Hey! Hate to tell you this people, but the Black Monster is real, not Rose's imagination. Well, on with the story! Oh! Are you still reading this Torii/
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the characters I created.
Chapter 7:
Rose stood frozen in shock. The Black Monster . . . she was the Black Monster, wasn't she?
"Don't play coy with me!" the frosty woman before her said, "You tried to kill me, you and that Zeig! I killed him, what's stopping me from killing you?"
Rose shook her head to clear her thoughts and lunged to the center. The monster parried it, but Rose feigned to the right but hit the left, she made contact.
The Black Monster screeched in protest, clutching her side protectively and glaring at Rose. Rose nearly flinched, but years of hiding her emotions prevented her from doing so. She finally figured out what it was like to be glared at by herself . . . she was very menacing when glaring . . .
Rose cried out in pain as she felt a blade sink into her back and slightly graze her heart, this was a fatal hit. She glanced over her shoulder and used every foul word in her vocabulary for being foolish enough to let her guard down.
The man called Aaron landed behind the Black Monster. "Curse you, you vile woman!"
It took a moment for Rose to register what he was talking about, due to all of the blood she was loosing. Her monster twin was loosing some kind of strange liquid from her side. The more liquid that was being released, the more she had to strain her eyes to see the monster.
The Black Monster lifted her head, "You should know that the Black Monster doesn't have a real body, why else should I need you?"
Rose smirked. So that was why this monster was her reflection. That was why the monster kept saying she killed it. The monster needed her body to survive. Rose let out a dry heartless chuckle of regret for ever agreeing to become the Black Monster. She grunted in pain as she felt herself slide forward from the hit from Aaron, closing her eyes waiting for impact.
Surprisingly, it didn't come. She felt strong, yet gentle arms encircle around her waist and press her against a firm warm chest that was panting heavily. Then she felt a sharp pain from her back as she felt the wretched spear being removed from her back and a slight pressure going against the wound. She watched through half lidded eyes as the same spear lunged at her counterpart.
Aaron's eyes glowed a dangerous orange and the spear disappeared. "You annoying, conceited, wretched human!"
"Be quiet, I'm not in the mood for you." Rose recognized the voice that vibrated from his chest. She had forgotten that Albert was here. Well, who else could have kept Aaron occupied for that long?
"You . . ." the monster stared at Albert confused, "Carlos?"
"No."
"But you must be. The same hair . . . the same face . . . the same heart. YOU MUST BE HIM!"
Albert sighed exasperated, "I am not Carlos, but I asked him to find this place for me."
"Don't lie to me Carlos." The Black Monster said, leaning against Aaron for support. "I recognize you. You promised me forever. Or did my other . . . my body, steal you away from me?"
Albert gripped Rose tighter as his eyes filled with a quiet rage. "My father promised you no such thing. He was married to my mother when he met Rose. You are delusional, or just wishing."
The monster screeched.
"Your minion seems to be waiting to leave so you can recover. You shouldn't fight if you have a major disadvantage." He paused for a moment at Aaron's glare. "Tell me you name."
"I am the Black Monster"
"Well, you look like Rose, and Rose, generally speaking, is you. However, you are both different. Simply tell me your name so my group can discuss you more easily."
The Black Monster seemed to understand his vague concept. It sighed, "Just for you Carlos, I'll tell you my name. The name I choose to be known as is Kayrie."
The two warriors watched as Kayrie and Aaron began to disappear. "By the way," Aaron whispered, "Tell Leora big brother misses her." The two evils vanished.
Albert gently kneeled down to the floor, bringing Rose with him. She was still leaning against his chest for support, the he laid her head in his lap. "Rose, are you alright?"
She dazedly looked up at him. He must have kept Aaron busy for awhile. His cape was nearly torn to shreds, and what was left of it was being applied to her wound. His armor had been completely destroyed and many cuts and gashes could be seen. His face and hair were caked with dirt, and his face was glistening with sweat, making his bangs stick to his forehead.
"You look terrible." Rose said in her dead state.
Albert raised an eyebrow, "We have been battling for at least three days."
Rose jumped to her feet "Three days?"
"Yes. However, you and Kayrie froze for a time. She looked as if she were sucking your energy, which would explain why Aaron caught you off . . . what are you doing?"
She tried to run toward the exit, but her legs refused to support her, she ended up falling into Albert again. "We have to leave."
"Why?"
"Shana has been holding the gate open for three days. It's going to begin to drain her life away." Rose struggled against his grip.
"What! Dangit!" Albert lifted Rose into his arms and ran at full speed towards the exit, dodging her punches and death threats all the while.
Lavitz looked at Shana worriedly. She was shaking uncontrollably, and swaying dangerously from side to side. The green energy around her seemed to be growing weaker and dimmer, occasionally fading to a light pink. She was grunting and growing as though she were dying.
He glanced at the girl sleeping at his feet. Something was different about Leora. She seemed to be . . . different. The Leora he left was more like Shana, a gentle caring girl who puts the needs of others before herself. The one seemed obsessed with him and just a little more selfish. Leora stirred and woke up, and sat beside Lavitz.
"Shana seems as though she is in pain." She pointed out.
Lavitz nodded, Shana was now taking rasping breaths, as though each breath was taking more of her life away. Startled when a deep roar came from her. "Leora, what's wrong."
Leora turned her head toward him, tears streaming down her face, "Lavitz, I'm sorry."
Lavitz knew what was coming he slowly backed away and stood to protect Shana. He watched as one of his best friends transformed into a dragon. She had told him her secret before he went to train to become a knight. She told him that sometimes an evil force would call to her and turn her evil. That would explain why she was acting so differently lately. The force must have been poisoning her mind.
Leora finished her transformation and began to fly towards Lavitz and Shana. Then she stopped as a low pitch call summoned her, then she flew in a completely different direction. Lavitz could only stand there and watch as his friend flew away.
He heard a thump on the ground and turned to see Albert carrying Rose, Shana let out a sigh of relief and then closed the gate and slowly hobbled toward them.
"Rose is hurt." Shana said in concern as Albert set her down.
"Yes, is there anything you can do? We probably should get going."
Shana seemed to contemplate this, and then kneeled down next to Rose and clasped her hands together as though she were praying, " Silver Dragon. I am no longer your master, but please save Rose. She must live strong, not in weakness.'
Albert and Lavitz watched in amazement as Rose glowed white and then arose, looking completely refreshed.
Rose's eyes scanned the terrain as though she was looking for someone to kill, then her eyes rested on Lavitz. "Where is Leora?'
(Deningrad)
"Are you sure Dart?" Miranda said, toying with her Dragoon spirit.
Dart nodded, "Yes, Shana never went back to Seles and I'm positive she is on an . . . adventure with Albert."
Miranda sighed, "I'm glad someone is . . ." she paused as she felt her spirit grow warm. "what the?"
The whole castle was bathed in white and when the light dimmed, Dart and Miranda had there jaws nearly touching the ground.
"What was that!" Dart demanded in a shocked voice.
"I don't know, but Shana is in the Valley of corrupted gravity."
R&R people!