Chapter 14: Burning Fire
Okay, this is an action packed chapter! Hold on to your seats and…as you know what I always say…READ ON! *blows horn*
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Another week had passed, though it had been rather uneventful for Kitchel's taste. Thatz's head wound from the chair she had bashed on his head before had healed quickly thanks to Rune's elfish healing powers and the Dragon Knight was now scouring the huge library for any treasure map he could find. Kitchel tried to keep her eye on Cesia, but it was hard when Thatz kept dragging her to the library to help him find a treasure map or to see some rare artifact he had read about. And that's where Kitchel found herself again at the moment, leaning against a shelf stocked high with thick, old, encyclopedias about Dusis and the Yokai Realm. Thatz was sitting at a table, a gigantic pile of thick, dusty, old books surrounding him like a blockade.
She was about to leave to find Cesia when Thatz gave a loud yell of delight. "KITCHEL!! KITCHEL!!!!!!!" he yelled excitedly as he shoved the page in front of her face. "LOOK!! LOOK!!!!!!"
Kitchel pushed the book away and gave him an annoyed look. "What?"
"REEEAAAADD!!!"
She sighed and scanned the page. "'According to the legend passed down through the Dragon bloodline, blah blah blah…'" When she reached the bottom of the page she blinked. "Thatz…"
"You think it's a great find don't you?!" he asked happily, unable to contain his excitement. "And it'll be so easy for me to get it—"
Kitchel shoved the book into his face. "Moron, you already have Earth!"
"Exactly!" Thatz said happily. "It'll be easy to get the rock of the Earth dragon if…er…" He stopped and blinked.
She sighed and placed a hand to her forehead. "DUH. Earth isn't sealed, therefore, there is no rock!"
Thatz sighed and sat back down, his back to her. "Yeah…man I just want to get out of here and DO something…" He propped his head up with his hand, elbow on the table. "Anything! Just something to get out of here…I'll even go yokai hunting with Rath!!"
Kitchel blinked and stared at the back of his head. "Man, you're desperate," she said, cocking an eyebrow.
"All we've been doing is basically lying around here! I NEED TO MAKE SOME SORT OF INCOME!!" he yelled, shaking both his fists.
"You…are such…a moron…" Kitchel muttered as she turned and walked out of the library. "It's all he thinks about! Money this, treasure that. Food is just his life," she grumbled. Well, maybe I can check up on Cesia-chan now… she thought as she walked down the through long hallways, the heels of her light brown boots clicking on the marble flooring. She soon came to the entrance of the garden and swiftly hid behind the wall next to the gateway. Sugoi! I finally caught them! she thought happily as she suppressed a squeal of delight.
Rath was practicing some sword techniques while Cesia sat on a wooden bench, fondling with Crewger. The wolf demon seemed to enjoy the attention she gave him and showed it by resting his head on her lap and sometimes licking her face. She laughed whenever he did this and just hugged his neck. The three had been coming to the garden together nearly every day now, Kai-stern sometimes stopping by to give Rath some pointers. Cesia now turned her attention back to Rath, who had now sheathed his sword and was looking at her.
He sat down next to her and wiped the sweat off his brow. "Phew, that was a rather hard workout."
She smiled and offered a towel. "Don't overdo it."
"I know, I know," he said as he took the towel and wiped his face with it. He placed it next to him and leaned back against the back of the bench, letting out a sigh. "Man is this boring."
Cesia looked up at the clear blue sky above them. A few puffy clouds floated across, creating small shadows on the ground. "I guess so…but it's rather peaceful here…" she said softly, running her hand through Crewger's thick, rather silky fur.
"Yeah…" Rath said. He stared up above them. "Being a Dragon Knight isn't really bad if you actually have something to do," he continued. "Everyone else is edgy, too. It's too peaceful."
Crewger suddenly perked his head up and low growl came from his throat. He looked at them then turned back to where he had been staring. Cesia blinked and looked at him. "Crewger? What's wrong?"
The wolf demon just looked at her and after a moment Cesia blinked. "Danger?"
Rath looked at her. "What?"
"Crewger says that there is danger…can't you hear him?"
The Dragon Knight blinked and furrowed his brows. Hear him? Can she understand him? "No…but I'll take your word for it," he said as he stood up, his hand on the hilt of his sword. I can sense a…yokai?! But how? He looked around then froze in place when he saw the figure standing on the far wall. "No…"
Cesia blinked and looked at Rath's paled face. "Rath? Rath what is it?"
"Cesia get inside," he said in a strange voice. It was filled with fear, shock, and coldness mixed together.
"But—"
"I said get inside!" he yelled and drew his sword. It's him… "Crewger take her inside!"
The wolf demon glanced up at the Dragon Knight then nudged Cesia inside. With a hand on his head she turned and watched from the doorway as the figure slowly walked toward Rath, the Dragon Knight holding his sword to the side. She did not notice Kitchel walk up and stand next to her. Her eyes were riveted to the advancing figure, his purple hair blowing in the wind. It's…it's…no it can't be…
"Nadil…" Rath said, finishing her thought in a low voice as the yokai stopped twenty feet away from him. "How did you get past the barrier?"
The Yokai Lord looked at him with a sly smile on his lips. "I had…help. And I would advise you to lower your sword, Dragon Knight of Flame, for it is not I who you would wish to fight." He glanced past Rath at Cesia. "How nice it is to have what we have been searching right here in our grasp…"
Rath moved in front of him, blocking his view. "You'd have to get past me first," he said in a cold voice. "And the rest of the Dragon Tribe."
"I'm afraid they are all taking…a lovely nap at the moment," Nadil said smirking, making Rath's eyes narrow at him.
Kitchel blinked. "Napping…?" She looked down and found Crewger on the ground, his eyes closed asleep. "Crewger?!"
"A spell…" Cesia said in a dazed voice, the screaming returning to her mind. Multitudes of voices mixed in with one another, filling her ears. Spare us! NO!! NOT MY BABY!!! Mother!!! Leave her alo—AAAAAUUUUUGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! She clutched her head, her eyes shut tight as she tried to force the voices out of her mind.
"Cesia-chan!" Kitchel yelled as she grabbed her arms. "Cesia snap out of it!!"
"It's no use," a voice said behind them and Kitchel whirled around to find Kharl standing there, his two birds perched on his shoulders. He grinned at her. "How very interesting. You're not asleep. But then, you are just human…"
"What are you doing to her?!" Kitchel screamed angrily.
"I?" He gave a short laugh then looked at her smiling. "I am not doing anything. It is her own memories that had been locked deep within her that are now emerging. Now, if you want your friend to be relieved of her pain, I advise you to step aside and let us handle this."
Kitchel stood in front of Cesia. She glanced back and notice that she was shivering violently, but had now regained some control over herself. Oh Cesia… She turned back to Kharl. "Over my dead body," she said slowly, every word dripping with fierce determination and hatred. She glared at the yokai that stood in front of her with intense disgust.
Kharl raised an eyebrow. "Is that your final answer?" When she didn't move he raised an arm. "Then you have asked for your death." His arm seemed to stretch out from him and his fingers turned to claws as he grabbed Kitchel's neck. "You still have one more chance. Step away from the girl."
Kitchel could feel his grip tightening and coughed. Can't…breathe… She stood there, with her arms outstretched, and glared at him. "Never," she managed to say in a raspy voice.
"Then prepare to die," he said coolly as he tightened his grip.
Kitchel would have screamed in pain if she were able to. Instead she closed her eyes tightly and tried to endure the pain as his claws dug into her neck. She could feel the warm trickle of blood flow down her neck and panicked, her eyes now wide open and filled with fear. No! she thought to herself sharply. I… won't …give in… But now everything around her was starting to fade out and blackness was starting to fill her vision. The blood had started to flow out faster and she could scarcely breath now. She closed her eyes as her body started to relax. Gomen ne…Cesia-chan… Kitchel was about to just let herself die in the hands of the yokai when she heard, if faintly, a yell come from the left.
"EARTH THRUST!"
Kharl jumped back as the ground erupted from beneath him. Stalagmites rose up from the ground, cutting through his arm and releasing Kitchel from the yokai's deathly hold. The yokai cringed and looked at the Dragon Knight who was leaning heavily on his sword. Kitchel fell to her knees gasping, her hand at her throat as the blood dripped to the ground. When she looked up she saw Thatz glaring at Kharl, though the Dragon Knight was breathing heavily, as if something was weighing him down. Thatz…?
Thatz straightened and staggered a bit before raising his sword. "Kharl!" he yelled fiercely. "I have a score to settle with you!"
The yokai looked at him coolly as his arm regenerated on its own. "Do you mean my lovely tree pets?" He's still awake… He didn't turn his gaze as he sensed something come behind him. "Garfakcy, status?"
"That elf boy is unaccounted for," a voice hidden in several robes said. "It seems that the spell is not as effective on these new Knights."
"They're not complete Dragon yet…" Kharl mused. "Intriguing…" He smiled at Thatz. "But, this is not our time to fight, Dragon Knight of Earth," he said as black winds and smoke swirled around him. "We will meet again." After a moment he was completely enveloped by the wind and smoke and had vanished, as well as the one he had called Garfakcy.
Kitchel stared at the spot where they had just been. She removed her hand from the neck and saw them covered in blood. The sight of it made her sick, but she closed her eyes and sighed. Elf boy…Rune?!
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Rune wandered through the halls. "Where the heck is everyone…?" he said aloud, his voice falling dead in the hallway. Thunder rolled in the distance and a bolt of lightning illuminated the hallway through the windows, casting eerie shadows on the wall. He shuddered. What is going on? He looked out a nearby window. Lightning was flashing in the sky, dark clouds covering the sky, but there was no sign of rain. Something inside told him it was unnatural, something dangerous. He quickened his pace, his footsteps echoing loudly on the floor as he went toward the garden. He didn't know what, but something was telling him that something was happening to his friends.
As he ran around a corner, the elfin Dragon Knight saw several Dragon servants lying on the ground. He kneeled down and placed two fingers to their necks. Good, he sighed in relief. Just sleeping. Sleeping? He blinked and stood back up. Why was everyone asleep? He placed a hand to his head and leaned against the wall. My head… it feels so heavy… He quickly shook his head, clearing his mind, and continued on. A loud roar of thunder filled his ears as Rune approached his destination. Wait…that's not thunder… He grabbed the side of the wall as the ground shook violently beneath him. After a few moments, everything settled and he hesitantly straightened. "An earthquake?" He ran forward and stopped short as he saw Thatz in front of him, leaning heavily on his sword. "Thatz!"
Thatz blinked and turned around. "Rune, where have you been?"
Rune closed his eyes as a wave of drowsiness swept through him. When it disappeared he looked back at Thatz. "I've been looking all over the place! Everyone is—"
"Asleep…" Cesia said in a tired voice, cutting him off. She had now fully recovered from her attack and was now leaning against the doorway, her hand over her eyes. "It's a…a sleep spell…"
"Why aren't we affected?" Kitchel asked then covered her mouth as she went into a coughing fit. When she removed her hand she was horrified to see it covered in fresh, new blood.
"Kitchel!" Thatz yelled as he and Rune ran over. He kneeled down beside her. "Don't talk, you'll just aggravate your wounds on your neck."
Rune held his hand over her neck. "I'll see what I can do…" As the wounds on Kitchel's neck started to close and she started to breathe easier, he glanced outside. "Who in the world is that?!" he asked as lightning illuminated the area, showing the Yokai Lord standing in front of Rath, an evil gleam in his deep purple eyes.
"Nadil…" Cesia said, her voice now vacant of any emotion. "It's…him…" The voices returned. She doesn't have anything! Leave her alone!! A new, small voice could be heard now. Cesia, get out of here! Multitude of voices mingled with one another now. Fire! There's fire everywhere! Help! Let us out! She suddenly felt heat and turned to where Rath had been. "Fire…"
Kitchel rubbed her neck and blinked as she, too, felt the heat. She turned and saw that there was now a ring of fire surrounding Rath and Nadil. "Oh my God…"
"It's a death trap, Rath!" Rune yelled. He was about to use Water's powers to extinguish the flames when Rath held up a hand.
"Don't worry, the flames won't hurt me," Rath said in a cold voice. Rune couldn't see his face, but Rath had the same look as he had when he fought Bierrez. He stared at Nadil. "You are not getting past me."
The Yokai Lord looked around at the wall of fire amusedly. "Interesting. And it seems Kharl had retreated for the moment," he added as he smiled. "But it wouldn't be fun if I fought you now. It would be over too quickly."
"I'm not an easy opponent!" Rath yelled, the fire rising a little then lowering back down. The tongues of flames flickered around Nadil, as if wanting to also burn him into oblivion.
"Oh, I know you are strong, but you are not strong enough," Nadil said as he stepped to the side, black smoke forming next to him. "However, I will supply you a worthy opponent. One you had failed to kill before."
Fire and hatred flickered in Rath's now dark crimson red eyes as Bierrez emerged from the smoke. The yokai, too, had the same look, his once light orange eyes now cold and hard. The two glared at each other as the flames erupted and seemed to grow, the heat intensifying around them. They did not notice they were the only ones now in the circle of flame.
Cesia saw the intense look on Rath's face through the flickering flames. It's the same…the same as before… Images flashed through her mind as the two suddenly charged at each other and began the intense battle, each having the look to kill on his face. Her mind sent her farther and deeper into the past and memories that had been locked away for so long. She could not hear her friends calling to her; only the roar of flames filled her ears as she felt herself fall into herself.
Kitchel shook her. "Cesia-chan!! CESIA!" she screamed.
"You'll break her or give her brain damage if you keep shaking her like that!" Thatz yelled as Kitchel continued to shake her friend crazily.
"SHE'S NOT ANSWERING ME!!" she yelled back, but stopped shaking her.
Rune frowned and narrowed his eyes as he looked at Cesia's blank eyes. It's just like Rath told me… he thought as he flashed back to when Rath had first returned home after talking with Cesia after school. Rune wondered what was happening to her, or really, what had happened to her. Maybe she had all the answers to his questions. But she was too far away from them now, and there was no way to get her back physically. He would have tried to enter into her mind using his elfin powers, but he was neither good nor was sure of himself to try. Plus, he was sure Rath would be furious if he had found out, the possibilities of killing both the seer and the subject rather high. At the thought, he turned his attention back to where Rath and Bierrez were fighting, the roar of the flames intensifying with every hit Rath made. Will the fighting ever end? Rune thought sadly. Will the pain ever stop coming? He knew that these were futile thoughts, and he would soon find that there was to be more pain, especially for someone he held dear to him, very soon.
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Bwahaha, we'll just cut this in half ) Yes, a little foreshadow, but anyway… As you can see, some events run parallel to the real story, but it's about to take a very hard turn…I think o_O; Maybe this will just turn back around to the actual DK story that I don't even know about…o_o; that would be freaky…@_@ Well, I'm TRYING to be original T_T R&R!