I'm an evil person who doesn't update. I've kinda not been working on the
story at all. (If you can find me you have my permission to kill me.) Good
news! I'm halfway through this next chapter so I'm going to put it up. That
way you have something to read. And I will have the rest up in less than a
month. Scout's honor.
Chapter 20
Clenching my fists I watched as Alucard was thrown into a table, sending dozens of vampires scattering as they tried to avoid the fight. Zeke kept walking towards Alucard, who kicked out at him from the ground. Zeke easily dodged it before kicking Alucard back, lifting him off the ground and into the next able.
Alucard got to his feet before Zeke could reach him again. Zeke hesitated a moment, trying to throw in some strategy before rushing towards his opponent. Alucard had ditched his strategy at the door and charged head on. Zeke met him without moving, shoving his body against Alucard's. Alucard took a step back for a second before shoving himself at Zeke again.
For a moment they wrestled on top of a broken table. All of the audience stood at a safe distance, their attention drawn to the fight. Then Zeke managed to knock Alucard to the ground, but Alucard pulled Zeke with him. The moment he hit the ground Alucard was rolling back, using his momentive to throw Zeke over his head and outside of the circle. Zeke flipped himself in the air to land on his feet, and they were soon both standing. Once again they charged.
I watched with the same fascination as everyone else, but also with a hint of dread. They shouldn't have been fighting. I didn't want either of them hurt. I don't know how that was working, but for the moment I was really worried for their safety, and I was the only one in the room feeling that way.
Ignoring that there was also the fact that they needed to stop fighting. If they didn't one of them might get killed, and I would have failed the Boss. That couldn't happen. I needed to kill Alucard and Zeke.
I didn't want to. That frustrated me.
One thing was certain, I had to stop this fight. What could I do? Jumping in between them might end badly. They were going faster than I had ever seen them, maybe they wouldn't be able to stop if I stepped in. I didn't even try to figure out how I was watching the fight move for move, that wasn't important.
Looking over my options I considered several things. I could try to talk to them from the sides, avert their attention. The problem with that was what if one of them ignored me while the other didn't? Zeke might be looking my way long enough to let Alucard deliver a killing blow. It wasn't likely, but I couldn't take the chance. There wasn't really anything else I could do, though. I wasn't strong enough to force them to stop.
In desperation I looked to the Boss for help. He had been watching me, waiting patiently for me to turn to him. Now he nodded to me, understanding the question before I had the chance to answer. He didn't move though, he did nothing to help.
"Stop them!" I begged, knowing how pitiful I had to sound.
The Boss continued to smile. Sighing I glared, then turned back to the fight. They had made it to the other side of the room, slowly tearing the place apart. I couldn't help but wonder if the Boss was annoyed that they were destroying everything. I was about to turn back to the Boss when Alucard got close enough to another vampire to draw his sword. Suddenly Zeke was facing an armed Alucard. All the other vampires had scattered, taking their weapons with them. With nothing else to do Zeke picked up a large chunk of a broken table and broke a leg off of it. Now he was holding a make shift stake. Both vampires stood ready, waiting for the other's move.
Once again I turned to the Boss. He was watching the fight, but his eyes flickered towards me. This time he wasn't grinning at me, he merely looked thoughtful. I took a step towards him, preparing myself to march up to his thrown and demand he did something, but by the time I finished the first step he was gone. As if he had disappeared. I faulted, not sure where to go, when a hand grabbed my shoulder.
I tried to turn but the Boss held firm. Clawed fingers dug into my shoulder as I tried to move. That was enough incentive for me to give in. "Stop them," I asked again.
He didn't answer, but I felt him step closer. He was as close as he could be without touching me. It was unnerving that I couldn't even feel his breath on my neck. If it was a human there would have been some sign that he was there, something other than a hand and a gut feeling. Right now there was nothing.
Then his second hand circled round my waist, pulling me in close to him. Pulling away would have been a bad idea but I didn't want to stay here. I kept expecting his hand to feel different. It wasn't scaly or wrinkly, just a little rough, but nothing too awkward.
"Elisabeth?" he whispered, his mouth right next to me ear. A small shudder ran down my spine as cold air came with his words adding an extra bit of errieness. It wasn't unexpected though, he had no body heat, no way to warm the air he used to talk. "Elisabeth?"
"Don't worry, I'm listening," I didn't want to sound scarred but it came out in a rushed whisper anyway.
I could almost feel him smirk behind me. "We have a problem, yes?" I nodded. "And you want me to solve it?"
I hesitated a moment before answering. I needed to know what exactly I wanted him to do. "I just want you to stop them from fighting."
This time the Boss nodded. I couldn't see him, but I felt it. "Of course you do." He paused and I didn't dare speak. He wasn't wanting me to, anyway, he was just taking a moment to think. "Do you understand the problem with that?" I quickly shook my head. "Then I shall be quick in explaining.
"If I send my men to stop them then they shall work together to destroy every last one of them. Alone they are lethal, together they are a nightmare. If I go myself then one of them will surely die. While I could render them useless it would take time, and they would take advantage of every second. Both have lived in my court long enough to know my weaknesses."
"So how are you going to stop this? You can't just let them fight," I was sounding panicked.
I felt the Boss nod. "Very true. Unfortunately I can not do what you're asking. I'm not sure I would if I could. In the end it doesn't matter. You will stop them and kill them and it will all be ended."
I watched as Alucard sliced Zeke's stick in half before Zeke pushed the sword to the side and slammed what was left of the wood into Alucard's face. Alucard yelled as the wood tore at his face. He dropped the sword and grabbed Zeke's arm, pulling it away from him, then using it to keep Zeke in one place as he hit him, hard. Zeke cursed then back handed Alucard. Both of them were bloody, and both were healing abnormally fast.
There was no way I could beat them, and I didn't want to. I didn't want to kill them. The Boss wanted me to, but that didn't matter. I wouldn't let it matter.
How could I stop it? It didn't matter. I had to, I couldn't let the Boss win. I couldn't kill them.
Something ripped threw my mind and I screamed. Clenching my eyes shut I started to shudder, feeling my body go limp The Boss held me tight so I wouldn't fall as voices paralyzed me. Thoughts ran up and down my head, leaving pain in their wake.
"Stop fighting it and the pain will go away," the Boss stated. Opening my eyes a little to squint at the room I nodded. I could stop fighting it. I could make this better.
'Don't you dare!'
The thought tore threw me and I screamed again flinching so hard that the Boss tightened his grip. I half saw Zeke pause to look at me before he was knocked across the room, crashing hard to the floor. Instead of following up on his attack Alucard took his turn to look. I wave of anger and fear slipped over his face.
'get off of her'
the thought wasn't directed to me, but I knew who it came from. If I focused on someone their mind became clear. Alucard was pissed. He started towards us, intent on hurting the Boss, then Zeke grabbed him and he changed his mind.
He knew one of them had to die to stop the Boss, and he didn't know if it should be him.
'forget them and deal with this!'
who said that? No, it's who thought that? I couldn't tell. Everyone was raving about the fight. They noticed everything, and were eager for more. Most had forgotten the Boss, forgotten that a girl was here to make their ruler all powerful. Those were the thoughts that blend together and became nothing more than a buzz. It was a loud buzz, so big I felt like my scull would split. Yet it wasn't too big that I couldn't hear over it.
'Elisabeth, you do not want this. You do not want this pain'
I nodded agreement, not able to place who the thoughts came from, and not caring.
'You need to decide what voices you'll listen to'
A different voice, equally firm.
'Just listen to me, kill them. Kill them and it will be finished'
The first voice again. He was pressuring me and I couldn't fight it. Everyone else agreed with him. Everyone else listened to him. He was forcing a stake into my hand, wrapping my fingers around it.
'Kill them'
"How?" had I said that out loud? I couldn't tell, I couldn't hear anything anymore.
'Elisabeth Blake, don't you dare prove me right. You can't let him win'
Who was that? Who were these people forcing their thoughts on me?
"I-I can't d-do. . . I can't. . ." There was nothing anymore. No body, no sounds, nothing to see. The thoughts were the only thing constant, and they were too much. "I ca-can't deal with this."
'then let me do it for you'
Two voices, that had been two voices. Two people talking to me, trying to force their will. I couldn't take it, it didn't matter anymore. Let them do whatever they wanted to me, I didn't care. There was nothing left anyway, nothing for me to protect.
Just like that I gave in, and the voices cleared.
I found myself standing before I knew it. Slowly my eyes fluttered open to take in the sights around me.
Ruins. That was what was left here, only ruins. Vampires were scattered, most outside the circle, far enough away not to be singled out, but close enough to watch. Zeke and Alucard were both standing. They were about fifty feet apart from each other, bloody and bruised. Alucard's arm hung at a wrong angle and Zeke favored his right leg. Both problems were disappearing rapidly, but not as quickly as either of the vampires would have liked.
The Boss was still holding me. He was patiently waiting for me to get my bearings. I took a moment to make sure I was okay to stand. I felt a stake in my hand, not caring where I had gotten it from. I took a step forward and the Boss let me go. Raising my hands towards the ceiling I stretched. Slowly I lowered my arms, shifting from one leg to the other.
I felt relaxed, ready. I took a moment to turn, seeing the Boss looking at me once more. His face was blank, his eyes bleak, but completely in control.
He controlled me. Right now. I was doing what he wanted.
Tilting my head I watched him watch me, considering this. He had opened his mind to me, consuming mine so that he could control what I would do. this did not bother me. It just raised so many ideas, so many realizations.
I was going to win. I knew this. I was in charge, strong, important and above all necessary. I was going to win. And there wasn't a damn thing anyone could do to stop me.
No, there was nothing they could do to stop the Boss. I wasn't going to win, I was just being used, a mere tool.
I was frowning now. That wasn't good. How could I be a tool? I was better than that, better then the Boss, better than everyone here. Besides, I was the one who was needed. No one can get what they want if I don't do what they need me to. Right now all I was suppose to do was kill to vampires so that the Boss could gain ultimate power.
I didn't like that idea. Not in the slightest. There was no reason why I shouldn't get what I want. Then again, what did I want? I want to be in charge. I want to be powerful, invincible. I want to be the Boss.
But that can't happen, because the current Boss has made me his puppet, trapped me in his mind. I was just another pawn in his dangerous game of chess.
There was a mistake in his planning. One he hadn't counted on. I found this amusing, though I didn't show it. I stood just as still and silent as the Boss, meeting his empty eyes with a set of my own. He didn't know that he had just let me win this fight. After all, I will win it. that was just fact. It was just the way things were. He had given me that determination, that certainty. He had shown me all the pieces to his plan, and in doing so he had allowed me to beat it. What the Boss wanted most is power, and I was that power.
Now he couldn't touch it.
Slowly I shifted my gaze to the two silent vampires who were still glaring at each other from opposite ends of the circle. For the Boss to get what he wanted I had to kill them. If I killed them he would kill me, and I would lose. I couldn't let him think I didn't want to kill them, though, else he will change his strategy to one that will work, and I will lose. I had to find a way to overpower everyone here, else I will remain like I am now. Weak and almost human. That won't let me win. I needed to win.
"They are stronger than me," I told the Boss, waiting for him to explain how I should fix that problem.
It was a moment before he answered. "You will have to use something other than strength to stop them."
I nodded to this, considering that. I could easily work my way around this. Alucard was caught up in emotions and not thinking strait, that would work against him in so many ways. Zeke was harder. He was at least trying to think, but with Alucard gone he would be easier to control. His anger would be leashed and the Boss might even be able to stop him from doing anything.
That didn't solve my problem though. I didn't want them dead. I might have to kill one to gain time, but the other would have to survive, or at least survive long enough for me to learn how I could get the power needed to side step the Boss. The Boss was still watching me, aware that I was spending a large portion of time thinking. I couldn't tell what he thought I was doing, what I was thinking about. I couldn't afford his suspicion, so I couldn't wait any longer. I'd have to figure the rest out as I go.
I kept my stride slow and purposeful. Zeke and Alucard still weren't fighting. As far as I could tell all injuries were healed, but they were still waiting, taking a break as they kept close watch on each other.
Following my earlier plan I walked towards Alucard, perfectly aware that both of them were carefully watching me while never letting me be their main focus. I continued to walk until I was standing within reach of Alucard. He began to get edgy, switching his weight from one foot to the other. For half a second his eyes darted to me, then quickly back to Zeke before he could move. Zeke wasn't moving though, he was watching us closely, as nervous as Alucard.
"You need to stop fighting," I said firmly.
Again Alucard's eyes darted my way. "Liz get out of here."
I shook my head. "No. You need to stop. This need's to stop."
Alucard glared at me for a second, taking a bigger risk this time, then again kept his focus on Zeke. "I can't Liz, you know I can't."
"Why not?" I kept my voice light, or tried to. I couldn't stop a threat from slipping out unintentionally. I didn't like when people disobeyed. He shouldn't question me, he should do as I tell him to.
"I can't let him kill you." he said it as a statement.
I smiled softly, a kind smile. "I'll be fine, he won't hurt me. You can't get hurt, either. I won't let you."
Alucard's resolve faltered for a moment. He didn't want to fight anymore. He hated it here, he hated the Boss. He didn't care if he lost. All he really cared about was keeping me safe. I almost laughed at that thought, almost. Instead I hid it, keeping my cover.
"Alucard, please," I wasn't quite begging, but I was getting close. "Just stop and we can find a way out of here. We'll be okay."
Now Alucard was ignoring Zeke completely. He had forgotten about the fight, trapped in a hopeful lie. Zeke wasn't attacking though, he wasn't pushing forward or making himself known. He was letting himself blend in to his surrounds just like every other vampire in the room. I took a moment to wonder why, then returned to my plan before Alucard had time to think about why I was suddenly stepping in.
Slowly I reached out my hand to Alucard, asking him to trust me.
He hesitated a moment, trying to think things over. Why was I here offering him this way out? How could I make it happen? He didn't know, and I couldn't let him consider it. If he started using logic this plan wouldn't work.
I couldn't move forward, I couldn't push myself on him. If I started to push he'd start to doubt. Besides, I'd never do that, or perhaps I should say Liz would never do that. The girl he loved wouldn't throw herself at a guy.
I took a step back, lowering my hand. Let him wonder why. "Fine, keep fighting," I muttered, turning away.
Alucard reached out and stopped me. "Wait," he said. I paused for a moment, half turned. "Don't go."
Hiding a smirk I turned back to him. He looked so desperate, so needing. It was pathetic. His emotions would be his downfall, all because he fell in love with a girl. He was so focused on that, so focused on me, that he hadn't even noticed I was holding a stake. Again I held back signs of emotions, anything that would give him away, make him stop to think. Hiding my face I leaned against him, buying time.
"He's going to kill you," Alucard had already decided on that. He wasn't changing his mind. Right now he knew I was a danger, but he was willing to ignore the fact for some semblance of peace.
I wrapped one arm around him, the one without the stake. "No, he' not." I meant that.
Alucard didn't believe me, but he hugged me anyway, pulling me close to him. Carefully I moved the stake closer to him as I brought my arm up towards his chest. I didn't let the stake touch him, nor did I let him see it. He wasn't going to do anything to defend himself until he actually had proof I was trying to hurt him. Normally I would just stake any vamp I was trying to kill when I was this close, but Alucard was different. I had the feeling he would know I was attacking, and be fast enough to stop it.
"Liz. . ." he started. For a moment I was worried. I could tell by the sound of his voice that he was going to say something important now. He was thinking about it though, thinking about what to say, and I knew that if he thought too much he might pull out of this, might save himself now. Lucky for me I didn't let that happen. He was gazing down on me with some sort of love, granted it was bent awkwardly because of certain current factors, but it was still there, and I did the first thing I could think of.
Rising up on the tips of my toes I stole all the thoughts from his head with one smooth movement. The kiss was deep, passionate, and completely meaningless to me. Alucard was caught up in it, though. I was happy to let him be. He was centered on me for this moment, not on my hands, or my movements, just me. He was so focused he wouldn't notice me slipping a stake into his heart. It was the opportune moment. Absolutely perfect.
And I didn't do it.
"Oh my god, you fucking moron!" Alucard pulled back with a jerk at the sound of Zeke shouting. I was jerked out of daze, also, and for a moment we just stared at each other in utter confusion. Then Zeke spoke again. "Come on, man. She's holding a stake! Did you even see the stake? We've been fighting for god knows how long and here you are just giving up to the first of Boss's tricks because he's waving a girl at you! You gullible, stupid ass! I can't even think of something bad enough to call—"
"Zeke, hush," the Boss's voice was incredibly soft, but everyone heard him. Zeke shut up, and everyone else stopped moving. In an instant there was nothing to be heard. Not even a second latter the Boss was amongst us, standing between me and Alucard.
"Elisabeth," he said coldly. I could feel his anger growing. I had done something wrong, and he wasn't happy. "Why isn't he dead?" I stared back coldly, unimpressed. I didn't kill Alucard. That was fine, I'd work around it.
The human bit of me didn't believe that. It wasn't that I couldn't find a way around all this, or that I didn't have a shot to win, I knew I had that, it was that I had honestly wanted to kill Alucard. I had no reason not to. There was nothing stopping me, no human emotion to cloud my mind, and I still couldn't do it.
It was as if someone else was in my head.
Frowning I slowly glanced around the room. Rotating in a circle I was aware that the Boss was watching me. Everyone was watching me. I didn't care anymore though. I cared about one person in here, and I didn't know who it was. Who was there who didn't want Alucard dead? Alucard was too caught up in the moment and Zeke wouldn't have stopped me. Okay, maybe Zeke would have, but he really did want Alucard dead so I knew it wasn't him. There weren't any other vampires in the room who had the courage to force their opinion on me.
When the circle ended and I was once again facing the Boss I just glared at him for a few moments. He stared black with fury, and I knew I was getting no where. "It wasn't me," I growled, defensive.
"Some one made you stop?" He asked mockingly.
My eyebrow twitched. "Hey smart one, what the hell have you been doing?"
The Boss smirked. "You think someone else could out power me?" He believed he was all powerful. I could feel his arrogance seeping into me. I honestly flinched at the feeling. The arrogance was filling me, but at the same time, it was a part of me. I was the Boss, I was arrogant.
I just hated it. I hated him.
"Wait," I murmured, suddenly realizing something. "This, all of this, this should happen," my eyes flickered to the Boss, then to Alucard. "Forget for a moment that your a pompous ass, but I should be thinking like you. I mean, just like you. That's not happening."
The Boss frowned. "What do you mean?"
'what do you think.'
"What do you think?" I said, suddenly calm. For an instant I relaxed, all of the tension that I had been building up just leaked out of me. I tilted my head to the side and stared at everyone, as if taking in the picture for the first time. My eyes met the Boss's and black pits tried to engulf me. With a shrug I smirked. Try all he might I wasn't going anywhere. But I did, I went away, or the calm did. It was just gone, leaving me alone and shaken as the Boss filled my mind with angry thoughts as he glared holes into me.
"I think you're not obeying me," the Boss said after what was actually a lengthy pause. A grim satisfaction came to me, right before I screamed.
Jolt after jolt of sharp pain forced its way through my brain, driving me back to the all too familiar ground. Every one of them sent the same message: Don't disobey, don't rebel. I wanted so badly to listen, to just give in. That was as likely as me killing Alucard. I wanted to cry with the frustration of it all. The best I could do was to mutter, "Stop!" between jolts of pain. I heard the Boss laughing. He thought I was funny.
"Stop," I said again, a little louder. I forced myself to look up at him, meeting his gaze. He mearly grinned, and I screamed louder.
Don't disobey. Kill Alucard.
It was all too simple. Thank god I had no need for oxygen, I would never be able to breath through this.
"Okay," I started so softly I didn't know if even the vampires could hear me. "I'm begging now," the pain stopped for just a moment, but that didn't matter anymore. Some twist of fate returned my mind to me. I was thinking as myself, with a lot of influences mind you, but I could still recognize a distinct me. "Whoever you are who's decided to lend me a hand, this would be the time you bail me out of here." At the end of my speech the pain returned in full force, but at least I had tried to make an effort.
It took me about two seconds to realize that if anyone was listening to my plea they weren't going to help me by rushing in and destroying the bad guys. Oh no, things were never that easy. Two seconds after that I was lying on my back, staring up at endless darkness while trying to stop shivering. My mind was a mush of fuzz, but I was getting comfortable with that.
Again the calm came to me, blocking out everything the Boss was sending me. For a moment I just let myself lie there and relax.
"You know, Elisabeth, you're only making this difficult," The Boss's words drifted to me, but I wasn't listening to him anymore. "It never should have taken this long." I didn't realize he was near me until he was lifting me up with one arm, and using the other to turn my head so that I had to look at him. "You should be dead already."
It took effort to shake my head. The Boss let go of me at the same time he backhanded me. For the first time I got an estimate of his strength, and it sent me flying across the room. I think one of the vampires actually took effort to move into my path of flight. I crashed into him and we both fell. My jaw was inflamed, broken, bloody, and healing. I couldn't have gotten to my feet if I wanted to, but I made an effort to at least look at the Boss.
That was about the time Alucard charged at him. He didn't fair as well as I did. It took the Boss two moves. The first was to step to the side during the charge and reach out towards Alucard's neck and snap it. The second was to be lift him by a broken neck and throw him. Strait into the gapping Zeke.
'no'
"No," I gasped, watching them both crash to the ground. That one word brought the Boss's attention back to me. Ever so slowly he began to walk towards me.
"Elisabeth," he started. "Listen to me."
'Listen to me.'
Two different voices.
"You have been troublesome"
'You can't let this happen.'
"Rebellious,"
'I can't stop him for you.'
"And just plane annoying." I squirmed under his gaze, trying, and failing, to pull myself up. "You will do as I tell you to."
'You need to let me help you.'
"You can't stop me."
'You can't let him win.'
"I will win," The statement rang true in my ears. I cringed as I heard him. He was right, he was always right about this. He always won.
'You're not really thinking that.'
"You stand no chance."
'You know he's lying.'
"This is your final battle, yes?"
'don't let it be'
"Then do the right thing. Fight with me!" Excitement spread through me. The Boss's anger was fading with anticipation. His arrogance fueled me again. He would win. I would win. There was no stopping me. Nothing but a human voice nagging in my head. But what good were humans? I had been one, I was useless, weak. "We could win this together!" I found myself nodding.
'You could win this alone.'
"There is nothing stopping you."
'Damn it, I'm stopping you!'
"No one is controlling you."
'You need to do this alone. I won't step in. Don't make me.'
"Just kill them."
'No. You won't kill him, I won't let you. . .'
I looked up at both of them, and for the first time I could see it all. I could see her inches from me, staring into me, willing me to listen to what she was saying. They were both right, but it didn't matter. Airaei was standing there, pleading with me, and the Boss stood just behind her, oblivious to the fact that there was a Lerian floating right there in front of him. Airaei was the one thing standing between him and me. Behold the irony.
One thing was bothering me. "You shouldn't be here," I stated.
The Boss looked confused a moment. "I am this world," he stated. I blew him off, watching Airaei.
'I'm with you. You knew you'd come here, I had to make sure you'd leave.'
"It doesn't matter," the boss snapped impatiently.
'There's just one thing to help you.'
"Just finish it"
'Besides—'
"You know—"
"—It all ends here," I finished for both of them. Airaei and the Boss were both quiet, staring at me intently. I stared back as Airaei slowly faded away with a worried expression on her face. I grinned at were she was. For just an instant I felt something. I knew in my mind exactly where she had been, I could feel the imprint she had left. A flaw she had created in the world around her. A gap into magic.
"What are you doing Elisabeth?" the boss asked carefully.
I just stared at that one spot, probing it, as I answered. "I wonder. . ." I nudged it with my mind, and everything around me shifted. For a single moment everything had changed. I was linked, connected, to everything here. The entire world, my entire existence, and the magic that controlled this dimension, was placed in front of me. It pushed at my mind, using it as a source to gain entrance to my essence, my being. Just like every other piece of magic here it fueled me. It wasn't much, that first dose, but the pureness of it, pure magic, felt so intoxicating. ". . . where am I?"
The Boss narrowed his eyes. It took him two steps to close the distance between us. I could feel he wanted to hurt me. He thought I was mocking him, insulting him. He was going to make me pay, make me listen. I wouldn't defy him.
But I would. I did.
This wasn't a fair fight. While I had the speed, agility and strength of the Boss, he had the skills I lacked. Years of training as a Slayer were for nothing when put up against the precision of the boss's movements. By focusing his efforts he could do more in one move then I could do in ten. Besides, nothing I did really seemed to hurt him.
A solid punch in the chest slowed the Boss for a moment. It was long enough for me to turn and kick him. Even though he was knocked back several feet he was quick enough to get back up an deliver the same blows with twice as much force. Unlike the Boss I landed badly, landing me on the ground. Showing no signs of chivalry he loomed over me, delivering a well-placed blow every time I tried to stand. It didn't take long for me just to stop and wait for what he would do next.
"You know how pointless this is," The Boss declared. I didn't bother to confirm the statement. "You can end this!" He insisted.
From the ground I shrugged. "I can end this, yes, but I don't have to. I don't want you to win this, so I won't let you. The only way I know how to stop you is to not lose here. You can't defeat me, even if I can't beat you. That'll have to be enough."
The Boss kicked me in frustration, hard enough to lift me off the ground. I spun in the air then landed hard. Already my body was healing any and all injuries.
"Do you think you can stop me?" the Boss asked angrily.
I shook my head. "I think I can stall you."
"To what purpose?" he demanded to know.
I smirked. "At the moment, just to piss you off." I had moved far enough away when he kicked me that I had time to move out of his way when he tried to kick again. I half-crawled a few feet before I could resume standing, then I ran backwards several yards until I was sure I'd have time to avoid any assault.
"You seek to mock me?" the Boss started walking towards me. I kept pace with him, not wanting him to get too close. "Do you think that would help?"
"I think that when this is all over I'll have a very high pain tolerance," I stated.
The boss just glared silently. Then I tripped over something. When I hit the ground I realized we had made it to a set of tables and I was now lying on one. The good news was that when the Boss caught up to me I had a make shift stake out and ready., I didn't get a chance to attempt to use it though. The Boss grabbed my arm that was holding the stake and used it to pull me to my feet. I did the best I could to steady myself while the Boss glared at me.
Lowering my hand he began to talk. "You have been quite troublesome," his hand moved from my arm to the stake I was holding, "I have had enough of it." His hand tightened around the stake for a moment, then he let go, turning away from me and began to walk back towards the middle of the room.
There was a long moment where I just stood there watching him. The Boss had calmed down completely. I felt awkward as he took his seat upon his thrown, leaving me behind him. "Perhaps I have been approaching this dilemma in the wrong way," he murmured.
Still I just stared, not sure of what was happening. Then I felt the stake in my hand move. Blinking my surprise I glanced at it, the glance being quickly followed by a yelp of surprise and a thud from me dropping the no- longer-a-stake, which had suddenly transformed into a long, black snake.
"I've been trying to force you to obey me, threw power, then fear," The Boss continued to talk as different objects began to change shape. Bowls and spoons were being exchanged for frogs and toads, while all sorts of objects changed into different creatures. I felt like I was in some fairy tail bog that was out to get me. "You changed things, Elisabeth. Some how you found the core of what I created here, and mutated it to your liking," The creatures slithered, jumped, and slid around me, slowly drawing closer. I didn't dare move, not sure of where I could go. "You see though, I can change things to."
In an instant everything vanished. Tables, chairs, and creatures were all gone. We were left in an empty room with the cowering vampire, who were all hiding anyway. The only things left on the floor were the unconscious forms of Zeke and Alucard.
"So are you going to scare me some more?" I asked, glancing for the next thing he'd send after me.
Nothing came, but the Boss went on. "There would be no point. Your valor won't allow you to surrender so easily. Have you not been afraid?" I didn't answer, but the Boss assumed the answer was yes, and he was right. "Then what should I do? I am curious at how I should persuade you to do as I want you to."
"I don't think you can," I said bluntly.
His head turned slightly in my direction. "I do agree. But it's not a matter of "can" but rather of "how." What do you want that I can give you?"
I actually paused to think. The Boss had power, probably money along with most of the American underworld under his control, but I didn't want those things. I wanted to get out of here, to have my friends safe, to be normal. None of that fit with the boss's plans. "I don't think we can both get what we want."
Slowly the Boss nodded, that one movement showing complete understanding, and a certain decision. With a quick flick of his wrist he motioned someone into movement. Seconds later the vampires that had hidden for so long came out. Guards dressed in chainmail marched up to me, surrounding me.
"I'm afraid there's nothing else to be done. Time is growing short and you refuse to allow me to gather my complete power. However I can wait, even if the maximum potential may not be reached this way. You will be held in the vault until you agree to my terms or my mages learn to reverse the spell."
He was the judge and his words were my sentence. I had been tested and tried and her was determined that this was what he needed to do. There was a moment when I was confused, but that was short lived. Vampires were approaching me with chains and other constraints, not leaving me with any way to escape.
"Wait a second" I murmured, not fighting as cold steal surrounded my wrists. "It can't be this simple. All of that... all of that drama just to put me in chains?" I was answered with more chains, until my ankles, wrists, and neck were bound together. The Boss didn't even seem to be paying attention.. "Is this it? You're just going to throw me into some cell? Answer me!"
A guard tried to grab my shoulder, to force me to move, I shrugged him off. Another guard took hold of me, this time with an iron grip. I yanked hard, forcing myself out of his grip. "Send all of your vampires at me, I don't care. I'm not letting you set me aside like some toy you grew tired of."
Hands clawed at me while the Boss ignored me. I glared at him while being tugged in a different direction. "Quite ignoring me!" I yelled in frustration, while at the same time pushing the crowd away from me. I touched one vampire, pushing him hard, but not hard enough to send him flying, yet he flew anyway. Then the rest followed, a circle of vampires around me jumped into the air and flew backwards, away from me.
I took a moment to wonder how I had forced them back, then the moment ended and my attention returned to the Boss. Without a thought I snapped the chains on my wrists. The chains on my feet just fell away, followed quickly by the collar on my neck.
Striding towards the Boss I willed him to look at me, to admit that I was a threat he had to deal with. He continued to sit calmly, resting against his chair. "What will you do now?" I demanded to know. "Your creatures couldn't contain me, and you refuse to fight," I said it as an accusation.
The Boss seemed to take a big breath before moving, then all his movements were drawn out, taking a painfully long time. We both hesitated for just a moment before he began to turn his head and I walked faster. The Boss was slow, taking all the time in the world, I was rushed, not wanting to have to wait for a moment.
I watched his face slowly come into view, his eyes scanning the room as his head turned oh so slowly. There was a drawn out blink at the last moment before he finally opened his eyes and met mine full out, holding nothing back.
~
I randomly logged on today, and I saw new reviews, and if it wasn't for that this wouldn't be on. I don't have time at the moment to mention names, but special thanks will be added later. Thanks for the inspiration, and I hope you like this half a chapter.
~Rave Luki
Chapter 20
Clenching my fists I watched as Alucard was thrown into a table, sending dozens of vampires scattering as they tried to avoid the fight. Zeke kept walking towards Alucard, who kicked out at him from the ground. Zeke easily dodged it before kicking Alucard back, lifting him off the ground and into the next able.
Alucard got to his feet before Zeke could reach him again. Zeke hesitated a moment, trying to throw in some strategy before rushing towards his opponent. Alucard had ditched his strategy at the door and charged head on. Zeke met him without moving, shoving his body against Alucard's. Alucard took a step back for a second before shoving himself at Zeke again.
For a moment they wrestled on top of a broken table. All of the audience stood at a safe distance, their attention drawn to the fight. Then Zeke managed to knock Alucard to the ground, but Alucard pulled Zeke with him. The moment he hit the ground Alucard was rolling back, using his momentive to throw Zeke over his head and outside of the circle. Zeke flipped himself in the air to land on his feet, and they were soon both standing. Once again they charged.
I watched with the same fascination as everyone else, but also with a hint of dread. They shouldn't have been fighting. I didn't want either of them hurt. I don't know how that was working, but for the moment I was really worried for their safety, and I was the only one in the room feeling that way.
Ignoring that there was also the fact that they needed to stop fighting. If they didn't one of them might get killed, and I would have failed the Boss. That couldn't happen. I needed to kill Alucard and Zeke.
I didn't want to. That frustrated me.
One thing was certain, I had to stop this fight. What could I do? Jumping in between them might end badly. They were going faster than I had ever seen them, maybe they wouldn't be able to stop if I stepped in. I didn't even try to figure out how I was watching the fight move for move, that wasn't important.
Looking over my options I considered several things. I could try to talk to them from the sides, avert their attention. The problem with that was what if one of them ignored me while the other didn't? Zeke might be looking my way long enough to let Alucard deliver a killing blow. It wasn't likely, but I couldn't take the chance. There wasn't really anything else I could do, though. I wasn't strong enough to force them to stop.
In desperation I looked to the Boss for help. He had been watching me, waiting patiently for me to turn to him. Now he nodded to me, understanding the question before I had the chance to answer. He didn't move though, he did nothing to help.
"Stop them!" I begged, knowing how pitiful I had to sound.
The Boss continued to smile. Sighing I glared, then turned back to the fight. They had made it to the other side of the room, slowly tearing the place apart. I couldn't help but wonder if the Boss was annoyed that they were destroying everything. I was about to turn back to the Boss when Alucard got close enough to another vampire to draw his sword. Suddenly Zeke was facing an armed Alucard. All the other vampires had scattered, taking their weapons with them. With nothing else to do Zeke picked up a large chunk of a broken table and broke a leg off of it. Now he was holding a make shift stake. Both vampires stood ready, waiting for the other's move.
Once again I turned to the Boss. He was watching the fight, but his eyes flickered towards me. This time he wasn't grinning at me, he merely looked thoughtful. I took a step towards him, preparing myself to march up to his thrown and demand he did something, but by the time I finished the first step he was gone. As if he had disappeared. I faulted, not sure where to go, when a hand grabbed my shoulder.
I tried to turn but the Boss held firm. Clawed fingers dug into my shoulder as I tried to move. That was enough incentive for me to give in. "Stop them," I asked again.
He didn't answer, but I felt him step closer. He was as close as he could be without touching me. It was unnerving that I couldn't even feel his breath on my neck. If it was a human there would have been some sign that he was there, something other than a hand and a gut feeling. Right now there was nothing.
Then his second hand circled round my waist, pulling me in close to him. Pulling away would have been a bad idea but I didn't want to stay here. I kept expecting his hand to feel different. It wasn't scaly or wrinkly, just a little rough, but nothing too awkward.
"Elisabeth?" he whispered, his mouth right next to me ear. A small shudder ran down my spine as cold air came with his words adding an extra bit of errieness. It wasn't unexpected though, he had no body heat, no way to warm the air he used to talk. "Elisabeth?"
"Don't worry, I'm listening," I didn't want to sound scarred but it came out in a rushed whisper anyway.
I could almost feel him smirk behind me. "We have a problem, yes?" I nodded. "And you want me to solve it?"
I hesitated a moment before answering. I needed to know what exactly I wanted him to do. "I just want you to stop them from fighting."
This time the Boss nodded. I couldn't see him, but I felt it. "Of course you do." He paused and I didn't dare speak. He wasn't wanting me to, anyway, he was just taking a moment to think. "Do you understand the problem with that?" I quickly shook my head. "Then I shall be quick in explaining.
"If I send my men to stop them then they shall work together to destroy every last one of them. Alone they are lethal, together they are a nightmare. If I go myself then one of them will surely die. While I could render them useless it would take time, and they would take advantage of every second. Both have lived in my court long enough to know my weaknesses."
"So how are you going to stop this? You can't just let them fight," I was sounding panicked.
I felt the Boss nod. "Very true. Unfortunately I can not do what you're asking. I'm not sure I would if I could. In the end it doesn't matter. You will stop them and kill them and it will all be ended."
I watched as Alucard sliced Zeke's stick in half before Zeke pushed the sword to the side and slammed what was left of the wood into Alucard's face. Alucard yelled as the wood tore at his face. He dropped the sword and grabbed Zeke's arm, pulling it away from him, then using it to keep Zeke in one place as he hit him, hard. Zeke cursed then back handed Alucard. Both of them were bloody, and both were healing abnormally fast.
There was no way I could beat them, and I didn't want to. I didn't want to kill them. The Boss wanted me to, but that didn't matter. I wouldn't let it matter.
How could I stop it? It didn't matter. I had to, I couldn't let the Boss win. I couldn't kill them.
Something ripped threw my mind and I screamed. Clenching my eyes shut I started to shudder, feeling my body go limp The Boss held me tight so I wouldn't fall as voices paralyzed me. Thoughts ran up and down my head, leaving pain in their wake.
"Stop fighting it and the pain will go away," the Boss stated. Opening my eyes a little to squint at the room I nodded. I could stop fighting it. I could make this better.
'Don't you dare!'
The thought tore threw me and I screamed again flinching so hard that the Boss tightened his grip. I half saw Zeke pause to look at me before he was knocked across the room, crashing hard to the floor. Instead of following up on his attack Alucard took his turn to look. I wave of anger and fear slipped over his face.
'get off of her'
the thought wasn't directed to me, but I knew who it came from. If I focused on someone their mind became clear. Alucard was pissed. He started towards us, intent on hurting the Boss, then Zeke grabbed him and he changed his mind.
He knew one of them had to die to stop the Boss, and he didn't know if it should be him.
'forget them and deal with this!'
who said that? No, it's who thought that? I couldn't tell. Everyone was raving about the fight. They noticed everything, and were eager for more. Most had forgotten the Boss, forgotten that a girl was here to make their ruler all powerful. Those were the thoughts that blend together and became nothing more than a buzz. It was a loud buzz, so big I felt like my scull would split. Yet it wasn't too big that I couldn't hear over it.
'Elisabeth, you do not want this. You do not want this pain'
I nodded agreement, not able to place who the thoughts came from, and not caring.
'You need to decide what voices you'll listen to'
A different voice, equally firm.
'Just listen to me, kill them. Kill them and it will be finished'
The first voice again. He was pressuring me and I couldn't fight it. Everyone else agreed with him. Everyone else listened to him. He was forcing a stake into my hand, wrapping my fingers around it.
'Kill them'
"How?" had I said that out loud? I couldn't tell, I couldn't hear anything anymore.
'Elisabeth Blake, don't you dare prove me right. You can't let him win'
Who was that? Who were these people forcing their thoughts on me?
"I-I can't d-do. . . I can't. . ." There was nothing anymore. No body, no sounds, nothing to see. The thoughts were the only thing constant, and they were too much. "I ca-can't deal with this."
'then let me do it for you'
Two voices, that had been two voices. Two people talking to me, trying to force their will. I couldn't take it, it didn't matter anymore. Let them do whatever they wanted to me, I didn't care. There was nothing left anyway, nothing for me to protect.
Just like that I gave in, and the voices cleared.
I found myself standing before I knew it. Slowly my eyes fluttered open to take in the sights around me.
Ruins. That was what was left here, only ruins. Vampires were scattered, most outside the circle, far enough away not to be singled out, but close enough to watch. Zeke and Alucard were both standing. They were about fifty feet apart from each other, bloody and bruised. Alucard's arm hung at a wrong angle and Zeke favored his right leg. Both problems were disappearing rapidly, but not as quickly as either of the vampires would have liked.
The Boss was still holding me. He was patiently waiting for me to get my bearings. I took a moment to make sure I was okay to stand. I felt a stake in my hand, not caring where I had gotten it from. I took a step forward and the Boss let me go. Raising my hands towards the ceiling I stretched. Slowly I lowered my arms, shifting from one leg to the other.
I felt relaxed, ready. I took a moment to turn, seeing the Boss looking at me once more. His face was blank, his eyes bleak, but completely in control.
He controlled me. Right now. I was doing what he wanted.
Tilting my head I watched him watch me, considering this. He had opened his mind to me, consuming mine so that he could control what I would do. this did not bother me. It just raised so many ideas, so many realizations.
I was going to win. I knew this. I was in charge, strong, important and above all necessary. I was going to win. And there wasn't a damn thing anyone could do to stop me.
No, there was nothing they could do to stop the Boss. I wasn't going to win, I was just being used, a mere tool.
I was frowning now. That wasn't good. How could I be a tool? I was better than that, better then the Boss, better than everyone here. Besides, I was the one who was needed. No one can get what they want if I don't do what they need me to. Right now all I was suppose to do was kill to vampires so that the Boss could gain ultimate power.
I didn't like that idea. Not in the slightest. There was no reason why I shouldn't get what I want. Then again, what did I want? I want to be in charge. I want to be powerful, invincible. I want to be the Boss.
But that can't happen, because the current Boss has made me his puppet, trapped me in his mind. I was just another pawn in his dangerous game of chess.
There was a mistake in his planning. One he hadn't counted on. I found this amusing, though I didn't show it. I stood just as still and silent as the Boss, meeting his empty eyes with a set of my own. He didn't know that he had just let me win this fight. After all, I will win it. that was just fact. It was just the way things were. He had given me that determination, that certainty. He had shown me all the pieces to his plan, and in doing so he had allowed me to beat it. What the Boss wanted most is power, and I was that power.
Now he couldn't touch it.
Slowly I shifted my gaze to the two silent vampires who were still glaring at each other from opposite ends of the circle. For the Boss to get what he wanted I had to kill them. If I killed them he would kill me, and I would lose. I couldn't let him think I didn't want to kill them, though, else he will change his strategy to one that will work, and I will lose. I had to find a way to overpower everyone here, else I will remain like I am now. Weak and almost human. That won't let me win. I needed to win.
"They are stronger than me," I told the Boss, waiting for him to explain how I should fix that problem.
It was a moment before he answered. "You will have to use something other than strength to stop them."
I nodded to this, considering that. I could easily work my way around this. Alucard was caught up in emotions and not thinking strait, that would work against him in so many ways. Zeke was harder. He was at least trying to think, but with Alucard gone he would be easier to control. His anger would be leashed and the Boss might even be able to stop him from doing anything.
That didn't solve my problem though. I didn't want them dead. I might have to kill one to gain time, but the other would have to survive, or at least survive long enough for me to learn how I could get the power needed to side step the Boss. The Boss was still watching me, aware that I was spending a large portion of time thinking. I couldn't tell what he thought I was doing, what I was thinking about. I couldn't afford his suspicion, so I couldn't wait any longer. I'd have to figure the rest out as I go.
I kept my stride slow and purposeful. Zeke and Alucard still weren't fighting. As far as I could tell all injuries were healed, but they were still waiting, taking a break as they kept close watch on each other.
Following my earlier plan I walked towards Alucard, perfectly aware that both of them were carefully watching me while never letting me be their main focus. I continued to walk until I was standing within reach of Alucard. He began to get edgy, switching his weight from one foot to the other. For half a second his eyes darted to me, then quickly back to Zeke before he could move. Zeke wasn't moving though, he was watching us closely, as nervous as Alucard.
"You need to stop fighting," I said firmly.
Again Alucard's eyes darted my way. "Liz get out of here."
I shook my head. "No. You need to stop. This need's to stop."
Alucard glared at me for a second, taking a bigger risk this time, then again kept his focus on Zeke. "I can't Liz, you know I can't."
"Why not?" I kept my voice light, or tried to. I couldn't stop a threat from slipping out unintentionally. I didn't like when people disobeyed. He shouldn't question me, he should do as I tell him to.
"I can't let him kill you." he said it as a statement.
I smiled softly, a kind smile. "I'll be fine, he won't hurt me. You can't get hurt, either. I won't let you."
Alucard's resolve faltered for a moment. He didn't want to fight anymore. He hated it here, he hated the Boss. He didn't care if he lost. All he really cared about was keeping me safe. I almost laughed at that thought, almost. Instead I hid it, keeping my cover.
"Alucard, please," I wasn't quite begging, but I was getting close. "Just stop and we can find a way out of here. We'll be okay."
Now Alucard was ignoring Zeke completely. He had forgotten about the fight, trapped in a hopeful lie. Zeke wasn't attacking though, he wasn't pushing forward or making himself known. He was letting himself blend in to his surrounds just like every other vampire in the room. I took a moment to wonder why, then returned to my plan before Alucard had time to think about why I was suddenly stepping in.
Slowly I reached out my hand to Alucard, asking him to trust me.
He hesitated a moment, trying to think things over. Why was I here offering him this way out? How could I make it happen? He didn't know, and I couldn't let him consider it. If he started using logic this plan wouldn't work.
I couldn't move forward, I couldn't push myself on him. If I started to push he'd start to doubt. Besides, I'd never do that, or perhaps I should say Liz would never do that. The girl he loved wouldn't throw herself at a guy.
I took a step back, lowering my hand. Let him wonder why. "Fine, keep fighting," I muttered, turning away.
Alucard reached out and stopped me. "Wait," he said. I paused for a moment, half turned. "Don't go."
Hiding a smirk I turned back to him. He looked so desperate, so needing. It was pathetic. His emotions would be his downfall, all because he fell in love with a girl. He was so focused on that, so focused on me, that he hadn't even noticed I was holding a stake. Again I held back signs of emotions, anything that would give him away, make him stop to think. Hiding my face I leaned against him, buying time.
"He's going to kill you," Alucard had already decided on that. He wasn't changing his mind. Right now he knew I was a danger, but he was willing to ignore the fact for some semblance of peace.
I wrapped one arm around him, the one without the stake. "No, he' not." I meant that.
Alucard didn't believe me, but he hugged me anyway, pulling me close to him. Carefully I moved the stake closer to him as I brought my arm up towards his chest. I didn't let the stake touch him, nor did I let him see it. He wasn't going to do anything to defend himself until he actually had proof I was trying to hurt him. Normally I would just stake any vamp I was trying to kill when I was this close, but Alucard was different. I had the feeling he would know I was attacking, and be fast enough to stop it.
"Liz. . ." he started. For a moment I was worried. I could tell by the sound of his voice that he was going to say something important now. He was thinking about it though, thinking about what to say, and I knew that if he thought too much he might pull out of this, might save himself now. Lucky for me I didn't let that happen. He was gazing down on me with some sort of love, granted it was bent awkwardly because of certain current factors, but it was still there, and I did the first thing I could think of.
Rising up on the tips of my toes I stole all the thoughts from his head with one smooth movement. The kiss was deep, passionate, and completely meaningless to me. Alucard was caught up in it, though. I was happy to let him be. He was centered on me for this moment, not on my hands, or my movements, just me. He was so focused he wouldn't notice me slipping a stake into his heart. It was the opportune moment. Absolutely perfect.
And I didn't do it.
"Oh my god, you fucking moron!" Alucard pulled back with a jerk at the sound of Zeke shouting. I was jerked out of daze, also, and for a moment we just stared at each other in utter confusion. Then Zeke spoke again. "Come on, man. She's holding a stake! Did you even see the stake? We've been fighting for god knows how long and here you are just giving up to the first of Boss's tricks because he's waving a girl at you! You gullible, stupid ass! I can't even think of something bad enough to call—"
"Zeke, hush," the Boss's voice was incredibly soft, but everyone heard him. Zeke shut up, and everyone else stopped moving. In an instant there was nothing to be heard. Not even a second latter the Boss was amongst us, standing between me and Alucard.
"Elisabeth," he said coldly. I could feel his anger growing. I had done something wrong, and he wasn't happy. "Why isn't he dead?" I stared back coldly, unimpressed. I didn't kill Alucard. That was fine, I'd work around it.
The human bit of me didn't believe that. It wasn't that I couldn't find a way around all this, or that I didn't have a shot to win, I knew I had that, it was that I had honestly wanted to kill Alucard. I had no reason not to. There was nothing stopping me, no human emotion to cloud my mind, and I still couldn't do it.
It was as if someone else was in my head.
Frowning I slowly glanced around the room. Rotating in a circle I was aware that the Boss was watching me. Everyone was watching me. I didn't care anymore though. I cared about one person in here, and I didn't know who it was. Who was there who didn't want Alucard dead? Alucard was too caught up in the moment and Zeke wouldn't have stopped me. Okay, maybe Zeke would have, but he really did want Alucard dead so I knew it wasn't him. There weren't any other vampires in the room who had the courage to force their opinion on me.
When the circle ended and I was once again facing the Boss I just glared at him for a few moments. He stared black with fury, and I knew I was getting no where. "It wasn't me," I growled, defensive.
"Some one made you stop?" He asked mockingly.
My eyebrow twitched. "Hey smart one, what the hell have you been doing?"
The Boss smirked. "You think someone else could out power me?" He believed he was all powerful. I could feel his arrogance seeping into me. I honestly flinched at the feeling. The arrogance was filling me, but at the same time, it was a part of me. I was the Boss, I was arrogant.
I just hated it. I hated him.
"Wait," I murmured, suddenly realizing something. "This, all of this, this should happen," my eyes flickered to the Boss, then to Alucard. "Forget for a moment that your a pompous ass, but I should be thinking like you. I mean, just like you. That's not happening."
The Boss frowned. "What do you mean?"
'what do you think.'
"What do you think?" I said, suddenly calm. For an instant I relaxed, all of the tension that I had been building up just leaked out of me. I tilted my head to the side and stared at everyone, as if taking in the picture for the first time. My eyes met the Boss's and black pits tried to engulf me. With a shrug I smirked. Try all he might I wasn't going anywhere. But I did, I went away, or the calm did. It was just gone, leaving me alone and shaken as the Boss filled my mind with angry thoughts as he glared holes into me.
"I think you're not obeying me," the Boss said after what was actually a lengthy pause. A grim satisfaction came to me, right before I screamed.
Jolt after jolt of sharp pain forced its way through my brain, driving me back to the all too familiar ground. Every one of them sent the same message: Don't disobey, don't rebel. I wanted so badly to listen, to just give in. That was as likely as me killing Alucard. I wanted to cry with the frustration of it all. The best I could do was to mutter, "Stop!" between jolts of pain. I heard the Boss laughing. He thought I was funny.
"Stop," I said again, a little louder. I forced myself to look up at him, meeting his gaze. He mearly grinned, and I screamed louder.
Don't disobey. Kill Alucard.
It was all too simple. Thank god I had no need for oxygen, I would never be able to breath through this.
"Okay," I started so softly I didn't know if even the vampires could hear me. "I'm begging now," the pain stopped for just a moment, but that didn't matter anymore. Some twist of fate returned my mind to me. I was thinking as myself, with a lot of influences mind you, but I could still recognize a distinct me. "Whoever you are who's decided to lend me a hand, this would be the time you bail me out of here." At the end of my speech the pain returned in full force, but at least I had tried to make an effort.
It took me about two seconds to realize that if anyone was listening to my plea they weren't going to help me by rushing in and destroying the bad guys. Oh no, things were never that easy. Two seconds after that I was lying on my back, staring up at endless darkness while trying to stop shivering. My mind was a mush of fuzz, but I was getting comfortable with that.
Again the calm came to me, blocking out everything the Boss was sending me. For a moment I just let myself lie there and relax.
"You know, Elisabeth, you're only making this difficult," The Boss's words drifted to me, but I wasn't listening to him anymore. "It never should have taken this long." I didn't realize he was near me until he was lifting me up with one arm, and using the other to turn my head so that I had to look at him. "You should be dead already."
It took effort to shake my head. The Boss let go of me at the same time he backhanded me. For the first time I got an estimate of his strength, and it sent me flying across the room. I think one of the vampires actually took effort to move into my path of flight. I crashed into him and we both fell. My jaw was inflamed, broken, bloody, and healing. I couldn't have gotten to my feet if I wanted to, but I made an effort to at least look at the Boss.
That was about the time Alucard charged at him. He didn't fair as well as I did. It took the Boss two moves. The first was to step to the side during the charge and reach out towards Alucard's neck and snap it. The second was to be lift him by a broken neck and throw him. Strait into the gapping Zeke.
'no'
"No," I gasped, watching them both crash to the ground. That one word brought the Boss's attention back to me. Ever so slowly he began to walk towards me.
"Elisabeth," he started. "Listen to me."
'Listen to me.'
Two different voices.
"You have been troublesome"
'You can't let this happen.'
"Rebellious,"
'I can't stop him for you.'
"And just plane annoying." I squirmed under his gaze, trying, and failing, to pull myself up. "You will do as I tell you to."
'You need to let me help you.'
"You can't stop me."
'You can't let him win.'
"I will win," The statement rang true in my ears. I cringed as I heard him. He was right, he was always right about this. He always won.
'You're not really thinking that.'
"You stand no chance."
'You know he's lying.'
"This is your final battle, yes?"
'don't let it be'
"Then do the right thing. Fight with me!" Excitement spread through me. The Boss's anger was fading with anticipation. His arrogance fueled me again. He would win. I would win. There was no stopping me. Nothing but a human voice nagging in my head. But what good were humans? I had been one, I was useless, weak. "We could win this together!" I found myself nodding.
'You could win this alone.'
"There is nothing stopping you."
'Damn it, I'm stopping you!'
"No one is controlling you."
'You need to do this alone. I won't step in. Don't make me.'
"Just kill them."
'No. You won't kill him, I won't let you. . .'
I looked up at both of them, and for the first time I could see it all. I could see her inches from me, staring into me, willing me to listen to what she was saying. They were both right, but it didn't matter. Airaei was standing there, pleading with me, and the Boss stood just behind her, oblivious to the fact that there was a Lerian floating right there in front of him. Airaei was the one thing standing between him and me. Behold the irony.
One thing was bothering me. "You shouldn't be here," I stated.
The Boss looked confused a moment. "I am this world," he stated. I blew him off, watching Airaei.
'I'm with you. You knew you'd come here, I had to make sure you'd leave.'
"It doesn't matter," the boss snapped impatiently.
'There's just one thing to help you.'
"Just finish it"
'Besides—'
"You know—"
"—It all ends here," I finished for both of them. Airaei and the Boss were both quiet, staring at me intently. I stared back as Airaei slowly faded away with a worried expression on her face. I grinned at were she was. For just an instant I felt something. I knew in my mind exactly where she had been, I could feel the imprint she had left. A flaw she had created in the world around her. A gap into magic.
"What are you doing Elisabeth?" the boss asked carefully.
I just stared at that one spot, probing it, as I answered. "I wonder. . ." I nudged it with my mind, and everything around me shifted. For a single moment everything had changed. I was linked, connected, to everything here. The entire world, my entire existence, and the magic that controlled this dimension, was placed in front of me. It pushed at my mind, using it as a source to gain entrance to my essence, my being. Just like every other piece of magic here it fueled me. It wasn't much, that first dose, but the pureness of it, pure magic, felt so intoxicating. ". . . where am I?"
The Boss narrowed his eyes. It took him two steps to close the distance between us. I could feel he wanted to hurt me. He thought I was mocking him, insulting him. He was going to make me pay, make me listen. I wouldn't defy him.
But I would. I did.
This wasn't a fair fight. While I had the speed, agility and strength of the Boss, he had the skills I lacked. Years of training as a Slayer were for nothing when put up against the precision of the boss's movements. By focusing his efforts he could do more in one move then I could do in ten. Besides, nothing I did really seemed to hurt him.
A solid punch in the chest slowed the Boss for a moment. It was long enough for me to turn and kick him. Even though he was knocked back several feet he was quick enough to get back up an deliver the same blows with twice as much force. Unlike the Boss I landed badly, landing me on the ground. Showing no signs of chivalry he loomed over me, delivering a well-placed blow every time I tried to stand. It didn't take long for me just to stop and wait for what he would do next.
"You know how pointless this is," The Boss declared. I didn't bother to confirm the statement. "You can end this!" He insisted.
From the ground I shrugged. "I can end this, yes, but I don't have to. I don't want you to win this, so I won't let you. The only way I know how to stop you is to not lose here. You can't defeat me, even if I can't beat you. That'll have to be enough."
The Boss kicked me in frustration, hard enough to lift me off the ground. I spun in the air then landed hard. Already my body was healing any and all injuries.
"Do you think you can stop me?" the Boss asked angrily.
I shook my head. "I think I can stall you."
"To what purpose?" he demanded to know.
I smirked. "At the moment, just to piss you off." I had moved far enough away when he kicked me that I had time to move out of his way when he tried to kick again. I half-crawled a few feet before I could resume standing, then I ran backwards several yards until I was sure I'd have time to avoid any assault.
"You seek to mock me?" the Boss started walking towards me. I kept pace with him, not wanting him to get too close. "Do you think that would help?"
"I think that when this is all over I'll have a very high pain tolerance," I stated.
The boss just glared silently. Then I tripped over something. When I hit the ground I realized we had made it to a set of tables and I was now lying on one. The good news was that when the Boss caught up to me I had a make shift stake out and ready., I didn't get a chance to attempt to use it though. The Boss grabbed my arm that was holding the stake and used it to pull me to my feet. I did the best I could to steady myself while the Boss glared at me.
Lowering my hand he began to talk. "You have been quite troublesome," his hand moved from my arm to the stake I was holding, "I have had enough of it." His hand tightened around the stake for a moment, then he let go, turning away from me and began to walk back towards the middle of the room.
There was a long moment where I just stood there watching him. The Boss had calmed down completely. I felt awkward as he took his seat upon his thrown, leaving me behind him. "Perhaps I have been approaching this dilemma in the wrong way," he murmured.
Still I just stared, not sure of what was happening. Then I felt the stake in my hand move. Blinking my surprise I glanced at it, the glance being quickly followed by a yelp of surprise and a thud from me dropping the no- longer-a-stake, which had suddenly transformed into a long, black snake.
"I've been trying to force you to obey me, threw power, then fear," The Boss continued to talk as different objects began to change shape. Bowls and spoons were being exchanged for frogs and toads, while all sorts of objects changed into different creatures. I felt like I was in some fairy tail bog that was out to get me. "You changed things, Elisabeth. Some how you found the core of what I created here, and mutated it to your liking," The creatures slithered, jumped, and slid around me, slowly drawing closer. I didn't dare move, not sure of where I could go. "You see though, I can change things to."
In an instant everything vanished. Tables, chairs, and creatures were all gone. We were left in an empty room with the cowering vampire, who were all hiding anyway. The only things left on the floor were the unconscious forms of Zeke and Alucard.
"So are you going to scare me some more?" I asked, glancing for the next thing he'd send after me.
Nothing came, but the Boss went on. "There would be no point. Your valor won't allow you to surrender so easily. Have you not been afraid?" I didn't answer, but the Boss assumed the answer was yes, and he was right. "Then what should I do? I am curious at how I should persuade you to do as I want you to."
"I don't think you can," I said bluntly.
His head turned slightly in my direction. "I do agree. But it's not a matter of "can" but rather of "how." What do you want that I can give you?"
I actually paused to think. The Boss had power, probably money along with most of the American underworld under his control, but I didn't want those things. I wanted to get out of here, to have my friends safe, to be normal. None of that fit with the boss's plans. "I don't think we can both get what we want."
Slowly the Boss nodded, that one movement showing complete understanding, and a certain decision. With a quick flick of his wrist he motioned someone into movement. Seconds later the vampires that had hidden for so long came out. Guards dressed in chainmail marched up to me, surrounding me.
"I'm afraid there's nothing else to be done. Time is growing short and you refuse to allow me to gather my complete power. However I can wait, even if the maximum potential may not be reached this way. You will be held in the vault until you agree to my terms or my mages learn to reverse the spell."
He was the judge and his words were my sentence. I had been tested and tried and her was determined that this was what he needed to do. There was a moment when I was confused, but that was short lived. Vampires were approaching me with chains and other constraints, not leaving me with any way to escape.
"Wait a second" I murmured, not fighting as cold steal surrounded my wrists. "It can't be this simple. All of that... all of that drama just to put me in chains?" I was answered with more chains, until my ankles, wrists, and neck were bound together. The Boss didn't even seem to be paying attention.. "Is this it? You're just going to throw me into some cell? Answer me!"
A guard tried to grab my shoulder, to force me to move, I shrugged him off. Another guard took hold of me, this time with an iron grip. I yanked hard, forcing myself out of his grip. "Send all of your vampires at me, I don't care. I'm not letting you set me aside like some toy you grew tired of."
Hands clawed at me while the Boss ignored me. I glared at him while being tugged in a different direction. "Quite ignoring me!" I yelled in frustration, while at the same time pushing the crowd away from me. I touched one vampire, pushing him hard, but not hard enough to send him flying, yet he flew anyway. Then the rest followed, a circle of vampires around me jumped into the air and flew backwards, away from me.
I took a moment to wonder how I had forced them back, then the moment ended and my attention returned to the Boss. Without a thought I snapped the chains on my wrists. The chains on my feet just fell away, followed quickly by the collar on my neck.
Striding towards the Boss I willed him to look at me, to admit that I was a threat he had to deal with. He continued to sit calmly, resting against his chair. "What will you do now?" I demanded to know. "Your creatures couldn't contain me, and you refuse to fight," I said it as an accusation.
The Boss seemed to take a big breath before moving, then all his movements were drawn out, taking a painfully long time. We both hesitated for just a moment before he began to turn his head and I walked faster. The Boss was slow, taking all the time in the world, I was rushed, not wanting to have to wait for a moment.
I watched his face slowly come into view, his eyes scanning the room as his head turned oh so slowly. There was a drawn out blink at the last moment before he finally opened his eyes and met mine full out, holding nothing back.
~
I randomly logged on today, and I saw new reviews, and if it wasn't for that this wouldn't be on. I don't have time at the moment to mention names, but special thanks will be added later. Thanks for the inspiration, and I hope you like this half a chapter.
~Rave Luki