Destroyers Of Time

Chapter Sixteen: Mythological Hidden City Of Bleak

By: Efra

It's cold…I still can't move… The frozen dampness of the dungeon like environment was murder. The darkness was hovering around in thick barely seeable clouds. The only light was from small torches that ran down the stone halls on either side. Though they were rather small they spread plenty of light around. The air held a stench of sweat, blood, and decay. The small dripping sound somewhere down in the depths of the dungeon was the only sound in the silence besides the small scrapping of chains over the stone. Elvira had been here for at least three days straight. Her small intakes of breath could be seen in small white puffs. Her skin was paler then the snow that had some how crept down to the dungeon. Thick rusting chains wrapped tightly around her wrists and connected to huge hinges on the wall. The sound of heavy footsteps came echoing down the stairs and finally woke her from her comatose state. Slowly she opened her eyes halfway and looked menacingly to the stairs. A tall man appeared a minuet later covered in thick black full plated armor.

His black shoulder length hair was pulled back into a small ponytail leaving only one strand of hair to fall freely over his face. Elvy turned her head slightly to have a better look at him. "Back…already?" She whispered. The man grinned menacingly and walked towards her his armor making small clanking sounds with his every movement keeping his small black eyes locked on her. The man then put his hand against the wall just above her shoulder and lifted her chin with his other. "Well are you ready to tell me your name yet? Or do I half to beat it out of you?" The man asked softly the evil very relevant in his voice while Elvy merely stared at him. The man smiled his small black eyes locked on hers.

"Why is my name so important to you?" Elvy muttered. The man then pushed her against the wall the chains that wrapped around her wrists scraped across the wall noisily then hung with the slack they were given. "It's not. I'm just curious to know. Since you are so beautiful in my eyes." The man said leaning forward and kissed Elvy forcefully. Elvy's eyes widened in shock then she glared. The man pulled away suddenly blood dripping from his lip. He smirked and wiped it away. "I suppose Albel taut you that trick?" The man asked calmly. Elvy remained glaring at him but a hint of curiosity fell onto her eyes. "Oh well it doesn't matter. He'll come for you sooner or later." The man said turning away. Elvy smirked sadly closing her eyes and falling forward gently the chains holding her back. "You wanna bet on that?" She muttered and bowed her head forward. The man looked over his shoulder to her. "You honestly think he doesn't care for you at all?" The man asked kneeling down in front of her. Elvy stared at the floor taking a while to comprehend what the man was saying to her. Slowly she shook her head and looked up into the mans eyes. "Nope. You might as well just kill me right now. He isn't going to come." She replied. The man stared at her for a long while his eyes traveling all around her body. "Oh I'm sure he'll come. But until then you're mine." The man said sadistically placing his bare hand on her cheek. "You're freezing. I'm sure there is something you could do that's worthwhile to me and will warm you up. Maybe you'll get out of here sooner." The man whispered. Elvy glared both her eyes glowing. "You want to run that by me again you creep?" Elvy said standing straight. The man backed away slightly. "Why don't you just go get yourself killed and stay dead this time!" Elvy snapped taking a step forward the chains straining to hold her back. "Now now dear there's not need to be angry with me. You shouldn't get on my bad side. Or I'll half to enforce it. Albel would fall apart if that happened now wouldn't he?" The man whispered. "Shut up you sick bastard." Elvy muttered backing against the wall. The man stepped towards her. "Don't you dare! Get the hell away from me!" Elvy snapped. The man smiled and stepped closer. "Exactly what Albel said." The man said stepping ever closer. Elvy stared at him strangely. "How typical he would choose a woman with a spit fire attitude." The man muttered cruelly and smacked Elvy across the face with the back of his hand. He laughed evilly and ascended the stairs again.

"Praetorian?" Luther asked leaning in the doorway. Prae turned slowly staring at his father his wings wrapping around him slowly. Luther grinned and walked up to him. "There's some one who's demanding to see you." Luther said caressing his son's face. Prae blinked and tilted his head to the side. His hair fell over and behind his shoulder softly revealing the blue beaded earring. "Follow me please?" Luther asked and turned towards the door. Prae followed him obediently. Luther led him down the hall for a ways. The sounds of a young boy screaming could be heard down a different hall. Prae merely glanced and kept walking until the sound of a different man could be heard. Luther stopped and leaned against the wall watching his son closely. Prae took another step forward glancing at his father and hit the button to the door. The sounds of steam escaping a pipe filled the room with random bangs of high and low velocity and sound. The door swung open a minuet later and Prae stepped out. There were several men lying on the floor in a bloody heap. Some had disfigurements and bashed in teeth and so on so forth. "Well it's about time. You're late." A man in the corner said in a deep voice. Prae smirked and looked towards the corner with insane pleasure in his eyes. "How did you get through the Maze of Tribulations unharmed?" Prae asked with raw interest. The man lifted himself from the wall and walked towards him. He had no shirt on and was showing his huge muscles off. While he wore a skirt like thing from the hips down. He also had a kantana sword tied at his side.

Prae looked him over, as if he was a crazy bug trying to carry something thirty times its size home. "What is that look for? You scared because I'm bigger then you?" The man asked his much tanned skin glowing in the light along with his short gray hair. Prae shook his head slightly looking away. "Adray Adray Adray… Why do you insist on bugging me?" Prae whispered softly and looked back to him. Adray then grabbed Prae by his neck and lifted him off his feet. Prae cringed and grabbed Adray's thick forearm with both hands his wings flapping around helplessly. "Dad!" The young man known as Clous yelled and turned from the room. Luther grabbed him by his arm quickly and held him back "He will be fine. Just watch." Luther replied.

"You killed my daughter. Now I'm going to kill you." Adray said dangerously and gripped Prae's neck tighter. Prae smirked staring into Adray's dark brown eyes. "If you don't leave you will suffer the same fate as she." He hissed. Adray glared and gripped even tighter. The same scream echoed down the hall a minute later. Adray suddenly stopped his force and dropped Prae to his knees. Luther smiled like a lunatic and left the room quickly Clous followed him. Adray stared down the hall wide-eyed then down to Prae. Prae looked up and him and stood slowly. "Where is he!" Adray yelled. Prae shook his index finger in front of him. "I'll never tell." He said playfully. Adray then forcefully pulled Prae off his feet again. "I'll kill you!" Adray yelled. Prae's neck made several popping sounds and he gripped Adray wrist tighter. Prae then fell limp a minuet later. Adray let him fall to the ground and he turned to the hallway. Clous was staring wide-eyed at him while Luther only smirked from where he stood. Adray glared at the two of them. "Get out of my way." Adray said viciously stepping towards them. Clous was frozen on the spot with fear and anger.

The young blonde woman known as Layla joined them from around the corner. Clous didn't notice. He was to busy looking past Adray to Prae's hand that was the only part of him that was exposed from behind Adray. Layla glared at Adray. "What are you doing here?" Layla hissed. Adray glared back. Prae's hand twitched a minuet later. Adray stepped forward pushing Clous in to the wall. "Where do you think your going?" Prae hissed to Adray and pulled himself up to his feet. Adray's eyes widened and he turned around quickly. Prae smirked at him then slammed his hand into Adray's chest. Adray screamed out loud and coughed up a mouthful of blood. Luther grinned proudly from the doorway while Layla and Clous stared in shock. The pain in Adray's chest was unbearable as his surrounds became black. Prae removed his hand quickly. Adray fell to the floor lifeless. "Told you so." Prae said looking to the beating object in his hand that slowed to a stop. He stared blankly at it for a while. Do I even have a heart? If so…dose it even beat? Hmph…why should I care. I have a mission to complete. Prae let the blood covered object fall to the ground with a sickening thump. Layla covered her mouth and buried herself onto Clous. He wrapped his arms around her in return watching Prae as he pushed by him and out the door.

Albel paced around in his room nervously. The rain hadn't let up at all and still beat down on the earth. It spattered onto the window noisily and caused it to rattle. Flashes of lightning lit up the room from time to time with the echoing thunder kept any soul from sleeping peacefully. Albel continued his pacing not noticing Valkin had come to the doorway. He watched Albel intently though worry was relevant in his eyes. "What's wrong?" He asked softly. Albel glanced at him and then grabbed his sword from the wall and tied it at his side. "Stay here with the women and the kid. Don't let anything happen to them." Albel ordered and pushed by him. Valkin spun around and followed Albel down the hall. "Wait where are you going!" He called catching up to him. Albel pulled a thick cloak over himself and entered Cliff's room. Cliff was sitting by the window staring out it longingly. He saw them enter from the reflection on the glass and he turned around. "What's up?" He said. Albel glared and tossed another cloak onto him. Cliff fumbled with it for a moment and then stood up. "What is going on?" Cliff asked looking at Valkin who shrugged. "You idiot. Your taking me back to the shrine now." Albel demanded. Cliff raised a brow.

"Pardon?" Cliff asked.

"Don't make me repeat myself I'm not in the mood." Albel snapped.

"Since when do I take orders from you?" Cliff asked crossing his arms.

"Since now you maggot." Albel glared holding his claw up in front of him as a warning.

Cliff sighed and pulled the cloak over himself. "Who will stay with the girls?" He asked calmly. Albel reached behind him and gripped Valkin's shoulder and tossed him onto the floor in front of Cliff with his clawed arm. Valkin bit his bottom lip and held his now bloody shoulder. Cliff looked down at him for a while then to Albel again. "You sure he can protect them if something bad happens." Cliff asked walking by Valkin towards the door. Albel stared at him then poked him in the chest with his claw. "If his sister can take down one of those Destroyer's so can he." Albel then turned and stormed out. Cliff looked over his shoulder to Valkin who was still sitting on the floor and smiled. "He didn't mean to hurt you I'm sure. Take care of Nel?" Cliff asked. Valkin nodded sadly and pulled himself to his feet. Cliff turned to him slowly and patted him on his good shoulder. "Thanks kid. You take care of yourself you hear?" Cliff gave him one last reassuring smile and followed Albel.

"Move your ass you big oaf!" Albel yelled.

"All right I'm coming you overbearing jackass and don't yell people are trying to sleep" Cliff retorted softly.

"I'll yell if I feel like it. Now move worm!" Albel said shoving Cliff out the door forcefully.

Valkin followed them and stood in the doorway. The cold wind whipped at his skin and blew through his hair. Albel and Cliff both mounted horses and rod off into the night. As they rode the weather seemed to become more fierce and had started to play mind tricks on them both. But as soon as the reached the desert they we're plagued with severe heat. Cliff slowed his horse and looked up at the sun drops of sweat falling from his face. Cliff slowly looked over to Albel who had covered himself in a turban. Cliff continued to stare unable to tell if it was a good time to ask any questions. Albel had been watching him out of the corner of his unharmed eye. "What fool?" Albel snapped. Cliff jumped a little and looked back to the dunes in front of him. "What are we doing here?" He asked. Albel tried to ignore his question but knew Cliff wouldn't stop until he got a straight answer. "I need to talk with the Seer." Albel replied softly. Cliff stared at him in shock. "There's a Seer in the dunes?" He asked stopping his horse.

Albel pulled the reigns on his horse as well and jumped off into the sand. He walked over to the rock where he and Elvy had both seen something and tried to recreate every move she made in his head. Clif.f came up behind him and looked around slowly. Albel you pathetic fool, just walk forward and three steps to the left. Albel opened his eye staring in front of him hearing the soft voice in his head. Albel walked forward and three steps to the left and stopped. Cliff walked past him and fell down the hole. Cliff screamed and hit the stone floor with a loud thump. Albel walked to the hole and stared down it with a brow raised and then jumped down lightly. Cliff was still on his ass by the time Albel landed next to him. "Damn…why didn't you warn me?" Cliff asked pulling himself up. Albel smirked and ignored him. He walked slowly up to the stone slab that was the prophecy.

"Well? Where are you Seer?" Albel asked staring at the slab intently. Cliff raised a brow at him. "Albel it's a piece of stone. It can't talk to you." Cliff said. Albel glared a swung his claws at him slashing him across the chest. Cliff jumped back and returned the glare. Honestly…I won't have fighting in my temple now calm down both of you. Magus said appearing in front of the prophecy. Cliff jumped about a mile and fell onto his ass again. Magus looked blankly at him then to Albel. Hello Albel and Cliff of course. He said calmly sitting in the air and resting his chin on his palm. How can I help you? He asked. "He's not even talking…" Cliff muttered crawling away slightly. "Of course not you idiot he's dead." Albel snapped kicking him in the stomach and stepping over him. How nice of you to announce it so freely like that. Magus muttered his blank expression changing slightly. "Where is she?" Albel demanded looking up at the Seer. Magus stared down at him for a moment then moved to an upside down position. You know where she is. You've been there many times before when someone was alive. Magus replied shortly and returned to the upright position. "Don't give me your riddles you maggot! I want a straight answer!" Albel yelled pulling the Crimson Scourge. Magus exploded into laughter and himself back against the stonewall. Albel do you honestly think you can harm me when like you said am dead? Magus asked tilting his head to the side. Albel sneered and sheathed his sword slowly and waited for his answer. Cliff walked slowly up to Magus staring up at him intently. Magus sunk down to Cliffs level and stared straight at him.

Cliff took a few steps back. Did you find what you were looking for Cliff? Magus asked raising a brow. Or do you find me amusing because of my state? Magus asked glaring a bit. Cliff shook his head honestly and stood straight. Magus smiled softly and turned away from him. Cliff your going to get what you want very soon. Just be patient. Magus reassured him and smiled a little more lively like. Albel growled a bit as to get Magus' attention back. Albel where did you obtain your fathers sword? Magus asked not looking at him. Albel stared at him blankly for a moment. "Airyglyph's treasure chamber." He replied. Magus then fell against the Prophecy slab. I have nothing more to tell you. He said sinking back into it. Albel turned walking back to the single beam of light. "Get moving Fittir!" He snapped over his shoulder and leapt back though the hole. By the time Cliff had gotten out of the hole Albel had already mounted his horse. "Don't tell me your going to Airyglyph." Cliff said. "There's no way your stopping me. Go back to the others I'll meet back up with you later." Albel said. "Hell no! I'm not going to let you run into a trap!" Cliff snapped jumping onto his horse. "I'm going weather you like it or not." Cliff demanded. Albel sneered at him and messed with the bandages that covered his eye. "Fine. Don't come running to me when you get killed." Albel snapped and slapped the reigns. Cliff smirked and did the same. Together they both rode off in to the distance while another presents watched from a near by palm tree and soon took off after them.

"Sooooo how do we get in? There's like millions of guards around…and they all look strange." Cliff said as he examined the area around the Airyglyph with a pair of binoculars. Albel snagged them from Cliff and peered through them. The guards were dressed in strange armor not like any of the brigades either they were also carrying strange weapons with them. "Hey those look like phase weapons…" Cliff said. Albel glanced at him. "You mean those things like what those fish people shot me with?" Albel asked. "Yeah but they are a little different and those aren't Vendeen soldiers…" Cliff replied. "I wonder if they belong to Luther…" Cliff muttered. Albel scowled. "That man doesn't need guards incase you hadn't noticed he's got gods to protect his bony ass." Albel snapped. Cliff reframed from laughing as to not catch any of the guard's attention. "Who taut you that line?" Cliff asked pulling himself up to his knees. "Hmph." Albel replied and stood up and pulled his sword. "What are you doing?" Cliff asked. "Clearing a path." Albel replied and leapt down behind one of the guards. Albel grabbed him from behind and slit his throat. The guard twitched in Albel's arms and then fell to the ground. Cliff jumped down seconds later and gave Albel a disgusted look. "Your sick." He muttered. Albel smirked evilly and glided forward. "Vampiric Flash!" Albel shouted and a black void appeared beneath the group of soldiers in his way and they all fell to the ground.

"Sir!" One of the soldiers called running up to Elvy's capturer. He turned to him slowly. "What is it?" He asked. "It's the girl." The solider replied. "What about her?" The man asked. The soldier fiddled around with his helmet a bit. "Well answer me!" The man demanded. The soldier jerked forward and fell to his knees blood poured from his throat before he fell onto his side dead. The man stared down at him then felt the cold blade of a sword at his own throat. Albel glared at him and pushed the blade closer cutting the mans neck slightly. "So you are still alive Vox. Where is she?" Albel demanded. Vox smiled at Albel. "Hello to you too Nox. Hm looks like you lost another body part. But as of now I'm not sure where the woman has gotten to." Vox replied with a smirk. "She is a thief so naturally I couldn't keep her locked up for long." He added reaching for his own sword slowly. "Don't even think about it." Albel snapped shoving Vox into the wall. "I'll go find her." Cliff said turning towards the dungeon. "No Cliff I'm going to be the one who finds her." Albel ordered. Vox then pulled his sword and leapt at Albel. "Albel look out!" Cliff yelled. Albel dodged lightly to the side and pushed his back against the wall. "Clever." Vox said jumping at Albel again. Albel slid across the wall at the last second causing Vox's sword to get caught in the stone. Albel turned and bee lined for the dungeon grabbing Cliff on the way there.

Albel tossed Cliff down the stairs and slammed the door shut behind him. Cliff stood up from where he landed and looked around. There were fragments of chains everywhere on the floor while a little bit was still intact and still connected to the wall. The floor was also scattered with soldiers, all of whom had their throats slit. Cliff stared at them wide-eyed and then looked at Albel in disbelief when he descended the stairs. Albel looked around at the bodies and couldn't help but smile. "Just makes you wonder doesn't it?" He asked Cliff ominously and followed the corpses down the hall. Cliff shivered and ran after Albel. "Remind me to never piss her off." Cliff muttered.

"Sir Vox. We've blocked the exit to the aqueducts and the entrance to the dungeon. There is no place for them to go." One of the soldiers reported. Vox smirked and patted the soldier on the shoulder. "Good. Now lets smoke them out shall we?"

"Are you sure she is down here still?" Cliff asked looking around at the carnage. Albel ignored him and stopped abruptly hearing soft footsteps. Cliff stopped as well looking around slowly. Albel then spun around in a karate kicking motion and knocked someone out of the shadows. That person instinctively blocked Albel's leg with his or her forearm and grabbed him by the shoulder and flipped him onto his back. Cliff jumped back with his fists raised. Albel found two blades at his throat the next minuet. Albel smirked staring up into his attackers eyes. "It looks like you didn't need my help." He said. "Do you mind Elvira?" Albel asked reaching upward moving Elvy's bangs out of her eyes. She stared down at him in surprise for a moment then stood up replacing the rapiers to their holsters (She found them on one of the guards). Albel stood up rubbing the back of his neck then glared at her. "Idiot. What kind of a thief gets herself caught by scum like that?" Albel snapped. Elvy crossed her arms in front of herself and looked away. "In case you haven't noticed a scrawny girl like me had a small chance of fighting off some scum like that especially when he snuck up on me." Elvy snapped back. "And yet you can knock me on my ass. Just admit it you wanted me to come save you." Albel replied looking smug. Cliff sighed. "Look you two stop flirting and let's get outta here. Who knows what lives down here now." Cliff said getting between the two.

Albel pushed by Cliff and circled Elvy slowly examining her. She watched him closely as he did so. "What you vulture?" She asked. "You don't look fatally hurt…he didn't touch you in any inappropriate way did he?" Albel asked facing her. Elvy stared at him for a moment. "No." She merely said. Albel then noticed the bruise on top of her thigh and glared. "That's a strange spot for a bruise." Albel said looking back to her. Elvy looked down at her leg and shrugged. "I guess that would happen when you end up kicking nothing but armor each time he got to close." She said and Albel narrowed his eyes "Creep…" He muttered under his breath. Albel turned away from her staring down the dark maze of stone. Albel closed his eyes for a moment then reopened them to find himself looking into Valkin's eyes. Albel jumped back and pulled the Crimson Scourge. Valkin smirked and let himself fall from the rafters. "What the hell are you doing here you damn idiot!" Albel screamed. Valkin quickly stepped forward and covered Albel's mouth. Albel's eyes widen and he instinctively bit Valkin's hand. Valkin suppress a yelp and yanked his hand away. "Albel!" Elvy snapped walking to her brother and examining his hand. Cliff stared at Albel strangely. "What are you looking at fool!" Albel snapped turning his back to all of them. "I was going to say that the aqueducts and the entrance to the dungeon have been blocked off. There's no way out of here." Valkin muttered and wrapped his arms around his sister for a moment.

Albel sneered and kicked the wall and screamed out loud. The sound of clanking armor echoed down either hall around them and various yells. "Great. I don't think we can take them all on like this." Cliff said punching his own palm. "Wait. I know a way out." Elvy said walking over to the wall and pressing her ear against it. Albel raised a brow. Elvy motioned for Valkin to join her. She whispered something in his ear causing him to smile. "Gotcha." He replied. "Everyone take cover." Valkin added holding his hand to the wall. Albel, Cliff, and Elvy all went around the corner. Valkin's hand glew a faint green and the wall gave away with a loud bang that shook the entire dungeon. The shouts of the soldiers had intensified and were growing louder. "C'mon guys!" Valkin yelled over his shoulder and jumped out of the hole and down into the deep canyon below. Cliff followed seconds later and disappeared into the rising fog. Elvy stared down into the canyon. Albel stood next to her watching the hallway carefully. "Why did you come after me?" Elvy asked. Albel stared blankly down the hall then turned to her. "That's for me to know and you to find out." Albel said.

"Hey you two coming or not?" Cliff shouted into the fog. "C'mon you fool." Albel said grabbing Elvy by her arm and jumping off the wall. The fog parted as they fell revealing Cliff and Valkin standing on some rather sharp looking rocks. Valkin jumped up and grabbed Albel in his arms while Cliff embraced Elvy. Cliff landed noisily on his feet while Valkin stumbled a bit and fell to one knee from the extra weight. Albel wriggled away from Valkin seconds later looking annoyed. "Hey you feel a little bigger then last time I hugged you." Cliff said. Elvy and Albel both glared and hit him simultaneously. Valkin looked away finding it to painful to watch.

Valkin began stepping on certain stones in a circle watching the sky. Albel raised a brow and looked at Elvy. "What is your crazy brother doing?" Albel asked. Elvy watched her brother closely. "He's getting us out of here." She replied. Cliff looked from all three of them. "That's strange considering we aren't moving." He said. Valkin then stopped abruptly and pointed a certain way. "There's our safest path. Lets go!" Valkin then continued jumping from rock to rock in a diagonal pattern deeper into the canyon. "Where are we going?" Albel demanded about three hours into the walk. "You'll see." Elvy replied.

They continued to walk for three days straight through the thickening snow that had now turned to blocks of ice that had frozen animals and demons stuck in them. Albel and Cliff were both given Valkin and Elvy's coats that were made from a fire cat's fur. It kept them both perfectly warm though it was fifty below now. Cliff was nodding off while still walking and Albel could feel his body screaming at him to stop and lay down. But he kept following the twins. As the sun was setting they both stopped, Cliff ran into Valkin and Albel nearly fell over from overexertion. Valkin was holding Cliff up and slapping him back to reality. It must have dropped another twenty degrees Albel thought since the cold was starting to penetrate the coat. Elvy turned to him rubbing his arms to keep him warm. "Are you ok?" she asked. Albel nodded slowly after registering everything that had happened. Elvy and Valkin then lead them to a huge uninviting towering gate made of a black metal. Albel stared through the gate and into the gloomy town within. There were people wandering around like they would any normal town while heavily dressed in fur. Through the fog a huge castle could be slightly seen, it looked more uninviting then the town itself. The guards that stood outside it made it even worse. Albel grabbed Elvy by her arm and pulled her off to the side. "Where are we?" He asked. Elvy looked down to the ground for a moment then back to Albel. "Home."

Yes I took way too long. Priestess you can stop complaining now! Anyway minor notes to tell you all. This story isn't crossed over with anything at all. After I made Magus to be a part of the story my mind kept saying name him Magus so yeah I did so and I decided to use a similar design so the only difference is his eyes are blank his hair is about Sesshomaru's length maybe longer and he has bangs in his face and his outfit is different I have a pic of him I could show just ask for the link to it if anyone is interested. Ok now I think I told you already but Valkin's hair is past his bum as Elvy's is to her mid back and I bet you were all hoping she was dead? I know how you all think…and is it just me or do I have a habit of using relevant a lot? I think I do…I don't even know why I use that word…oh well reviews and I'll update sooner then this time.

Efra