Chapter 22
The man standing by the shattered window slowly turned his head to Link's direction, and gave him a smile that made his hair stand on end.
'Vonndrake?' Link wondered. This man stood nearly seven foot; his hair and beard were black in colour and his eyes were the same as Nisih's. Like burning red coal. Undoubtedly this was Nisih's sire.
"At long last we meet," Vonndrake muttered, a smile still tugging on his lips. "I've waited for months to see you face to face." He motioned to a chair to the left of him. "Please, make yourself comfortable."
"What is this really about?" Link muttered, refusing to comply with the man's offer. Vonndrake arched an eyebrow up and chuckled lightly.
"Aren't we the impatient one?" he replied, and laughed again. "I simply desire you under my charge, that's all." He saw the boy clench his teeth.
"And that's your excuse for attacking the land and making so many people suffer? All because of that one reason?" Link questioned. "If you think I'm going to join you…"
"You killed my daughter too. Obviously your said reason for my actions lacks logic," the man intervened. "But I must move onto more meaningful affairs. I want you on my side, as an equal. You've killed some of my best men and made it all this way without assistance. Why not join me? What reason do you have not to?" His crimson eyes penetrated Link's own.
"I simply cannot, it's not in my nature to side with evil," Link argued, his eyes narrowing dangerously. Vonndrake paced before him, the smile on his face unfaltering. There was a brief pause before he started his persuasions again.
"And this is coming from someone who's own people attack them," Vonndrake said and he saw Link wince slightly. "Tell me Link, how many times have they tried to hurt you? How many times did you have to put up with their relentless false accusations and ignorance? How many times have you felt the desire to kill them?" Link's jaw tightened.
'We don't want you around us; you have a taste for blood…'
'I'm glad his mother is dead. If I were her, I would be ashamed to call that my son'
He slowly closed his eyes. To be reminded of the pain he had to go through because of their fear was almost too painful for him to bear. True, everyone hated him. They feared him. Yet…they had every reason to. It was his fault for spilling their blood, his fault for not doing anything and wallowing in self-pity and guilt.
"It's all been my fault. That's why I must stop you…" Link murmured, opening his eyes to stare at Vonndrake. "I made a mistake long ago. Now it's up to me to correct it." Vonndrake paused, and suddenly burst out laughing. It was clear that Link was still sensitive over it.
"That's the stupidest argument I've heard in all my years. So you made a mistake; we all do. But didn't you ever think they deserved what they're getting? I'm pretty sure once or twice you've wished that they could feel what you were going through," he hurmoured. "Quite frankly, these same people you've saved can't seem to see the potential in a werewolf guardian. All they see is a savage beast."
"But I was a savage beast," Link said a loud. "Back then I had no self-control. I couldn't stop myself from killing people. My fear towards the beast made things worse every time. Yet now that I've come to terms with what I am I'm no longer the negative-emotional beast I once was." Vonndrake cracked a smile. So Link had acknowledged his werewolf nature. All the better for him of course. There was no point controlling an underling who had no control over himself.
Yet he knew, with how things were going, Link would never join him. He was still attached to the land and its people, regardless of what trials they had put him through. Soft talking him wouldn't work, neither would his persuasions. He needed something else to make him…no, force him into joining. Yes, Link was just too good of a werewolf to be left alone. But with his little hostage gone…
"I grow rather impatient Link. Your love for these petty humans sickens me greatly. Yet, I wonder what position you would be standing in if there weren't any humans to defend. You saw your people imprisoned in those cells outside right?" Vonndrake said, pointing out the broken window. Link didn't like where things were going. "What if I killed them all? Then, for what reason, would you want to refuse my offer?"
"You bastard…" Link growled. "Using them as bait like that. You're sicker than I first perceived you were." He felt his body reacting, yet Vonndrake held a hand out before he could attack.
"Not a wise decision. Just one call and they kill them, every last one of them," he threatened yet Link began advancing. "You really want them to die?" Coldness burned in his eyes.
---
"Link went through here," Dante informed the party. With a nod they pressed on, desperate to find out what had become of their friend. Unlike Link, the four hadn't encountered a mass population of werewolves inside the facility. In fact, the whole place was devoid of their presence. Something must be happening, and they all feared Link was stuck in the middle of things.
"Damn, sometimes that boy needs to think. Did he honestly think he could take on all these werewolves plus their leader?" Xanath complained. "All these heroics has gotten to his head." Malon shook her head slowly.
"No, you're wrong Xanath. I'm afraid all we've been doing is slowing him down. So you can't blame him for being a bit rash in his decisions," she said. The man couldn't help but agree a bit. "I think he's also worried that, if he doesn't do something soon, more harm will be done." Dante smiled. Just like her to speak for others. But there was no lie in what she said. If things were left too long the damage could prove irreversible. Earlier the princess had explained the plot Vonndrake wanted to carry out. That when the moon reached its apex the captives were going to end up as mere food for the werewolf army. And it was already growing dark…not much time left.
It didn't take long until the four came across the huge courtyard. And every one of them had their breaths caught in their throats. The yard was full with werewolves. And aligning its side were the captives.
"This is bad…" Malon breathed, covering her mouth with a hand. "I can smell…" Yes, conditions were that bad that more people had died and as a result devoured. Their mutilated remains scattered the court's floor.
"But I don't see Link anywhere…" Xanath stressed, looking about himself. A hand landed on his shoulder and he froze. There was a werewolf behind him.
"I'm afraid he's a bit busy," the werewolf muttered in his ear, and directed his attention to an over looking balcony. "Vonndrake's having a word or two with him."
"You mean the negotiations have started?" Dante asked and the man nodded once. His teeth clenched tightly. 'Please Link, for the love of the goddesses, don't do anything stupid…'
---
"Think about what you're doing first Link," Vonndrake said, unfazed that Link was getting ever so closer to him, and unfazed that he was in perfect striking range. "You're willing to let these people die just because you refuse to side with me?" But Link wouldn't listen to him any more. He was tired of his voice…and his face. As far as he was concerned, whether the people were alive or not it was still his fault. He'd already made the decision long ago that he was going to kill Vonndrake. Nothing was going to stop him from letting that happen. And he was not going to let such a petty threat get in the way either.
"I'm here to destroy you, nothing more. So stop trying to persuade me. Your attempts failed the moment you opened your mouth," Link muttered. Vonndrake finally let loose a low growl. Link was serious…he was already starting to change.
"You've made a terrible mistake. I've tried being nice, I've tried being friendly. Yet all you do is spit it back at my face. You could have sided with me and everything would have been well. I can see now my efforts were for nothing," Vonndrake muttered, his voice getting angrier, less restrained. "Useless, just like my damned daughter!" Before Link could react Vonndrake had moved, grabbed him by the face and slammed him down into the ground. The tiles beneath Link's skull cracked, and his head resonated with fresh pain.
"I will not stand idly by and allow you to win whatever futile opposition you have planned. I'm the one going to kill you," Vonndrake snarled, digging his fingers into Link's face. A growl vibrated within Link's chest. His arm swung out and batted Vonndrake across the face, scoring deep slashes against his cheek. The man hissed with pain and leapt clear, resorting to wipe the blood with his sleeve.
"Don't think too highly of yourself," Link said, now sitting up. "All too many people have said that and died. And you're no different." Vonndrake frowned, then cracked a smile.
"However there has not yet been a single fight I've lost. I feel so sorry for you. Your own ignorance has condemned you to your death," the man said, almost sighing. Link simply gave him a wolfish grin.
NOTE: WTF did I just write? Oh well. Too much dialogue but seeing as the next chapter will contain far less than this one, well, you know what I'm getting at. Vonndrake talks and all that comes out is crap. Lol.
