Disclaimer: I don't own Esca, only my characters, the others are property of those who own them. So, now Bob the Lawyer is happy.
Author's Notes: Yay! Chapter eighteen! Read!
Sisters till the End
This is dedicated to Pablo/Cecil because he is such an awesome writer and he has inspired me to go farther. Thank you Pablo/Cecil for your awesome story and your awesome talent!
Chapter Eighteen: Deals with the Devil"You've got to be kidding me," Kat said, staring at Coran disbelievingly. Coran simply offered her a charming smile and leaned back against a tree. "The charming Zorya has offered her information, free of charge, and guess what? It's unbelievingly true!" He said in a commercial like voice.
Kat folded her arms across her chest and smiled. No matter how hard she tried she could never resist Coran's charm. He was funny and awfully perverted yet innocent, and except for those major unpredictable mood swings, he was such a match for her. I wonder when this is over… She stopped herself. Wait, she was trying to ask Coran out? Forget that, she was planning on asking him out. Since when had she decided this? When had she even decided that she liked him? Trying to hide her disappointment, her confusion-hell, everything-she told Coran to head back to the cabin because she needed to contact Alex and Nicole. She needed to think, alone, was more of the message.
Once he was gone, she sat down and buried her head in her hands. Wasn't she loyal to Dilandau? Didn't she love him? His changes and isolation of her had thrown her off a little but she still loved him and would still do any thing for him. Why was she now looking at Coran as a potential boyfriend?
Like a dark cloud overcastting a sunny day, Kat's self-assurance that she was doing the right thing disappeared. She felt empty and isolated herself now. Anger and disgust boiled in her stomach and fought to get free and spill across the grass, a fresh reminder of her betraying thoughts. Had just being away from Dilandau brought about these ideas and feelings?
"I am still loyal," she muttered to herself, trying desperately to regain her confidence. "They're just hormones, stupid hormones; nothing to get freaked out about. Just remember, you love him and you're married to him." Standing up, she caught sight of her ring. All movements and thoughts were lost as she looked at the small thing.
She had been so delighted when Dilandau had asked her to marry him, so proud, and so happy. For once in her life she thought that the spell of bad luck and hurting had been broken and she was gazing upon her knight in shinning armor. When they were wed and things went bad, she sustained herself by using her powers to feel his emotions. After being in that white void for so long and losing Nicole and Alex, she was sure she would die alone. Yet the thought and power of Dilandau's love for her had kept her going until finally she was able to bring herself back into his arms.
Could she still do that now? Could she still bring herself back into his arms-into his love? Or had things been bad forever and she just hadn't noticed it? The ring she wore was a symbol of her commitment and promise to Dilandau. He had abandoned his long ago but she still wore hers. The question of why rose up in her and she suddenly questioned not her self-confidence in her actions but of her motives behind them.
Dilandau had given up on her and here she was still fighting for him. He had shut the door and locked it and she was still standing outside pounding on it. Was she to keep this up forever? To always be fighting for him? Was her knight in shinning armor instead a demon in disguise?
Questions boiled up in her and tears starting to spring unwillingly form her eyes. He had caused her more hurt in this year then in her whole life. Was she to give up on him? Was she to shut the door to him? In all honesty she had no idea. Had her motives been right or was this just some stupid hope she was chasing?
Gently sliding the ring from her finger, she gazed at it under the moonlight of the cloudless night. The gold band shimmered gently while the white rock, polished to perfection, glowed like a small little star. It was the pure essence of beauty. She stared at it as tears rolled down her cheeks, wondering, debating, and wishing for an answer. Inside she wanted to throw the ring as far away from her as she could but something deeper, something more real, something that had guided her in all fear and happiness, told her to keep it. That it would be the only thing to save herself from the storm.
Obeying, Kat slipped the ring back on and turned. She had a plan now and she had to act on it, whether or not she cared. Reaching out with her mind, she felt Nicole and Alex's mind and focused on their image until she could hear their thoughts. It's been a long time since we heard from you! Alex said, sensing Kat within her head.
I know, Kat replied. Nicole said nothing and Kat knew that it was because of their previous encounter. Personally, she was surprised that she hadn't told Alex about what happened. But I didn't contact you guys for gossip. I've got a plan and I want to warn you so you don't freak out.
That's a first, Nicole said.
Kat ignored the remark. Look, Coran and I found out that Zaibach has captured Scott and Zorya was there. Zorya escaped and Coran sort of captured her and got this information. He let her go so we don't know where she is now. Anyway, we're planning on invading the Vione. We're going to make a deal with Dilandau.
You're coming home? That's great! Alex said.
Yeah, we've missed you around here. I'm happy that you finally came to your senses you stubborn girl! Nicole said and Kat could hear the happiness in her voice.
Yup, so, do not tell any one. We'll try to get in sometime within the week, okay?
All right.
You got it.
So until then, I'll see you guys.
With that Kat withdrew her mind, letting the pictures of Alex and Nicole disappear into her mind. She had to tell Coran of this plan and they had to get ready. They had a deal with the devil to make.
Puck sighed and looked at Naru as she prepped her horse. "So, Lord Tandor really wants us to go through with this?" She questioned. The orders were still so new and she was still trying to get used to the idea that they would be going on the offensive instead of the defensive.
Naru patted her horse and nodded. "Yes. He wants Scott back in our control, now. So we're going to invade the Vione and get him back," she said, the zest in her voice unmistakable. She was excited about this. "What if we fail?" Era asked, jumping up on her stead. Naru looked at her with a determined look. "We're not going to fail," she said as she led her horse out of the base.
"You scared?" Coran whispered in Kat's ear, bringing her out of her trance. She had been concentrating on what she would do in the face of her husband. To stand tall and start off on the offensive or play smart and tricky, make him think all sorts of things. Keep him confused and in the dark. "Of course not," she muttered back. "That would be a flaw in my character."
"And you are nothing but flawless," Coran sneered. Kat rolled her eyes. They were standing in the all too familiar Throne Room of Dilandau. Every thing was the same and it brought back memories to Kat. Besides her stood Nicole and Alex, behind them the Dragon Slayers, the Star Dragons and Kalirice strangely gone. Part of Kat was thankful of that-it would give them a better chance of getting Dilandau to agree-but the other part of her really wanted her here, defeat her on her own grounds. However, her latter part was thoroughly disappointed.
Just then Dilandau entered with, in Kat's opinion, what could've been his twin. A tall, slim man entered behind him with shocking white hair like Dilandau's and sharp green eyes. His skin was extremely pale as though he had never seen the sun before and there were burn marks, old and faded, on his hands, but still very visible. That's Dilandau's assassin, Shadow, came Nicole's voice inside Kat's head. She shifted her eyes over to her friend as a sign that she heard. No one knew whether or not the assassin had telepathic abilities or not.
As Dilandau sat down in his throne, he gazed upon the group with sadistic eyes. "Ah, Kat, my beloved wife," he said, sarcasm coating his voice. "I'm surprised to see you back here after I threw you out."
Anger flared up in her and she took a step forward, wanting so bad to just rip his face off, but her movement was hampered. Surprise took over as she looked down to see that Coran had put his arm out, stopping her. What? What is he doing? She wondered. "Threw her out, Dilandau? Honestly, you think that this woman would let you throw her out?" Coran laughed. "You must really need an ego rush."
Kat smirked at the look on Dilandau's face. Coran one, Dilandau zero, she thought to herself. "We're not here to trade insults, Dilandau," she said, stepping around Coran's arm and walking up so she stood closer to the throne. Noticing that Shadow went on edge she stopped and looked into Dilandau's eyes. "We're here to make a deal that will interest you."
This caught Dilandau's interest for he sat up a little. "What sort of deal?" He growled. Kat could feel Coran smiling behind her. They were thinking like one now. "We'll bring you the one person that can insure your plans to rule Gaea," she said, leaning back on her heels. "Guaranteed."
Dilandau quirked his eyebrow and Kat knew that Nicole and Alex were wondering what was going on. Time to drop the bomb, she thought. "We'll bring you Zorya Aradia Belok."
Silence insured for a few seconds and normally people would've been afraid. Silence assured your death in the presence of Dilandau, especially when it came from him, but Kat knew what she was going to do and how she was going to play this game. A peel of small laughter from Dilandau finally broke the silence, shattering it like glass hitting the ground, and growing in volume with every second. Coran stepped up to Kat and put his arm on her shoulder, leaning on her, looking cocky. "I wouldn't be laughing Dilandau," he called over Dilandau's laughter. "Because you'll look like not only an idiot but a laughing idiot if you don't accept our offer."
Whether it was Coran's words or his movement, Kat didn't know. But either way it caught Dilandau's attention and he stopped laughing, standing up and making him draw his sword. "And why should I believe what a couple of runts have to say?" He sneered, pointing his sword at Coran as he slowly descended the stairs towards them.
Now it was Kat's turn. "Because Zorya Aradia Belok is the only thing that can control the Second."
You could feel the shock go through the room. It was priceless and inside Kat was grinning like a monkey. The look on Dilandau's face and the feeling in the air of shock was worth whatever they were about to get into. "So, what's the word, Dilandau?" Coran asked.
"Tell her we'll agree, Era," Naru said, looking at the girl. Era nodded and closed her eyes. "Are you sure this is wise?" Puck asked her commander. This deal was insane! "You saw the way Scott reacted to your image of Zorya," Naru said bitterly. "We have to concentrate on getting Scott so we cannot be chasing around some stupid girl. We'll have to let the Dark Protector do it for us."
"She says to keep going and get Scott. By the time we get him she'll have Zorya for us," Era said suddenly, opening her eyes and dropping her hands to her sides. Naru nodded. "Very good, let's go."
"You sure this is wise?" Coran asked. "We just made the same deal with two different people."
Kat grinned. "Isn't it great?"
"Well, yeah, but why?"
"We want Scott. We've tried getting him but we've had little luck. So, we have two people who also want him and one who actually has him. The other is going to get him. Tell me how three people want one thing and only one person ends up getting it, in front of the others."
"Negotiations?"
"Nope. Double crossing is the correct answer."
"So we're going to double cross these people and then grab Scott?"
"While the other two are fighting over him we slip in and grab him."
"I like it."
"As do I."
"A plan worthy of my involvement."
"I thought you'd say that."
Author's Note: All right, so we got Kat and Coran double-crossing two sides? Ooh, what trouble they could get into! Oh, I forgot when I last put up the character profiles so I'm doing them again in this chapter. Other then that review please!
~The Shadow That Takes Form as a Kat~
~~ShadowKat~~
ZAIBACH:
LIGHTNING WOLF = Anika (Powers: Can heal, can speak to animals, has powers of water, fire, storm, and magic [destructive or helpful])
SCONEBOY = Philomel (Powers: Healing small wounds, can throw things with amazing agility and precision)
RYDIA THE GODDESS = Yumi (Powers: Fire)
SHADOW ANGEL = Kalirice Zavik (Powers: None)
FANELIA:
SMOKEGIRL: Riel HeartSeeker (Powers: Immune to magic, can sense when Hitomi is in danger)
JAPANIMEJO: Valkerie (Powers: Spell casting, bow & arrow)
WEASELGIRL: Issa (Powers: )
THEO GABRIELLE: Solaris (Powers: Advanced agility, dragon speaker, sunlight)
DARK STARS:
NEITHAN02: Tandor (Powers: Super sonic voice)
CHICHIRUI: Naru (Powers: Transportation)
JEWLS: Era Syminiack (Powers: Telepath/Telekinetic)
DUO MISFIT: Puck Tal (Powers: Empathic Telepath)
ASSASSINS:
KAY NOEL: Gwyn (Powers: Levitation/slight Teleportation, Earth)
SHADOW ANGEL: Zorya Aradia Belok (Powers: None)
MAGICMAN: Coran Duskblade (Powers: None)
ALLY: Chase (Powers: None)
THUNDER SENSHI: Morwyn (Powers: None)
ATARI: Shadow (Powers: Thunder)