Disclaimer: Oh my GODDDDDDD. I don't really need to say it now do I? A DF chapter.
A/N: BREASTS!
--------------
Act 1 Scene IV
The darkness swallowed the fast falling forms of DarkFire, Ni, and Warmonger. The explosions that had rocked the throne room had opened a hole in the floor beneath their feet and now they were plummeting into the depths of the palaces keep. They fell through floor after floor of brick and mortar, smashing their way through. DarkFire lay conscious throughout the ordeal though the explosion had been closest to Ni and Warmonger, causing them to black out. While they fell only one thought permeated DarkFire's mind: Vengeance. He would find a way to destroy the person responsible for his expulsion from his captaincy and ultimately reap bloody revenge.
The culprits name echoed throughout his mind. Darkslash. But first he was going to have to eliminate those that stood between himself and his goal. He knew, hesitant though he was to do so, he would probably have to kill Tonepoet, along with most of the W.A.; maybe, he dreaded the thought, even Sirhiss. Reaching one gauntleted hand out to the walls next to him he plunged his fingers into the stone, slowing his fall and eventually stopping it.
A moment later he could hear the splash as Warmonger and Ni hit the dark icy water that was now beneath them. They were in the old culvert drain that ran underneath the keep.
Releasing his hold on the worn bricks he dropped to the walkway below himself silently, and proceeded to fish Ni and Warmonger out of the river. Igniting his arm to provide illumination he gazed around, he was familiar with most of the old keep as SeeD had built this fortress, and he himself had aided in it's construction, working side by side with his fellow SeeD members to lay the bricks for the foundation, to raise the walls and to dedicate the halls with a night of unparalled drinking and womanizing. DarkFire grinned in spite of himself; the good old days brought with it some tantalizing memories... and some sad ones as well. He had not seen the fall of Ragnarok Ray but he had heard from DarkWarrior and he had witnessed BradPitt's death as well as Godfather. Both times he had been fighting other warriors, barely holding his own, and been unable to prevent the deaths of his friends. Now DarkWarrior was on some sort of pilgrimage or hermitage, whatever you wanted to call it. DarkFire however had dedicated his life to martial prowess after the loss of BradPitt. Whose death could have been prevented if DarkFire had been stronger, been faster, and been better than he had been? He had vowed on the day he had avenged BradPitt to become strong enough to protect those he owed his allegiance to.
Glancing once more around himself he took in the way the bricks were laid, what they were made out of and other signs of who had constructed this particular section of the keep. Suddenly realization dawned on him; the abnormally large size of the bricks, the smell of limestone, the subtle smell of sulfur and other powders used to catalyze the mortar: this was the work of Belcrant29.
Of all of the warriors that had made up SeeD Belcrant had been the quietest, yet the most remarkable. He had an air of sophistication and nobility. He was wise beyond his years, with knowledge of advanced techniques in architecture and engineering. Because of Belcrant the SeeD fortress had never fallen in the dark times of Majestic Knights marauding host, but instead had stood as an impervious rock against the tide of his tyranny. But most importantly, it told DarkFire he was in one of two places.
Belcrant had been in charge of the defenses of the keep and had designed only two sections of the culvert. The first section where the Lenthe River began its winding course under the keep and the final section where it emptied into the aqueduct.
Abruptly DarkFire became aware of Ni and Warmonger stirring. Deciding leaving before they could question him would be best he turned to make his exit. After all if he told them the truth they would attempt to stop him and that would turn unpleasant quickly. As he turned to leave however a hand shot out of the water, grabbing his ankle, and moments later a knife was plunging towards his leg. With blinding speed he reacted, snapping the offender's left hand off at the wrist without a second thought. Bone and cartilage, muscle and sinew tore free, blood spattered on the walls and an anguished scream broke the stillness of the air. Grasping the attackers other hand DarkFire yanked him from the water. Smashing his assailants hand with one careless thought and then landing a powerful blow to his ribcage, causing them to shatter like a fragile glass goblet, DarkFire reached around and caught his assailant by the throat. Before him stood Loke Xero.
As the bleeding would be assassin writhed in his grip DarkFire smiled compulsively for the second time that day. Now he knew who had been behind the explosions and he had a way to find his prey. Darkslash was practically within his grasp.
He took one taloned finger and placed it against Loke's chest. Igniting the tip he let the heat bring Loke to attention.
"Where's Darkslash?" he asked, his voice venomous with hatred, his eyes dancing with the mad fire of the damned.
"I-- I don't--- I don't know!" Loke screeched his eyes dancing with madness themselves. He was an animal trying to fight its way out of a corner. He struggled and kicked, his feet feebly bouncing off DarkFire's chest plate, resulting in only Loke breaking his own ankle.
Slowly pushing the burning finger into Loke's chest DarkFire watched his eyes carefully as the worm screamed until his lungs held no more air.
"This is going to hurt even more coming out then it did going in you know." DarkFire said with a smile "But please, go ahead and continue pretending that you know nothing. I can do this all night long if necessary."
Loke's eyes were wide with fear and wet with tears of pain, spittle dribbled from his mouth and blood leaked from his nose. "I-- I can't tell you! He'll kill me! He'll KILL ME!"
DarkFire laughed "Well I'm going to kill you anyway, but the thing is, I can kill you quickly and relatively painlessly, or I can take my time, and I do relish taking my time. So you're going to die one way or the other, the only matter yet to be decided is how long it takes."
Loke screamed and clawed at DarkFire's arm till his nails ripped themselves out on the unyielding metal and his fingertips bled. Laughing sadistically one thought crossed DarkFire's mind. These last few minutes of Loke's life would be the longest he'd ever experienced.
