the dusty ceiling and all its glorious cracks. A thought dawned on him that made him smile sardonically. His number one fear, concerning sex, was that his woman, if on her back, would one day be counting the cracks on the ceiling. Never had he imagined himself to be the one counting.... even though really the situation was not the same as his fear.
Rocking on to his knees, he stood up, picking up his bone wand and tucking it into the waist of his pants before he straightened out his clothes and his tousled hair. Feeling satisfied (though not when it concerns the demands of his lower ego') he exited her house and began the ten-step trip towards Alkor's shop.
On the first step, he immediately spied Spikey outside the shop, listening in intently. He shook his head at the metal golem's antics. Like all of his non-undead creations, Spikey acted as though it were human. It was a distinct trait, delightful and annoying at times.
Glancing at the sign above the entrance of Alkor's house, he read the foreign script with a frown. "Potions and poisons." Not exactly the best replacement of a welcome mat, but served it's purpose. A chill ran through Ferrum as he remembered the rumour that had spread quickly of Alkor selling poisons that could slowly kill any mortal. Of course... no one could prove it. And Alkor felt no guilt in selling poisons, he constantly insisted the blame be set to whoever uses the poison with malicious intent.
Ferrum thought that was a pathetic excuse and it's only purpose was to dodge the blame... which he did rather well considering he had not yet been the victim of justice, a.k.a. vengeance.
The first sound that greeted Ferrum's ears, besides the nervous skitter of Spikey's feet, was Alys' soft and timid voice in the middle of an apology.
"—slipped. I didn't do it intentionally. I'm sorry..."
In the shop, Alys clasped her hands in front of her and stared at them, her head lowered in obedience. On the floor lay a broken red-clay figurine of an intricate and primitive design. Alkor, stood next to her, yelling with his hands placed authoritatively on the frail hips hidden beneath the rough looking attire he wore. He stared down at his niece with a glare enough to terrify even the now-broken mythological creature that lay shattered on the floor.
"Idiot girl," he hissed venomously, his scratchy and aged voice irritating both Ferrum and Krysta considering both their hands curled into tight fists. "Can't you do anything right?" Alys' mouth opened to protest, but Alkor gave no pause for an answer. "Probably not. Just as useless as your mother." He turned away, a look of disgust set into his wrinkly features as his voice grew more nasal. "Except maybe not since your mother was only useful serving on the flat of her back."
A sick feeling grew inside of Ferrum. He was torn between two feelings, the desire to hold Alys and not allow Alkor's poisonous words to seep into her or to tear off Alkor's head and give it to Spikey as a toy. His blue eyes turned to Alys as he opened his mouth to speak.
Alys' face paled as she quickly darted around the broken statue on the floor and ran out the door, pushing Ferrum aside and ignoring his attempt to embrace her. Ferrum's voice only worked as an awkward squeak as he watched Alys break into a mad dash for the docks without even a glance back.
Rooted to the spot, Ferrum stared at the house her figure disappeared behind.
Alkor kept muttering to himself. "Not good for anything," his voiced was filled with putrid venom as he babbled on. "Except for seducing foreigners by being on the flat of their backs." He tinkered with a few glass vials. "Hmph... she went always after the fair-haired ones... The whore's tainted blood flowed straight to her daughter..."
A growl emerged from Krysta. "I won't be buying anything today," she gritted her teeth as she whirled around and stalked out of the store, throwing Ferrum a sympathetic look. Immediately, Spikey followed after the assassin, glancing back at its creator before running to catch up with Krysta.
A disgusted feeling pitted itself in her stomach and knotted uncomfortably around it. Krysta wouldn't allow herself to stand there any longer or give Alkor any of her business just for his angry words to Alys. Even though the assassin knew very little about the lady, she couldn't care whether the potion dealer's words rang true or not. The point was the humiliation Alys must be suffering from due to his words.
She shook her head, her steps being echoed by the metal jangle of Spikey's movements. Behind her, she heard another rhythmic pattern, once much quicker, heavier and less metallic than that of the golem. She smiled to herself as she felt the slight breeze of Ferrum rushing by her and in the direction that his lady fled.
"Alys!" he called out, disappearing behind the same building towards the docks.
***
Rune tensed as the feeling crept up at him like a vengeful phantom brushing the back of his neck to get a rise from the small hairs. Eyes on him, dozens, all filled with evil intent.... he could feel it. His eyes darted around to every innocent and unsuspecting villager milling around the market square.
That was a lot of people to protect. He questioned his intuition again, unsure of if it was just solid ground that set him on edge.
The thought was brushed aside once an agonized scream pierced through the ambiance of the crowd. The cries grew louder as the chaos spread and the people ran away from the scene.
Pouring in through the dense jungle was a large mob of evil in a small package. The demons, only a foot high, swarmed angrily into the tropical village with a chattering sound of a high-pitched old man's voice behind rattling rotten teeth.
Rune moved into action, unsheathing his long sword and weaving his way through the opposing current of frantic people.
Below! His sharp senses cried as he thrust his sword tip to the spot his mind marked. On the end of his sword, a little demon clothed in pthalo green rags gurgled as it's chubby little hands let go of the reed blowdart to clutch it's skewered throat.
Swiftly, Rune kicked the creature aside and continued on, battling what he could and chanting summons between steady breaths. His eyes darted over to the jungle, expecting at any second for his animal allies to appear.... still nothing.
He growled and slashed at the chattering demon as one of its needles embedded itself in his shin. The cackling chatter was right next to his ear and he felt the weight upon his shoulders. Little hands with dull nails scratched at his shoulders and he whirled around, arms waving to throw the demon off his back.
A sharp cry was emitted from the demon as it was smacked off the druid's back, not by the druid though.
Rune whirled around to come face-to-face with a dark-skinned woman, smirking at him as she gripped her spear tightly, nodding towards the remainder of the mob being taken down by various warriors, armed with weapons and elemental magicks.
Hazel eyes studied him as his green ones reflected her actions. Rune recognized this woman as the same physically fit woman who bought the rune before he could. He glanced over at the male warriors that were dispatching the little monsters and, among the tanned fighters, he could see the form of Krysta, katars to her hands and joining in the battle with a gleeful smile of every swipe. At her foot was Spikey, energetically putting one frantic demon in a tight headlock while punching it.
The druid shook his head, beheading another demon as it scurried near his sword's reach. A howl echoed behind him followed by a high pitched shriek. The sound brought a smile to the druid's lips as he turned, watching one of his summoned beasts pounce and play aggressively with its food.
Snarling canine teeth sunk into the firm flesh of the miniature evil demons as it spurted blood from it's mouth that lightly sprayed the thick coat of the grey and white wolf. The female wolf's eyes gleamed mischievously as it clamped tightly to the demon with it's powerful fangs. Then, like an excitable dog, she shook her head vigorously, tearing deeper and deeper into the guts of the creature.
Blood splattered side to side every time the wolf clamped down upon demon after demon until all demons were dispatched by the summoned animal, the mini golem and the fighting humans.
The straw that was scattered on the ground of the market place had absorbed most of the blood from the battle.
The hazel-eyed tanned-skinned beauty pressed her foot down on one corpse and quickly removed the spear she had impaled the demon with. Tossing her hair over the shoulder and looking up at Rune, she smirked. "Not bad for a druid."
He narrowed his eyes and frowned. "Not bad for a woman." From the corner of his eye, he could see Krysta bristle and shoot him a nasty glare.
The woman returned his pointed gaze and smiled again as she brushed bits of dirt from her skimpy attire. "You are Rune, are you not?" Her voice had the strength of a person who had no doubt of her authority. The sound of it was such an inviting challenge to Rune.
"And what if I am.?"
She turned away from him, looking to the warriors of the Kurast village who were cleaning up the results of the skirmish. "If you are, you'd answer yes I am' instead of returning with questions." She looked over her shoulder at him and straightened her posture. "I am Asheara, leader of the Iron Wolves."
And here I was thinking a cross between a jungle amazon and a harem dancer... he nodded, biting his tongue to avoid his face twisting into an amused expression.
***
Alys stared into the shadowy waters with her thoughts just as cloudy and dark. She glanced up at the sky, thick with clouds, and sighed. She was sitting on the edge of the docks, her bare feet dangling with casual kicking, trying to skim the water a meter away, leaning back on her arms propped and locked to let her upper body to slacken.
She stared out into the endless stretch of water that met with the horizon and inhaled deeply. Beneath her hands, she could feel the rotting wood shake in a simple rhythm. She didn't even need to look up to know that Ferrum was right behind her, staring down at her.
Silently, he sat down on the right of her, one leg dangling over the edge and touching hers, the other with the knee turned out to bring his foot closer to the other's thigh. His hands rested on the close foot as he studied Alys' face.
She looked trouble. A strange shadow was on her face along with a crease along her usually smooth and flawless forehead. One softly arched eyebrow was curved in worry and her eyes were flushed with the fading sign of tears. Without even realizing it, Ferrum's hand darted out and smoothed the eyebrow down, breaking her expression and her silence.
Her brown eyes met with his ; Hers filled with worry, his with concern. "Ferrum.... what if he's right?"
"He's not," he rebuffed immediately, facing forwards and looking at her sideways. "Don't believe a word that comes out of Alkor's mouth." His lips twisted angrily. "He's just some lonely, irritable, sad old man." He shifted, letting both legs dangle off the docks as he inched closer to her to place an arm around her shoulders and pull her closer.
Alys shook her head, pushing him away slightly. "You know it's true though. My mother did sleep with every single traveler that came to this village... she didn't even want me. I don't even know who my father is! All I know is that my mother is a whore and wanted to kill me."
Ferrum sighed, remembering the moment she told him the truth of her parents and her many brushes with death at the hands of her mother. He pulled her closer again. "Alys... It's not our lineage that decides who we are... or how we're given life. We were given life along with the choice of what to do with it. Maybe your mother was not in her right mind—"
"--She wasn't," she cut in darkly.
His lips brushed her forehead quickly. "But it doesn't mean you'll be that way as well. You have a choice and no one will ever take that from you. I swear it."
"Ferrum...."
The corner of Alys' mouth pulled into a quick smile as she felt him plant a kiss on her head. He lingered longer than usual, inhaling deeply enough for her to hear. "God, you smell good..." he murmured.
Alys leaned her head against his chest once he gathered her body into his arms and pulled her to sit on his lap. Beneath her fingers, she could feel the rough leather, nicked and scratched from so much violence. "When she found out she was pregnant, she tried to..." her voice bitterly trailed off as she lowered her head, staring at the tightly woven pattern the threads of Ferrum's shirt made.
Ferrum remained quiet, stroking her hair and watching the silken strands glide between his fingers as he let her open up to him.
"Hralti led the villagers in stopping her, tying her down and keeping her alive until I was born," She turned her face into his chest, her voice was now muffled by the cloth. "She wanted to drown me once I was born. When she got the chance, she took me outside of the village and was killed by monsters before she could drown me. Khauin, the leader of the iron wolves at that time—Asheara's father actually—was nearby with several other Iron Wolves and they heard her screaming. They saved me, but it was too late for her. Said it was best that she died." She lowered her head, closing her eyes. "I don't even know her name."
Ferrum slowly gathered Alys in his arms once he took note of her gently shaking shoulders. He held her tightly against the safe and strong wall of his chest, tucking his chin down to rest upon her soft head.
Feeling the familiar sense of warmth and security in the coccoon of his arms, Alys closed her eyes, her ears straining to hear the strong heartbeat she remembered from the countless nights she had fallen asleep against him so many long moons ago. Mixed with the spices of the market place, she could make out the scent of him from his clothes; very masculine, very potent and very intoxicating.
She sighed, her body relaxing against him as she felt his hand rub her shoulder lovingly and his voice whisper, "Alys... I love you."
Eyes still closed, she smiled and returned the words, when she felt Ferrum move and brush his lips against her forehead, his breath tenderly warming the smooth skin and the soft hairline. She sighed, feeling the descending tropical sun's heat play over her skin.
When she opened her eyes, she had no idea how much time had passed. Ferrum, unsuprisingly, was still there, his arms wrapped around her protectively and his head close to hers, his cheek pressed against her soft hair.
Rubbing her eyes, Alys looked over at the watery horizon where traces of the sun's fiery glow remained. In the dying the light, the waves of the dark waters rippled, it's soothing sounds reaching the lady's ears. She smiled, gazing upon the lazy sparkle of the water and the glinting from whatever light was present.
She looked up at Ferrum to find his eyes watching her with a glimmer of amusement in his blue irises. Seeing this, she frowned, "What?"
A light trace of a masculine blush swept over his face. "Uh, nothing."
Alys moved from his arms and scowled, "No way, you're not playing the nothing game with me." She tilted her head to the side, a lock of her hair falling across her face in such a mannder that Ferum found incredibly endearing. "Tell."
Ferrum smiled, reaching out to caress her face. "You always take a nap when I'm with you." It was Alys's turn to blush and the necromancer laughed at himself. "Don't be embarassed... I don't mind."
She fell into his embrace, turning her head, her cheek rubbing against the rough cloth. "Oh god, you probably you put me to sleep..." She sighed, burying her face against him and muffling her groan.
He chuckled, pulling her back and lightly kissing her forehead. "I don't think that, love," he glanced over at the horizon and smiled warmly. "It means you feel secure enough with me to relax like that. I don't mind it one bit."
When Alys expressed her skepticism, it was quickly squashed. "Would it make you feel better if I said I can get away with groping you in your sleep?"
"Ferrum!" she scowled, hitting his arm, her lips pulled tightly into a frown.
Seizing her hand, he grinned and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. "Okay, that's not it, really, because I get away with that when you're awake, so it's really pointless to do that when you're asleep... which means... I do things to you that's more intimate than that..." He felt her struggle in his arms and his smile broadened, taking the hint to cease his teasing. "Alright, alright, I'm kidding."
The traces of her frown still upon her lovely face forced Ferrum to sigh, the thoughts in his mind swirling to recall sweet words that Bayard had sang in the ship. His eyebrows furrowed as Alys stared, a small smile curving her lips to wonder what he was plotting now. "Ferrum?"
"On the sea... we had a minstrel with us."
"Oh?"
He nodded, looking at her with an intensity that made her shiver. "Something he said.... it made me think about you. I don't think I can say it right." He took a deep breath, clearing his throat as his face reddened just a hint. "Love me down, because this life... and... uh... something, is a dream." He swallowed nervously once one of Alys' eyebrow arched, regarding him with mixed amusement. "I don't want to leave now, so I believe in hope. But messing with fate can't be like how it... uhh..."
Alys smiled, "Ferrum, stop, it's alright."
He sighed, shaking his head. "No... I memorized it." He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath with his shoulders shrugging. His eyes opened and he resumed the lyrical words, "I... have hope, I need forever and I... I, uh..." he paused, looking very confused. "I want you?"
She chuckled at his befuddled expression, finding it rather cute and unlike him. She quickly kissed the corner of his mouth. "I already knew that, Ferrum."
He shook his head again, kissing her full on the lips before she could back away in time. When his lips left hers, a light seemed to jump into his eyes. His hands quickly went to the pouch attached to his belt and he fumbled with the tied cord. "I'm pretty sure I wrote it down." Sadly, he came up empty handed.
"Shit..." he frowned, shaking his head. "So much for being romantic." He looked down upon the young lady, his eyes twinkling faintly as he cupped her chin, tilted her face towards him and slanted his mouth over hers, kissing her deeply. The initial embarassment of his verbal slip-up had subsided and was replaced, at alarming speed, by a primitive hunger
He murmured her name against her lips, tipping her face away and leaning in to nip at the soft and smooth flesh of her neck. With his lips against the soft column, his tongue slipped out, lingering over her skin as he deeply inhaled her scent.
A groan remain trapped in his throat as Alys shifted against him, her bottom grinding against his groin in an erotic way. His mind was quickly flooded with images of what he would do to her when he stripped of her clothes and modesty. The mere idea of it quickened his blood and he could hear his pulse roaring deafeningly in his ears. His breath left his body in a warm puff of air as his hand slowly slipped under her skirt, trailing up over her kne.
She shivered, the small hairs on her neck standing up as she tilted her chin up, a meek smile set upon her lips. Her skin tingled wherever he touched her and a delicious warmth enclosed upon her lithe body. She could feel his hand gently blazing a trale up her leg... higher and higher as it set off sparks in her body that sizzled furiously.
When Alys moaned out softly against Ferrum's hand as he pressed his hand urgently to her most intimate place, his other hand reached around her to gently squeeze her left brest. She felt so soft, softer than he remembered her to be. His arousal, uncomfortably trapped in his pants, was screaming for her body, screaming to sink into her until it was satisified. Ferrum, however, decided to turn mute to the demands of his hormones... at least for the time being.
Alys closed her eyes, tilting her head back against Ferrum's shoulder as the stimulation received rippled through her. She could feel her skin flushing and her face heating up to fever pitch. Her fevered mind automatically pushed away all thoughts unrelated to the intimate moment, freely letting it scatter to the rippling waters below the dock.
She grinded against his body, wanting to experience these carnal delights more and expressing it softly in little desperate whimpers. The sight, sound, feel.... everything was alluring and all of Ferrum's senses were revelled by Alys reaction. Breathing hard,he smiled to himself, his hand upon her breast feeling the hardened peak through the cloth. He took a deep breath, desperately trying to keep his urges in check.
Her breath caught in her throat. She felt on fire and could feel his breath against his neck as he pressed quick evaporating kisses to it. She opened her eyes, looking deeply into Ferrum's, pleading with her irises for him to possess her, ravage her, love her, do whatever he wished of her.... consequence be damned.
"Ferrum... ahh..." she moaned, her face struggling between speaking and the pleasure washing over her. "I want you so badly..."
He groaned as his restraint snapped and his desires won him over.... or so he thought. Behind him, he heard a faint shuffling sound and the skitter of pebbles. In that instant, Alys jumped off his lap so quickly, she nearly fell into the water. Ferrum's hand shot out, catching her in time and succeeded in pulling her back onto the docks.
Straightening up, Ferrum slidled behind Alys to hide his aroused state. The young lady frowned but froze as she felt the stiff member poking into her back. A small, 'eep' slipped from her lips as she stared straight ahead at one of the villagers.
A young man, dark skinned from all his hard outdoor labour, grinned sheepishly as he muttered his apologies. "Didn't mean to interrupt your.... fun." He looked at Alys, nodding approvingly with a suggestive wink.
Ferrum's gaze narrowed upon the man. "Leave us," he said in a dark voice, ready to smash the man to bits.
The man shrugged, turned on his heel and sautered away, looking over his shoulder at the couple and their disheveled state. "Like mother like daughter."
Alys paled, a sick feeling settling in her stomach in response to the verbal sting.
Though he was furious, Ferrum made a mental note to find the man and pummel him later. He looked down at Alys and placed his hands gently on her shoulders, "Don't listen to--"
She shrugged his hands away and ran down the dock, disappearing around the buildings once more, not looking back once as she fled.
Her feet rapidly beated upon the ground, scraping lightly on the small stones and bits of dirt. She didn't care for it; living her whole life in Kurast, this was an everyday thing.
As she ran towards the jungle, she balled her hands into fists, pushing herself harder from hearing the echoing words about the sins of her mother. Her eyes blurred as she recalled how unfair she was treated her whole life because of the woman she had never known. Outcasted by the villagers her whole life and having to deal with the whispering behind her back as it slowly evolved into direct insults.
Her eyes blurred as she ran through the trees, down a worn path. Along with the sounds of the jungle and the furious pace of her feet, she could hear another sound rapidly approaching. She glanced back, a shocked expression hitting her. "Ferrum!!!" She gasped, forcing herself to run faster. "What're you doing?!!"
His arms swung as he chased her through the jungle, breathing hard and feeling a light burn in his legs. "Following you!" he called back, a serious look to him. "Thought it was obvious!"
"WHY?!"
"Because you're running away! Stop doing that!"
Alys panicked, still moving as quickly as she could. "No! Stop following me!"
He grinned, his strides lengthening and quickening as he found himself enjoying the work out of getting to her. "Stop running then!"
She turned sharply, jumping into the thick brush and taking off in another direction, hoping that he wouldn't follow her.
Ferrum cursed and followed her actions, tearing off in the direction she fled, his breath burning his lungs and his determination fueling his body.
Alys, curled up as a ball nearby a gathering of shrubs, watched silently, holding her breath and feeling her pulse rage with victory as the flash of Ferrum's body darted by with her presence unknown to him. She smiled to herself, waiting several minutes before she felt safe enough to come out of hiding and wander around. The instant she revealed her position, a hand reached out and grab her wrist roughly.
She cried out against the force and one thought that crossed her mind, Drat.
***
Rune stared blankly at Asheara, his hands shaking and his ears burning from her words. He could hardly believe what was going on. He didn't want to believe! "No," he shook his head, his eyes narrowing at the female warrior. "You must be mistaken."
Krysta blinked, glancing back and forth between the leader of the Iron Wolves and the druid, both of them rooted to the spot inside the simplistic building the Iron wolves referred to as their 'base.' The assassin didn't understand the druid's sudden change in attitude. One moment ago they were calmly discussing the attack and their target, the next he was on edge to the degree of being paranoid. Beside her and below, Spikey, the ever pet-like golem, scurried about, jingling as he examined every corner of the base.
Asheara folded her arms, regarding the druid with a weary expression. "I'm never mistaken."
Whoosh! His breath left his body along with any hope of hearing wrong. Although the words exchanged presented the task of saving the village, it also presented the reality that his nightmare really was lurking in the jungle.
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C+C appreciated.