Destroyers Of Time

Chapter Fourteen: Trapped Inside One's Nightmares.

By: Efra

Two days after the discovery of the secret shrine underneath the sands of the Mosel Dunes, that contained writings of the ancient world, the heroes had reached a small town called Innus. It was mostly composed of merchants that wandered the world. It seemed to be untouched by the evil that had befallen the other towns. The children played outside with out care while their mothers watched them through the windows of their small cottage like homes. Besides the merchants there were other races such as Elves, Menodix's, Humans, Fairy folk, Water folk some that were unknown, and perhaps a few people that were close o Elvy and Valkin though they kept out of sight. When they were seen it was only in the form of a glance. The heroes had settled down at a small inn on the far side of town for the night before heading on to the next town where the survivors were taken. Most went to sleep immediately but there were those whose restless minds chased sleep away. Albel felt as if he needed to be somewhere else then under the soft pure white sheets. Slowly he pushed the covers off and sat for a moment. He became entranced in his shoulder plate, claw, arm gloves, collar, and his belly shirt that were lying on the wooden table across the room. The Crimson Scourge resided in the corner of the room rested against the wall.

Slowly his hand moved to his left arm. He ran his fingers up and down the heavy bandages. His hand twitched sickeningly with every stroke. Albel's eyes filled with sadness as he stared at the tiled floor. He watched his own reflection staring back at him… but it wasn't his own. Instead it was he at the age of fifteen… after his father had died. The same look of grief carved into his features. Those same tears of pain and hatred and that evil Warmonger laughing at his sadness so indulged in it. It was the same Warmonger who had been the reason for his imprisonment in the cold dungeon of Airyglyph. All the horrible sick things he had done to Albel while he was chained and defenseless. All the suppressed emotions washed over Albel. Fear, hate, anger, sadness all tangled together causing his inner demons to rise to do their torture again. Albel felt just how badly he could have been to one to snap Vox's neck… I guess that was one of the reasons he was so attached to Fayt and his friends.

Then he heard a small knock and the door opened with a squeak. Albel looked over slowly. Nel stood watching him she was missing her boots, her scarf, and the corset like thing around her waist. "I thought you'd still be awake." She said softly stepping towards him. Albel forced a small smile. "Why do you grace me with your presents so late?" He asked sarcastically. Nel sat down next to him and wrapped her arms around him. Albel froze up for a moment then relaxed. "It's just that there's something in the back of my mind trying to tell me something but I can't figure it out." Nel said softly. Albel pulled her close to his bare chest. "Like something isn't right?" He asked. Nel looked up at him and nodded. "I think we all are feeling it…" Albel said as his mind trailed off into deep thought. Nel watched him for a long time then moved closer to him. Albel snapped out of his thought process when he felt Nel's soft kiss. The same sickening feeling became worse then ever. Albel knew that something wasn't right but eventually returned Nel's affection.

Elvy sat somewhat curled in her chair. Her arms rested on the cold desktop. Her head buried in them. Valkin was passed out on the bed. His hair in a scattered mess around him made him look more handsome. His soft breathing was the only sound in the room. It was so hypnotic that it was almost putting Elvy to sleep. But her inner demons weren't going to give up so easily. After another failed attempt to sleep Elvy finally slid off the chair. She watched her footsteps carefully as to not wake her light sleeper of a brother. Slowly she grasped the white sheet and pulled it up ward. The sheet covered him gracefully. He smiled in his sleep and turned over. Elvy stared sadly at him; she could feel the tear in her soul now growing deeper and longer. The feeling of emptiness growing ever more slowly inside her as she stared the slit like pupil of her left eye grew into a captivating orb. There was a small movement through the darkness by the door, as if someone was watching her then glided by the doorway and down the hall. She caught the movement out of the corner of her eye. The sickening feeling like something wasn't right slammed into her with great force but she considered maybe one of the others was up and about and brushed it off. Immediately the pupil turned back into a slit as she only glanced then went back to the desk. When she sat back down then endless assault of harsh words and memories began running over and over again.

Cliff stood by the window the dim light of an oil lamp illuminated the room. He stared at the running water of the crystal clear stream that lied in the distance beyond. It looked like a river of blood due to the endless crimson moon. Cliff slowly looked from the river to the cursed moon. His eyes narrowed softly giving him the sad look. Man I hate this sky… Then he saw something reflecting in the window. Cliff adjusted his eyes to see something was moving in the dark hall just in front of the door. Cliff held completely still and didn't breathe. He could hear the soft rather heavy footsteps as they echoed down the hall. The stride didn't sound familiar to him. He turned around slowly. Roger was snuggled in the covers still an unusually big bubble was growing bigger and smaller from his nose as he breathed. Cliff then went to step towards the door when there was a small beeping sound. He stopped abruptly and reached inside his pants. His hand grasped the communicator and he yanked it out. "Cliff? Cliff? Can you hear me?" Came his partner Mirages voice. Cliff stared at the communicator for a long time in disbelief that Mirage was coming in loud and clear. "Cliff?" She asked again. Cliff blinked then snapped out of it. "Uh yeah Mirage I'm here…sorry bout that…" He said softly as Roger mumbled something about carrots and rolled dangerously close to the edge of the bed.

"What took you so long?" Mirage asked calmly. Cliff rubbed his head. "Just though my mind was playing tricks on me…I guess there isn't any static interference here." He said. Mirage was quiet for a long time obviously taking a while to comprehend what he said. "Umm Mirage?" Cliff asked. "Oh… I'm sorry must have spaced out." Mirage said with a giggle. "So what's up?" Cliff whispered and Roger muttered about reindeer this time. He suppressed a laugh. "We're just about there. We should be in the new coordinates you gave us by tomorrow morning." She reported happily. Cliff closed his eyes thinking of the worst. "Not to early ok? Albel will be pissed if he doesn't get his beauty sleep you know." Cliff muttered. Mirage laughed but Cliff could tell the sadness and worry in her voice. "How's Maria coping with the news about Fayt?" Cliff asked. Mirage fell quiet again which told Cliff that neither of them were doing ok with that information. "I think… she's doing rather well…" Mirage suddenly said. Cliff sighed. "C'mon now don't lie to me." He said. "Well I'm sure Fayt's alright…he can take care of himself you know…" Mirage replied. Cliff looked longingly out the window. "I can only hope… it's bad enough I've got two people blaming themselves for him being kidnapped." Cliff said sadly. "Sounds like three to me." Mirage said. Cliff's mind then felt as if it was hit with a two by four. He laughed nervously. "What are you talking about don't be silly…well I better go Roger's going to fall out of bed. See ya." Then Cliff turned the communicator off. It slipped out of his hand and clattered to the floor. Cliff then slammed his fists against the wall his forehead against the cold glass of the window. He stayed like that until a huge crack tore through the glass. Cliff then pulled away having calmed down and crept over to the bed. He moved Roger back to the middle of it gently and replaced the scattered covers over him.

Albel lied next to Nel who had fallen asleep in his arms. He stared at the ceiling watching the shadows dance around. Nel moved onto her side and rested her arm on his chest. Her arm felt rather warm to him. He sighed slowly and sat up. He looked around the cold room then to the window. The tree blew softly outside in the black wind in their silhouette. Another figure came to the window a minute later. It was a butterfly but it was glowing a faint blue with black lines on its wings symbolizing its patterns. Albel blinked and stared at the butterfly like figure. It hovered for a moment by the window then flew off. Albel stared for a long time after it left transfixed on the beauty that had burned itself into his eyes. It reminded him of some one but he could get an image of them to come to mind. Albel then stood up tossing the sheets over Nel messily and exited the room. He walked quietly down the hall his footsteps echoing as he went. Looks like she's still up…

Albel then stepped through the doorway to Valkin and Elvy's room. It was dark now. The smell of smoke met nose. He walked slowly over to the oil lamp. It had been recently burned out. Albel turned to the bed. Valkin was still sprawled over it no sign of his sister anywhere in the room. Worry captured Albel as he stared around the looming unusually still darkness. That's strange…the light was on just a minute ago…Albel then walked back to the door a peaked out it. There was no sign of movement in the dim hall. There was that sickening feeling again but it was more telling him to turn around. Albel spun around his feet scrapping the floor softly. He dodged something had made a soft noise as it went through the air something sharp Albel thought. He then fell to the ground and tripped up his attacker his hair fell out of their separate ties as he went and it fell over his shoulders messily. He or she fell to the ground loudly with a muffled grunt. Albel reached blindly for their throat. He found something but he wasn't sure if it was something he wanted to be touching. There was a scream and something very hard whacked the side of Albel's face and remained there. Valkin sat up calmly from his sleep and relight the oil lamp. When the light engulfed the room he found Albel on one knee with a rather thick book on the side of his face and his sister arm length away from Albel in the corner holding the book and looking distraught. Valkin blinked lazily and pulled the blankets farther up to cover his bare chest. "I don't even want to know what you two are doing…" He muttered the sleep still heavily in his voice. Albel was zoned out but Valkin's voice brought him back to reality. "I'm sure a little girl with suit you both…" Valkin said his eyes falling to slits then he plopped back onto his side with his back to them and fell back asleep. Elvy closed her eyes then jumped up. The book fell nosily to the floor. "What did you say!" She yelled grabbing Valkin up from the bed. Valkin was now fully awake and staring in shock at his twin sister. She glared dangerously at him. "What is wrong with you lately…" Valkin muttered. Valkin noticed her shirt was a little obscure and he gently fixed it with out touching anything. Elvy sighed and dropped Valkin back on the bed and hoped down. Valkin watched her still in shock. She came back over and picked the book up replacing it to the desk then kneeled down in front of Albel who was trembling with fury. They stared at each other for a long time. "Sorry. I thought you were some one else…" Elvy finally said.

Albel blinked. "What do you mean?" He asked as his anger drifted away. Elvy looked away from him and stood up slowly. "I've just been hearing strange things all night like…" Elvy then looked to the window the same butterfly hovered for a moment then drifted off in the soft wind. Valkin was transfixed on it and he wandered over to the window. "Wow you don't see that everyday…" He muttered to himself then her turned around walking towards Albel. Albel felt himself shrink for no particular reason. Valkin held his hand out for him. Albel stared for a long moment at it then he took it gently so he wouldn't be cut by Valkin's claws for nails. Valkin pulled him to his feet effortlessly. "Well I'm back to bed." He said happily then hopped over to the bed and dove under the covers. When Albel looked back to Elvy she had her hand to her forehead. "What fool?" He snapped. "Oh shut up… why would you even care?" She snapped back then left the room quickly. Albel stared after her until she was engulfed in the darkness of the distant hall.

Cliff came to his bedroom door as Elvy was walking down the hall. She stopped abruptly staring at him. Cliff blinked. "Well there's someone I recognize…" He said. Roger muttered from his room. A smile crept onto Elvy's face and she walked by Cliff. She sat next to the sleeping Menodix who rolled half way off the bed drool escaping his mouth the bubble still remained in his nose. Gently Elvy moved his back onto the bed and moved his bangs from his eyes. Roger smiled in his sleep and remained on his side. Cliff stared in disbelief. "I've been trying to get him to stay still for two hours and all you half to do is move his bangs to get him to calm down?" Cliff muttered. Elvy looked down. "I guess so…" She mumbled. Cliff's expression changed from shock to worry. "You sure your alright?" He asked walking towards her. She didn't look at him. Cliff's footsteps echoed in her ears like the hollow beating of her heart if it was still beating altogether. "C'mon you can tell me. I'm just a big teddy bear anyway." Cliff said happily and sat next to her. Elvy slowly reached over without looking and touched Cliff's cheek. Her hand was extremely cold almost unbearable to him but he kept a straight face. Then she looked at him a small smile on her face. "Your cute." She said then pecked him softly on the cheek and left the room silently. Cliff stared blankly at the wall as he touched his cheek. Cliff then turned to Roger and climbed in next to him. "Hmm teddy bear…" Roger muttered cuddling up to Cliff. Cliff smiled and stroked his head. "Yeah teddy bear…"

Elvy walked the cold-bricked streets of Innus. She watched the houses with their dark windows. Just as she did so many nights before. Her and her brother were always with the pack that was outside looking in until their adoptive father took them in after the crash. He was the only one who could make them feel loved unlike all the others who all had the big fake smiles and stupid lies. They would just wait to talk behind their backs even though they heard every word. Sometimes it even made Valkin cry. Images of Fayt ran though her mind. A figure then appeared from the darkness. Elvy stopped abruptly her left pupil turning to an orb again. It figure didn't move and inch. Elvy stepped towards it slowly. When she reached out to it her hand meet cold marble. She moved her hand along the smooth substance. She continued to feel it until her finger hit a groove. She blinked and followed it. After following over it a couple of times she distinguished it as a M. She continued for a while and figured out what it said. Magus…I wonder who that is…

Slowly she stepped away from it her bangs moving out from her eyes for a moment then they stubbornly returned. There was a small whispered behind her that sent chills up her spin. Elvy straightened up and turned slowly. What felt like the tip of a thick sword pierced though her stomach. Her blood spattered the marble and dripped sickeningly. It had spattered over her attackers face and her own where it stung her eyes. She stared in shock at the darkened face before her. Then the sword was removed with a forceful jerk causing more blood to drip on the stone. Elvy's eyes became blank and she fell backwards. Coldness attacked her lower back as she fell against what felt to be the armor that goes around ones forearm. Her attackers hand grasped her side and pulled her against he or she's body, which was also covered, in thick armor. Elvy lay there in their arms defenseless. Her breathing slowing with each breath she took. Slowly she closed her eyes. Well that was easier then I thought…I wonder what will happen now that the tables have turned? Her attacker thenlaughed maniacally.

Yeah can't tell what mood I was in when I wrote this? Anyway here it is all perty and such. I had a lot of fun with it though I hope you all like it and I'll be hoping for nice reviews! Muhahaha!

Efra