Hello again! I'm sorry if I took too long to update.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Knights.
Beauty and the Beast
Ch.5
Unveiled
The carriage ride was long and dreary, and try as she might, Cesia could not see through the dense fog covering the windows. Although it was strange, considering it had not been very cold or foggy before Cesia stepped inside the carriage.
Of course, it could be just the inside of the carriage that had fogged up the windows. After all, Cesia was freezing, not to mention a little irritated.
You would be irritated too, if you had to suffer through a long, gloomy, and chilly ride through somewhere you couldn't even see.
Finally, after what seemed days, the carriage stopped. Sighing with relief, Cesia stepped outside, ready to greet the fresh air.
Rath groggily opened his eyes. He blinked a few times, trying to remember where he was.
When nothing came to mind except that unpleasant experience in the lake, he wearily looked around.
He was lying in a large four poster bed, the wood of which was inscribed with strange writing and inscriptions.
He found he could move just fine, and that he was wearing strange clothes, the likes of which he had never seen nor worn before in his life.
His shirt was tight and had no sleeves, while his pants were very loose, billowing when he walked, and went past his feet.
He expected to have trouble walking in such a long costume, but the pants did not hinder his movement at all.
It was as if they knew where he wanted to walk exactly, and just fluttered away at that place.
On his upper body he had a smooth metal strip going around his left arm a little above the elbow, and around his right wrist he had two thin metallic bands that chimed whenever he moved his hand.
His shirt and pants were inky black, while all his accessories were crimson. He wore no shoes, but the cold marble under his feet did not bother him in the least.
There was a hallway beyond the room he woke up in, and he walked into it with purpose. He would find out what was going on, and then would go on into more pressing matters. Like what that girl was doing...
The hallway was not long, and soon he found himself at the end of it facing a doorway.
There was a strange reddish transparency where the door was supposed to be, and the transparency shimmered when Rath looked at it.
Deciding now was not the time to be indecisive, Rath walked into the weird substance and felt a strange sense of déjà vu. This was the same feeling he had when he was in the lake!
It only lasted a second, but when he passed the entrance to the room Rath was gasping to breath.
He was soaked, and his arms felt like lead thanks to the metal bands he had on them. His once loose pants were sticking to his legs like glue and the material was incredibly itchy and chafed at his skin.
He looked up, panting, his eyes blurring, to see the same person who threw him in the lake standing before him.
The man was wearing scarlet robes of rich material and looked curiously at Rath, then grinned.
"A demon, I presume?"
Rath stared, shocked, at the strange man in front of him. Who was this man?
"Oh, don't look so surprised. Only a demon can survive being wholly submerged in the water of the lake. Everything else becomes a zombie-like slave. This is perfect!"
Rath raised his eyebrow. This man really was strange. "So you know I'm a demon," Rath spoke, eyebrow still raised, "But how's that going to help you?"
The man's eyes flashed, and a sadistic smile appeared on his face.
"Why, my dear boy, I am in need of a helper. Not to me, of course. I have a... subject of mine that needs completion. As you are a demon, it would help me immensely if you were to complete my subject.
"You see, my subject is even now as we speak undergoing a change that will change her forever, unless she can somehow find the cure, which is unlikely. Anyway, as you are a demon yourself, it would be nice if you could teach her the basics. You know, enhanced sense, speed, and don't forger, the periodic rampages.
"As soon as she passes the gates, she will start her change. It will last quite some time. I will leave it to you to find out exactly how long. Don't forget boy, my name is Nadil, and have fun!"
Nadil did a mocking wave, and Rath saw his vision spinning. The objects around him turned to vague colors and shapes and he once again found himself drifting into darkness.
The air outside the carriage was warm, and Cesia welcomed it. She did a few hops and twirls out of happiness of leaving the dreary carriage, then saw what was before her.
A monumental mansion made of marble laid before her. Grey gargoyles with grimy grimaces grinned at Cesia from atop the mansion. (A/N: You liked those alliterations, didn't you?)
In front of the mansion was a large set of metal black gates. They swung open before her of their own accord, and Cesia was slightly disturbed by this.
Then she saw something that made her stagger with shock. Lying on the front step of the manor was that boy from before, what was his name, Rath!
Disregarding everything else she ran up past the gates to go besides Rath. He was not in the best condition, either, as he had a painful looking bruise on his right cheek and a trickle of blood was dribbling out of his mouth.
She shook his shoulders, praying he woke up, and sighed with relief when he did. She was surprised, however, when he looked at her, his surroundings, and then back at her with shock evident in his eyes.
When Rath woke up seeing Cesia standing over him and noticed his surroundings, he realized what had happened.
"Shit!"
Pretty long chapter, this one was, but it was fun to write. Please review!
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