First off I'd like to thank those who reviewed and answer any questions they may have asked… so here we go!
Icy Cake… _ I'm trying! You try writing one of these chapters in one day! …By the way this chapter is just for you… ^_^
Wolfarine…Writers block sucks…I know cause it has kept me from typing this for almost a month! Or maybe a month? Eh…I'm not sure…anyway good luck and enjoy yourself! ^_^
Golden Sun is the property of Camelot and Nintendo.
Also as a warning this chapter is rather bloody…close to R rated in some places. Don't read it if blood and death creep you out because both of those make up a lot of this chapter.
Alex was enjoying one of Kain's books in the ships study when Myra charged in, her face slightly flushed. "Alex we're needed on deck."
Alex sighed and closed his book. "What do we need to do?"
"The weather has taken a turn for the worse and Kain wants us on deck in case monsters appear."
"Monsters…fine I'll meet you on deck in a moment." Myra nodded and turned to leave. "Myra." Alex said.
"Yes?"
"Do you have a weapon? A sword or staff to use outside?" He asked.
"I have a dagger and my psynergy…in the rain it will be difficult to get any effective Mars attacks though…"
Alex stood up and began to rummage through one of the shelves in the study. He searched for a few seconds before pulling out a parcel wrapped in oilcloth. He opened the parcel and pulled out a sword. The blade was long and thin with a delicate and sharp looking point. The hilt was protected by a twisted length of metal that wrapped around the leather grip like an odd shield. Alex stared at the blade for a moment and handed it to Myra. "This is a rapier sword, do you know how to use it?"
"No…"
"A rapier swords true power is in the tip of the blade. If you need to use it a stab is far more effective than a slash. Against a man sized creature three inches of this blade could be fatal if you hit the right place. That dagger you have should be in your other hand if you use this. The rapier will be your main weapon and the dagger your back up, it can block an attack if used properly." He stated.
"Thank you…" She smiled. "This should be helpful if we end up fighting monsters."
Alex nodded. "Before you go remember this, if you're fighting a man or a beast that wields a heavy blade. That rapier will break if it is hit to hard. Be careful and use both of your weapons when fighting. The rapier is light and can only take a light blow, focus on dodging larger blades rather than deflecting them with that." He said, pointing at the rapeir.
Myra nodded and walked up the steps, sword in hand. Alex drew his own blade from its sheath, staring into the crystal blade with narrow eyes. "Well…tonight we'll see if Kain did a good job…" He sheathed the weapon and walked up the steps leaving the book open in his chair.
Kain sighed looking into the sky, his armor was still atop the mast in the crows nest…he decided it would be best to leave it off. It never helped him much any way… He leaned against the rail and sighed in bliss as the darkness of the night engulfed him…the already powerful wind and rain began to increase even more as the nifht progressed. He turned his head slightly to watch as Myra and Alex arrived on the deck, both of them staggered as a heavy gust of wind struck them. Kain snickered beneath his mask, his companions would not like the weather, and it was about to get much worse.
"Alright Kain we're here, what do you want us to do?" Alex said.
"I need one of you to take the wheel, I will drop the sails, in this weather a powerful gust might snap one of the mast and we cannot afford that. As for whoever remains…they will need to keep an eye open for monsters. I leave the last decision up to you two, I am going to get those sails down before something gives." Kain leapt onto the rope ladder of the mast and began to climb, ignoring the wind and rain focusing on his objective with a single mindedness that most people seemed to lack.
"I will take the wheel Myra, watch for anything suspicious." Alex said before moving to the wheel and taking it in his gloved hands.
Myra sighed "They get to do the fun jobs, and I have to sit around and keep an eye open for monsters…stupid jerks." She sat down her eyes burning with annoyance.
Kain finished with the rigging in record time, after the storm it would take awhile to get everything back in order…at least he had comrades to help him this time. On a previous voyage he had done the same thing…it had taken him over a day to put everything back together. He would not need to bother with the sails if he had what he needed to repair some of the complex mechanisms inside the ship. Unfortunately that was not the case and he had to use the sails to power the ship, unless an emergency presented itself. Kain finished securing the final lengths of rope to the mast before leaping down to the deck and landing next to Myra, startling her enough to make her scream in surprise.
"DON'T DO THAT!" She roared.
Kain shrugged and glanced over the side of the ship checking the horizon. "Didn't I tell you to keep an eye open for monsters? " He said quietly.
Myra jumped up and looked over the side of the ship, below were numerous small monsters. Some of them were trying to climb onto the deck, but they failed miserably. She sighed "It's not like they can get up here..."
"That is true, but that's not the point…that is." Kain said pointing at a dark image on the horizon.
Myra squinted trying to get a better look at the thing. "What is it?" She said.
"It is another ship…" Kain said quietly, concern in his voice.
"What's wrong with there being another ship on the sea?"
"You do not realize how few ships are on this ocean…aside from that…the ship…it is derelict and everyone on board is…" Kain was silent, as though he was afraid to finsh his sentence.
"Dead?" Myra asked.
"No…not dead, and not alive either. I can see it from here…that ship is infested with undead sailors…" Kain said quietly.
"Are you sure? The undead are only myths…" Myra said, brushing her damp hair from her eyes.
Kain sighed and reached up to his mask. His fingers slipped around the jewel like eye and snapped it out of its place. "Look through this and you can see for yourself." He said, handing her the masks eye. She took it and held it up to her face, closing one eye and placing the jewel over the other. At once her vision was filled with a blood red haze, she looked at Kain first…he looked normal except for the red haze of course, but when she turned to the ship the image was mignified and she could see it perfectly…she dropped the jewel and knelt over the side losing her meal.
Kain knelt down and retrieved the lost eye, he wiped it off before placing it in the empty socket of his mask. "I should have warned you, accept my apologies…I should not have let you see that."
Myra straightened trying to control her urge to lose even more of her meal. "Its alright…how can they exist like that though…some of them are…" She turned green and knelt over the side again.
Kain watched emotionlessly his eyes still locked on the ship. "The undead do not need working organs…nor do they need all of the parts that are necessary for someone like you or me. The undead are abominations, they are not human…it is best to think of them as what they are now rather than what they were before Myra."
"Who were they? Before that…" She managed to say, before falling weakly to her knees.
"Sailors from Champa…they must have been killed in the tidal wave…how they were resurrected as undead beings is beyond me…but I am guessing that they…" He stopped speaking.
"What is it Kain?"
"There is someone on that ship…" He said, a hint of excitement and amazement in his voice
"We know that, but they're all dead."
"No this person is alive…I have no idea how they managed to survive but…"
"We need to help them!" Myra said, struggling to her feet with Kain's aid.
"…It would be best if we avoided the ship altogether Myra." Kain said, loking into her eyes.
"You said someone is alive on that ship! We need to help them!" She said, pointing at the far off vessel with a trembling hand.
"We are not obligated to do so…but…" Kain sighed "Ask Alex, he is the leader of this group."
"But this is your ship…Alex might not help them, he'll probably see it as an inconvenience."
Kain's jeweled eyes glittered in the dull light. "You really want to risk your life for someone you do not know? The person on that ship may be a murderer or thief. Maybe that person has done horrible things. Perhaps that person even controls the undead on that ship. Do you really want to take that chance Myra? We may all suffer if we approach that ship, let alone board it." Kain said.
Myra smiled grimly. "I want to do it. No one deserves to be killed by those things! No matter what they have done."
"…I know people that would say otherwise, but if you insist." Kain stepped away from her and approached Alex, she watched as Kain moved up beside the Mercury Adept and spoke into his ear. Alex frowned, but nodded in agreement and stepped away from the wheel. Kain took hold of the ship and began to turn the vessel while Alex made his way to Myra.
"We will approach that ship Myra, but only long enough to see if anyone is on board."
"And?"
"If what Kain says is true than we will try to rescue whomever is aboard."
"Alright." She shivered with suppressed fear…she wanted this…she would board the ship. Myra began to collect her wits, she would need to be prepared for whatever they found…whether it be good or bad."
The first thing Myra noticed was the smell…death. Far more powerful than anything she had smelled on Kain's cloak. The smell of death and decay practically writhed in the air as it assaulted their senses. Kain seemed unmoved by the powerful smell, but Myra and Alex were not so lucky. Alex turned slightly green, but was able to keep his stomach from ejecting its contents. While Myra emptied herself into the ocean for the third time in the past hour. The journey to the derelict ship had seemed to take an eternity, once they lost the ship in the fog and rain, but Kain had found it again using his heightened senses to see through the fog. Five minutes before they reached the ship he commented that they best prepare themselves for the smell. Myra had tried to do so, but failed miserably, while Alex managed to keep the same aura of calm disinterest about him. In moments they were able to see the ghostly ship in the fog…then they were within feet and she could see the deck of the vessel. Blood and brine were splashing across the deck, every few minutes a rat would appear and runs through the puddles of gore only to hide again. The ship was even larger than Kain's vessel. Like Kain had said the vessel was indeed a Champa pirate ship, one of the better ones. The great deck was moldy and rotten from months at sea, but it still managed to stay afloat, despite the neglect it has sufferd.
Kain locked the wheel in place and picked up a rope. He threw it to the other ship and managed to lock the heavy cable around a protruding piece of metal. Kain turned around and drew his blade. "I still sense life here…but it is fading…slowly. We need to hurry if we want to accomplish what we came for." He jumped across to the other ship Alex and Myra followed suit. "It would be best if we went together." Kain said quietly. "Try not to make to much noise…the undead are hungry, and noise will attract them." Alex and Myra nodded their blades clanking slightly as they shifted nervously from one foot to another.
"Myra and I will go together…Kain can you handle the upper decks while we check below?" Alex asked.
"I can." He motioned to his own ship. "I locked the doors…the undead cannot enter the ship so if any board us they will be on the deck. When you get on the ship be careful…they are not human and they can do things a normal person could never do. They feel no pain, mercy or despair. If you see one kill it without question, a thrust to the heart or brain is best aside from fire psynergy." He looked at Myra "When you find the person here…if you find the person…return to the ship. We will leave and sink this vessel so it will not harm anyone else." His companions nodded and Kain left, making his way towards the front of the ship.
Myra glanced at Alex. "What do we do first?" She asked.
"We check the deck…we don't want to be trapped below because we were foolish." Alex said. He stepped forward his blade at the ready. In moments they had checked the deck and decided it was safe. "They must be below…" He muttered. He heard a soft "plink" and looked down at his blade. A single drop of thick blood had landed on the crystal blades clean surface. He looked up and immediately averted his eyes, not telling Myra of the bodies that were hanging above their heads. ~It would be best if she did not know.~ He decided, before urging her to follow him down the steps, and into the vessels lower decks.
Kain walked across the deck avoiding the bodies and remains he discovered along the way. Such things were mere inconveniences to him, still he did no wish to go sliding around in the remains of other people. He checked the mast and rigging quickly only to find bodies wrapped in the sails…those that lurked here were unable to reach them. He guessed that the few survivors had fled up into the rigging and wrapped themselves in it hoping to be rescued. However their plan had failed and they had died before anyone could help them, to scared to leave their minature prisons. It made him wonder how someone live through such an experience? It did not matter much to him, the person lived, and this alone was the most intriguing part of the whole mystery.
He reached the front of the ship and paused…where the figure head should have been was a human skeleton. It was bleached white by the sea and wind. He approached it carefully, seeing nothing of interest he walked down the steps near the wheel and into the dark corridor. The first thing he noticed was that the corridor was very hot…gasses from rotting food and flesh no doubt. The place also smelled terrible, but he paid it no heed and kept walking down the corridor, glancing into the various quarters of the crew…he found nothing. He continued to he captains quarters, suddenly, something leapt at him from the darkness of a small alcove. Kain's blade slashed through the air implanting itself in the rotting chest of the undead captain. Dressed in rags the dull eyed captain was a shadow of his former self…Kain looked at the decaying beast with a curious eye, and noticed a small piece of string on his left hand around the pinky finger…an old Champa custom…the man had been engaged before he left Champa. Kain wondered whom this man had been in love with before his untimely death, he wiped the thought from his mind. It no longer mattered to him or to the monster that had once been a man. Kain dislodged his blade and spun about, his dark blade flashing through the air and severing the creatures neck in two. The rotten head fell to the floor with a dull thump. Kain kicked it out of the way, and continued into the darkness, ruby eyes ever watchful for more monstrosities such as the one he had just discoverd.
Alex and Myra rushed through the lower corridors of the vessel, they had forgotten Kain's advice to stay quite. It would not do anything helpful in the situation they were in now. Oddly enough many of the undead crew had been waiting in a small storage room, unfortunatly Alex and Myra had gotten their attention. Now they were fleeing from the undead crew. In the tight corridors it was difficult to fight such beasts, especially when they were packed close together. Myra had already lost her dagger to one of them. She had been preparing to strike with her rapier when it grabbed the blade and pulled it from her grasp, it showed no sign of having felt any pain, and if it had Myra was too frightened to notice it. Alex had grabbed her and they turned away, running for the far end of the corridor. Alex's water psynergy was fairly useless against them, he had launched hundreds or shards of ice into the monsters, but they kept coming anyway. Myra was afraid that her fire psynergy would set the ship alight and trap them below with the beast, so they ran, trying to stay well ahead of the undead sailors, at least until they found the living one on board.
They finally reached the hold of the ship where Kain suspected the living person to be. The holds walls were smeared with blood but no bodies adorned the room. "After what we have seen…why is this room clean?" Myra croaked, her throat parched from the desperate dash to the hold.
"I can answer that young lady!" A voice called out. Before them a man appeared. He was young, no older than Alex. He was dressed in black robes and his skin was a pale white. In his right hand he held a staff adorned with a human skull. "All of the bodies were resurrected here." The man smiled.
Alex stepped back his sword at the ready. "You did this, am I correct?"
"Of course I did this!" The man waved his staff and undead sailors entered the room, each bearing a weapon. Some of them had spears or swords the others had hooks, clubs and other weapons that most people would not dare to use. "These are mine!" The man bellowed.
Myra glared in disgust. "Are you the one we came to save? We knew someone was alive here…if we had known it was a filthy necromancer like you we would not have come."
The necromancer glared back at her. "I have a name, it is Evan, don't bother putting it to memory for you will not live long enough to use it in any way. As for being alive…that is not I!" He laughed. "I am as dead as those around you, but I can control these ones, for god himself raised me from the dead!"
Alex frowned. "God would not resurrect someone to spread horrors such as you do. The god of this world is whomever controls alchemy!"
Evan smiled insanely. "Oh? This one thinks that he knows all does he!? Well you my friend are very wrong, so wrong, so foolish!"
Alex glared at the necromancer, his eyes frozen into an icy glare. "Where is the living person? Tell us now!"
"Ohhh! You want her? Tell me will you be willing to lose your lives to take her from me? My daughter whom I treasure and protect!" Evans face grew dark with anger. "I will not allow you to take my daughter from me, she is all that I have!" He motioned to a door and an undead sailor carried in a young girl in a white dress. Her eyes were closed and her face was deathly pale, she looked as dead as her father.
Myra's eyes went from the necromancer, to his daughter. "Sir your daughter cannot live like this…the disease on this ship has made her sick! Look at her face! The mere existence of you and these foul things has made her sick!"
"Nonsense girl! You speak lies with your forked Proxian tongue!" The necromancer waved his staff, and a bright ball of violet energy flashed from the staff to Myra. She dodged it and the energy ball hit one of the undead, reducing it to ash before her eyes. "Whether you like it or not my daughter will stay with me, as will you. You shall remain here as undead slaves to me and my daughter!"
"I doubt that." Alex said quietly. He steadied his blade and launched himself at Evan with lightening fast speed. The necromancer blocked the sword with his staff and kicked at Alex, who stopped the attack with his gloved hand.
"You are quite good…I think I'll have some fun with you before I take your life!" Evan cried. With a flash of demonic light he appeared behind Alex, and swung his staff low, knocking Alex's legs from under him. "Or maybe I was wrong and you are no more than a waste of my time, eh?" He swung the staff down, Alex rolled away and the heavy weapon broke the floor where he had been moments before. "Oh…wrong three times in a row…how unusual!" Evan smiled and his eyes glowed a slight red color. "Maybe…this will be fun after all!"
"I would not count on that!" Alex shouted as he used his psynergy to blast the insane necromancer away from him. Evan hit the wall hard, there was a snapping sound as his spine broke. But he got up, unfazed by the attack. He stretched trying to get his spine to realign, but it was futile. Evan smiled again.
"This is quite uncomfortable…and you are very strong if you can do such a thing…lets see how long you last!" Evan slashed his staff through the air and the undead began to march forward in a slow walk. "If you can defeat these…then you are worthy enough to fight me!" Evan grinned and walked over to the undead man holding his daughter, he picked her up in loving arms and disappeared. Alex scowled and turned to the undead. "Myra! Use your psynergy!"
"If I do that we might be trapped!" She cried.
"Maybe…but Kain will know where we are, besides I can set out the fire. I seriously doubt that I can hold of all of these!" He swung his sword decapitating one of the undead. "There are to many! Kain can help, and he may come if you light a fire! He will sense the undead's distress if they really do hate fire!"
Myra nodded and raised her rapier, fire appeared in the air and fell to the deck, lighting the dry, moldy, wood. The undead hissed in pain as the fire burned them, but they kept coming.
Kain's head shot up as he heard screams of pain in his mind. He staggered slightly…he was hearing the screams of the undead souls bound to their bodies…someone was controlling them, and the sprits of the dead were trapped, unable to control their reanimated bodies, and unable to escape the pain and torment of existence… Fire…they were being burned by fire…Myra and Alex were in trouble, he knew that much. Kain picked up his pace running through the ship. All of the undead were in the hold with Alex and Myra, and they had found something…the living person perhaps? He would not know for cetainuntil he got there…
~I'm coming, just hold on a while longer…~ He thought to himself.
Alex and Myra fought desperately, but they were losing. Even psynergy was not having a powerful effect on the undead. Fire burned them, but they did not slow down. Ice froze them, and their limbs would break and shatter, but they crawled along, still intent on disposing of Alex and Myra. Alex flashed across the room in a mixture of warp and water psynergy, cleaving through the ranks of the undead. But whenever he struck one down a new one rose up in its place… Myra was learning how to use her new blade very well by this point. A mixture of psynergy and steel whipped through the air cutting at the undead, still her weapon was proving to be even less effective than Alex's. Beheading the zombie like undead was almost impossible with her light blade, and only an accurate stab through one of the eye sockets would fell the beasts. Thankfully her fire psynergy was having a better effect than Alex's own ice attacks. Still her power was fading much faster than Alex's…she would not be able to use her psynergy soon.
Myra dodged a blow from a sword bearing undead, only to land underneath the club of another. She was hit on the forehead and was knocked out instantly. Alex was doing well, but when he saw his companion fall he was distracted long enough to receive a debilitating blow to his sword arm.
"This is hopeless." He thought to himself. "We are dead if Kain does not arrive soon." Alex healed himself and continued the fight slowly making his way to Myra who was still unconscious on the floor. He was thankful to see that the remaining undead were focusing on him rather than her at the moment. If they had decided to attack her while she was unconscious he would not have made it over in time.
Suddenly the ship trembled, and wood began to splinter around Alex. He jumped over Myra shielding her from flying shards of wood as the ceiling of the hold began to collapse. Alex smiled, Kain must have come…it took him long enough. The deck burst open above thw two adepts and the remains of the ceiling were sucked out into the open air by a violent tornado of incredible power. The tornado swept around the inside of the ship, sucking up the undead and throwing them into the sky. Strangely enough the tornado passed Alex and Myra, and began picking up broken shards of wood and weapons instead. Then with lethal strength the tornado began to throw the objects into the air filling the sky with lethal projectiles that struck the undead before they hit the water. The dead were killed yet again, and this time they would not rise to serve their master ever again.
Kain appeared on the edge of the jagged hole above them, rain pored through the open hole making the deck slick with water and blood. Kain leapt down landing with his usual fluid grace on the slick surface. "I see that you found what I was looking for…how unfortunate." He glanced at Myra. "Is she alright?"
"Yes, one of the undead hit her with a club…she may have a concussion."
"Can you heal her?" Kain wondered aloud.
"I have plenty of energy, of course I can heal her." Alex mutterd.
"Do it and come with me, the one we are seeking is at the far end of the ship." Kain said pointing the front of the ship. "He did not attack me as I came…he wants to face you. The girl is with him. We need to get her soon, I can feel life slipping away from her."
"That man is her father."
Kain was silent for a moment. He sighed and drew his blade still dark with blood. "That man is dead, whether he wants to be or not. He cannot take care of his daughter anymore. The dead cannot raise the living…believe me I know. It was done before where I come from. Those that…" He paused. "Those that were raised by the undead either died or went insane."
Alex was silent, he nodded grimly and used Ply on Myra healing her concussion." Kain sat down on a barrel, sword still ready to strike down any foe. "I will stay with Myra, he made it clear that he wants to fight you alone." Alex nodded and turned away. But Kain spoke again. "Alex…kill him again. There is no greater torment than not being able to die. If you do not kill him for good he will come back and he will never be at rest. If his daughter dies in his arms tonight he will be tormented for all eternity. Don't let that happen, his love for his daughter will cause him more pain than joy."
Alex nodded. "You are right…I'll bring her back, the sooner the better. Then we can get off this sorry excuse for a ship and do something important…"
"Alchemy…" Kain said, more of a statement than a question.
"Yes…"
Kain nodded his masked head in silent agreement and turned his eyes to Myra. "Go finish him…when Myra wakes up I want to be off this vessel and back on my own ship."
Alex nodded and walked away leaving Kain with Myra. Kain's jeweled eyes examined the ship for a moment before turning to her. Silently he pulled a dagger from his vest, placing it in her empty belt. "You lost this, considering that it belonged to your father I thought you might want to have it back. Just to let you know the undead I pulled it from did not appreciate it at all." Kain smiled grimly behind his mask. "No he did not like it…if he were living I doubt he would have liked either of us very much…" Kain paused. "Why am I talking to you? Hehehe…you can't even hear what I am saying yet I address you…how…odd…I must be losing my mind." He smiled openly beneath his mask. "Yes I must be going quite mad about now…why would I be talking to you if I was not, eh?" He laughed quietly to himself and stood up glancing about. "I hear…something…" He said quietly, before slipping into the darkness, leaving Myra unconscious, and alone.
Alex approached Evan silently, the man was holding his daughter in his arms. He had dropped his staff and was touching her cheek with his pale hand. He glanced up at Alex a worried look on his face. "She's so thin…I know that I should give her to you, but…" A tear slid down his cheek. "She is all I have…"
Alex nodded. "Once when I was a child I had a pet…it was a small puppy I found in the snowfields of Imil. I took her in and cared for her…I loved her dearly, but I became older and I found out that I had psynergy… I started to practice with it and she began to avoid me…then she would not let me touch her at all, I could not feed her or take care of her in any way…even when she became sick I could not help her. She died…I swear when I held her in my arms and cried that her lifeless body shivered…maybe it was my imagination…but it felt real. You love your daughter dearly, you want to care for her and help her. But you are no longer alive, not like she is. If she stays with you she will die; because, every time she looks into your eyes she does not see her father…her father died and you cannot be him, all your are is a lifeless copy."
Evan nodded silently wiping the tears from his cheeks "I want you to take her…please."
"I will do that." Alex said quietly. He stepped forward to take the girl, but Evan drew back slightly.
"I cannot do it though…I can still be her father! She knows who I am!" He hissed.
"That does not matter though…you are dead."
Evans eyes grew dark with anger. "I will not give her up without a fight! I cannot! As her father I am obligated to protect her…fight me for her. Kill me, and you may have her."
Alex nodded and drew his sword. "I will fight for her Evan, we both know what's best for her. Even if you refuse to believe it."
Evans eyes filled with hatred and he put the girl downon the deck. Then he launched himself forward the staff sliced through the air hitting Alex's sword with a mighty clash. Alex almost dropped his blade, the strike was inhumanly powerful, Evan did not even flinch. Alex scowled and warped behind Evan, he managed to slice the necromancers back open, but Evan did not falter. He spun about and his staff launched one of the powerful violet energy balls the Alex had seen in the hold. Alex remembered what the blast had done to the undead andheld his sword in both hands in front of the psynergy ball. The attack hit home and was reflected off the blades mirrored surface. It hit the deck below Evans feet and continued into the ship.
Evan scowled "Now our battle is timed as well! If you had taken the blast this ship would have stayed afloat a while longer! Now she will sink!"
Alex shrugged. "Then either way you will die, and your daughter as well if I do not win!" Alex charged forward his blade making dizzying arcs through the air. Evan countered each one perfectly, his body moving with unnatural speed and grace. No matter where Alex struck the staff seemed to be in the way, preventing him from making the final blow. Evan smiled he was not even breaking a sweat and his back injury seemed to aid him ore than he had originally expected.
Alex scowled and began to call upon the ocean to aid him. In mere seconds two great geysers of water leapt out of the ocean, towering above the two fighters. Evans smile went from weird to insane "Oh? You want to play with psynergy now, eh? Allow me to show you the true powers of the underworld!" Evan raised his staff and brought it down upon the deck with a mighty crash. Alex watched in amazement as the dark swirling clouds above split open revealing a huge symbol that spiraled down towards the ship. It landed weightlessly upon the deck merely floating a few inchs above the moldy wood. Evan smiled as Alex looked on, dumbfounded. He began to tap his staff on the deck, at first it was quite, but then they grew stronger until each tap rocked the whole ship with powerful tremors. Suddenly the symbol began to glow and a portal appeared in the air above it. Alex watched as two strange beings appeared from the void. Each one was a demonic looking beast carrying a huge sword engraved with ancient runes. Atop their heads were two horns resembling those of a ram, their bodies were huge, rippling with muscle, and their feet and hands were adorned with huge claws.
Evan smiled at Alex. "Have you ever heard of Daemons? They are demons of the nether world. Each of these beasts has taken more lives than any human being in existence. These beasts are at my command, and do as I wish! And they will be your downfall. Prepare to face your fate, for when these two finish with you…well…lets us say that they will never have enough of you to bury."
Alex scowled he was becoming outmatched, if these Daemons were anything like the undead he had faced before he did not have a chance…Alex held his blade loosely at his side. He still had the geysers at his disposal…with a wave of his hand they fell and launched at the Daemons, hitting them with enough force to destroy a small ship. One of them was washed overboard by the powerful assault, the other having a better grip remained on the ship unfazed by the attack.
"Well that makes things slightly easier…" Alex said as the Daemon marched towards him.
Evan smiled and held his daughter in his arms again… "Wont you open your eyes and see what daddy's friend is going to do to the bad man? No? Well it will make a wonderful bed time story!" He smiled. "You'll love this story my darling daughter…you will love it, and you will love me…more than ever before."
Kain was walking down the side of the derelict vessel when he heard heavy footsteps behind him. Turning around he spotted a very large human like figure. He held up his hand and a small flame appeared in it. The light revealed the monstrous Daemon. Kain blinked behind his mask. "And I thought there would be no challenge here at all…" The Daemon growled and opened its mouth slightly, revealing curved fangs.
"Damn you are one ugly bastard…" Kain mutterd. The Daemon roared in anger as if enraged by his remark. Kain smiled "At least I didn't insult your mother…" The Daemon roared again and charged forward its clawed hands outstretched. Kain's reaction was instantaneous, he leapt back pulling both sword and spear from their places. With a snap the spear was stretched to a length of six feet, and his sword was outstretched ready to parry any attack the monstrous being made.
"Go ahead beast…you are no worse than some of the things I have killed before. I doubt you will last five minutes." Kain snarled. The Daemon roared and charged enraged by the man before it only to stop as Kain's spear burst forward extending to its full length, and impaling the Daemon. It kept coming however, unfazed by the foot long blade in its chest. Kain held the other end of the spear managing to keep himself as far away from the beast as possible while slashing its face and chest with his sword. To his surprise the beast did not bleed at all, instead liquid fire leaked from its wounds and dripped onto the floor. Kain's blade was also covered in this liquid flame and before he knew what had happens his spear and sword were consumed by fire. Kain stepped back letting go of both weapons, if he tried to hold on he might be set alight as well…Myra just fixed his cloak it would be a shame for her to need to repair it again. Kain smiled and leapt forward as he did so his hands slipped into his vest, in seconds he was all over the beast, twin blades flashing in the pale light emitted by the Daemons own blood. The Daemon howled in anger and tried to grab Kain, but he was far to fast, slipping in and out of reach before the Daemon could react. Kain made one final jump and landed on the beasts shoulders, his blades at its neck. With a deft slash he decapitated the beast and its head fell to the deck with a heavy thump. Kain dropped his burning blades allowing them to burn out in the cool evening air. He flipped the head with the tip of his boot so he was looking into the beasts shocked face. "You know…for such a heavy headed guy you really don't have much for brains do you?" The Daemon did not answer and Kain picked up the head dropping it over the side. It sank like a stone into the deep water glowing faintly as it sank beneath the waves. Kain shrugged as he knelt down and picked up his weapons putting them in their respective spots. He pulled a small flask from his satchel and scooped up some of the fiery blood, filling the flask with the atrocious stuff. "I will admit I was wrong though." He said quietly. "You lasted eight minutes…bravo."
Alex blasted the Daemon away with another powerful geyser before charging it again. He managed to cut off its left arm, but the beast retaliated with its own weapon. Alex stopped the blade, but the tremendous force of the blow brought him to his knees. Wiping blood from his cheek he leapt up, his blade slashing the Daemons stomach open. To his surprise there was nothing…a normal being would have died, its organs would have spilled onto the deck, but this daemon was all muscles and sinew…the damn thing probably didn't even have organs…if it did Alex had yet to cut deep enough to do any serious damage…either that or the Daemon did not need them to function properly. Where a man would have died long ago this Daemon kept fighting, unfazed by loss of blood or wounds. Alex was lucky the burning blood had no effect on his weapon, he was able to hold it without worrying about it setting on fire. The blade neutralized the blood before it could do any damage. ~This sword is a life saver…~ He thought to himself. With one deft attack after another he kept on fighting, his blade making patterns in the air, some so fast that they remained unseen. With a roar the demon leapt forward sword coming down in a powerful arc. Alex dodged the blow and warped beside the Daemon his blade slashed once, twice, three times into the Daemons neck. Finally on the forth blow the crudely severed head fell to the deck along with the mindless body.
"Well I never thought that you could defeat them…" Evan said quietly. "I suppose you do deserve an actual fight with me rather than my minions…and for that…well…lets us say that it will be slightly more interesting!" Evan laid his daughter on the deck and raised his staff to the sky and there was an unearthly flash. Evan grinned a wild glint in his eyes. "If only you had known the true power of the dark arts Alex! They go beyond Alchemy, one is the basis for life, and the other controls it! Care to guess which one I weild?" Evan grinned insanely, his eyes filled with madness.
"Alex!" Kain's voice rang out above Evans, getting both of their attention. Kain leaped down onto the deck between them. All of his weapons were put away in their usually places. He simply stood between the two combatants arms at his sides. "Alex…the ship is going under fast! We need to leave, now!"
"No one here will leave!" Evan said, launching an orb at Kain, who leapt out of the way. Evan grimaced "You pest! Die with everyone else!"
Kain raised a hand allowing a tornado to form around it. With a wave of his hand the tornado sped towards Evan and knocked him to the deck. "Alex we must go! Lets take him together and be done with it!"
"It sounds like a wonderful idea." Alex said sarcastically before leaping into the air and landing atop Evan. Alex's blade sank into Evans flesh pinning him to the deck. Evan snarled and tore the weapon away before getting up again. Kain drew his sword and spread his legs slightly using Alex's distraction to his advantage. He brought the tip of his blade up to one of his outstretched hands so that his gloved fingertips were touching its keen edge. Silently he charged forward and spun about, bringing the blade around with enough force to cleave through most Evans waist. Evan fell to the deck, helpless.
Kain watched for a moment before turning to pick up the girl. He did so and Evan called out. "Don't take her! Please!"
Kain shook his head and brought her over to him. "Sir…I do not know your name, but you cannot care for her any longer. It is best that she come with us…say good bye so that we may be on our way."
Evan nodded blinking back tears he quietly kissed his daughters forehead. Looking up at Kain and Alex he hid his eyes in shame and defeat. "Her name…I cannot remember it…I cannot say good bye."
Kain stood up the girl cradled in his arms. "I cannot help you sir…she is your daughter…she will always remember you just as you remembered her." Kain paused as he felt water leak into his boot. "We must go sir, Alex take the girl to the ship. I will…take care of Evan…"
Alex nodded and took the girl in his arms, he warped away leaving Alex and Kain alone on the deck. Evan spoke first. "What is it that you will do with me?"
Kain drew his sword from its sheath. "You are dead sir, you were resurrected when you should have been left in the grave. I plan to give you the rest that you deserved the day you died." Kain's voice was cold and emotionless.
Evan sighed and closed his eyes. "Do it and be done with it then." Kain nodded even though Evan could not see him, the black blade slashed through the air, ending Evans life for the second time. "Rest in peace Evan, for I know you did not live in it." With that Kain stepped away and began walking across the deck to his own ship. Myra was still on board this ship, he needed to get her off…now.
Alex was putting the girl onto a cot when Kain arrived carrying Myra. She was still unconscious from her ordeal, but her breathing was steady. Hopefully she would not have any more than a small bruise by morning. Kain put Myra on one of the beds and sighed as he looked at both Myra and the young girl. "We cannot leave either of them in those wet clothes. I may be able to wake Myra, but I cannot wake the girl. To do so would be dangerous for I can sense her turmoil. Change her while I wake Myra, put her in a warm bed near a fire and see if she would benefit from any of your healing abilities."
Alex nodded and stripped the girl down drying her off quickly and efficiently with a large towel. In a matter of minutes he had her in some warm cloths and a bed. He piled extra blankets onto the bed and began to examine the girl. "She is dehydrated, half starved, and who knows what else. I can give her water, but that's about it."
Kain nodded and focused on Myra, in seconds he had used his powers to connect to her mind. He searched her mind until he found what he was looking for, something frightening. The most frightening things she had experienced, he found those memories and began to amplify them, turning them into nightmares. Myra began to sweat her hands clenched and she began to whimper quietly. Alex noticed this and came over to the bed, wondering what was wrong.
"It's all right, she will be awake soon…close the door to the girls room, Myra will wake up screaming." Kain said.
Alex rushed to the door and closed it just as Myra's eyes burst open. As Kain had predicted she began to scream uproarisly until Kain gave her a halfhearted smack on the cheek, breaking her out of her nightmare. Myra's hand drifted to her cheek feeling the slight bruise where Kain had hit her, she frowned. "Thanks for waking me up…"
Kain nodded "It was not a problem." The ship shudder a bit and Kain jumped up cursing as the ship began to tilt wildly.
"What's going on!?" Myra shouted, above the clatter of falling dishes in the galley.
"We are still tied to the other ship! She is sinking, and we are going with her!" Kain shouted. He made his way to the door and was outside before the others. He rushed to one cable after another freeing them of their holds, he reached the final one and began to cut through it with his knife, so intent on saving the ship that he failed to notice the coil of rope that snaked around his boot. With a final slash the rope was freed, it snapped taught around Kain's ankle locking his leg to the sinking vessel. He gave a short cry of surprise and disbelif as the rope snapped him over the side, his sword fell from its scabbard and landed on the deck with a dull clang as he was dragged over the side of the ship, and into the sea. He did not have a chance to cry for help. In seconds the weight of the sinking vessel had dragged him under the waves, and into the depths of the cold northern sea.
Myra screamed as she saw Kain fall over the side of the ship. She ran to the rail hoping to catch sight of him, but all that remained on the waters surface were a small series of bubbles, and waves. Alex appeared next to her, he said something but she could not understand what it was. He grabbed her and spun her around speaking urgently, but still she could not hear him, her senses were dead…
Alex looked into the water again futilely. Myra was in shock, Kain was nowhere to be seen…she screamed, he had no idea what was going on. He stepped back and his foot struck something sharp, it cut into his boot grazing his ankle. He spun to find Kain's black Katana sword, still stained with blood, lying on the deck. It was then that he understood…Kain had gone overboard…and judging from the cold waters and rough seas, he was already dead. He turned back to Myra, tears stained her light blue cheeks…Alex did nothing. He glanced into the waves a final time, and turned away from the rail. Bending down he retrieved Kain's sword and walked across the deck to the steps. His heavy footsteps making loud thumps as they hit the wooden planks.
Kain was dead, they were short one member, the only one that knew everything about this ship. He was gone, and now Alex and Myra were on their own in the middle of nowhere with a sick, nameless child. Alex threw the sword into the study and glared at it, as though it was the one that had caused all the trouble.
"Well…this was unfortunate to say the least…" Alex sighed. "Once again I am behind schedule…"
Kain: _ YOU BASTARD! YOU KILLED ME!
Sol: It was only to advance the plot…
Kain: _ I DON'T FRIGGIN CARE! DIE!
Sol: O.O Yah! (Dodges Kain's sword.) Be good or I'll fire you!
Kain: _ One day I am gonna hurt you so badly…
Sol: -_-; Whatever calm down…jeez… ^_^ Hi everyone! This is the longest chapter yet! Yay! Over eight thousand words! ^_^ As for me right now I am in Boston and to be quite frank about it I hate Boston, I hate Massachusetts, and I hate just about everything else right now. I'm sorry if this chapter was a little gory and weird but the first version of this absolutely sucked! So I redid the whole thing just for you guys! ^_^ Reviews and such are appreciated and I'll update when I can cause I'm busy with school, work, and College preparations, so be patient it might be awhile until the next update. Also there is a Kain pic available to those that want it. Leave me your email address and I'll send it to ya when I have the time.
Kain: Can I hurt you now!?
Sol: (Closes eyes.) Yup…
Kain: RAWRG!
Sol: ARGH! x_x
Alex: O.O Holy…uhh…the rest of this scene is censored due to extreme violence…if though this chapter was bad you really ought to see what Kain's is doing to Sol…Holy shi…
Kain: ^_^ Bet you didn't know you could do that to a person while they are alive, eh?
Alex: Well…its not everyday you see someone stuffed into a shoebox I'll admit that…
Sol: MURPH!
Kain: SHUT UP!