Disclaimer: I do not own Magic: The Gathering, only my own characters.
Looks like I'm on the run again. I hate my life sometimes.
Arrathir bolted off into the forest, a raging Eva on his tail.
CHAPTER 55-Memories
"Come on, Charles! Snap out of it!" muttered Khell as he pumped more mana into the Keeper of Blue Mana's inert body.
After Arrathir had left to find Eva, Khell had moved Charles away from the volcano to escape from the toxic gases and rain of ashes. He'd gone deeper into the forest, putting as much distance between them volcano and themselves as possible. Finally, he'd stopped on the edge of a small ravine that cut through the forest.
-What's going on, Rin? Why isn't he waking up?-
-His life essence has been separated from his body for a while. He's breathing so we know he's alive. It should only be a matter of time before he regains consciousness-
-If you say so. Think Arrathir is going to be all right? That eruption was extremely violent-
-Knowing Chikuro, I'd say he got off the mountain before it blew. I'm sure he also found Eva. He shouldn't have had a problem tracking her mana-
-Just before he left, Arrathir said something about Chihowaido being in control of Erik's body. How can that be if Erik didn't accept the Keeper?-
-Chihowaido probably took over by force. He would have had to shatter Erik's mental barriers that kept him locked in his Soul Room. Chihowaido must have sunk to a new low if he'd do that to his host. He just shattered the spiritual connection between the two of them and has pretty much lost any hope of Erik every accepting him. He raped Erik, in the spiritual sense.-
-Why would he do that?-
-As I told you already, Chihowaido was a selfish bastard. Well, I guess 'overzealous' would be the correct term. He was willing to do anything it took to maintain order, often going completely against the philosophy of white. He called himself a law keeper, but between us, he committed as many atrocities, if not more, than Chikuro. He betrayed all the Keepers and myself when he killed me-
"I came as soon as I heard," said Chiguriin, appearing beside Chihowaido on his balcony overlooking the plains of the Keeper's territory. On the distance, a thin cloud of dust could be seen, rising into the sky; it was Chihowaido's army going into battle against the foul zombie hordes of Chikuro. Both Keepers knew this was a suicide mission. The Keeper of Black Mana's hordes grew stronger every day, as he simply revived the carrion from the battles.
"The Keeper of Black Mana is stepping up his campaign to conquer the Multiverse," said Chihowaido grimly "He has pushed his lust for power as far as to kill both Chiburuu and Chiruu in order to acquire their life essence."
"How did he kill Chiruu?" asked Chiguriin "I though you ordered her to stay in Talena for her safety?"
"You know her," snorted Chihowaido "She has been torn between her feeling for the Keeper and her common sense telling her to do what was right to ensure the safety of the Multiverse throughout this whole war. She gave us the slip and went to him, to reason with him, I assume, but it seems Chikuro had become so twisted by his evil that he no longer recognizes friend from foe and has killed his lover for her power. The situation is urgent. The Keeper of Black Mana's power is growing and soon none will be able to stop him."
"What do you suggest?" asked Chiguriin as Chihowaido turned and re-entered his chambers.
"Chikuro's forces out-number us greatly," said the white Keeper "We cannot defeat him by brute strength alone. I see only one option: a duel to determine the fate of the Multiverse."
"He is far too powerful," said Chiguriin, shaking his head "With the strength of three Keepers, he cannot be defeated by a single individual."
"No," said Chihowaido "One alone will not do. Chiguriin, I am going to have to ask you to make the ultimate sacrifice."
Snapping his fingers, the Keeper conjured up chains that wrapped themselves around Chiguriin, binding him tightly. Surprised, the Keeper of Green Mana lost his balance, falling to the stone floor in a clank of metal.
"What are you doing?" asked Chiguriin.
"It's for the good of the Multiverse," said Chihowaido "With your power, I have a chance to defeat Chikuro. Also, if I do not take your life essence, Chikuro will most likely come after you for it. If he acquires your life essence, there will be no stopping him."
"You really thought I would just go along with this?" asked Chiguriin angrily. The chains binding him rusted over and crumbled into dust. "Enchantments are no match for me, you should know that," he told Chihowaido. Gathering his mana, he summoned a Lhurgoyf, the creature grunting in disgust at Chihowaido. "I do not want to fight you, Chihowaido, but if you think I am going to let you take my life without defending myself, you are wrong!"
"What's one life compared to several billion?" asked the white Keeper "If your death means saving all those lives, that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make and you should be too!"
-I was fighting a loosing battle, and I knew it, but I was determined to go out with a bang. My creatures tore up his fortress pretty well. At one point, the entire room started caving in around us. I managed to jump out the window as the entire side of the fortress collapsed into rubble. I though he'd died in the cave-in, but as I turned to leave, he hit me with a Humble enchantment. He came up to me, looking completely insane. He started spouting all this rubbish about how I'd betrayed him as well and was planning to help Chikuro kill me. He grabbed this huge piece of rubble and…-
-It's OK, Chiguriin. I can imagine. What a horrible way to die. Why didn't he change though? Chikuro seems to have gone through quite the personality change, but not him. Why?-
-Chikuro's change was brought about by Arrathir. Because Arrathir did not have the same values or morals as Chikuro, the Keeper gradually became more like his host. Erik, meanwhile, seems the same as Chihowaido: stubborn, arrogant, and willing to do anything to get what he wants. Because of this, Chihowaido's strong hatred for Chikuro made it impossible for him to realize that the Keeper of Black Mana has changed. To him, Chikuro will always be an enemy to be destroyed at all costs-
"You can hide, Quinn, but you can't…hide!" said Eva, slashing through the underbrush. She'd just discovered her claws as was eager to test them out on someone, said someone being the Keeper of Black Mana.
(How dare he! Try to take advantage of me like that? Men are scum! They only want one thing from you!)
(Eva, if you're going to blame someone, blame me. I…attacked him)
(What was up with that, anyways? Do you want Arrathir to think I'm a nympho?)
(Once you've experienced what it's like being in heat, you're going to be begging for Arrathir)
(There's much more between us than sexual attraction! We have a special bond and I won't have you spoil our…relationship)
(Yet you are still afraid to admit your feelings towards him. You know you desire him.)
(I…)
(Do not deny your impulses. It's only natural to be sexually attracted to Arrathir. You two have been through a lot and you seem made for each other)
(Still! He's gonna pay for feeling me up!)
"QUINN! Where the Hell are you?"
(You know, I have a way of finding him…)
Arrathir leaned against the trunk of a large tree, breathing heavily. He'd managed to loose Eva as he'd dashed blindly into the forest.
Don't you think she's overreacting a bit?
That's Ruu for you: shoot first, ask questions later.
Well, can't go back to her, seeing the state she's in. Guess I'll find Khell and let her cool off. Let's see now, where is he?
Doing a quick mana reading, Arrathir was able to determine the green Keeper was somewhere to his left. Taking off in that direction, he walked briskly through the trees, still keeping an eye out for Eva. Suddenly, he pricked his ears at someone calling his name. It sounded like Khell.
"Khell?" he shouted.
"Arrathir! Over here!" came the response.
Running towards his friend's voice, Arrathir came to a small clearing where Khell was sitting.
"Hey, where's Charles?" asked Arrathir.
Arrathir! Something is wrong here! That's not Khell!
Before Arrathir could react, Khell pounced on him, pinning him to the ground.
"Khell?" asked Arrathir, confused. His confusion was only increased as he saw a fox's tail poking out of the back of Khell's robes. Suddenly, Khell's appearance began changing. His hair grew shorter and darkened to a brown. His body shrunk, become much slimmer and feminine. Two furry ears popped up from his hair and his eyes changed to a light green. Before Arrathir could comprehend what was going on, Eva slammed his head back into the ground.
The Hell…?
She's a kitsune, naki. She's got shape-shifting abilities! You fell for the oldest trick in the book.
Oh great.
"What have you to say for yourself?" she hissed, pulling his face close to hers.
"I'm sorry?" offered Arrathir. Eva growled, obviously not satisfied by this answer. She picked up Arrathir, slamming him headfirst into the ground. The Keeper's skull created a small crater upon impact.
"If you ever pull that shit again…" threatened Eva.
"I think you're being unfair," said Arrathir, getting up and snapping his neck back in place "I was saving your life and then Chiruu takes over and is all over me. I swear, Eva, I was trying to push her away, especially when I realized you weren't yourself."
"Oh yeah!" said Eva "You were sure pushing her away while thrusting your tongue down her throat!"
"At least I stopped it before anything serious happened!" said Arrathir angrily. He wasn't the one at fault here. "Maybe I should have let her have her way! How would you have liked that: To wake up, naked next to me and realize what had happened?"
"I would have killed you on the spot!" spat Eva.
"That's bullshit!" said Arrathir "You're blowing this whole thing out of proportion! I'm really hurt that you think so little of me that you'd imagine I would betray your trust just for sex!"
Arrathir's words hit Eva like a slap in the face. She fell to her knees in front of the Keeper.
(He's right…after all we've been through, all he's done for me without hesitating to put his own life on the line, how could I even think he would do something like that?)
"Arrathir," she said "I'm sorry. I-I just over reacted. I should be mad at Chiruu, not you. You did the right thing. Can you forgive me?"
"For you, Eva, anything," said Arrathir with a grin, which a low growl from Eva quickly wiped off his face.
"So this is what it's like being a hanyou," said Eva "I never thought so many smells existed." Sniffing Arrathir, she wrinkled her nose. "I guess it's a blessing and a curse. When was the last time you bathed?"
"Seeing as I was dead for the past few days," said Arrathir "I wasn't able to."
Eva took another sniff and frowned. "You're…aroused?" she said.
"That would be the demon," said Arrathir "He's still pissed that I stopped Chiruu."
"Let him out," said Eva "I have a bone to pick with him."
"Are you sure?" asked Arrathir "I think he's too powerful for you."
"Oh, his power is nothing compared to my rage," said Eva "I owe him a little payback for all the pain he's caused me. Unfortunately, it means you're going to be in a lot of pain."
"As long as he's not bothering you any more," said Arrathir "I'll take the pain. Kick his ass."
Arrathir closed his eyes, retreating to the depths of his conscious mind as he sought his demon half. He focused on his lust for Eva; how much he desired her and wished to be joined with her, body and soul. His eyes suddenly snapped open. His once blue irises were a bright scarlet and he eyed Eva hungrily. She repressed a shudder of fear: the demon was in control now.
"Hello, precious," said the demon, licking his lips "I've been looking forwards to meeting you again."
Eva faltered. The demon's piercing glare was quickly sapping away her courage. She'd come into this, full of resolve to stand up to the demon, but in his presence, fear paralyzed her.
(I-I can't do this…)
(You can, Eva! You're stringer that he is! Repeat after me, 'I am not your bitch!')
(I am not your bitch)
(Say it like you mean it!)
(I am not your bitch!)
(Come on! Put some feel into it! That bastard tried to rape you! He laid claims on you as his mate!)
"I am not your bitch!" yelled Eva as the demon advanced towards her "You see this?" she added, pulling down her collar to expose the demon's mark. "This is the symbol of my humiliation! It is a reminder of how much you hurt and tormented me! Every day since that day you touched me, I have suffered and fear you, but it ends today! You will release your claim over me and stop tormenting me in my dreams!"
The demon threw his head back, laughing. "You order me around? Need I remind you that you are my property, bitch?"
"Not anymore," said Eva, her eyes blazing "I've had enough of you! Release me or I will make you!"
"You challenge me, little girl?" asked the demon "You have no idea what you are getting into. I will enjoy breaking you. Your screams of pain will fill me with delight, but the best will be when your body betrays you and you'll beg me for more."
(He's just trying to demoralize you, Eva. You know I'd never let him force himself on you)
"I told you before," said Eva "The next time we meet, I'm really gonna kick your ass! I've never broken a promise, and I don't intend to start now!"
To be continued…
Author's Note: So, will Eva finally rid herself of the demon, allowing Arrathir to stop blaming himself for what happened?
Until next time, Nauq twe dhe da paw!