Oooootay. I might as well start this story now. I wonder if I can finish this in one night?
I really should be working on my other stories, but you know how you just have to leave stories alone for a while before you can do anything? Yeah, that's what I'm doing. Though I might finish this first.
-------
To say that Vyse ate quickly would have been the understatement of the century. Vyse practically gobbled up every item of food in under five second. There were different dishes from every country under the moons. For a prisoner, it was a bit extravagant, but Vyse didn't pay any attention to that. The man in the black armor just watched Vyse eat, a crooked smile on his face. Only when Vyse had slowed down from inhaling the food to merely munching did he say something. "Vyse, tell me, how did you escape your room?"
Vyse shrugged. "Don't know. I tried to open it, but it was locked. Then, all of a sudden, it kinda exploded, and the door opened. I just counted my blessings and tried to find the kitchens."
"The doorknob exploded?" He raised an eyebrow skeptically.
Vyse nodded. "I don't know how, but that's what happened. Silverish, white sparks."
"Silverish, white sparks," he echoed. "I wonder..."
"Wonder what? That reminds me, why don't you tell me what's going on? Why have you kidnapped me and my friends? What are your motives?"
The man chuckled. "All in due time, Vyse. You'll find out sooner or later. Tell me, Vyse, was the only reason you ventured outside your room to find some food?"
Vyse put a small piece of fish in his mouth, shaping his words around the fish. "Well, I thought that maybe I could look around a bit, but my mind was on food more than anything else."
"I see..." He poured some loqua into two goblets, handing one to Vyse. "Here, drink. I think that this is the best brand of loqua under all six moons."
Vyse took the goblet hesitantly. Now that he was fed, his senses had come back to him. Drinks were the most common placed to find poisons or potions. He swished the liquid around in the cup, looking for some powder on the sides, or maybe some oil floating on top. The man laughed. "Do not worry, Vyse. It is not poisoned. I have no need for poison on my ship."
He looked up, staring at the man. "You know my name, shouldn't I know yours?"
The man nodded. "I usually go by the name Nylas."
"Nylas... I have a few questions for you myself."
Nylas grinned. "I might answer them. Depends on the question."
"You know the first question."
"You still wish to know why you are here?"
Vyse nodded. "I still don't see how you can benefit from capturing us. I'm not wanted anywhere that I can think of anymore. Unless you're a Black Pirate, I'm really of no use to you."
Nylas chuckled. "Vyse, correct me if I'm wrong, but you are the one who defeated numerous of the Gigas, and found all six moon crystals?"
"Yeah, that's me."
He took a sip of his loqua, smirking at Vyse. "Then you are of much use to me."
Vyse opened his mouth to ask a question. "Quiet," Nylas hissed. The question lay unborn in Vyse's throat. As hard as he tried, no noise would come from his mouth. Nylas smirked again. "I know what you're getting ready to ask, Vyse. Why are you of so much use to me? You are a smart boy, I am sure you can figure it out after I tell you my story."
He stood, his back facing Vyse. "That girl... Fina was her name? She's a Silvite, isn't she?"
Vyse nodded, still struggling with his throat. Nylas took another sip of his loqua. "Thought so. One could see that from her clothes. It is nice to see another Silvite after such a long time."
Vyse's eyes widened in surprise, causing Nylas to chuckle. "Yes, you heard me right, Vyse. Everyone on this ship is a Silvite. Haven't you ever wondered why the only Silvites on the Great Silver Shrine were the elders, Rameriz and Fina? Where did the rest of them go?" He chuckled again, swishing his drink around. "That is a long story, but I think I'll let you ask the questions. Go ahead, Vyse, speak."
The noises that Vyse had struggled to make came out in one strangled croak. He clutched his throat, eyes wide in fear and confusion. "How did you do that?"
Nylas smirked. "Surely that is not the most important question on your list, Vyse? I refuse to answer that question at the moment."
"Okay..." Vyse thought for a moment, still holding his throat. "How did the Silvites come down here to Arcadia? Why did you come?"
"We came for the same reason Fina and Rameriz did. To retrieve the Moon Crystals. Rameriz wasn't the first person to volunteer for the job. There's a whole island of us, shipwrecked and stuck in this place. We learned to cope with the ways of your people, but the Silvite island doesn't like a lot of company. Besides, we've heard the things the elders say about you people. You can't be trusted."
"That's only some of the people in Arcadia!" Vyse protested. "You have no right to just say that about everyone!"
Nylas snorted in a dignified fashion. "Whatever you say, Vyse. Would you like to know how you come in?"
Vyse glared at him. "You read my mind."
He laughed, sipping at his loqua again. "Vyse, your name is spoken under all six moons, along with your legend. Of course, it reached our island, as isolated as it is. We knew that the Gigases where dangerous, but they were valuable pieces of technology that no one can begin to comprehend now. To hear that you, just a measly human with your friends and your ship, had defeated the Gigases, well, you can imagine the rage we felt. Take Blueheim for example. Laying lifelessly, so badly damaged and no way to fix it."
"So what? You plan on taking revenge on me back just taking me captive? Planning to execute me or something?"
Nylas nodded. "Yes, that was our original plan, but we thought of something better. The Silvites have more knowledge than the humans that were born here in Arcadia. Our scientists thought of a way to... recreate the Gigases, in a way. We had the necessary power in our hands, in the form of a liquid." He walked over to a trunk that seemed to act as a desk. Papers and books were scattered over it, so that you couldn't see the top.
Nylas kicked the trunk, and it opened. It surprised Vyse when none of the books or papers fell off, when he realized that they were only acting as misleads, making the trunk look unimportant to anyone. Nylas dug through the trunk for a moment before taking out two small vials. He turned, showing them to Vyse. One was filled with a green liquid, the other filled with a red liquid.
"These liquids contain the power of the Green moon and the Red moon. These two, along with the Silver moon, are the only ones that we have been able to create so far, though they are all we need."
"So where's the Silver moon one?" Vyse asked, rubbing the burns on his wrists. They still stung a bit to the touch, but they were healing.
Nylas laughed. "Let me tell you about these, Vyse. In the form that they are in, they will do nothing. It's as useless as water. But the awesome powers of these things will be released once introduced to a living vessel. Such as a human." Nylas placed the vials on the table. "There are still many bugs to work out in the experiment, but I feel that with maybe a few more tries, we can create the perfect living Gigas."
Vyse blinked. "I don't get it. What bugs do you have to work out? Where do my friends and I come in?"
"Vyse, don't you get it?" Nylas laughed. "You and your friends will pay for destroying the Gigases. Lets see you try to destroy the Gigases when their power runs through your blood."
Vyse's eyes grew wide in realization. 'Oh crap....'
------
Aika groaned. "God, I am so hungry..."
Fina nodded. "I am too, Aika..."
"Maybe they didn't spike our food? Maybe they just wanted us to eat."
Fina nodded again, the only move she was capable of doing because of her hungry.
"I wonder where Vyse is. He just disappeared. Wasn't even there when we woke up."
There was a knock on the door, catching the attention of both girls. "Come in," Aika called out, tucking her knees to her chest.
The door opened to reveal a somewhat annoyed Vyse, but, more importantly, the tray of food that was in his hands. Aika hopped up, smiling brightly. "Yay! Food!"
Vyse sighed, placing the tray on the bed. On it was two plates of nice hot fish, spiced to perfection. Next to each fish was a glass of loqua. Aika smiled brighter. "Wow! Whoever cooked this really outdone themselves! The spices smells so strong."
Fina nodded, also smiling. The smile faded a moment later. "Are the spices so strong as to hide the drugs that they used?"
Aika's smile disappeared. "You're probably right."
Vyse shook his head. "Don't worry. I watched as they made it. It's not spiked with anything. There was a third fish that I ate, actually. Dig in."
Aika needed no second bidding. She plunged right into the fish, with almost the same ferocity that Vyse had when he ate his meal. He couldn't help but smile at her crazed eating. When he noticed that Fina hadn't touched her food he looked at her. She was staring at him with a perplexed look. "What's wrong, Fina? Better eat it before it gets cold."
She looked down at the fish, then back at Vyse. "You're... different. What happened while you were gone?"
Vyse gulped, taken back by the question. Even Aika paused her eating to look up at him. "She's right, Vyse," she said, putting down her fork. "There is something different about you. I can't really place it, but it's there."
Vyse looked down at the tray, fighting an inner battle. Suddenly, he looked at Aika. "You didn't drink the loqua, did you?"
She shook her head. Vyse sighed in relief, taking both glasses in his hands. He went over to the small window, pouring the liquid out, throwing the glasses out along with it. "It was spiked with a sleeping potion," he explained, leaning against the wall, suddenly very tired. The burns on his wrists started to throb, and he rubbed the spot anxiously.
Aika looked down, gasping when she saw the burns. "Vyse! What happened?"
He shrugged. "Long story."
Fina was still in shock over the fact that Vyse would almost give them a spiked drink. "Vyse?"
He looked at her. "Hm?"
"What happened to you? Why are you like this?"
Vyse averted his eyes, looking at the corner of the room. A small bubble of anger rose in him, but he forced it down. "I... I can't say."
"Why not, Vyse?" Fina pleaded. "Don't you trust us?"
Vyse rubbed his burn more. "I trust you, it's just... I can't say." He sighed. "Eat. I can personally tell you that the chef on this ship is a wonderful, a brilliant man." He smiled. "If you don't want it, then I'll eat it."
Once again Aika began to eat, not questioning Vyse at all. Fina gave him a long stare, but decided to take one bite of the fish.
Vyse was right. The chef was brilliant. She started to eat with the same ferocity as Aika, only a tab bit slower.
------
Vyse's eyes flew open as he heard the footsteps that were approaching the door. He scrambled from his spot on the wall, sitting on the edge of the bed where the two girls were chatting away about something or another. "Pretend to be asleep," he said in a low hiss. The girls gave him confused looks, but quickly shut their eyes, leaning against the pillows just as the door opened.
Nylas smiled. "Good. I see you did as you were told."
Vyse sneered at him. "Just like you said, not one drop of the drink was left."
"Excellent. We'll take the red-head first. Vyse, I'll leave you the honors of carrying her."
Vyse sighed as he scooped Aika up in his arms. She opened one eye slightly to looking up at him. He refused to meet her eye. "Lead the way, Nylas. I just want to get this over with."
"Do not worry, Vyse. Nothing will happen to her. I just want to maybe run some tests on her first. Eliminate the chance that the experiment will not function properly like yours did."
Aika's curiosity was aroused now. What experiment? Why was Vyse following this man's orders so readily? She closed her eyes again as Vyse carried her out into the hall.
Vyse let the others get far ahead of him as he walked with Aika. "You can't let them catch you," he whispered. Aika opened one eye completely. "I'm going to let you go in a few seconds. Find your way to a lifeboat, then head south. You'll reach Yafutoma soon. Fina and I will catch up with you later."
"What will happen to you?" She whispered back. Vyse smiled wryly.
"Nylas will probably just bring out those cursed ropes of his. Don't worry about me. I'll bring Fina safely. But whatever you do, don't leave Yafutoma. Stay under the protection of the King and Prince."
"How do you know where we are?"
Nylas looked back at Vyse, frowning. "Pick up the pace, Vyse. We'll have to get there sooner or later, prolonging the journey isn't going to make things better."
Vyse glared at him. "I'll go as fast as I want, thank you very much."
They came to an intersection, and Vyse pretended to stumble. He sank to his knees, placing Aika on the floor. Nylas stopped, glaring at Vyse now. "What's wrong now?"
"It's these damned burns..." he rubbed his wrists, wincing as they began to throb for real. "I think she rubbed against them the wrong way."
"You're a strong lad, endure the pain. Besides, it's nothing compared to the whips that my men carry. Now pick her up and let's get going."
Aika hopped up, quickly ducking around a corner. "Hey!" Nylas took a step forward as if to stop her, but she was already long gone. He smiled at Vyse. "The lifeboats?"
Vyse shrugged. "Yeah. The lifeboats."
"Yafutoma?"
Vyse nodded, eyes closed in frustrated obedience. "Yeah."
Nylas chuckled. "Good. Now for phase two of our plan."
------
"Damn... where are the damn lifeboats?" Aika muttered as she snuck around another corner. "If I don't get out of here fast, that wacko's guards will find me sooner or later." She ran down the hall, pressing herself against the wall as she turned another corner...
... and bumped right into Fina.
"Fina? What are you doing here?"
Fina blushed. "You were taking so long, and I got worried, so I came to find you." She looked at the walls. "Besides, I can find my way around this type of ship."
Aika's brow furrowed. "Really? How?"
Fina pressed a hand against the wall, tracing a line. "This is made with Silvite technology. Every large Silvite ship has built in maps on the walls, because the ships are built like labyrinths." She looked back at Aika. "Remember the Great Silver Shrine?"
Aika nodded. "Yeah. So you're telling me that just by looking at these lines, you can figure out where the lifeboats are?" When Fina looked at her confused she continued. "That creep that kidnapped us is planning this psycho experiment, and we're the test subjects. Vyse told me to run and find lifeboats, so here I am, wondering around lost. Think you can help?"
Fina nodded, looking back at the wall. She traced a line, turning back the way she came. "This way," she said as she ran off.
Aika smiled, following her friend. "Now we're getting somewhere."
-------
Vyse opened the door to the empty room, looking around in confusion. "Where did she...?" Sighing, he closed the door, going down the halls to Nylas's room. He walked in without knocking. "Fina left, too," he announced. Nylas looked up from the book he was reading.
"What do you mean she left?"
Vyse sighed. "I mean, she's not in her room. Chances are she met up with Aika and they're probably going to the lifeboats right now."
Nylas frowned. "Pity. I was going to have fun with her for a while before I sent her after Aika. But I bet you're happy."
Vyse glared at him. "I don't know. I'm happy that's one more twisted idea that I don't have to carry through, I'm not happy about the fact that your insane plan has been sped up by this."
Nylas stood from his position on his bed, laughing. "Insane, am I?"
"You and your whole Silvite colony are insane."
"Temper, temper, Vyse. I can work with this little flaw. Those two girls are probably pushing off as we speak. I'll give them two more days, maybe three, and then I'll allow you to go after them. I suggest you spend your days in the room, practicing your techniques. You'll need to have them perfected by the time you're sent after them." Vyse nodded sullenly, leaving the room. He leaned against the wall, looking down at the floor.
"Why me?"
-------
Dee End! Of the chapter, not the whole story. Don't worry. I'm not that cold. Okay, I decided to put out two chapters, and then work on Shivers. I'll alternate chapters. I'll update a Shivers, then a Gigas, then Shivers, then Gigas, etc, etc.
Please review.
I really should be working on my other stories, but you know how you just have to leave stories alone for a while before you can do anything? Yeah, that's what I'm doing. Though I might finish this first.
-------
To say that Vyse ate quickly would have been the understatement of the century. Vyse practically gobbled up every item of food in under five second. There were different dishes from every country under the moons. For a prisoner, it was a bit extravagant, but Vyse didn't pay any attention to that. The man in the black armor just watched Vyse eat, a crooked smile on his face. Only when Vyse had slowed down from inhaling the food to merely munching did he say something. "Vyse, tell me, how did you escape your room?"
Vyse shrugged. "Don't know. I tried to open it, but it was locked. Then, all of a sudden, it kinda exploded, and the door opened. I just counted my blessings and tried to find the kitchens."
"The doorknob exploded?" He raised an eyebrow skeptically.
Vyse nodded. "I don't know how, but that's what happened. Silverish, white sparks."
"Silverish, white sparks," he echoed. "I wonder..."
"Wonder what? That reminds me, why don't you tell me what's going on? Why have you kidnapped me and my friends? What are your motives?"
The man chuckled. "All in due time, Vyse. You'll find out sooner or later. Tell me, Vyse, was the only reason you ventured outside your room to find some food?"
Vyse put a small piece of fish in his mouth, shaping his words around the fish. "Well, I thought that maybe I could look around a bit, but my mind was on food more than anything else."
"I see..." He poured some loqua into two goblets, handing one to Vyse. "Here, drink. I think that this is the best brand of loqua under all six moons."
Vyse took the goblet hesitantly. Now that he was fed, his senses had come back to him. Drinks were the most common placed to find poisons or potions. He swished the liquid around in the cup, looking for some powder on the sides, or maybe some oil floating on top. The man laughed. "Do not worry, Vyse. It is not poisoned. I have no need for poison on my ship."
He looked up, staring at the man. "You know my name, shouldn't I know yours?"
The man nodded. "I usually go by the name Nylas."
"Nylas... I have a few questions for you myself."
Nylas grinned. "I might answer them. Depends on the question."
"You know the first question."
"You still wish to know why you are here?"
Vyse nodded. "I still don't see how you can benefit from capturing us. I'm not wanted anywhere that I can think of anymore. Unless you're a Black Pirate, I'm really of no use to you."
Nylas chuckled. "Vyse, correct me if I'm wrong, but you are the one who defeated numerous of the Gigas, and found all six moon crystals?"
"Yeah, that's me."
He took a sip of his loqua, smirking at Vyse. "Then you are of much use to me."
Vyse opened his mouth to ask a question. "Quiet," Nylas hissed. The question lay unborn in Vyse's throat. As hard as he tried, no noise would come from his mouth. Nylas smirked again. "I know what you're getting ready to ask, Vyse. Why are you of so much use to me? You are a smart boy, I am sure you can figure it out after I tell you my story."
He stood, his back facing Vyse. "That girl... Fina was her name? She's a Silvite, isn't she?"
Vyse nodded, still struggling with his throat. Nylas took another sip of his loqua. "Thought so. One could see that from her clothes. It is nice to see another Silvite after such a long time."
Vyse's eyes widened in surprise, causing Nylas to chuckle. "Yes, you heard me right, Vyse. Everyone on this ship is a Silvite. Haven't you ever wondered why the only Silvites on the Great Silver Shrine were the elders, Rameriz and Fina? Where did the rest of them go?" He chuckled again, swishing his drink around. "That is a long story, but I think I'll let you ask the questions. Go ahead, Vyse, speak."
The noises that Vyse had struggled to make came out in one strangled croak. He clutched his throat, eyes wide in fear and confusion. "How did you do that?"
Nylas smirked. "Surely that is not the most important question on your list, Vyse? I refuse to answer that question at the moment."
"Okay..." Vyse thought for a moment, still holding his throat. "How did the Silvites come down here to Arcadia? Why did you come?"
"We came for the same reason Fina and Rameriz did. To retrieve the Moon Crystals. Rameriz wasn't the first person to volunteer for the job. There's a whole island of us, shipwrecked and stuck in this place. We learned to cope with the ways of your people, but the Silvite island doesn't like a lot of company. Besides, we've heard the things the elders say about you people. You can't be trusted."
"That's only some of the people in Arcadia!" Vyse protested. "You have no right to just say that about everyone!"
Nylas snorted in a dignified fashion. "Whatever you say, Vyse. Would you like to know how you come in?"
Vyse glared at him. "You read my mind."
He laughed, sipping at his loqua again. "Vyse, your name is spoken under all six moons, along with your legend. Of course, it reached our island, as isolated as it is. We knew that the Gigases where dangerous, but they were valuable pieces of technology that no one can begin to comprehend now. To hear that you, just a measly human with your friends and your ship, had defeated the Gigases, well, you can imagine the rage we felt. Take Blueheim for example. Laying lifelessly, so badly damaged and no way to fix it."
"So what? You plan on taking revenge on me back just taking me captive? Planning to execute me or something?"
Nylas nodded. "Yes, that was our original plan, but we thought of something better. The Silvites have more knowledge than the humans that were born here in Arcadia. Our scientists thought of a way to... recreate the Gigases, in a way. We had the necessary power in our hands, in the form of a liquid." He walked over to a trunk that seemed to act as a desk. Papers and books were scattered over it, so that you couldn't see the top.
Nylas kicked the trunk, and it opened. It surprised Vyse when none of the books or papers fell off, when he realized that they were only acting as misleads, making the trunk look unimportant to anyone. Nylas dug through the trunk for a moment before taking out two small vials. He turned, showing them to Vyse. One was filled with a green liquid, the other filled with a red liquid.
"These liquids contain the power of the Green moon and the Red moon. These two, along with the Silver moon, are the only ones that we have been able to create so far, though they are all we need."
"So where's the Silver moon one?" Vyse asked, rubbing the burns on his wrists. They still stung a bit to the touch, but they were healing.
Nylas laughed. "Let me tell you about these, Vyse. In the form that they are in, they will do nothing. It's as useless as water. But the awesome powers of these things will be released once introduced to a living vessel. Such as a human." Nylas placed the vials on the table. "There are still many bugs to work out in the experiment, but I feel that with maybe a few more tries, we can create the perfect living Gigas."
Vyse blinked. "I don't get it. What bugs do you have to work out? Where do my friends and I come in?"
"Vyse, don't you get it?" Nylas laughed. "You and your friends will pay for destroying the Gigases. Lets see you try to destroy the Gigases when their power runs through your blood."
Vyse's eyes grew wide in realization. 'Oh crap....'
------
Aika groaned. "God, I am so hungry..."
Fina nodded. "I am too, Aika..."
"Maybe they didn't spike our food? Maybe they just wanted us to eat."
Fina nodded again, the only move she was capable of doing because of her hungry.
"I wonder where Vyse is. He just disappeared. Wasn't even there when we woke up."
There was a knock on the door, catching the attention of both girls. "Come in," Aika called out, tucking her knees to her chest.
The door opened to reveal a somewhat annoyed Vyse, but, more importantly, the tray of food that was in his hands. Aika hopped up, smiling brightly. "Yay! Food!"
Vyse sighed, placing the tray on the bed. On it was two plates of nice hot fish, spiced to perfection. Next to each fish was a glass of loqua. Aika smiled brighter. "Wow! Whoever cooked this really outdone themselves! The spices smells so strong."
Fina nodded, also smiling. The smile faded a moment later. "Are the spices so strong as to hide the drugs that they used?"
Aika's smile disappeared. "You're probably right."
Vyse shook his head. "Don't worry. I watched as they made it. It's not spiked with anything. There was a third fish that I ate, actually. Dig in."
Aika needed no second bidding. She plunged right into the fish, with almost the same ferocity that Vyse had when he ate his meal. He couldn't help but smile at her crazed eating. When he noticed that Fina hadn't touched her food he looked at her. She was staring at him with a perplexed look. "What's wrong, Fina? Better eat it before it gets cold."
She looked down at the fish, then back at Vyse. "You're... different. What happened while you were gone?"
Vyse gulped, taken back by the question. Even Aika paused her eating to look up at him. "She's right, Vyse," she said, putting down her fork. "There is something different about you. I can't really place it, but it's there."
Vyse looked down at the tray, fighting an inner battle. Suddenly, he looked at Aika. "You didn't drink the loqua, did you?"
She shook her head. Vyse sighed in relief, taking both glasses in his hands. He went over to the small window, pouring the liquid out, throwing the glasses out along with it. "It was spiked with a sleeping potion," he explained, leaning against the wall, suddenly very tired. The burns on his wrists started to throb, and he rubbed the spot anxiously.
Aika looked down, gasping when she saw the burns. "Vyse! What happened?"
He shrugged. "Long story."
Fina was still in shock over the fact that Vyse would almost give them a spiked drink. "Vyse?"
He looked at her. "Hm?"
"What happened to you? Why are you like this?"
Vyse averted his eyes, looking at the corner of the room. A small bubble of anger rose in him, but he forced it down. "I... I can't say."
"Why not, Vyse?" Fina pleaded. "Don't you trust us?"
Vyse rubbed his burn more. "I trust you, it's just... I can't say." He sighed. "Eat. I can personally tell you that the chef on this ship is a wonderful, a brilliant man." He smiled. "If you don't want it, then I'll eat it."
Once again Aika began to eat, not questioning Vyse at all. Fina gave him a long stare, but decided to take one bite of the fish.
Vyse was right. The chef was brilliant. She started to eat with the same ferocity as Aika, only a tab bit slower.
------
Vyse's eyes flew open as he heard the footsteps that were approaching the door. He scrambled from his spot on the wall, sitting on the edge of the bed where the two girls were chatting away about something or another. "Pretend to be asleep," he said in a low hiss. The girls gave him confused looks, but quickly shut their eyes, leaning against the pillows just as the door opened.
Nylas smiled. "Good. I see you did as you were told."
Vyse sneered at him. "Just like you said, not one drop of the drink was left."
"Excellent. We'll take the red-head first. Vyse, I'll leave you the honors of carrying her."
Vyse sighed as he scooped Aika up in his arms. She opened one eye slightly to looking up at him. He refused to meet her eye. "Lead the way, Nylas. I just want to get this over with."
"Do not worry, Vyse. Nothing will happen to her. I just want to maybe run some tests on her first. Eliminate the chance that the experiment will not function properly like yours did."
Aika's curiosity was aroused now. What experiment? Why was Vyse following this man's orders so readily? She closed her eyes again as Vyse carried her out into the hall.
Vyse let the others get far ahead of him as he walked with Aika. "You can't let them catch you," he whispered. Aika opened one eye completely. "I'm going to let you go in a few seconds. Find your way to a lifeboat, then head south. You'll reach Yafutoma soon. Fina and I will catch up with you later."
"What will happen to you?" She whispered back. Vyse smiled wryly.
"Nylas will probably just bring out those cursed ropes of his. Don't worry about me. I'll bring Fina safely. But whatever you do, don't leave Yafutoma. Stay under the protection of the King and Prince."
"How do you know where we are?"
Nylas looked back at Vyse, frowning. "Pick up the pace, Vyse. We'll have to get there sooner or later, prolonging the journey isn't going to make things better."
Vyse glared at him. "I'll go as fast as I want, thank you very much."
They came to an intersection, and Vyse pretended to stumble. He sank to his knees, placing Aika on the floor. Nylas stopped, glaring at Vyse now. "What's wrong now?"
"It's these damned burns..." he rubbed his wrists, wincing as they began to throb for real. "I think she rubbed against them the wrong way."
"You're a strong lad, endure the pain. Besides, it's nothing compared to the whips that my men carry. Now pick her up and let's get going."
Aika hopped up, quickly ducking around a corner. "Hey!" Nylas took a step forward as if to stop her, but she was already long gone. He smiled at Vyse. "The lifeboats?"
Vyse shrugged. "Yeah. The lifeboats."
"Yafutoma?"
Vyse nodded, eyes closed in frustrated obedience. "Yeah."
Nylas chuckled. "Good. Now for phase two of our plan."
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"Damn... where are the damn lifeboats?" Aika muttered as she snuck around another corner. "If I don't get out of here fast, that wacko's guards will find me sooner or later." She ran down the hall, pressing herself against the wall as she turned another corner...
... and bumped right into Fina.
"Fina? What are you doing here?"
Fina blushed. "You were taking so long, and I got worried, so I came to find you." She looked at the walls. "Besides, I can find my way around this type of ship."
Aika's brow furrowed. "Really? How?"
Fina pressed a hand against the wall, tracing a line. "This is made with Silvite technology. Every large Silvite ship has built in maps on the walls, because the ships are built like labyrinths." She looked back at Aika. "Remember the Great Silver Shrine?"
Aika nodded. "Yeah. So you're telling me that just by looking at these lines, you can figure out where the lifeboats are?" When Fina looked at her confused she continued. "That creep that kidnapped us is planning this psycho experiment, and we're the test subjects. Vyse told me to run and find lifeboats, so here I am, wondering around lost. Think you can help?"
Fina nodded, looking back at the wall. She traced a line, turning back the way she came. "This way," she said as she ran off.
Aika smiled, following her friend. "Now we're getting somewhere."
-------
Vyse opened the door to the empty room, looking around in confusion. "Where did she...?" Sighing, he closed the door, going down the halls to Nylas's room. He walked in without knocking. "Fina left, too," he announced. Nylas looked up from the book he was reading.
"What do you mean she left?"
Vyse sighed. "I mean, she's not in her room. Chances are she met up with Aika and they're probably going to the lifeboats right now."
Nylas frowned. "Pity. I was going to have fun with her for a while before I sent her after Aika. But I bet you're happy."
Vyse glared at him. "I don't know. I'm happy that's one more twisted idea that I don't have to carry through, I'm not happy about the fact that your insane plan has been sped up by this."
Nylas stood from his position on his bed, laughing. "Insane, am I?"
"You and your whole Silvite colony are insane."
"Temper, temper, Vyse. I can work with this little flaw. Those two girls are probably pushing off as we speak. I'll give them two more days, maybe three, and then I'll allow you to go after them. I suggest you spend your days in the room, practicing your techniques. You'll need to have them perfected by the time you're sent after them." Vyse nodded sullenly, leaving the room. He leaned against the wall, looking down at the floor.
"Why me?"
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Dee End! Of the chapter, not the whole story. Don't worry. I'm not that cold. Okay, I decided to put out two chapters, and then work on Shivers. I'll alternate chapters. I'll update a Shivers, then a Gigas, then Shivers, then Gigas, etc, etc.
Please review.