Disclaimer: I'm a poor teenager. I don't own anything, okay?
A/N: Okay, you've got to admit, this chapter was out pretty quickly. Amazing, eh? There's a lot going on in this chapter. Oh, by the way, I noticed the last chapter had some weird line spacing, so ignore that. I may edit it later, but hey, it can still be read easily. I gave this story a quick look, but decided it was best to just publish it now, rather than later.
Ooo, and thanks to all my reviewers! I honestly appreciate your support- like rain to the earth, my friends. Okay, okay, I'm finished. Enjoy.
He could feel the cold metal slicing across his flesh as he cried in agony, fear, and pain. His own cries echoed in his ears, ringing out against the stone of the temple. Detrimentus smiled maliciously, playing the tip of the blade against the warrior's throat, taking pleasure in his victim's pain.
Ryo's screams were silenced, though his mouth was still twisted in a howl, his throat working to voice his emotion. Ryo was released from his invisible bonds, dropping to the floor in a small clump, shaking uncontrollably. Detrimentus stood over the figure huddled on the floor, twirling the blade in his thin, bony fingers, like a miniature baton. Ryo could feel the cut in his throat, but he was too cold to move, his muscles automatically cramping up, trying to shield his body against the violent attacks of the mysterious chill.
"My lord," Detrimentus whispered. It was a statement.
Ryo looked up, despite the convulsions of his body. The old man bent his head towards Ryo, his wrinkled face closing in on Ryo's fear stricken and bewildered eyes.
"I have a message for you," the old man began, "It appears Lord Talpa has decided to present you with a choice."
The warrior tried to respond, but no sound came out of his mouth, though he coughed and swallowed in failed attempts to find his voice once again. He automatically attempted to tense his muscles, his body frigid for one short moment. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself off of the floor, but his muscles refused to respond under the pressure of his body weight. His arms gave out, and he sagged back to the floor, assuming his former position of a clump on the floor of the temple.
"My lord," Detrimentus said, a mocking tone apparent in his voice, "Why make it harder on yourself? Though the wound is shallow, the poison is still quite potent. I made it myself," He said with a sick sense of pride.
Ryo grit his teeth in frustration and anger, not willing to submit to the poison attacking his body.
"Your voice is a privilege, not a right," the old man said, sounding very much like a schoolteacher scolding an unruly child, "Lord Talpa offers you power in return for loyalty. Do you wish it?"
Ryo narrowed his tiger blue eyes, but did not move his head in acceptance or denial. He merely waited for Detrimentus to continue.
"My lord, the choice is simple."
Ryo wanted to retort that there was no choice, knowing Talpa's schemes all too well. In an odd manner, he wasn't surprised that Talpa was in fact still alive. He had been a Ronin Warrior long enough to know that evil never died, it only disappeared for a mercifully short amount of time. The Ronin also knew that Talpa would try to break him down, no matter how hard he resisted.
"I figured you would respond as much, my lord. No matter. I shall introduce you to your options," Detrimentus said matter-of-factly, "Do you wish to become a slave, young lord? To serve Talpa without a will of your own? I would think not, my lord. A warlord, that is what you wish for. Did you not dream of such power?"
Despite his pain, Ryo wanted to laugh. Detrimentus expected him to choose to give in to Talpa, after all the years of fighting. After all the blood, tears, sacrifice, and pain. He was expected to give into the greatest evil of the world. Here he was, drowning in the unforgiving cold, without a voice, without his armor, without his friends...
"Such is the way of the suffering, my lord," the old man said, the firelight playing off of his aged features, making him look as though he was slowly decaying amidst the flames of the temple.
Ryo could not respond. He only lay his head down on the floor, waiting for the pain to come. He was growing tired of small talk. Talpa was smarter than that. Why should he waste time knowing that Ryo was not going to give in?
"I should have you know..." Detrimentus began, waiting for Ryo to lift his head off of the floor in anticipation. Ryo did not move. "You're dying."
The last statement hit Ryo like a bolt of lightening. So this was it. Die slowly or submit to Talpa. Now the situation was amusing. Ryo's lips curved into a thin smile, his eyes closed, and he attempted once more to relax his body. Dying! He was dying. It wasn't the first time he had been touched by death's fingers before, but now? Dying from a knife wound to the throat.
"The ironic thing is, my lord, Talpa won't let you die. You'll either give into him willingly, thus keeping your memory, or you'll resist, which will be futile in the end, of course. My my, do you really think you'll win, my lord? Tsk, you should no better. After all these years..."
All these years... This is what it comes to now. Ryo had already made his decision. He would resist Talpa. He would never submit to the will of what he had fought against for so long.
"I'll have you know, the next stage is about to begin. You don't have long to choose, my lord."
Ryo merely glared at the crouched figure of Detrimentus with defiance. He would never give in so easily.
"A slave then," Detrimentus said bitterly, disgust coating his words. He straightened himself out, and then rubbed his palms together, sliding them in one fluid motion that was so fast, Ryo almost missed it.
A sudden shock of pain rippled through Ryo's body. It felt like his bones were being shattered into a million pieces. The cold was gone, replaced by a sensation of intense warmth. His back arched as a spasm of pain wracked his body. Instinctually, he cried out in agony, but was still under the spell of silence, his mouth open in a muted scream, his neck craned as his body thrashed about on the temple's ground.
He had lost track of the old man. Ryo's eyes searched wildly around the room, but Detrimentus had vanished. Ryo clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to focus on something in order to soothe the pain. His whole body convulsed and shook, having lost control of it long ago.
Hours passed, and the pain slowly subsided, Ryo slowly growing weaker, feeling the pull of physical fatigue. He closed his eyes when he felt the last of the pain float away from his body, as though it was only a wisp of air. Slowly, consciousness melted away from his body, like ice cream left in the noon sun.
Ryo awoke with a start, not remembering falling asleep. He guessed he must of gasped when he woke, but wasn't sure, recalling the curse placed upon him. His body still remembered the pain he had suffered before, but he no longer felt its touch, grateful to be left in peace for a short while.
His eyes began to close, and the warrior did not realize how tired he was. He tried to lift his hand, in order to prove to himself that he was not weakened by Detrimentus' spell. But the task proved to be too difficult for the Ronin, and he rolled his head over to the side, determined not to fall asleep before knowing where he was.
From what he could see, he was still in the temple, only not in the front hall he was in before. He was in a small room, lying on a marble altar. Torchlight played off of the walls, creating sharp shadows that made the room look even more ominous and mysterious. Ryo tried to study the walls, for he noticed there were symbols scripted in black paint, but the small amount of light did not permit further inspection. Sleep crept up on the young man, and soon, he found he could not even resist slumber.
Ryo awoke slowly, awakened by voices around him. He immediately recognized Detrimentus' voice- old and crackly, ridden with a sly sense of confidence. Detrimentus was whispering words. It sounded as though he was attempting to chant and hold a conversation at the same time. Ryo recognized one word, amidst the whisperings of his captor- Talpa.
Was Talpa here? In spirit? Or in physical form? Fear crept up on the young man, but he forced himself to open his eyes, curiosity getting the best of him.
"Ah, my young lord. Awake, are we?" Detrimentus called out to Ryo, "It's time..." he said, cryptically.
Ryo tested his strength by clenching his fists, but he could not muster the strength to lift his arm.
"You're too weak for that, my lord," Detrimentus said, obviously taking notice of Ryo's attempts to move.
Ryo wanted to retort, but as much as he tried to will himself to speak, he could not. The spell was still in effect.
"It's time for the extraction. I won't lie to you, my lord. It will feel as if your very heart is being ripped from your flesh."
Detrimentus raised his bony arms, the folds of his silver robes moving with the motions of his body. The old man began chanting, and instantly, Ryo knew they were dark, evil words that birthed no good.
Suddenly, his body tensed and his breathing became sharper. He felt a dark presence in the room. Something so evil, it made Ryo's teeth ache. Talpa was in the room, having come for the extraction.
"Ryo," Talpa's voice boomed, as Ryo's body physically shook. He felt like throwing up and tearing his hair out all at once, but he was too weak to do anything but listen and quake.
"My Lord Talpa?" Detrimentus questioned meekly, "I am ready to begin the extraction."
"Excellent, proceed," Talpa answered.
Ryo closed his eyes, terrified of what was to come. Detrimentus began a low, steady chant that soon picked up speed and became louder and more boisterous. Something pulled in Ryo's chest. It wasn't his heart, but it was close. Right beneath his collarbone, in the middle of his chest, Ryo felt a tugging. It was slow at first, almost timid, but like Detrimentus' chant, it soon gathered strength and became more forceful, like a tenacious dog tugging at a rope. Ryo clenched his fists and clamped his jaw shut.
Thousands of blades pierced Ryo's skin. A hammer was constantly beating his skull. Flames licked his skin like hungry lions. Icy water filled his lungs. A noose closed around his throat, suffocating him.
This wasn't death. This was much worse.
All at once, Ryo knew. He realized what was happening. Talpa wanted his soul, and was getting what he wanted.
Oddly enough, Ryo did not lose consciousness; he guessed that Detrimentus' chant did not allow for that. His soul was slowly coming loose, like a stubborn tooth being pulled by a dentist.
Ryo tried to resist, but his efforts were slapped away by more waves of excruciating pain. Hours later, he lay exhausted on the altar, his body immobile and exhausted; a thick coat of sweat clung to his skin, making his pants cling to his legs and his hair stick to his skull in tight waves.
Was his soul gone? Would he know the difference? What now? Would death come for him?
"Ryo." A voice. "Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo."
Demons screamed his name over and over, speaking over one another, echoing. Some voices were malicious, some were sweet, and others were pure evil. Slowly, the voices pulled back, exiting out of Ryo's head. The voices retreated, but Ryo felt a dark presence enter his mind, forcing its way in- uninvited. Ryo automatically tensed, feeling vulnerable and alone.
"Son." Talpa's voice boomed. So this was it. This was existence without a soul. Death was a dream in a faraway land now.
A/N: Oh yeah, good stuff. Another cliffhanger, pretty dramatic, huh? Review. It helps me get stories out faster. No, really... It does. Heh.
A/N: Okay, you've got to admit, this chapter was out pretty quickly. Amazing, eh? There's a lot going on in this chapter. Oh, by the way, I noticed the last chapter had some weird line spacing, so ignore that. I may edit it later, but hey, it can still be read easily. I gave this story a quick look, but decided it was best to just publish it now, rather than later.
Ooo, and thanks to all my reviewers! I honestly appreciate your support- like rain to the earth, my friends. Okay, okay, I'm finished. Enjoy.
He could feel the cold metal slicing across his flesh as he cried in agony, fear, and pain. His own cries echoed in his ears, ringing out against the stone of the temple. Detrimentus smiled maliciously, playing the tip of the blade against the warrior's throat, taking pleasure in his victim's pain.
Ryo's screams were silenced, though his mouth was still twisted in a howl, his throat working to voice his emotion. Ryo was released from his invisible bonds, dropping to the floor in a small clump, shaking uncontrollably. Detrimentus stood over the figure huddled on the floor, twirling the blade in his thin, bony fingers, like a miniature baton. Ryo could feel the cut in his throat, but he was too cold to move, his muscles automatically cramping up, trying to shield his body against the violent attacks of the mysterious chill.
"My lord," Detrimentus whispered. It was a statement.
Ryo looked up, despite the convulsions of his body. The old man bent his head towards Ryo, his wrinkled face closing in on Ryo's fear stricken and bewildered eyes.
"I have a message for you," the old man began, "It appears Lord Talpa has decided to present you with a choice."
The warrior tried to respond, but no sound came out of his mouth, though he coughed and swallowed in failed attempts to find his voice once again. He automatically attempted to tense his muscles, his body frigid for one short moment. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself off of the floor, but his muscles refused to respond under the pressure of his body weight. His arms gave out, and he sagged back to the floor, assuming his former position of a clump on the floor of the temple.
"My lord," Detrimentus said, a mocking tone apparent in his voice, "Why make it harder on yourself? Though the wound is shallow, the poison is still quite potent. I made it myself," He said with a sick sense of pride.
Ryo grit his teeth in frustration and anger, not willing to submit to the poison attacking his body.
"Your voice is a privilege, not a right," the old man said, sounding very much like a schoolteacher scolding an unruly child, "Lord Talpa offers you power in return for loyalty. Do you wish it?"
Ryo narrowed his tiger blue eyes, but did not move his head in acceptance or denial. He merely waited for Detrimentus to continue.
"My lord, the choice is simple."
Ryo wanted to retort that there was no choice, knowing Talpa's schemes all too well. In an odd manner, he wasn't surprised that Talpa was in fact still alive. He had been a Ronin Warrior long enough to know that evil never died, it only disappeared for a mercifully short amount of time. The Ronin also knew that Talpa would try to break him down, no matter how hard he resisted.
"I figured you would respond as much, my lord. No matter. I shall introduce you to your options," Detrimentus said matter-of-factly, "Do you wish to become a slave, young lord? To serve Talpa without a will of your own? I would think not, my lord. A warlord, that is what you wish for. Did you not dream of such power?"
Despite his pain, Ryo wanted to laugh. Detrimentus expected him to choose to give in to Talpa, after all the years of fighting. After all the blood, tears, sacrifice, and pain. He was expected to give into the greatest evil of the world. Here he was, drowning in the unforgiving cold, without a voice, without his armor, without his friends...
"Such is the way of the suffering, my lord," the old man said, the firelight playing off of his aged features, making him look as though he was slowly decaying amidst the flames of the temple.
Ryo could not respond. He only lay his head down on the floor, waiting for the pain to come. He was growing tired of small talk. Talpa was smarter than that. Why should he waste time knowing that Ryo was not going to give in?
"I should have you know..." Detrimentus began, waiting for Ryo to lift his head off of the floor in anticipation. Ryo did not move. "You're dying."
The last statement hit Ryo like a bolt of lightening. So this was it. Die slowly or submit to Talpa. Now the situation was amusing. Ryo's lips curved into a thin smile, his eyes closed, and he attempted once more to relax his body. Dying! He was dying. It wasn't the first time he had been touched by death's fingers before, but now? Dying from a knife wound to the throat.
"The ironic thing is, my lord, Talpa won't let you die. You'll either give into him willingly, thus keeping your memory, or you'll resist, which will be futile in the end, of course. My my, do you really think you'll win, my lord? Tsk, you should no better. After all these years..."
All these years... This is what it comes to now. Ryo had already made his decision. He would resist Talpa. He would never submit to the will of what he had fought against for so long.
"I'll have you know, the next stage is about to begin. You don't have long to choose, my lord."
Ryo merely glared at the crouched figure of Detrimentus with defiance. He would never give in so easily.
"A slave then," Detrimentus said bitterly, disgust coating his words. He straightened himself out, and then rubbed his palms together, sliding them in one fluid motion that was so fast, Ryo almost missed it.
A sudden shock of pain rippled through Ryo's body. It felt like his bones were being shattered into a million pieces. The cold was gone, replaced by a sensation of intense warmth. His back arched as a spasm of pain wracked his body. Instinctually, he cried out in agony, but was still under the spell of silence, his mouth open in a muted scream, his neck craned as his body thrashed about on the temple's ground.
He had lost track of the old man. Ryo's eyes searched wildly around the room, but Detrimentus had vanished. Ryo clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to focus on something in order to soothe the pain. His whole body convulsed and shook, having lost control of it long ago.
Hours passed, and the pain slowly subsided, Ryo slowly growing weaker, feeling the pull of physical fatigue. He closed his eyes when he felt the last of the pain float away from his body, as though it was only a wisp of air. Slowly, consciousness melted away from his body, like ice cream left in the noon sun.
Ryo awoke with a start, not remembering falling asleep. He guessed he must of gasped when he woke, but wasn't sure, recalling the curse placed upon him. His body still remembered the pain he had suffered before, but he no longer felt its touch, grateful to be left in peace for a short while.
His eyes began to close, and the warrior did not realize how tired he was. He tried to lift his hand, in order to prove to himself that he was not weakened by Detrimentus' spell. But the task proved to be too difficult for the Ronin, and he rolled his head over to the side, determined not to fall asleep before knowing where he was.
From what he could see, he was still in the temple, only not in the front hall he was in before. He was in a small room, lying on a marble altar. Torchlight played off of the walls, creating sharp shadows that made the room look even more ominous and mysterious. Ryo tried to study the walls, for he noticed there were symbols scripted in black paint, but the small amount of light did not permit further inspection. Sleep crept up on the young man, and soon, he found he could not even resist slumber.
Ryo awoke slowly, awakened by voices around him. He immediately recognized Detrimentus' voice- old and crackly, ridden with a sly sense of confidence. Detrimentus was whispering words. It sounded as though he was attempting to chant and hold a conversation at the same time. Ryo recognized one word, amidst the whisperings of his captor- Talpa.
Was Talpa here? In spirit? Or in physical form? Fear crept up on the young man, but he forced himself to open his eyes, curiosity getting the best of him.
"Ah, my young lord. Awake, are we?" Detrimentus called out to Ryo, "It's time..." he said, cryptically.
Ryo tested his strength by clenching his fists, but he could not muster the strength to lift his arm.
"You're too weak for that, my lord," Detrimentus said, obviously taking notice of Ryo's attempts to move.
Ryo wanted to retort, but as much as he tried to will himself to speak, he could not. The spell was still in effect.
"It's time for the extraction. I won't lie to you, my lord. It will feel as if your very heart is being ripped from your flesh."
Detrimentus raised his bony arms, the folds of his silver robes moving with the motions of his body. The old man began chanting, and instantly, Ryo knew they were dark, evil words that birthed no good.
Suddenly, his body tensed and his breathing became sharper. He felt a dark presence in the room. Something so evil, it made Ryo's teeth ache. Talpa was in the room, having come for the extraction.
"Ryo," Talpa's voice boomed, as Ryo's body physically shook. He felt like throwing up and tearing his hair out all at once, but he was too weak to do anything but listen and quake.
"My Lord Talpa?" Detrimentus questioned meekly, "I am ready to begin the extraction."
"Excellent, proceed," Talpa answered.
Ryo closed his eyes, terrified of what was to come. Detrimentus began a low, steady chant that soon picked up speed and became louder and more boisterous. Something pulled in Ryo's chest. It wasn't his heart, but it was close. Right beneath his collarbone, in the middle of his chest, Ryo felt a tugging. It was slow at first, almost timid, but like Detrimentus' chant, it soon gathered strength and became more forceful, like a tenacious dog tugging at a rope. Ryo clenched his fists and clamped his jaw shut.
Thousands of blades pierced Ryo's skin. A hammer was constantly beating his skull. Flames licked his skin like hungry lions. Icy water filled his lungs. A noose closed around his throat, suffocating him.
This wasn't death. This was much worse.
All at once, Ryo knew. He realized what was happening. Talpa wanted his soul, and was getting what he wanted.
Oddly enough, Ryo did not lose consciousness; he guessed that Detrimentus' chant did not allow for that. His soul was slowly coming loose, like a stubborn tooth being pulled by a dentist.
Ryo tried to resist, but his efforts were slapped away by more waves of excruciating pain. Hours later, he lay exhausted on the altar, his body immobile and exhausted; a thick coat of sweat clung to his skin, making his pants cling to his legs and his hair stick to his skull in tight waves.
Was his soul gone? Would he know the difference? What now? Would death come for him?
"Ryo." A voice. "Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo. Ryo."
Demons screamed his name over and over, speaking over one another, echoing. Some voices were malicious, some were sweet, and others were pure evil. Slowly, the voices pulled back, exiting out of Ryo's head. The voices retreated, but Ryo felt a dark presence enter his mind, forcing its way in- uninvited. Ryo automatically tensed, feeling vulnerable and alone.
"Son." Talpa's voice boomed. So this was it. This was existence without a soul. Death was a dream in a faraway land now.
A/N: Oh yeah, good stuff. Another cliffhanger, pretty dramatic, huh? Review. It helps me get stories out faster. No, really... It does. Heh.