Disclaimer: I own the Queen, the Princes, the maiden, the description of the dragon, the dragon's father, and the whole idea of this story.
A/N: Nothing much to say here, except: DAMN THIS WAS A FAST UPDATE! But other then that I'm still recovering from the pain from the earlier chapter, I'm just glad they're all too busy getting ready for the next scene to hurt me any more. However, don't fret, you're precious author is safe and sound … for now until she finds a way to keep from becoming Dragon Soup.
… and I have just the perfect idea … (laughs manically)
Enjoy, I got evil to conjure. (mutters insanely to herself)
--
You Never Knew
"It's funny … the way some stories through out the ages end … to me, since I've read so many books … it becomes easy to pick up on how a story will end without even cheating and having to flip to the last chapter. Though I must say … the clichéd endings of the hero's winning out over evil … becomes … dull if you've read the many books I have …" a lopsided grin came to his face as his eyes sparkled with amusement. Leaning against the doorframe that leads out to the large oversized balcony that looked over the courtyard, he glanced back at the woman sitting in her chair. Staring at the ground, clenching her fists so tight he could smell blood being drawn. He chuckled, "The beginning … to me, is the one that gives away the ending. Wouldn't you agree?"
She said nothing … what could she say to the demon that whispered sweet words of blood into her ear and told her what to do and how to do it every day. How it started … when it began … how it will end … she never knew. All she knew was it was all because of him that she had to go to such extreme lengths, "…"
"Oh come now, you were once so talkative … why so silent all of a sudden?"
"…" still not saying a single thing, she just closed her eyes when she felt the burn of tears starting to come. Back hunched her cut hands shot up to cup her face when she couldn't hold it. Tears … regret … sadness … sorrow … it was all so much her heart could stand! Why did it have to happen? Why did she have to listen? What possessed her to even think of doing such horrible things? Why … why … why! Why did I all have to be so damn difficult to understand … to forget … to take … to even believe!
It couldn't end like this … it shouldn't!
She lived in a land of fairytales … where everything should end in a happy ending.
So where was hers?
What made her so special that she had to be cursed with such a black heart of weakness that even a demon of hell could waltz with her with out so much as a struggle? How come … why? All these questions and no answers … it wasn't fair, it all wasn't fair! Shoulders shaking, breathing chocked and tears coming down harder, it was all she could take … her heart was just too heavy, it just wasn't FAIR!
"Crying?" him again … always him, his voice, his hellfire song … playing forever onto eternity. What did he have left to loose? He was a cursed creature that went to extremes in order to stay alive! Even sharing a heart with a demon of hell … it was sickening! So why did she listen to him every time? "Islasmursa … what good is crying when it's all done and over with … you gave the order … the drows just followed through … enough tears. It's useless."
"… Then why … does it hurt so much …?" Islasmursa … the Queen of the proud elves stuttered and sobbed uncontrollably, shaking so bad she looked ready to pass out at any moment. A sudden nauseating feeling flew over her stomach, her head floating as it spun dizzily, the room becoming blurred and black in flashes of hot white light. It hurt … it all hurt … she couldn't hold it, she couldn't stand it, and shock wasn't something that was taken lightly … reality was sinking in.
Her son … her blood … her boy was gone!
All because of … because of … him … it couldn't be her, no, never … now she knew! It could never be her! She could never find the heart, the courage to do something so horrifically heartless it was unthinkable! It was his fault! Looking up, face slightly smeared by her own bloodied hands, the Queen stood up and screamed in a fit of rage. Her own aura becoming powerful weapons as she rushed the demon!
All he did was grin sinisterly, time slowing to a crawl as he chuckled, "A loss can sometimes be too much for the soul to take … especially when realization hits … you can never turn back time. So I guess, the only solution to a broken heart … is to forget … would you like that? Islasmursa?"
"Bastard!"
"I'll take that as a yes …" she came close, so close he could feel the raw power of her aura cutting/burning through his flesh … he should be dead … but the sad fact was … he was faster. Hand thrust out and catching her forehead, he pushed up and slammed her to the ground, knocking her aura swords into submission as he chanted and took away all feeling from her heart. All feelings of love, happiness, regret, pain, sadness, and joy for a son that he'd make her feel she never had.
In a single flash of white light … it was done … and Islasmursa was lying on the ground, knocked out and spent from the power of the spell. While the demon just smiled and laughed quietly to himself as he got to his feet, dusting his arms and shoulders he walked back to the balcony to watch the blood-red sun fall, "Emotions … they're overrated."
--
Malchior opened his eyes and glared at the ground … thinking, hands to the buttons on the shirt that he had chosen as his new attire. Just on the second to the last button up he stopped to leave the remanding two open and leaned against the rock wall. Moving his eyes to the water he walked up to it and crouched to look into his reflection, reaching a hand out he waved it over the water and watched it ripple.
The images of the strange vision he had just seen covering over his reflection and showing him faintly what he had seen as a play back. Meaning … what he had seen wasn't a dream or an overreacting imagination … he was witnessing the past. Why he was chosen to see it was a mystery … though deciding whether he should tell the other's or not was now becoming a problem.
Because as he looked around the cavern to notice Raven sitting next to Kenneth on a rock shelf meditating (though he knew it was just another excuse to keep her from looking his way). The question Rorek had earlier stated still boiling in his head … just seeing her next to the human was beginning to anger him, though he refused to show it bothered him. Why should he be bothered? He was just a human right? Raven would never look at a human in any way more then an ally right?
Well she's not showing you any interest either, fool, Malchior thought to himself, but shook it away, stupid conscious.
In other words he couldn't really talk to Raven, Kenneth, or Rorek about his vision when every time he looked at Raven and Kenneth together it was bugging the hell out of him. Inner instinct was kicking in and it was telling him to serious slaughter that damned human who was currently trying to push away the silly white nightstalker away as he fiddled with the cheap dagger he actually bought.
Malchior growled and looked away, it was pathetic the way he was acting! Getting all worked up just because Kenneth was sitting next to her wasn't something that was a very mature thing to do. Rolling his eyes and shaking his head and scoffed and walked towards the exit of the cavern to see what it was that Rorek was doing. Considering the fact the wizard hadn't returned in awhile.
However … just as he was about to step out, Rorek swung himself back in nearly tackling Malchior to the ground, the dragon dodged and snarled warningly, "Next time warn you're entrance! You nearly hit him!"
"SHH!" Rorek shot, offended Malchior opened his mouth to retaliate, but shut-up when Rorek said, "We're being searched, I just discovered a flock of scyjah heading this way, probably from the Light City since the Underground City was further to the south. We have to move."
Raven awoke from her meditation to give Rorek an odd look, "If scyjahs are coming this way, shouldn't we just stay here?"
Rorek shook his head, "No, we've been here too long, and we're in a group, they'll smell us and our power levels will be detected, we have to move."
X stood on his feet forgetting about Francesca as she scampered up onto his shoulder, getting use to her antics as she jumped atop his head and looked on in interest, "Wait, what the hell's a scyjah?"
"A giant owl looking thing," Raven answered quickly as she jumped off the rock shelf, fixing the long bell-sleeved velvet blue laced blouse and the black dress pants with her belt still hanging to her left side she chose to wear. Cape of course still clasped around her neck she refused to even make a little bit of eye contact with Malchior as she glanced to Rorek, "but if we leave here where will we go? They can still fly."
Rorek sighed, "Yes, but if we don't leave their nightstalkers will still find us. Get it?"
X glanced to Francesca and pointed, "We got a nightstalker? Can't she take them?"
"Not a full blown miniaturized army," Malchior noted lifting his head up and sniffing the air, just now noticing what Rorek was saying, though he didn't like the fact that they were stalking down wind. Too smart and too close now that he caught their scent, "as much as I hate to say it, Rorek's right, we have to leave or you're all through."
"Then why are we standing here talking about it?" Rorek scowled and went to the exit, turning the exit he ordered: "Malchior, torch our belongings, you know the drill."
The dragon growled, "And since when have I ever started to listen to you?"
"Just do it!" Raven snapped agitated as she jumped out the exit after Rorek leaving Malchior in confusion about what to do. She spoke to him … but she shouted … should he be glad or irritated? Shaking his head when X followed the two, Malchior sighed and turned to all the belongs that the three have ditched, noticing that Kenneth had also left the Red-X battle suite, though excluding his belt. Malchior shook his head and created a circle with his finger, a ring of fire produced and thrusting his finger through the center. He watched as a fireball was released and all the things that have once been were brunt to memory.
A job well done, Malchior raced out the cavern and pushed his wings out, jumping into the air to following after Rorek who lead the way of Raven and X towards the forest. Malchior glared suspiciously at the wizard, "Rorek! What in all the seven hells do you think you're doing? You said nightstalkers are after us, the forest is just as hazardous as the open field!"
"You got a better idea?" Rorek shot back challengingly and Malchior shut-up as soon as he found he couldn't say anything that made sense to counter the wizard. Pushing forward, Malchior broke into a right bank to dive towards the field, gliding over the grass just next to Raven. The sorceress pressed herself faster to get away from the dragon that dared to even come close to her. Malchior let her and maneuvered himself higher in order to keep an eye out for the scyjah while the other three made a break for the forest.
Wings beating rhythmically, Malchior closed his eyes and sighed, the creatures were still a ways away, and meaning the four of them still had time to escape without so much effort. Turning to catch up, Malchior jerked back when three Shadow Dragon followers of his father hovered in front of him. Two female and one male, the male in the middle sneering at Malchior, "Don't fret your silly head hatchling, we're not here to harm you or your friends."
"No …" the female to Malchior's left purred, "… but at least we hope it won't hurt much."
"I already beat my father," Malchior growled, eyes tinting pink as his anger rose uncontrollably, what the hell were the Shadow Dragons doing back and only a hand full. Where was his father … Malchior didn't like where this was going, "so none of you are getting to either of them without going through me first."
The drake shrugged, "Either order doesn't matter, we were sent here to kill you all …"
Malchior flipped and dove towards the ground when the drake swiped his claws towards his face, still falling the two females on either side of him sent out a flurry of hand-to-hand attacks. With little too no effort Malchior dodged/blocked/countered their moves, compared to his father they were nothing! Breaking away, Malchior twirled and flew over the grass ground and back into the skies.
Right palm spread wide open to collect as much of his aura he could, turning around, flying backwards Malchior launched his enchantment to the three older dragons that had their on energies waiting. Dodging his attack they flung theirs and Malchior was forced to fly higher to dodge them all. The explosion as the three combined attacks hit he ground rocked the land.
X being further from Rorek and Raven stopped and turned to see what was going on, noticing that Malchior was no where to be seen around the forest. The thief ran back out and skidded to a halt at the edge of the field, Malchior was in trouble that much he concluded. Scowling, X had to make a quite deicision of whether or not to help or run back to Rorek and Raven to get help. Because there was no way he was getting in the middle of that.
Teeth clenched X glared at the fight, Shit! If they weren't the frickin' Shadow Dragons Rorek mentioned I'd maybe help out a bit … but I don't stand a chance against those things!
"Mew!" Francesca mewed on his neck, X looked down and almost forgotten the thing had found refuge in his new black shirt heading popping out she seemed to smile and mewed again, "Mew!"
X sweat-dropped, "This is stupid … I'm talking to a damn animal … wh-what are trying to say?"
"Meeewww!" she mewed longer and louder, crawling out of his shirt and resting at his shoulder blades, X gasped when he felt her claws suddenly dig in his back.
"What the fuck!" reaching back to rip her off, X hissed when his hand was deflected and the shock of the magic surged through his arm. "Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing back there?"
X cringed when he suddenly felt a heavy weight added to his back, and something alien slither not only into his back and sent shivers up and down his spinal cords. But something connected into his head … another being. Like the moments when Raven, Rorek, or Malchior tried to contact him through the mind, but this time it was a bit more extreme. After the weird ness vanished, X looked back to Francesca and nearly screamed when he saw giant white-feathered wings stretched out and gently coming down to slump on the ground.
Spinning around to try and see if he could see what Francesca looked like, the wings moved with him and before he knew it they jerked up and lifted up high into air. Fluttering, and the alien in his mind was telling him things … what to do … what he felt he should do … and not sure if it was smart to listen. X crouched and then with a grunt jumped as high as the alien in his head told him to.
The white-feathered wings beat once, then twice, and X could feel it working, as if it was a part of him. Beating harder and harder to keep him in the air X bit down on his lower lip when he saw how high they were going, just then a flash of Rorek went through his mind: "… the white ones can retract their wings and if taught could mimic any action its master can do …"
X growled, Yeah, but you forgot to mention it could mold into my body and take control over me! Fuckin' Rorek! Shaking his head, X went with it and decided to see what it was Francesca can do, thinking alone about going to the right he held his breath he did bank right. Dive bombing till he was flying over the field and towards the four fighting dragons X nodded, Okay … okay … I can do this, flying's not my thing, but I can deal. All it takes is a thought … right? Right!
Dagger out in his hands X maneuvered Francesca to a steady incline towards the battle; taking aim he flipped the dagger so the blade was in between his fingers and without any hesitation launched the weapon at the male that was collecting an aura bomb. About to throw it at Malchior who was being held by the two females, once the weapon left X's fingers he demanded for Francesca to get the hell out the area he was in.
Especially when he heard a loud screaming roar of pain rip through the tense night air. The scyjah, and nightstalkers all heard and immediately took off in search of the scream. In the back of the Shadow Dragon's head the dagger's handle pocked out and the dragon himself dropped out of the sky. Taking advantage of the female's shock and fear of where the attack came from.
Malchior grapped one of their wrists and flipped them to the ground, turning to the other he back handed her to follow the other. Diving towards them both, Malchior held out his right hand to the falling dragonesses and grinned when he clenched his palm into a fist and ripped the air right from their lungs. Breathless and chocking, Malchior watched them drop out of the sky as death took over their soul, their black hearts disbursing in a brilliant array of shocking purple light and black smoke.
It took a moment for Malchior to realize another flying creature was coming towards him. With silver white wings, Malchior flew fast towards the potential threat deciding to get rid of it before it could cause any more damage. Only to jerk back when he saw it was X, "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Hold up! Shit! You gave me a frickin' heart attack! It's me man, X! Chill!"
"… Kenneth …?" Malchior raised a skeptical brow as he eyed the strange white wings that beat rhythmically to keep him in the air, "Since when have you grown wings?"
"They're not mines," X sighed tiredly and dived towards the ground, a sign for Malchior to follow, which the dragon did and fell into a gentle glide to easily keep up with the thief, "they're Francesca's … I don't know how she did it, but I think she molded herself into me … and … walla. It's freaky man, I hope she can get out; I like my feet better on the ground. Oh and we got trouble, the things you say are after us? Yeah … I guess they heard the scream and … well, they're coming this way."
"I know," Malchior nodded with a growl, "Rorek! Raven! Hurry and find a place to hide, the nightstalkers are onto us."
"We already have," Rorek answered calmly, "we're blending into the forest, you won't see us, so you two better get a place to hide as well. Good-luck."
"We don't need luck," X muttered after receiving the message, "what we need is a fucking miracle. Damn man … this is like seriously creepy. In a dimension neither of us know what to expect of it and on the run from a bunch of outcasts and rich snobs that both want the four of us dead. How the hell did I get myself into this? This is all between you three, leave me the hell out of it … but I guess, my fault for joining in. What did happen a thousand years ago, Malchior?"
He's rambling, Malchior growled and dove into the forest to leave X to follow, surprisingly with ease as Malchior dropped his wings and leaped from tree to tree looking for a hiding place. Without a hitch, and even more gracefully for any human to do, X kept up and slidealong a branch to lean up against a truck in order to blend into the dark forest.
The sun had long since fell from the sky, leaving the night for the high rollers to have their fun … tonight's prize?
Rorek: The powerful wizard that shared a heart with an even more powerful dragon, also under suspicion of having been set up by a Lord of Azarath to try and kill said dragon
Raven: The Teen Titan Hero of Jump City with a past connected to elfin royalty through the sisters that were both slaves/servants of powerful royals. The Queen is after her because of that one connection.
Malchior: The dragon with powers far greater then any other dragon that still lives today. A high-ranking drake (think prince) when his Father was the Grandmaster of his past clan, his father is now after his head, because of the orders the Elfin Queen ordered of him. Though is under the suspicion that he hadn't have told everyone everything a thousand years prior.
Kenneth/Red X: The Thief with a strangely unbelievably high Chaos Level for a human, a pet nightstalker that can mold her body into his and let him have his way with her wings, a past of family members dieing mysterious deaths because they knew a secret the elves are keeping, a strange connection with an Azarian past, and a brother then knew more then he let on. Through all that, this thief is skillful in what he does and clues when it comes to the goings on around him … either that … or in denial.
These were the prizes, the cheese the mouse wanted, or the mice that the cat was after. Hiding in the forest, holding their breath, concentrating, and trying to hard to keep their hearts from beating too fast and too hard. Each player in the chessboard closed their eyes when they each felt more then one nightstalker fly by in the shadows and the flock of scyjahs flying overhead.
Each on of those creatures passing them, but slower then normal when their animal instincts told them something was there. However they were more interested in where the scream came from and directed their attention far into the field, not the forest. X let go slowly the air he had been holding and nearly screamed for the second time that night when he felt giant paws slam on either side of his head.
Big … black …
Glowing … scarlet … and greenish yellow, big cat slit eyes …
Sharp … long … fangs that were right up in his face …
X gulped quietly and shrank back when the big, black nightstalker that was bigger then even a liger as it stood on it's hind legs with its paws on either side of his head. X bit down on his lower lip and looked away shutting his eyes closed when it lowered its head to sniff at him. Its big wet nose going over his cheek, and under his neck, its growled breathing huffed on his face pushing down his spiked hair.
The thief refused to shake or call out for help … because for some strange reason … the creature just didn't notice him … that's right. When it was done sniffing around it jumped off the branch and sank into the shadow of the forest then vanished. Leaving X to slump against the trunk letting go the breath he was holding the thief was emotionally spent as he slid to sit upon the branch. Too much … too much … breathing shakily X cupped a hand over his forehead trying to calm himself down.
Francesca's wings cupped around him as a security blanket, X let her be, but had to think … Why didn't it kill me … I could have swore I it knew I was there … why didn't it eat me or something?
"Memows mah muas maer moo mumor masmer's ment!"
("Because I was there to cover master's scent!")
X snapped his head up when he felt Francesca speak … in a cute squeaky, yet struggled voice … as if she was trying to break from her "mewing". Head tilted, X shook his head and decided to think of what she had said later. Getting up on his feet he sighed and looked around, Alright … where are those guys? Dropping to the ground soundlessly (habit he couldn't break) X turned around just the same time a certain someone with white hair had and both yelped in surprise. "Rorek!"
"Kenneth!"
Both looked at each other then glared and shouted at once, "What the hell do you think you're doing!"
"Getting down from the tree," X answered first, "what the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Scanning the perimeter to see if there were any more nightstalkers," Rorek shot back, both still glared at once another, still questioning why they each snuck up behind them. X snorted and looked off, giving Rorek a chance to realize the thief had silver feathered wings.
Rorek chuckled amusingly, "Well now, I guess I was right in buying her then, she seems to have retracted her wings just for you."
"Just for me?" X growled, "You think I like this? She's practically in my head trying to talk to me and another thing genius, why the hell didn't you tell me in order for her to retract her wings she had to be attached to another being? That kind-a shit needs to be spoken up about!"
Smiling sheepishly Rorek chuckled nervously, "Well … sorry I guess I forgot that little part."
X gritted his teeth, balled his fists, and shook with rage, "Sorry doesn't quiet cut it mystic! Now where the hell are Malchior and Raven before I slaughter you!"
Rorek stepped away from the angry thief and looked around, "Actually I was looking for them myself … it appears we've been separated further then I had anticipated."
"Malchior's this way," X suddenly directed turning towards the north and walking to find the dragon, Rorek blinked.
"Now wait a moment, how do you know?"
X sneered and looked over his shoulder, "I don't it's Francesca she's the one that knows not me." Mouth opened to further argue about Malchior's whereabouts, Rorek decided to go with it and followed the thief that suddenly stopped and turned to looked beyond Rorek glaring into the forest.
Rorek looked back, "What?"
"Go get Malchior … I just … just go I'll be with you guys later!" into the air Francesca ordered for him to leap and with a single beat of her wings X was airborne and flying over the forest leaving Rorek in confusion of whether of not to listen or follow. The cryptic broken order X had given him was not something that Rorek was comfortable with … though … that didn't mean he didn't trust the thief (pause to notice the irony) it was the fact that X wasn't a very magical guy that he didn't like.
It was unsettling.
However he listened anyway and ran the opposite direction after Malchior
Later hearing X launch himself airborne.
--
"Taka! Taka! You troublemaking child get over here this instant!" laughed the young woman in the courtyard of the large Palace of Tears in Azalon. Her beautiful violet hair waving as the night air blew and weaved through her locks. The magic in the winds braiding and unbraiding tangles as she moved strands from her face to show her beautiful child a sweet smile. Only 9 years old and she could still find no fault in his creation.
She loved him so very much … him and his father … but it wasn't like she blindly loved them. No, she knew it was wrong … every bit of their being and the life they lived was wrong. Her own son, a beautiful boy with short floppy spiky light-brown hair and lovely energetic amber hazel eyes … everything about him screamed hellion, troublemaker. But she loved every minute of his life.
Even as he jumped and flipped off the top branch of the tall tree in the middle of the courtyard, crouching on the ground, he stood up and held out his arms and bowed proudly, "How was that mother? Is it not impressive how I jumped that tree? I bet I'll be just as impressive as father one day, you think?"
He was so adorable, "With out a doubt love," holding out her arms for him, Taka laughed and ran right into her arms, holding her tighter then she held him. Making it a contest as she pulled away and kissed him lovingly on his forehead, "In fact, I bet you'll be even greater."
Stars in his eyes sparked as he smiled and his ego boosted tenfold, he pulled away from her and ran to go pick up a stick that had fallen from the tree he jumped from. Whacking it around and playing a pretend game of gladiator or valiant knight in the middle of the night, she watched lovingly. Taking a moment to glance up to the palace to make sure there wasn't anyone really watching she stopped when she spotted him.
Her servant that she released after he had helped her conquer her hatred, Malchior'oru Ellris'omus the high-ranking drake from the Ellris Clan. Where his father was the Grandmaster turned Shadow Dragon after he fused his heart with a demon. Getting up from her spot on the grass she walked to the balcony where Malchior jumped down to land soundlessly in the middle of the pond on a stepping-stone.
Sun'shane smiled softly, "Well, it's been awhile since we last met, where've you been?"
"Around," Malchior answered cryptically while eyeing the little boy that played knight-in-shining-armor, "is he your son?"
Sun'shane looked off to Taka and nodded, "Yes … he is."
"Amazing how the years pass by so quickly," Malchior sighed and looked back to his former master with a smug grin, "I bet you're awfully proud of him."
"I am," Sun'shane chuckled, "but you left before I could properly thank you for all your services … I really am in debt to you now."
Malchior scoffed, "Enough formalities … and don't thank me just yet, you still have yet to build a bridge that the this running water can flow under. It will be difficult … think you can hold your own?"
Sun'shane laughed, "Malchior? Have you come to lend me your services? I'm shocked after all the times you've pouted and growled about my earlier orders. As a matter of fact, I'm actually quite flattered."
The dragon grinned, "Anything for a beautiful maiden. Though I have come to "lend" my services, I'm afraid that it must wait, I shall be back though, but I have other matters to attend to."
The maiden blinked, "And those matters are?"
"Azarath, but I promise it is just a quick errand." Malchior bowed low and respectively, Sun'shane curtsied, "It's been a pleasure meeting once more Sun'shane, and I hope you and your son see much fortune while in my absents."
"Kenneth," Sun'shane corrected, standing back up, "his name is Kenneth Taka'Norcross from his father."
Malchior chuckled and gave the child who had stopped to eye him suspiciously with his stick still in hand as the dragon flashed him a fanged grin, ""Royal obligation to take from the northern crossroads" a rather … interesting name I might add. Very creative. Have a good night Lady Sun'shane."
"Adu Malchior, and good-luck with whatever it is you seek," Sun'shane waved a farewell to the dragon that took off showing the half elfin child his leathery bat wings as he flew into the moon. Taka blinked, Sun'shane smiled, but her smile was quickly erased when she heard her name called from the Prince.
"Sun'shane! Taka! RUN!"
--
Alright Francesca, I don't know what you're looking for, but it better be good! X growled in his head and fell into a spiral, trying to imagine himself in the city dropping off a tall building rather then flying with wings. It was odd … the feeling of flight without anything below him to stand on or maneuver with. The thief grunted when Francesca jerked her wings open and yanked them both deep into the forest, wings still open, and flying in the dense forest.
It was now up to X to help dodge the branches and vines as he felt Francesca tell him to stop, grabbing onto a tree branch and swinging himself around it X crouched on the branch and looked around. What did Francesca want him to see? Looking down and around, if it wasn't for a groan in the middle of the night X wouldn't have seen her. But there she was.
Knocked nearly unconscious Raven laid on the ground with her cloak covered over her body next to a dead black nightstalker. X could guess what had happened and guess right, jumping off the branch and kneeling near her, the thief glanced nervously to the dead stalker, as if waiting for it to wake up again. Francesca reassured him with feeling that it was really gone.
Raven took care of it good.
Hand reaching out to cup the back of her head X lifted her up and tapped her cheek hard enough to be considered a slap, "Hey, hey girl, Raven, wake up chick. Come on this isn't the time or place to knock out, get up!"
Tapping her harder, Raven groaned again her face contorting into a look of both agitation and pain she, X stopped when she opened her big violet/indigo eyes and looked around dazed and confused. Before she stopped on him X scowled when she asked softly, "Where's the others? Are they safe?"
"Forget them, look at you," X nearly shouted, but held himself back, knowing that her head was probably hurting from her encounter with the nightstalker, "come on, can you stand? We have to get back, it's not safe here."
"Uh-huh …" she breathed and slowly, and with X's help stood up on her feet, her arm thrown over his shoulder. Raven sighed tiredly and slumped her head still trying to come back to catch up to her moving body. X tried to keep her as still as possible when she swayed and leaned onto him for his full support.
Eyes closing X noticed she looked ready to pass about again, "Hey! Wake up! Now's not the time for a nap! Let's go girl, come on!"
She snapped up and nodded, "Right … Azarath. Metrion. Zinthous. Azarath. Metrion. Zinthous …"
Twice she chanted and she began to levitate in the air, X held his arms out to her, ready to catch her if she fell, sure she wavered here and there, but as she got high and chanted a bit more to concentrate. X nodded and let go a breath he didn't know he'd been holding when she looked down at him and motioned for him to follow. The thief ran through the forest, and then launched himself into the air letting Francesca fly him over the forest; she slowed to fly under Raven in case anything was to happen.
However it was Raven that flew next to X eyeing his wings curiously Raven dismissed it as the white nightstalker X was seen with earlier and didn't bother to ask. Although she did say, "Taka …"
Hearing her speak X looked up to her, "What?"
Raven looked down at him and repeated sullenly, "Taka … you're name's supposed to be Kenneth Taka … not Aftaka …"
X sneered, "What makes you so sure?"
"Because …" Raven blinked slowly and sighed, looking up to the sky as if to think about what she was to say next, "… because that was what she had named her son … the sister that my ancestor was related to and had a child with the Prince of Elves with. She named him Taka … which in the elfin language means, "to take" where as Aftaka means, "to steal"."
"So," X scoffed, "Just a change in pronunciation with my name got nothing to do with the fact I'm related to the elves, that's all you. Besides Malchior and Rorek already said they were killed when the Queen found out about their little fling, so I got nothing to do with this."
"No X," Raven whispered, as if in disbelief with herself, "you have everything to do with this … I can't believe I didn't see it before … why I felt so close to you."
X eyed Raven strangely, "Oookkkaaayyy … look, remember that little talk we had back at Rorek's place? Yeah, the one about me like-liking you and about the fact that you're hot and all, but I just don't like-like you that way … yeah … remember that?"
Raven shot a glare at X, "I don't mean that kind of connection fool!"
"Then start making sense!" X snapped back.
"I would if you just shut-up and let me talk!" Raven growled.
X scoffed, "Then get to talking already, you're boring me."
Raven was so tempted to slam the thief into the dirt and make him eat the damn thing, he was just so frickin' cheeky! Couldn't he be a bit more serious? Taking a breath and trying not to let it get her, Raven sighed and started, "Look, Kenneth, I'm just going to be blunt here, but you're not just related to the Prince … you're his direct descendent. The true Prince of Azalon … my … my distant cousin …"
--
Dun, Dun, DUUUNNN! Kneel before me and beg for the next chapter! Hah, hah, hah, hah, hah, hah hhaa! (coughs) um … heh … sorry about that, just kidding around. So you like? Then review … Malchior, Raven, Rorek, and X are kind a tied up right now with the story so their not here to clobber me – thank god!
(Closet behind her bangs and screams are heard from within)
Rorek/Malchior/Raven/X: GET US OUT OF HERE!
Ignore the screaming in the back closet, heh … heh … heh … really it's nothing! Just click the review button and all my wounds from the pain I've received from them will be healed by your reviewing touch.
L8er daez!
Raven: I can't breath!
Malchior: My wings! Aha! You stupid human get off them!
Rorek: Hey! Who poked my butt!
X: Lay off Malchior! This shit is cramped!
Raven: OW! Who kicked me!
Heh … heh … looks like they're having fun.
Raven/Malchior/Rorek/X: CIMPLE!
