Well, first off I guess I should apologize for disappearing for…well a really long time. Time just got away form me and though I finished chapter I never edited it and so I just didn't post it. I warn you I did edit this myself so it might not be perfect. If you find some awful grammar or spelling, remember you were warned. Let just go right to the story since all of you have waited so long. So, please forgive my long absence and enjoy this next chapter of Kaleidoscope.
Thank you Faery Goddyss for reminded me that there are still fiction fans out there reading my story and should keep writing and posting. Your e-mail helped me kick it in to gear and edit this chapter on my own.
Disclaimer: I don't own Trigun, but man, I wish I did!
Chapter 22: Hell Hound
Vash came to a sudden stop in his pursuit of Knives who still was a good distance ahead of him and the priest clad in blue. The strong halt causing the close fallowing holy man to collide with his the tall blond companion, but not so forceful to knock over the tall gunman blocking his path.
"Did you hear that?" Wolfwood was ready to respond with a no when the gloved hand of his friend physically forced him to stay silent.
With one hand firmly over the clergyman's mouth and the other giving a sign for silence, Vash made no one noise as the two men listed to the dead air around them. Yelling filled the hushed space. Marvel's voice rumbled in an uncommon tone, a vocal shade like nothing either of the gunmen could recall ever coming from the small feisty cat woman.
"Fear, it's fear." Panic overtook Vash's already serious expression. "We have to go back! Knives can wait." With not another word, the plant took off at breakneck speed back in the opposite direction of his brother with Wolfwood in tow once aging.
Knives had noticed his brother distraction and took the opportunity gain more ground ahead, but the lack of his female conspirator had him worried. If Meryl had not escaped Marvel, there was no possible way she could break free of the inhuman strength and stamina of the cat. The feline was unmatched and immeasurably superior in had to hand combat or any test of strength. If his delicate little butterfly had been caught in the jaws of the lion, she would not be able to spread her wings and return to him.
"Damn it! I have to go back!" With a heavy sigh Knives turned back as well fallowing his useless brother and that stupid annoyance, who considered him self a church man that had dared to ally himself with that blond idiot.
"This isn't happening! I saw you die!" Broken Marvel sat on the unsympathetic ground dazed. only watching her own fingers as the long digits dug into the dirt grasping at the soil attempting to get a hold on some type of reality.
"Here's a tip for you." The large brawny man began to close the space between himself and the two women. Meryl scrambled back in a sloppy backward crab walk but Marvel didn't seem to notice this new closeness. She had become lost in a shock like state. "Next time you shoot someone...why don't you make sure they're dead!" The menacing male stood looking down at the woman shattered at his feet. With a wicked smile he lifted his large black boot forcefully bought it down onto Marvel's fragile fingers.
Screams echoed through the empty space. The dainty bones felt like they might break under the tremendous pressure on top of them. Thrusting her head back in response the cat woman's teeth beard out of reflex and the hopelessness screeches of agony carried on. The beast could only laugh as he snatched a large clump of Marvel's hair clutching it in his fist he forced her to face him.
"I've always been the only one who would bring you too you knees like this haven't I, princess?" The man's shabby chin length unkempt hair blew softy in the breeze and his violet eyes peered into the dulled green ones below him. Silent tears dropped from the jade colored orbs and he grinned from ear to ear. "You see Marvel, you've always been mine." With the same gratified smile, he trust the small woman's body to the ground like she was nothing but a rag doll.
"Leave her alone you brute!" Meryl could have left along time ago, but instead she stayed. The tiny woman chose to keep close the once wild cat that seemed to be tamed by this demon's abusive hands.
"Stay out of this bitch this is none of your business!" With an angry roar, the ground erupted in tremors once more.
"How... How is it your doing this? How is it you're here...Kyeo?" Marvel could barley force a whisper through her lips as she lay crumpled at the assaulter's feet
Meryl placed both hands to her face trying to cover a loud gasp. Could this be the man Marvel's husband, isn't he supposed to be dead?
"I shot the bullet that killed Kyeo only to protect myself. He would have killed me that time. Beat me till it hurt to breath."
But how is it possible for this man to still be alive after all theses years? And what has he to do with the ground shaking like that? Meryl kept her thoughts to herself as she watched this man with such an intimidating presence.
Marvel didn't struggle as Kyeo reached down and took hold again. Forced up onto her knees by the rough death grip clutching her silky soft brown mane, how he had loved the velvety fell of her golden tendrils as his fingers laced trough.
"How do you live? How could you have survived all these year? You should've been dead a long time ago. Human beings can't live forever." The female's dry voice left her lips as disconcerted monotones, a cold emotionless sound. It felt almost like a nightmare maybe that's all this was and Marvel would wake form this to find Vash happy snuggled beside her.
The villain took hold of the creamy flesh of the unimpassioned kitten's jaw. Leaning over Kyeo placed his lips next to her left ear, "Who said anything about being human! You see my dear wife…I'm Just like you."
"MARVEL!" Vash with Wolfwood had rushed to the scene only to find vanquished Marvel on her knees kneeling to an unknown foe. "Don't touch her!"
A Voice it called to her from the distance and like a lifeline, it pulled Marvel back to the reality of this world. In the instant the spell of anguish and confusion had final been broken by the sound of her blond gunman's voice. Rearing her right hand back, the ferocious feline did what came to her by nature and slashed across the chest of her captor causing him to lose his grip on her chin.
Kyeo smiled blood oozing out of the four fresh claw mark pattern, the crimson soaking through the clingy material of his dusty worn shirt. He slowly rubbed the palm of his large hand over the bleeding flesh wound covering his thick fingers in his own blood before taking a good look at the sticky substance. " Maybe this wont be such a waist of my time after all."
Marvel took a defensive stance in front of Meryl positioning herself in a low crouch. She could pounce at any moment brandishing her claws hoping to tear the tinder flesh of that devils neck ripping out his throat. But her mind once again traveled to the thought of Vash who stood ever so close, able to see everything. If she attacked right now he would see it, see why they called her the demon.
I have to get rid of him so I can finish this once and for all!
"Vash" She couldn't even turn to face the gentle peace loving man. If he could see the look on her face as she couched fully transformed, the look of an unlawful killer, what would he think?
"Marvel! Are you all right, did he hurt you?!" Vash stood planted in one place over looking every thing. Though Marvel's face was hidden from his view her who whole body radiated the anger that surely twisted her beautiful face into unattractive expression.
"I'm fine. Just having one hell of a bad day with an unexpected visit from an unwelcome visitor." Kyeo looked like he was ready to take forward causing Marvel to let a low growl rumble in her chest. Her furry brown ears flipped back like an angry rugged mountain lion as her bared her pearly white fangs at her immoral adversary. When his advancement stopped, she was once again able to speak with the figure standing behind her. "Vash listen to me I need you to do some thing for me. Go back to my room and get my gun. I forgot it there."
"But Marvel..."
"But nothing Vash that gun started this and it has to finish it! So...GO! And do hurry because I don't know how long I can fight him like this."
Vash stood torn. Leaving put Marvel and Meryl in the center of this hurricane of destruction with no way out, but He understood the felling that gun gave her. Just like when I shot Knives. I had to be by you own hand with THAT gun, the one that he had given me. I had to stop him on my own.
"Alright" Unsure he left this woman he adored to her own devises intrusting her with the protection of Meryl and her self.
"And Preacher man how about you go check on Millie and Emily." An awful aroma of tobacco had assured her of Nicholas D. Wolfwood's presents.
"Sure, But save some of the action for me alright?" And without another word the man of god left as well lugging his large cross behind him slung over his shoulder.
"So are you done? Or do you have some more people you want to get out of the way before we finish this." Kyeo stood arms crossed in un-amused boredom seemingly not phased by the gruesome trenches that had been dug into the skin of his breast.
"Meryl get the hell out of here! This is about to get messy!"
"I can't, I can't leave you here by your self!" For some reason Meryl didn't really understand she didn't want that stupid catwoman to go making herself some kind of martyr of sorts.
"Go damit before you get your self killed!" Ferociously Marvel turned back flashing her sharp K9's at the folish insurance woman, but she continued to sit disheveled on the ground. "Fine but it's your own funeral, you got me!"
Neither woman had even noticed that at that very moment Knives stood a top a close by building watching everything with a smirk on his face. If things did get out of hand, he was prepared to do what was necessary to protect his precious butterfly.
Marvel changed her stance placing both hands firmly in front of her in a different crouch. Like a sprinter reedy to run the 100-meter dash, She was planning to take this beast on head on. And with out any warning the starting pistil in her mind went off and the runner took of at intense speed ready to slash the man that stood behind the red tape to pieces.
Kyeo didn't even move as the juggernaut force pushed forward towards him. The earth began to rumble once aging not even slowing the advancement of his opponent.
Unseen to Marvel a change was under way in her enemy. Raising her right arm to inflict a fatal strike to bring her challanger down upon contact, she was stopped dead in her tracks when a forceful hand seized her small wrist. The frantic feline fought for freedom as Kyeo took hold of the dainty joint lifting her small body of the ground. Dangling lividity above the ground Marvel coninued to struggle in the air, as she did she could a glimpse of her captors face and was shocked.
Kyeo had enough of his woman's irritating squirming and tossed Marvel a good few feet away where she landed next to a stunned Meryl.
Marvel landed flat on her face. Pain shot through her body as the seemingly unbreakable woman pushed herself from the ground with her palms. Looking back at the beast that had done this for the first time Marvel was able to see what Kyeo had become.
Two triangular soft gray ears, much larger than Marvel's, had emerged from the top of his skull. His fingernails grew long as well as his incisors and a thick bushy gray tail pushed out over back of his dusty black jeans.
Vile laughter erupted form the savage creature. "You see Marvel you and I are the same! With the guiding spirit of the wolf, I have become a god among men! With this gift given to me by my own grandmother before I snapped her neck and finished off the useless people of that town we came from!"
Meryl rose quickly to her feet pulling free two of the small derringers from their vertical leather holsters that lined her white and violet cape. Lining the pair of guns up in front of her one on top of the other in the center of her body the furious dark-haired woman aimed to kill the demon dog that stood before her.
"Meryl, What in the hell are you doing!?" Marvel sat on the ground below the fiery tempered insurance lady. "You dammed Idiot your gonna get yourself killed!"
"How dare you!?" Meryl spat out her words in a bitter and angry voice. " How dare you kill all of those people and laugh about it like is was noting!? Now I see why Marvel was forced to do what she did. I'll kill you my self you piece of garbage!"
Kyeo grinned his devilish grin once more. "And how does a tiny little bitch like you think you're gonna do that." The ground roared below them, "You see this upgraded body is not the only gift this sprit guided has given me. those graced with a guide are also given commanded of one of the planet we originated forms element. Mine is the…GROUND BELOW US"
The foundation under them shook even more. Large caverns broken open in the understructure of the town that held the small city up on the surface of Gunsmoke. The broken ground below left large gaping cracks along the surface of the rock. Buildings started to shake to rubble as the pit falls took others under ground as the earthquake raged on. The building Knives stood atop was a casualty as well, Busting in half quicker than he could react. Annoyed with this reckless man and his tactic Knives held on the edge of the building trying not to slip into the caved in center of the broken structure. Unfortunately, he could not hold on and was devoured by the collapsing structure.
Kyeo smirk at a shaking Meryl as she struggle to stay standing on the rocking foundation below her. "Now to take care of you, you irritating pint-sized woman."
Gunsmoke seemed to open just for the cruel man and a large bolder rose up from the ground. Its uneven shape began to chip away letting the unnecessary pieces fall as needless castoffs hitting the ground below the floating mineral. Once all the worthless shards had been cut away all that was left was a long 3ft rock spear afloat upright in the air.
"I'm sick of you interfering!" The vertical harpoon quickly turned horizontal then darted through the space and lunged form Meryl who was still trying to stay upright on the ground. She could do little as the javelin flew towards her and she screamed watching what she thought were her last moments in this life.
I hope you enjoyed Chapter 22: Hell Hound. If you did you'll be happy to know I've already started and al most finished Chapter 23: Death and the Reaper.
See everyone next time,
Nova Elizabeth Beam
Thank you Faery Goddyss for reminded me that there are still fiction fans out there reading my story and should keep writing and posting. Your e-mail helped me kick it in to gear and edit this chapter on my own.
Disclaimer: I don't own Trigun, but man, I wish I did!
Chapter 22: Hell Hound
Vash came to a sudden stop in his pursuit of Knives who still was a good distance ahead of him and the priest clad in blue. The strong halt causing the close fallowing holy man to collide with his the tall blond companion, but not so forceful to knock over the tall gunman blocking his path.
"Did you hear that?" Wolfwood was ready to respond with a no when the gloved hand of his friend physically forced him to stay silent.
With one hand firmly over the clergyman's mouth and the other giving a sign for silence, Vash made no one noise as the two men listed to the dead air around them. Yelling filled the hushed space. Marvel's voice rumbled in an uncommon tone, a vocal shade like nothing either of the gunmen could recall ever coming from the small feisty cat woman.
"Fear, it's fear." Panic overtook Vash's already serious expression. "We have to go back! Knives can wait." With not another word, the plant took off at breakneck speed back in the opposite direction of his brother with Wolfwood in tow once aging.
Knives had noticed his brother distraction and took the opportunity gain more ground ahead, but the lack of his female conspirator had him worried. If Meryl had not escaped Marvel, there was no possible way she could break free of the inhuman strength and stamina of the cat. The feline was unmatched and immeasurably superior in had to hand combat or any test of strength. If his delicate little butterfly had been caught in the jaws of the lion, she would not be able to spread her wings and return to him.
"Damn it! I have to go back!" With a heavy sigh Knives turned back as well fallowing his useless brother and that stupid annoyance, who considered him self a church man that had dared to ally himself with that blond idiot.
"This isn't happening! I saw you die!" Broken Marvel sat on the unsympathetic ground dazed. only watching her own fingers as the long digits dug into the dirt grasping at the soil attempting to get a hold on some type of reality.
"Here's a tip for you." The large brawny man began to close the space between himself and the two women. Meryl scrambled back in a sloppy backward crab walk but Marvel didn't seem to notice this new closeness. She had become lost in a shock like state. "Next time you shoot someone...why don't you make sure they're dead!" The menacing male stood looking down at the woman shattered at his feet. With a wicked smile he lifted his large black boot forcefully bought it down onto Marvel's fragile fingers.
Screams echoed through the empty space. The dainty bones felt like they might break under the tremendous pressure on top of them. Thrusting her head back in response the cat woman's teeth beard out of reflex and the hopelessness screeches of agony carried on. The beast could only laugh as he snatched a large clump of Marvel's hair clutching it in his fist he forced her to face him.
"I've always been the only one who would bring you too you knees like this haven't I, princess?" The man's shabby chin length unkempt hair blew softy in the breeze and his violet eyes peered into the dulled green ones below him. Silent tears dropped from the jade colored orbs and he grinned from ear to ear. "You see Marvel, you've always been mine." With the same gratified smile, he trust the small woman's body to the ground like she was nothing but a rag doll.
"Leave her alone you brute!" Meryl could have left along time ago, but instead she stayed. The tiny woman chose to keep close the once wild cat that seemed to be tamed by this demon's abusive hands.
"Stay out of this bitch this is none of your business!" With an angry roar, the ground erupted in tremors once more.
"How... How is it your doing this? How is it you're here...Kyeo?" Marvel could barley force a whisper through her lips as she lay crumpled at the assaulter's feet
Meryl placed both hands to her face trying to cover a loud gasp. Could this be the man Marvel's husband, isn't he supposed to be dead?
"I shot the bullet that killed Kyeo only to protect myself. He would have killed me that time. Beat me till it hurt to breath."
But how is it possible for this man to still be alive after all theses years? And what has he to do with the ground shaking like that? Meryl kept her thoughts to herself as she watched this man with such an intimidating presence.
Marvel didn't struggle as Kyeo reached down and took hold again. Forced up onto her knees by the rough death grip clutching her silky soft brown mane, how he had loved the velvety fell of her golden tendrils as his fingers laced trough.
"How do you live? How could you have survived all these year? You should've been dead a long time ago. Human beings can't live forever." The female's dry voice left her lips as disconcerted monotones, a cold emotionless sound. It felt almost like a nightmare maybe that's all this was and Marvel would wake form this to find Vash happy snuggled beside her.
The villain took hold of the creamy flesh of the unimpassioned kitten's jaw. Leaning over Kyeo placed his lips next to her left ear, "Who said anything about being human! You see my dear wife…I'm Just like you."
"MARVEL!" Vash with Wolfwood had rushed to the scene only to find vanquished Marvel on her knees kneeling to an unknown foe. "Don't touch her!"
A Voice it called to her from the distance and like a lifeline, it pulled Marvel back to the reality of this world. In the instant the spell of anguish and confusion had final been broken by the sound of her blond gunman's voice. Rearing her right hand back, the ferocious feline did what came to her by nature and slashed across the chest of her captor causing him to lose his grip on her chin.
Kyeo smiled blood oozing out of the four fresh claw mark pattern, the crimson soaking through the clingy material of his dusty worn shirt. He slowly rubbed the palm of his large hand over the bleeding flesh wound covering his thick fingers in his own blood before taking a good look at the sticky substance. " Maybe this wont be such a waist of my time after all."
Marvel took a defensive stance in front of Meryl positioning herself in a low crouch. She could pounce at any moment brandishing her claws hoping to tear the tinder flesh of that devils neck ripping out his throat. But her mind once again traveled to the thought of Vash who stood ever so close, able to see everything. If she attacked right now he would see it, see why they called her the demon.
I have to get rid of him so I can finish this once and for all!
"Vash" She couldn't even turn to face the gentle peace loving man. If he could see the look on her face as she couched fully transformed, the look of an unlawful killer, what would he think?
"Marvel! Are you all right, did he hurt you?!" Vash stood planted in one place over looking every thing. Though Marvel's face was hidden from his view her who whole body radiated the anger that surely twisted her beautiful face into unattractive expression.
"I'm fine. Just having one hell of a bad day with an unexpected visit from an unwelcome visitor." Kyeo looked like he was ready to take forward causing Marvel to let a low growl rumble in her chest. Her furry brown ears flipped back like an angry rugged mountain lion as her bared her pearly white fangs at her immoral adversary. When his advancement stopped, she was once again able to speak with the figure standing behind her. "Vash listen to me I need you to do some thing for me. Go back to my room and get my gun. I forgot it there."
"But Marvel..."
"But nothing Vash that gun started this and it has to finish it! So...GO! And do hurry because I don't know how long I can fight him like this."
Vash stood torn. Leaving put Marvel and Meryl in the center of this hurricane of destruction with no way out, but He understood the felling that gun gave her. Just like when I shot Knives. I had to be by you own hand with THAT gun, the one that he had given me. I had to stop him on my own.
"Alright" Unsure he left this woman he adored to her own devises intrusting her with the protection of Meryl and her self.
"And Preacher man how about you go check on Millie and Emily." An awful aroma of tobacco had assured her of Nicholas D. Wolfwood's presents.
"Sure, But save some of the action for me alright?" And without another word the man of god left as well lugging his large cross behind him slung over his shoulder.
"So are you done? Or do you have some more people you want to get out of the way before we finish this." Kyeo stood arms crossed in un-amused boredom seemingly not phased by the gruesome trenches that had been dug into the skin of his breast.
"Meryl get the hell out of here! This is about to get messy!"
"I can't, I can't leave you here by your self!" For some reason Meryl didn't really understand she didn't want that stupid catwoman to go making herself some kind of martyr of sorts.
"Go damit before you get your self killed!" Ferociously Marvel turned back flashing her sharp K9's at the folish insurance woman, but she continued to sit disheveled on the ground. "Fine but it's your own funeral, you got me!"
Neither woman had even noticed that at that very moment Knives stood a top a close by building watching everything with a smirk on his face. If things did get out of hand, he was prepared to do what was necessary to protect his precious butterfly.
Marvel changed her stance placing both hands firmly in front of her in a different crouch. Like a sprinter reedy to run the 100-meter dash, She was planning to take this beast on head on. And with out any warning the starting pistil in her mind went off and the runner took of at intense speed ready to slash the man that stood behind the red tape to pieces.
Kyeo didn't even move as the juggernaut force pushed forward towards him. The earth began to rumble once aging not even slowing the advancement of his opponent.
Unseen to Marvel a change was under way in her enemy. Raising her right arm to inflict a fatal strike to bring her challanger down upon contact, she was stopped dead in her tracks when a forceful hand seized her small wrist. The frantic feline fought for freedom as Kyeo took hold of the dainty joint lifting her small body of the ground. Dangling lividity above the ground Marvel coninued to struggle in the air, as she did she could a glimpse of her captors face and was shocked.
Kyeo had enough of his woman's irritating squirming and tossed Marvel a good few feet away where she landed next to a stunned Meryl.
Marvel landed flat on her face. Pain shot through her body as the seemingly unbreakable woman pushed herself from the ground with her palms. Looking back at the beast that had done this for the first time Marvel was able to see what Kyeo had become.
Two triangular soft gray ears, much larger than Marvel's, had emerged from the top of his skull. His fingernails grew long as well as his incisors and a thick bushy gray tail pushed out over back of his dusty black jeans.
Vile laughter erupted form the savage creature. "You see Marvel you and I are the same! With the guiding spirit of the wolf, I have become a god among men! With this gift given to me by my own grandmother before I snapped her neck and finished off the useless people of that town we came from!"
Meryl rose quickly to her feet pulling free two of the small derringers from their vertical leather holsters that lined her white and violet cape. Lining the pair of guns up in front of her one on top of the other in the center of her body the furious dark-haired woman aimed to kill the demon dog that stood before her.
"Meryl, What in the hell are you doing!?" Marvel sat on the ground below the fiery tempered insurance lady. "You dammed Idiot your gonna get yourself killed!"
"How dare you!?" Meryl spat out her words in a bitter and angry voice. " How dare you kill all of those people and laugh about it like is was noting!? Now I see why Marvel was forced to do what she did. I'll kill you my self you piece of garbage!"
Kyeo grinned his devilish grin once more. "And how does a tiny little bitch like you think you're gonna do that." The ground roared below them, "You see this upgraded body is not the only gift this sprit guided has given me. those graced with a guide are also given commanded of one of the planet we originated forms element. Mine is the…GROUND BELOW US"
The foundation under them shook even more. Large caverns broken open in the understructure of the town that held the small city up on the surface of Gunsmoke. The broken ground below left large gaping cracks along the surface of the rock. Buildings started to shake to rubble as the pit falls took others under ground as the earthquake raged on. The building Knives stood atop was a casualty as well, Busting in half quicker than he could react. Annoyed with this reckless man and his tactic Knives held on the edge of the building trying not to slip into the caved in center of the broken structure. Unfortunately, he could not hold on and was devoured by the collapsing structure.
Kyeo smirk at a shaking Meryl as she struggle to stay standing on the rocking foundation below her. "Now to take care of you, you irritating pint-sized woman."
Gunsmoke seemed to open just for the cruel man and a large bolder rose up from the ground. Its uneven shape began to chip away letting the unnecessary pieces fall as needless castoffs hitting the ground below the floating mineral. Once all the worthless shards had been cut away all that was left was a long 3ft rock spear afloat upright in the air.
"I'm sick of you interfering!" The vertical harpoon quickly turned horizontal then darted through the space and lunged form Meryl who was still trying to stay upright on the ground. She could do little as the javelin flew towards her and she screamed watching what she thought were her last moments in this life.
I hope you enjoyed Chapter 22: Hell Hound. If you did you'll be happy to know I've already started and al most finished Chapter 23: Death and the Reaper.
See everyone next time,
Nova Elizabeth Beam