It was mid June when Heart found herself called to Anaheim Mall. Duke had driven her on their duckcycle to drop her off. While Grin and Nosedive looked after the now six month old Avery and Flynn for them. Meanwhile Wildwing, Mallory, and Tanya were out on patrol through the city.
"Ya sure you'll be alright?" Duke asked her, "Maybe I should stay with ya?"
She kissed his cheek gently, "I'll be okay."
He looked at her reluctant to leave her side after recent events. Seeing this Heart wrapped her arms around his neck and shoulders as he remained on the bike.
He leaned his head against her as she hugged him, "Please be careful."
"You too," she reminded him as though shaking off a bad dream or memory, unknowingly focusing on where his deepest scar now rested upon his chest.
Then he pulled away, leaned up and forward, and kissed her.
"I better go see what she wanted tok talk to me about," Heart said as she stepped back.
"Alright sweetheart," Duke smiled just as she went towards the entrance of the strip mall that was quite familiar at this point.
Duke then drove off to begin a patrol of his own. While Heart looked for a friend that was not easy to miss.
Lucille sat upon a bench in the shade, as she awaited Heart. Besides the occasional odd look, her wait was rather quiet, as she occasionally looked into the tome her friends gave her to study over. Umbrella at her side, her ears perked up as she heard Heart approaching. Looking up from the pages, she shut the book tight, and raised an eyebrow at Heart, "Ah swear, is there anywhere else we can meet at? Ah mean, this little market is quaint and all, however... well, there are certainly places better suited for women of our breeding, Ah'd imagine."
Heart looked around puzzled by this question, "Our breeding? I guess it's grown to be like a part of our home at this point?" She shrugged.
Heart had at least dressed semi formal casual in a teal sun dress. Though she still wore her short black dress boots. Pulling her hair back in a higher placed ponytail was the black ribbon Duke had given her, allowing her burgundy hair to cascade down her neck and shoulders. Around her neck was the sapphire heart hanging from it's gold chain. At her right wrist was her com and quick change device.
"You wanted to see me?" Heart asked.
She gave a nod, patting the spot next to her on the bench, "Indeed... Ah believe Ah have made a break through. Though, it would be wise to do this in a place abit more... private."
Heart sat beside her friend, "Sorry, Avery and Flynn are being baby sat because their uncle Dive said it would be good for me to go out. But if you think it would be safer there?"
She looked at the tome on Lucille's hands uneasily.
She shook her head, giving a dismissive wave to that notion, "Not quite. Infact, despite the common nature of this market, Ah believe Ah found a fitting location to talk about such matters, where we will be given some privacy. Now, come dear, we have much to talk about."
Pulling herself up, the ivory furred feline beckoned for Heart to follow her.
Heart followed obediently behind Lucille, tilting her head curiously.
"Where are we headed?" She asked.
Shortly, the two of them arrived to Lucille's destination. A curious little store, advertised as a shop that deals in the occult and arcane. Lucille smirked abit, finding the notion that the secrets of the eldritch would be so easy to find, especially in such a market. None the less, she lead her friend in, and walking up to the counter. The man dressed in black and pale make up nodded, and gestured for the two to follow them, bringing them to a room with a sign that read 'divination room.' With him leaving the two behind, Lucille lead Heart in, and took a seat at the round table within. Inside, it very much had the feel of the scene of a seance. Placing the book down, Lucille looked up at Heart, "So, dear... tell me, what do you know of this magic before I start."
Heart's eyes darkened slightly as this was asked. "Asteroth is a sorcerer we have dealt with a number of times. When I was a child I tried to fight him to protect a nest of dragons and their mother. I lost, but the mother saved me despite losing her eye that he made into an amulet. Years later he usurped a kingdom in my home realm. He had become a red dragon sorcerer, but he seemed yo use other magic as well. My teammates defeated him, Duke managed to steal the amulet," Heart smiled fondly at the memory before continuing, " well before I remembered what it was. A little while after and he invaded here and was defeated once more. Duke destroyed the amulet that time and Asteroth escaped to what he called the dark zone."
"The Dark Zone? Interesting name for it... Ah personally prefer the Umbral Veil mahself, but, that's me. Now then, this tome is full of all manner of dark and vile rites. Why, some of it makes even mah skin crawl." She mocked a shudder, followed up by a mirthful laugh. "Oh yes... but seriously, Ah am glad that ya gave it to me. There are quite a few things that would be a tad... hazardous for somebody who wasn't familiar with this manner of magic. Infact... if Ah am mistaken, Ah think it may even be alive. Not in the conventional way that a are... or even mah state, but... it's aware."
Heart nodded in agreement, "As I recall it was trying to repel me and my magic." Just touching it caused it to singe her fingers a bit. She shook it off and pulled back her hand, "I remember he used skeletons to fight us, changed guards into monsters, and other such things."
"So should we be worried?" Heart then asked.
"Oh, it shouldn't be anything to worry about now. Ya said he's in the Umbral Veil, and that is indeed quite a hazardous realm. He may as well tossed himself into the lion's den. Now... take a look at this sigil here..."
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the two, off in shadows of the Dark Zone, a grim wizard watched over the duo through the ethereal barrier between the two worlds.
"Hmmm... how curious... the draconian is with some ghoulish feline creature... no matter, both will suffer for her trespasses..." Letting out an incantation, and evoking with strange gestures, he focused upon the two, who within a moment, faded from their world... and found themselves in what appeared to be some manner of dungeon cell. Lucille, shocked at their sudden manifestation in this subterranean prison, folded her ears back. "What the devil is this now?!"
Heart, before the energy cut off from her comm quick changed so not to be caught stuck in a dress out of instinct. Then it went dead. Looking around the cell she tried to figure out where they were.
"I...I don't know...?" She replied while trying to get them out by examining the lock. "Did we trigger a spell somehow?" Heart asked.
Appearing before them, with a triumphant grin across his face, the old adversary warlock on the other side of the bars, "It seems that while your friend tested to see if there was scrying magic on my spellbook before plundering it for her own wants, she did not take into account it waiting on it's own before activating the spell. For both your interfering with my past plans, and her greedily taking my works for herself, the two of you will remain in my dungeon until you fade from even my memory."
Heart glared at him, "You do realize my friends and I have defeated you before? How will this be any different? You speak of stealing magic, but you only have dragon power from the one you stole!" Heart didn't waver in her voice or stance as she then asked, "Are you looking to be banished a third time?"
"Ah assume this is that Astraroth fellow ya were talking about... while Ah will say he does have a certain... distinguished look to him, Ah doubt he can hold us long.: Strolling up to the barrier, she grinned. "Been a while since Ah've had warlock~" Giving a sneer, he held up his hand, letting loose a force that hurtled Lucille backwards. "You underestimate me, corpulent beast. As does the dragon blood. Matters not, for I have learned from my past failings. In my domain, it is only my magic that reigns, so you won't have another lucky shot at me again. Now, enjoy your stay... you will be here for a long time..."
Heart quickly turned to Lucille as she was shoved back. "I didn't have my magic when we defeated you before! Duke stole the amulet right off of you! This will be no different!" Heart swore with a growl. She then turned to Lucille, "Are you okay?"
Lucille looked up, more shocked than hurt it seemed. "Yes, but, it is now just you two now. And, if they come to get you, well.. I am prepared now."
Letting out a chuckle, he turned around, and faded into the shadows.
Lucille weakly pulled herself up, grumbling under her breath, "Remind me dear... when we find him... to bite his head clean off his shoulders."
"Sorry Lucille," Heart said as she slipped her lockpicks from her gloves beneath her flared sleeves.
In the moment she was relieved she had changed to her stealth suit, but also wondered why she had. Usually she had reserved it for when she was adventuring with him.
Then she recalled her assurance to Duke just before this, "I thought it would be okay."
With that Heart started working on picking the lock on the cell door.
"He isn't very wise for a warlock," she mentioned while continuing.
"Ya can say that again dear... when Ah get mah claws on him..." Lucille sneered, as she watched Heart pick the lock.
Meanwhile Duke drove along still when he tried to contact Heart only to get static for an answer. Remaining calm he drove back to the mall to look around for her. Though upon searching he found her nowhere to be seen.
As Duke hurried to where he last knew Heart was, he felt a taloned hand grasp his shoulder. Met with the stern gaze of Lucille's prized servant, Duke could see more than a tinge of concern in his steely eyes, "I fear something may have happened to my madame, and your wife as well. Come with me, she told me where they were going."
Duke quick changed and followed Stryx. Though he was unsure of why his stealth suit had been his first instinct rather than his battle gear.
"What do ya think happened?" Duke asked.
"Personally, I do not know. What I do know is that I can not feel her presence, which can only mean she simply... isn't here."
Heading to the occult shop, he made his way through the lobby, and when the employee tried to stop him, he merely glared at him, causing the black clad worker to back off as they headed into the divination room.
Duke followed Stryx and began looking around the room, examining every corner of it for anything that might help. He also tried his comm once more to get static for an answer again.
"Please be okay," he said as he continued to look around.
As they went through the room, they could feel a presence over them, along with a mocking laugh, "Seeking the women whom you are sworn too? That would be enduring it you weren't so meddlesome. However, I will not let it be said that I am without compassion... you wish to find them? I'll allow you to share in their fate."
Before they could even react, the world went black for them... and they awakened in front of a great, archaic gateway. Desolate and crumbling, the rancid stink of mildew wafted in the air.
Duke recognized the front of the fortress as the one Asteroth had tried to make manifest in Anaheim once before. Duke tried his comm to find it didn't work at all now. He looked to Stryx with a determined expression in his remaining brown eye. He began looking for an entrance to slipinto.
Heading along side Duke, Stryx eyed the thief. Raising a brow, he glanced about as they snuck in. "I take it you have dealt with this one before?"
"My teammates and I have defeated Asteroth twice before," Duke replied with a smirk, "In some of my favorite adventures since comin' to Earth. Honesty we thought we'd seen the last of him when he escaped to the realm he opened up. Odd though, while Heart was there, I was the one last time that directly stole back his amulet and destroyed it."
Meanwhile Heart worked at the lock a bit more. Finally she heard a click and with a smirk opened the cell door wirh a playful bow of her own.
As the lock clicked, there would be a sudden crackle of arcane energy, which quickly washed over her. Heart could feel her magic talents diminish rapidly, leaving her weakened.
Lucille rushed to her side, grimacing. "Dear heavens, are ya alright?! That... looked rather unpleasant..."
Heart gritted her teeth, feeling her magic tap out instantly. Her eyes widened as she tried to summon up some energy for it to remain sleeping.
"My...my magic is gone?" She realized while trying to remain calm. She shakily got to her feet as she tried to readjust, "Well, this is how I was for a year or so anyway..."
Despite her efforts, Heart couldn't utter forth any of her innate magic abilities, let alone any that she'd learned. Cringing, Lucille shook her head.
"Damn... well, Ah don't have my materials, so... Ah can't rightfully use mah magic either... but, we can get through this hun." Giving Heart a pat on the shoulder, she went through the cell door, and began looking around.
Heart looked around the dungeon while following alongside Lucille. Her steps were careful as they went through the room. She kept watch for traps and stepped into a darkened hallway.
The two women snuck through the catacombs, despite Heart's more agile physique, Lucille insisted on leading the two, due to the former's weakened state. Pulling from her natural feline grace, she slunk around the corners and walls of the labyrinth, her cold blue eyes glowing in the darkness.
Heart had readjusted to how she had been before without her magic, relying on stealth to blend with the shadows of the hallways of stone. "We need to get his book away from him, destroy it, and get back home somehow," she whispered.
As Lucille rounded a corner, Heart saw her friend's fur stick up on end. Quickly pulling back from the corner, she eyed Heart. "Darhling... by any chance, do ya have any weapons on ya?"
Heart nodded while pulling her glaive from her belt and activating it. Heart looked to see what Lucille had found.
Beyond the bend, gurlgling to itself was a horrid heap of flabby flesh, eyes and mouths fading in and out of it's skin at random. Babbling out nonsense, it shifted it's girth around, occasionally it's forming maws snapping at the air. Lucille, standing along Heart, gave a disgusted look. "Horrid thing... quick, dispose of it dear!"
Heart's eyes widened upon seeing this creature as she went forward to fend it off. Her steps were careful as she entered the room with the creature, slashing at it with her glaive.
The revolting mass chattered excitedly as Heart approached, the glaive easily sinking into it's goo like flesh. However, it began to pull on the blade, sucking it into itself. Surging forward, it's inane chittering was near maddening, it's numerous eyes all focused on Heart.
Heart took a breath as she jabbed yhe glaive in. It's blade sparked with electricity as it bit into the flesh of the creature. She kept her distance with the pole of her glaive.
"Lucille are you alright?" She then asked while fighting.
It screeched out with it's magnitudes of mouths, bellowing out a deafening cacophony of shrieks and screeches. Lucille covered her ears, gritting her teeth at the awful sound. "Sorry dear, Ah can't hear ya over that wretched thing!"
Heart's own ears were drowned by the screeching. Again she jabbed at it, using it's energy to attack. She gritted her teeth to try and endure the sound, wavering slightly before bracing herself.
It's mass sizzling, it pulled away from he source of pain, slipping into a large crack in the wall, releasing a yell as it vanished into the darkness. Letting go of her ears, Lucille shook her head. "Well... Ah can say Ah certainly haven't had the displeasure of encountering something like that in the flesh before.."
Heart took a deep breath as she deactivated her glaive and fastened it to her belt. "What was that thing?" Heart asked as they continued forward.
"Well, Ah've read about them... but never actually encountered one before.. it's a nasty thing called a gibbering mouther. Some terrible creature that's driven mad by it's own existence. Frankly, ending it would be a mercy for the thing." She answered, with a rare shudder from her.
Meanwhile Duke had found a slim opening for he and Stryx to slip through. They found themselves in a large main hall leading to the throne room and the grand stairwell.
Far above their sought out maidens Duke turned to the left, "Did ya hear somethin'?" He continued leading the way down a hall.
Stryx nodded, and with haste he ran along with Duke. However, as they hurried along, popping out from the corner of the room was a rubbery, gangly armed humanoid, it's skin pitch black and with a sucker like mouth. It lunged at the two, wrapping it's limbs around Duke. Stryx, wasting no time, lunged at the foul thing, but his blade merely pounced off it's skin.
Duke had drawm his saber and began trying to pry off the creature gripping his torso. "Sorry buddy, but I have someone to find!" Duke snarled while trying to get free.
The rubbery bodied beast grabbed onto Duke's torso, it's sucker like mouth opening up, revealing a ring of sharp teeth. It pressed it's lips against his chest, as it's teeth began to dig in. Stryx struggled to pull it off, but despite it's small size, it held on with great strength.
The drake growled in pain as he looked around quickly for an idea. He looked up, shot out a grappling hook, and swung over with momentum and into a pillar to crash the creature into it. Duke groaned as it dig into him before releasing him from the impact and fell onto the ground. Duke used the swing from the rope to land away from the creature and gripped his chest to evaluate his injury.
The strangler let out a squeal as it was slammed against the pillar, and after letting go, it quickly skittered away, rushing to the little nook it seemed to call home. It's eyes narrowed in on the two, wary of the intruders.
Duke stood steadily, noting his torn suit and bloody marks left from the creature. Then he took a breath and joked, "That was fun."
He looked to Stryx with a nod before continuing forward.
Down below Heart looked up curiously at the sound of a distant, faint cry.
"Did you hear something?" She asked rubbing her head a little from the lingering ache in it from the creature's shriek that she had fought.
"Frankly, dear... my ears are still ringing from the mouther... " She replied, rubbing her own ears.
As they traversed the depths of the dungeon, they couldn't help but feel like they were being followed. Despite keeping a look out, they could never catch just what it was.
Heart felt her spine crawling as the sensation reminded her of her urge to run that Shadow had always created. Taking a breath she remained beside her friend with her glaive ready.
She then realized that her eyes were transitioning to their more draconic nature, "It seems I still have my innate abilities that make up my body, just not the magic energy."
It grew easier for her to see in the darkened room.
"Are you okay?" She asked Lucille once more while looking over her shoulder again.
Letting out a deep breath, she nodded. "Ah'll be alright hun, ya don't need to worry about me so much."
As they went on, Lucille's foot pressed onto a stone.. which sunk underneath her weight. With a loud click, her eyes shot wide. "... blast it..."
As a massive blade came hurtling across the hall, an axe pendulum swinging back and forth.
Heart reached out instinctively to pull Lucille back a little, "You sure about that?"
Heart then looked up to try and figure a way around. She looked to the side to find an opening along the floor as she crouched down with her small frame and slipped under to find a lever on the other wall. Pulling it brought the trap to a hault.
"Sorry.. sorry hun... just... Ah just don't feel like mahself..." The feline replied, placing a hand to her face.
A cruel laugh filled the air, as the warlock's voice emerged from nowhere, "Well, of course. A mere blood sucker such as you has no place in my realm. A pathetic failure of necromanic magic. So, I find that I could use your magic for my own purposes instead of you throwing it away indulging yourself. Soon the dark magic that animates her will be gone, and, well... she'll be what she should've ended up as long ago."
Heart's eyes widened as she looked to her friend before shouting, "You're nothing but a coward Asteroth!"
She focused on her friend, "Stay with me Lucille, okay? You're stronger than this cretin that only knows how to take magic!"
"His spell won't claim you!" She encouraged while taking the lead, finding the stairwell leading up.
Meanwhile Duke remained hurrying along with Stryx looking for a sign. Their search lead them to a stairwell leading up that he began heading up. "Ya alright there Stryx?" Duke asked.
The owl's feathers ruffled up, as he gripped the hilt of his sword. Though he was usually distant and rigid, there was a frantic worry in him Duke hasn't seen before, "Something's wrong... the mistress needs me!"
Nearly leaving Duke behind, Stryx rushed ahead, the duelists losing his composure
Duke followed quickly, surprised by Stryx's panic. He tried to remain calm for his companion while wondering if Heart was alright. Through this he hadn't felt distressed, he just knew he needed to find her.
"Careful Stryx!" Duke warned as they continued to run up.
Meanwhile Heart helped Lucille keep a steady pace up their own stairwell. She also kept watch behind them, "Don't let this cheap dime store wizard get the best of you Lucille!"
Leaning against Heart, Lucille's weight was difficult to hold up. The large feline kept her hand over her face, before a deep growl escaped from her mouth. "... Heart... ya... ya need to run dear... Ah feel weak... and... and.. Ah only know one way to remedy that.."
Heart looked to Lucille confused at first. "How much do you need?" She asked sternly, "and don't try to tell me no. I can give some up if that'll help!"
Pushing Heart back, she let out a hiss. "Ah said run! Ah... Ah... can't control mahself once Ah give in! Just get already!"
Heart stood firm, "I am not running from you! We need to both get through this! Dragon blood would give you a boost wouldn't it? If you don't his spell will take hold, is that what you want?!"
"... Ah... Ah tried to warn ya..." With her maw growing wide, and her teeth growing long and sharp, the large cat quickly rushed in, and bit into Heart's shoulder. Her fangs sinking in, she greedily lapped up the sweet essence, her claws gripping Heart tightly.
Heart grimaced in pain, but she stood firm still. She gritted her teeth as she tried to remain standing. She let Lucille take a good bit before her own ability kicked in. Her scales grew over, pushing Lucille's fangs out and then hardening as Heart gasped from the pain before biting her own lip.
"Did...did that help?" She asked as though she weren't tired.
She gripped her right shoulder to make sure the bleeding stopped.
"I was going to offer my arm for you...but I guess that worked too...?" She tried to laugh a bit looking up at her friend.
When the scales grew over the wound, Lucille quickly went to bite again, eager for another taste. However, after finding no luck, she began to calm down, and slowly regained herself. Wiping the ichor from her mouth, she blushed softly, both from the fresh meal and catching herself like that. "... terribly sorry deary... that was awful generous of ya..."
"It's fine. Are you okay now?" Heart asked, "Hopefully the energy in my blood will keep you standing until we defeat him once and for all!"
Heart continued up the steps, her footing shaky at first until focusing a little more. Though a part of her wondered what Asteroth was planning. Why drag them in like this?
"I wonder if Duke is looking for me at the mall at this point? It wouldn't take him long to notice we're missing," she pondered aloud to her friend.
Meanwhile Duke continued after his friend feeling something slightly off in his shoulder, but pressed forward still.
Stryx along... but slowed down, obviously flustered. Looking back to Duke he let out a deep breath. "...sorry... just.. I haven't been away from her for so long in quite a while... what kind of servant am I if something was to happen to her..."
He worked to recompose himself, with little difficulty.
Meanwhile, the warlock watched from afar, chuckling to himself. "A source of necromatic powers, the blood of a dragon, and two love struck fools on top of that...one being the thief who stole my amulet... oh, my revenge will be sweet."
Duke let out an uneasy breath of his own, "I understand the feelin' friend. Heart an' our kids mean the world to me. If anythin' happened to her or if she were ever hurt 'cause I couldn't protect her..."
The drake glanced at a very recent scar now showing on his chest from the last time he protected Heart from harm. Stryx could see it was a rather wide scar that would make one wonder how Duke had evem survived.
"I'm sure they're both okay though. Heart an' Lucille are rather capable ladies, an' Heart is fiercely loyal. She won't let anythin' happen to a friend," Duke assured his friend to try and bring him comfort, "But I'm sure it means the world to Madam Lucille that ya care for her an' are lookin' for her."
Styrx nodded, as they headed further into the fortress. Although he was silent, it was more than apparent there was something rattling through his mind.
As Heart and Lucille traveled up the stairway, the former now hrld up the rear, letting the draconian girl take the lead. Droplets of murky water echoed through the stone cut halls and chambers, however, every now and then they heard what sounded like rocks grinding. Progressing further, Lucille paused.
"Do ya hear that hun?" As soon as those words left her lips, a earthen hand jutted from the wall, deseperately clawing and grasping for them.
Heart had barely time to react when the hand rushed out, grabbing at her arms and digging into her already wounded shoulder. She struggled to get loose from it's stone like grip.
As the creature of soil and stone grabbed at Heart, gripping her tightly, Lucille grabbed onto the limb herself. Squeezeing tightly onto it, she sunk her claws into the clay like substance, before quickly twisting it out of the wall, causing the arm to plop to the ground in a muddy mess.
With her shoulder free thanked Lucille for her aid. Then she opened the door to the main hall and allowed her to go first while gripping her shoulder a moment. It was sore, but was healing with the help of the scales she had grown.
"Are you feeling better Lucille?" Heart asked calmly.
"Ye hun, but, are you alright? Ah already drained ya a good bit, and Ah can only imagine Ah left ya a tad weakened. How about Ah take the lead dear... don't want ya to get hurt."
Duke observed his companion quietly for a bit while looking out for traps and monsters.
After a while longer he asked, "Stryx? Is somethin' else up?"
Time with his teammates had strengthened his empathy, "Not tryin' to pry, but this seems to be unlike ya?"
"... it's just, I find myself a little envious of you, I must admit. You have your love, yet... well, it would be improper and unprofessional for me to tell the Madame my own feelings. You two worry not about your rank and status, while with the Madame... it is of utmost importance..." Stryx hesitantly relented, gripping the hilt of his sword as he scouted around.
Duke was a bit surprised to hear this, "Would it really be that improper? Ya clearly care for her, an' she seems rather fond of ya."
Duke then reflected on his earliest memories with Heart, "Though I guess I can relate more than ya think. When I first fell for her I wondered if I deserved her at all, well before we knew of her past. I was still an ex-thief either way. But Heart never turned away knowin' that. Then when we did find out of her birth it still didn't change anythin'. I worried for a bit if I should have stepped in...but then again if I hadn't, and been a thief when I did, Heart might not even be here to fight for. I guess what I'm sayin' is why worry so much over status when what matters most is your devotion an' care for her? I could say I'm a thief all I want, it doesn't change how much I love Heart an' my kids now."
"Yes, but, the thing is, your status was never a thing of concern for either of you... while we were bred that way. It's... ingrained in us... and even more in after what we've become." He let out a deep sigh, and shook his head, as he carried on.
Duke pondered over Stryx's words before saying, "I don't think it would have mattered. Heart wasn't happy or accepted there. When she found us she found who she really was, an' has remained with us since."
Then he said encouragingly, "Maybe ya should tell her Stryx. Say it inspite of that, you're here now searchin' for her, an' fightin' for her. An' not in a way a mere butler or guard would. I think your actions speak volumes, but perhaps she would even still like to hear words from ya."
The owl blushed weakly, and softly nodded. "I will... have to consider that. However, we have more pressing matters at hand. Let us find them and be rid of this place."
"Of course," Duke agreed with an optimistic smile.
Heart followed along behind Lucille, "I'm okay. Oddly enough that isn't the strangest thing I have done lately, or the riskiest either." Heart walked along behind Lucille while keeping watch around them.
Raising a brow, Lucille bent down to look at the twitching clay arm. Glancing back up Heart, she have her friend a curious glance. Getting back uo, she placed her hands on her hips. "What one Earth could be even stranger than this hun?"
Heart took a deep breath as she tried to figure out how to explain recent events. Finally she said carefully, "About two months ago... we had to deal with Aten. During that bout Duke died saving my life. However...I seemed to find a way to the under world Aten cursed him to dwell in and bring him back. I had to go through a trial and have my heart weighed against the feather of truth. But while he was there I couldn't...I couldn't shake the feeling that he was still nearby and calling to me..."
She wasn't sure how Lucille would react to this.
She stopped, considering what Heart just said. "Ya... went to realm of the dead... and brought him back? Mah... that must've been quite the ordeal... Well, consider ya two lucky. That is somebody many others would downright kill for even the chance to do."
Heart nodded understandingly, unsure if she should say much more on the subject. Then she shuddered at the memory of Duke lying so still and silent.
"It's odd...in all of our adventures, while always dangerous, and I always understood there was a risk. Living with everyone I think blinded me in a way. When it happened I couldn't believe it...I couldn't accept it. A part of me wonders if it was because of the curse Aten put on him. It forced him into the wrong resting place in a way." Heart then shook away the memory, "Since then Duke has been extra cautious with me most days..."
"I know I certainly be more cautious..." Lucille replied, a tinge of sadness in her tone. "Well... Ah imagine it would be too late anyways. Let's press on dear. This labyrint must have an end."
"I'm sorry Lucille," was all Heart could think to say to her friend.
The two of them continued through the halls of the fortress. Heart's scales softened and retreated after the wound had mostly closed.
While they ventured further Duke mentioned with a slight chuckle, "It's funny though. Heart an' I didn't start this way. Before I met her directly, I saved Heart's life on Puck World. This is when she lost her memories. At the time I was a wanted man, so I had to think of her safety an' stay away from her. I wasn't in love with her yet, but it did tug at me wantin' to know if she were alright, an' that she nay never know who I was. An' when we did meet, I felt I wasn't good enough for her. Now here we are."
As Duke talked, Stryx placed a finger to his own beak. Further down the hall, they could see some mass writhing and shambling in the darkness, nonsensual murmurings uttering forth from it.
Duke quickly made a silent nodd aa he drew his saber. He then cautiously crept towards the creature ready for a fight. He gave another nod to Stryx.
The creature crept around, as the two duelists approached it. However, as they drew closer, it raised itself up, and let out a scream with it's multitudes of mouth. Surging forward, it snapped at the two, one of it's mouth grabbing onto Stryx's arm.
Duke quickly swung his blade to slash at the creature to free his friend. Duke then noticed feint scorch marks left on the creature, as well as jabs from the blade of her glaive.
The beast uttered forth a craved laugh as it recoiled from the lash. Ungulated backwards, it quivered in place, before hurtling itself at Duke.
Duke quickly leapt back and out of the way, stepping to the side he swung at the creature as it dove past him.
It gurgled as the blade sunk into it, before it slowly began to suck it further in. It's teeth gripped the sword, gnawing and chewing on the metal of it until Stryx rushed up towards it, slashing upon it with his talons. It let out a wail, before it began to melt away into a disgusting ichor.
Duke caught his breath a little from the fight and laughed, "We're jus' havin' all kinds of fun aren't we Stryx?"
He looked ahead for further traps before continuing forward. He thought of the creatures markings as he said, "Heart must have fought that thing off with Lucille, which means they are hopefully safe."
"And potentially nearby..." Stryx added as they continued on their way.
Meanwhile Heart and Lucille continued along the main floor.
"Odd that my dragon abilities stayed when my magic went to sleep. I guess it's engrained into my bio make up at this point." They came to a hallway lined with armor that made Heart reach for her glaive and activate it out of instinct.
The suits of armor stood still... until the blade was activate. Each one step forward, and started to march towards the two. With each one of them had the visor up, and they could see the wizard's face.
Giving a smug look towards, he chuckled, "You fools... you should've stayed in your cage. This would've been much less of an ordeal for the two of you. However, I suppose this proves to be more of an amusing diversion while I drain the two of you dry."
With that, one of the suits hefted up a great axe, and swung it with great force towards Heart.
Heart lunged forward with her glaive, dismantling one if the suits of armor.
"Can't survive from your own magic can you?! All you do is warp what's around you and take magic to be your own!" Heart laughed bravely, "But just like last time you won't win Asteroth!"
The armor marched forward, as Lucille rushed up, and hip checked one of them into the wall, causing it to shatter.
Astaroth let out an annoyed sigh, before a grin returned to his face, "All magic is mine to bend as I see fit, girl. And.. true, you've beaten me in the past, but, I have a certain advantage that you do not." Blocking her glaive with a sword, he looked Heart in the face, smirking, "I just have to win once."
Heart glared at him with eyes like a dragon, "But you won't! I don't need magic to fight you, same with Duke when he stole the amulet from you twice!"
She started to try and push him back, swinging at the armor. Her shoulder buckled slightly, but she gritted her teeth and pushed forward in her lunge.
As she lunged forward the armor raised back it's hand, and smacked her across the face with it's gauntlet. Seeing this, Lucille pounced upon it, and grabbing it by the arms, swung it towards the rest, knocking them all over like bowling pins. Hurrying back to Heart, she went to help her up. "Are you hurt hun?"
Heart had been knocked back a bit as her face started turning a bit red from where she was struck.
She rubbed at the stinging sensation left by the metal gauntlet and nodded her head, "I'm okay, just stings a bit."
Heart got to her feet with Lucille's aid and continued down the darkened hall way with her friend.
Shortly, Duke and Stryx would arrive at another doorway, but this time, with a large, complicated lock. At the sides were large spikes jutting the from the wall, threatening those who dare come in between them.
Stryx looked towards Duke, and gestured towards him. "I believe this is your time to shine.."
Duke gave a confident smirk and went right to work. In seconds the lock was cracked and the door was opened slightly to not alert anyone possibly inside.
With the door unlocked, the duo could pass through.. and saw, sitting at an oversized table, a giant brute, at least fifteen feet tall. But, it's size was not the strangest thing... but, the fact it has a pair of cycloptic heads. Both snored soundfully, with a overladen keyring resting on it's belt.
Duke crouched down carefully and crept towards the sleeping creature. He slipped the belt loose and pulled the keyring without jingling the metal and tucked it into the pouch of his belt. He held his breath as he started back to Stryx.
As Duke snuck away, one of the heads snorted, and groggily woke up. It's large eye opened heavily, and spotted the two birds. Letting out an annoyed grunt, it began to shake the other. "Wake up, you moron! You were supposed to stand watch while I sleep! Dumdumb, wake up!"
Soon enough, the two women reached a dead end. Letting out an exhausted growled, Lucille crossed her arms. "Blast it... this foul place is maddening. Ah swear, it's driving me absolutely batty..." However, Heart noticed something was off... on the wall, some of the stones seemed to be in the wrong place.
Heart looked at the wall. She carefully began moving stones around until placed in fitting spots. "I just would like to know his end game here, what is he really trying to do and with our magic?"
Shortly, Heart was able to figure out the puzzle, causing the wall to split open. Within was some manner of alchemical wizard's lab. Lucille grinned, clasping her hands together. "Ooh... Ah might be able to find something here.."
Heart smiled with a bit of pride from over the years to have the door opened. She helped Lucille look around the lab to try and find what could be found.
Vials of strange goo, jars full of preserved eyes and strange creatures. Giving a ponderous look, Lucille rubbed her chin. "Quite a collection he has here... strange it would remain unguarded..." However, as the explored, as if on cue, a thick smoke erupted from one of the vials, engulfing the room. Lucille, luckily due to her undead nature, was uneffected... however, Heart on the other hand, could feel something primal burning within her. Something ancient and powerful... something feral.
Heart's eyes shot wide open as the loss of control washed over her. The heat she had felt years ago started to creep through her from her core. As it did she knew why her ankles and wrists felt scorching hot as hardening scales began to form and gradually began their spread. She tried not to panic as she stood coughing out the smoke. She looked to Lucille knowing her eyes were serpent like now, tears welling in them as she said her thief's name.
Lucille stepped back, raising her hands up as the smoke dissipated. "Heart... hun... oh dear... this... is not good.."
Heart felt the scales slowly climbing up her arms and legs, the heat rising in her as they did. "Not again..." she tried not to panic. She took a breath to try and fight for control of herself. She knew what could happen if this form took hold of her. She tried to focus on her memories, her teammates, her days in Anaheim, her children, and her thief. Her mind screamed his name without words as she began to lose control.
Meanwhile Duke stepped back cautiously from the two headed giant. He drew his saber while trying to leave the room when he felt something in his core burning. Internally he heard Heart calling for him and he paused in his steps shaken from the fear in her voice, "Heart...what's wrong?"
As Duke was distracted, the second head woke up. "Huh... wha... urgh! Get him!"
Lumbering up, they grabbed a massive club, and swung it down towards the duo, Stryx diving too the side, and nearly smashing the duck into a pate on the floor.
Duke snapped to attention and leapt out of the way. He looked to Stryx with a determined expression of his own, "We need to find Asteroth, somethin's wrong with Heart."
He then held up his saber to block the club being swung at him and again felt his core burn. He pushed through and hopped back to get a better view of the room for an advantage. He yelled for Stryx to hurry towards the doir they came through and began to follow with his blade still drawn.
Backing off, Lucille grimaced, as Heart slowly began turning into a draconian monster, a beast of scales, fangs, and claws. Rather than battling her transformed friend, she rushed out of the room through a door from the side... to one with a massive brute slamming it's club towards the two duelists. Leaping up, Stryx landed on the table, and jumped onto it's back, diving his blade into it's hide.
Heart braced herself as some changes took over her, managing to slow her spreading scales and other features, but without her anchor the heat in her warped her slightly, causing her to grow more aggressive as she glared at her friend and began to follow after her.
Inside the room Duke looked over as the side door burst open. He was at first relieved to see Lucille before he wondered briefly where his beloved was?
Then he heard a growling shriek erupt as someone toppled out from the doorway onto her hands and knees gasping for breath as the heat rose in her. He knew. Without having to ask he knew it was Heart.
Duke hurried over and was kneeling before her as he gripped her shoulders, "Heart?! Heart look at me love, look at me like ya did before!"
He then placed his hands on her cheeks to force her to look at him with her transitioning eyes, "Heart! It's me! We'll fight this like we did last time, but ya gotta stay with me okay?!"
Her breathing was rapid, but she began to calm down as she heard his voice, holding back the remaining changes with what willpower she had.
"What happened?" Duke asked Lucille as he felt his own core still burning a bit, but ignored it.
"We were in Azaroth's lab when it seems like we feel into a trap! Some vile substance started to smoke and it overtook her! The poor dear, seems like it's bringing out her draconic heritage to the forefront!" The large feline explained as she rushed towards them.
Heart tried to remain focused aa she looked up at Duke.
"Heart...Heart listen love, it's goin' to be alright. I need ya to fight it okay?" He spoke to her calmly.
She nodded her head as she gritted her teeth through the heat. She couldn't force the spell back completely, but she could slow it's progress.
"That's it sweetheart, stay with me," Duke told her gently.
Meanwhile, Stryx held onto the brute tangled hair, striking over and over again. Looking down, he spotted Lucille, a wave of relief distracting him... just enough for the twin headed giant to grab the owl in it's big meaty hands. Letting out a doubled laugh, they began to squeeze. "Bye" "Bye" "Birdie!"
As the giant grab their friend Heart looked up and moved swiftly, slashing at the creature's arm before latching onto it with her claws to get it to drop Stryx. This made it hard for her to focus on forcing back the spell, but she wasn't sure what else to do to help Stryx.
The oversized cretins let out a bellow, as her claws dug into their legs. As the dropped Styrx, Lucille rushed over, catching him with her plush form. The brutes hopped about on one leg, despeeately trying to kick Heart off, "Hey! HEY! THAT HURTS! GER OFFA US!"
Heart tried to hold on, but the heat was beginning to make her feverish, and the loss of blood from before was at last catching up with her. Her grip was loosened from fatigue and pressure as she was kicked hard into the wall behind her. She crumbled to the stone floor. Duke's heart leapt to his throat as he rushed over between her and the giants with his saber drawn, "Back off both of ya!"
He stood firmly ready to fight as Heart looked up at him from her prone position trying to stay connected to him.
The ettin hollared out as it swung it's club ar Duke, repeatively missing him over and over again. They grunted and shouted each time... only to let out another pained yell. Looking back, they saw the big white car clasped on their leg clawing savagely and sinking her teeth into it's flesh.
Duke shot out a bolo puck that wrapped around the giant, causing it to topple over bound by the ropes. Then Duke turned and carefully lifted Heart up into his arms.
"Stay with me sweetheart," he repeated to keep her anchored as she clung to his already torn shirt front. Duke then noticed her shoulder and looked to Lucille knowing, but then said, "Let's get goin' so we can find a way to reverse this."
For Heart the scales were now over her stomach and beginning theur way up.
Lucille, pulling herself away from the unconscious giant's leg, looked away for a moment in shame.
Stryx, hoppling over to her, let out a cough. "Madame... are you alright?"
Turning towards the owl, she grabbed him, and squeezed him in a strong embrace. Taken off guard, he let out a wheeze as there was a loud crack.
Letting him go, she nodded, "Ah'm quite alright, but we need to do something about our friend here."
Duke looked over Heart as she writhed from the fever warping her senses, "Heart we've been through this..." but he knew this time it was different.
Last time Heart had a choice, her emotions were the key to a magic gifted to her. This was a curse forced onto her to render her. Heart looked up at him and tried to smile and he gave one in return to reassure her. He also gave a smile to Lucille and Stryx to let them know he understood and trusted Lucille still. Then he carried Heart out of the room to begin down a new hall way with them. Heart stabilized in his arms as she fought the spell as best as she could.
In a puff of smoke, Azaroth's appeared before the group, "It is about time... I was growing impatient."
Grabbing Heart from Duke with one hand, he manifested a fireball with the other. "I recommend you stand back, unless you wish to feel the brunt of my wrath."
Turning towards Heart, he gave a slimey smile. "Now... to replace what you have cost me. A debt is owed, and I intend on claiming it... dragon princess."
Duke glared at the sorcerer as Heart was forced to her feet.
"Let go of her Asteroth! I'm the one that stole the amulet remember?! Not her!" Duke looked to Heart as she was forced to stand as pressure rushed through her.
Her body began to shift on her, becoming more draconic in form, her scales spreading up her chest and neck. Horns began to emerge as spines pushed through her back and tore her suit where they were placed. A tail lashed out in a rage. Duke then saw pain in her eyes and felt in his own core as she writhed.
"Heart! Heart listen to me!" It wasn't working. Duke looked to Asteroth, "Let her go! I took the amulet remember?! I destroyed it! It wasn't Heart!"
Duke felt his core burning and still ignored his own pain as he watched her fight her final changes, "Let her go!"
"Yes, but an eye for an eye, fowl. And I have no need for a duck's eye, especially seeing that you only have one. Now, I will take what you have stolen from me. Enjoy your stay."
With that, he vanished in another puff of smoke. Lucille and Stryx, standing behind Duke, stared in disbelief. The feline, taking a moment to process this, quickly snapped her fingers, "His lab, Ah may be able to make a way to divine where they are with some od the components in there."
As Heart vanished with the sorcerer Duke caught a glimpse of panic in her eyes. He quickly yelled to her,"Heart hang on!"
He turned to Lucille and Stryx trying to remain calm as he followed them. His core burned, but he thought it was merely from her.
Meanwhile Heart appeared in Asteroth's chamber beside him. She glared at the sorcerer as she fought her last changes, though this grew harder with her anchors further from her now. Her eyes took on a gem like quality of gold abd sapphire as they shimmered. Her back ached as she forced wings inside of her not to come through. She looked around the room, eyeing the spellbook on the table. Her eyes widened seeing the pages it was flipped to as she then looked to Asteroth in confusion. The pages read were of monstrous transformations ranging from dragons such as her to other such creatures. Rage built in her, warping her still.
"Yessssss... yesss... soon, you'll be what I need, and I will pluck it out, taking it for myself." He let out a laugh, clasping his spidery, boney hands together. "Just think, you'll be just like your mother... in everyway."
"I...I...don't want to be a dragon! Mother...she sent me...to find..." an anger continued to build in her..."I found him...my thief..." Fear and anger blended and rose as her wings tried to brrak through. The rest of her was nearly draconic at this point..."Duke...please..." She looked at the book worriedly, eyeing the other page, "What are you...?" She tried to ask as her voice took on a distorted growl.
Pulling out a dagger, he drew closer to Heart. A sadistic grin crossed his face, as he grabbed her by the arm. "I promise you, I will make this as quick as possible. It'll only be worse if you fight against me."
Heart, terrified, tried to pull away and back away from him. Her tail lashed at him, knocking him back a bit as she began to give into feral instinct and glared at him. Then, no longer fighting back, her wings emerged as they burst through her back, causing her to scream and growl in pain. The rest of her followed suit as she became a full dragon before Asteroth...she looked to him weakly and again to the opened book.
Meanwhile Lucille rummaged through the lab, going through the strange substances and ingredients. Clearing off the table, she began to draw arcane sigils and glyphs, muttering to herself as Stryx aided her.
Duke helped as he could, keeping watch and aiding as needed. Yet as he did he felt a further burning he couldn't ignore this time as he gripped his chest tightly. He groaned in pain as he said Heart's name.
Mixing the bizzare concoction together, she smashed it onto the table before them, creating a portal just bif enough for one to get though. "Hurry Duke, Ah don't know how long it's gonna hold."
Duke still gripping his chest hurried after before falling upon his hands and knees on the other side of the portal. The burning in his core began to spread through him.
Lucille and Stryx stayed back, in part due to Lucille straining to keep the portal open, and Stryx's wounds from the fight with the Ettin. As he emerged through the other size, the warlock was holding down her head with one hand, and raised a dagger on high with the other, unaware of the intruding thief, "Just hold still... I need to be precise... and if you ruin the first try, I only have one more..."
Duke's heart leapt to his throat as he scrambled to his feet. Through the burning he hurried over and pulled the sorcerer back away from Heart, shoving him back a bit as Duke stood between him and Heart.
He looked over his shoulder and breathed in disbelief, "Heart... ?!"
She struggled to stand in her new form. Sapphire scales shimmered in the light with her deep burgundy spines running down to her tail and through her wings. She now glared upon her thief.
"Heart it's me...!" He told her as the burning forced him to his knees as he still held his saber.
Sneering, Asteroth raised up a hand, and let out an ancient incantation. Closing his hand, he gripped tightly as Duke's own chest grew tighter. "Again, you interfere with my work... perhaps I will allow you to live long enough to see me claim my prize."
Duke gritted his teeth as he tried to remain standing to defend Heart.
"Wha...what's wrong with me...?" He asked looking around the room wearily as the burning continued.
It was then he noticed his hands, at the very edge of his fingertips were...claws? He tried to stand again with his saber in hand. Seeing the blade Heart let out a fierce roar she she swung out her tail and knocked her thief to the side and he cried out. "Heart...Heart it's me sweetheart!" Yet still the burning continued as the claws grew and he tried to stand again, "What's...happenin'...?"
Asteroth let out a wicked scoff as he sneered at the drake, "It will be hard for you to steal anythig ever again with claws instead of hands won't it thief?"
Duke's expression hardened into a glare.
"You wish to be with your dragon princess, so be it. After I gather what I need, you two can have the honors of being my sentries..." Forcing his will upon the duo, Asteroth began to reshape the thief before him, warping him into a draconian parody of his former self. As Duke writhed during the transformation, Asteroth smiled venomously.
The dragon that was once Heart looked to Duke as he struggled to stand. He looked for a way to break the spell over his beloved.
"Heart...?" Duke now realized the burning had begun since shortly after arriving at the fortress. Through the transformation he forced himself to his feet. Heart looked upon her thief as he tried to fight his changes. Duke felt fangs emerging with spines.
His back began to writhe as he wondered, "Heart...is this how it's felt everytime you've grown wings sweetheart...even when savin' us?"
Heart looked over her thief again and then to Asteroth holding his dagger as he continued to cast his spell over the drake.
Duke looked up at her with urgency in his remaining eye, "Heart...are ya still there?...can ya use your wings to get away?"
As the two suffered, the warlock laughed with cruel glee... until suddenly, he was struck by the razor point of a rapier blade.
Letting out a shocked yell, he turned to see Stryx, wounded but still ready to fight. "You ruffian! Charlatan of a mage. My Madame is a far more capable master of magic than you are with her own power!"
His eyes twitching, Asteroth squeezed his grip towards the owl, sending him hurtling through the air against the stone wall. Staggering back up, Stryx limped towards Astaroth, buying the two precious time.
Duke looked around quickly and saw the spellbook upon the table and made a dash for it. He then tossed it into the sensors flames nearby, causing the book to writhe and burn page by page it seemed. As it did Duke looked up at Heart with hope in his brown eye that she couldn't help but notice. She tried to remembr, why was he risking stealing this for her?
Asteroth, realizing what Duke had done, was still focusing his spell on him. Yet Heart's scales started to break away. Duke, through his pain, called to her to help bring back her mind, "Heart...Heart it's okay! I'm here for ya...ya belong in Anaheim with us remember? Listen to me-" His words were cut short as Asteroth continued his spell forcing Duke harshly to his knees.
Turning his attention back towards the two, Asteroth hastened his spell, twisting and contorting Duke's form into a hideous, reptilian visage of himself, "As my first command, slave, you will slay this intruder. He's already weakened, so it shouldn't be too difficult of a task for you. And I will handle the dragon myself."
Duke glared at him as wings emerged from his back and he cried out, his cry ringing through Heart's head and core with tears emerging in her eyes as she watched him. He then shakily stood as commanded and looked to his friend ready to obey Asteroth. Just as he stepped forward he spun on his heel, looked up at Heart, and lunged at Asteroth with claws ready. As this happened Heart continued to try and regain control of herself, shrinking back to humanoid size as scales broke away. Now she braced herself upon her hands and knees as she watched Duke and the others. Upon seeing Duke she felt her mind start to reform and the heat in her transitioned to passion watchinng her thief. For through the spell she could still see Duke as she knew him.
"Get off me, you wretched thing! Or else I will make your suffering a hundred fold!" He exclaimed, as the transformed thief assaulted him. Swinging his dagger, he was unaware of the servant of the madame sprung from behind, forcing the mage to fend off the two of them.
Duke stood firm, noting where Heart was as he stepped between the sorcerer and her. He then lunged forward with Stryx with claws lashing out.
While Heart looked up with eyes still shimmering as actual sapphires as she tried to change back. She tried to speak only to growl while looking to the once drake before her fighting. Her body was taxed from the loss of blood, drained magic, and transformations. She looked for Lucille in confusion before watching Duke and Stryx. Duke continued to claw at Asteroth, somehow maintaining his mind and noble heart.
As the two kept on with their attack, the mage snarled before blasting them back with a wave of necrotic energy. Knocking them back, he saw Heart. Rushing towards her, he pulling his dagger back, "Don't try to get away! I will take what I want, and you will not be able to stop me!"
Heart cried out for Duke through her growling, her voice emerging desperately, her body too taxed to move as Asteroth grabbed for her and held up the dagger. Duke looked up and rushed over and tackled him to the ground.
The two both scuffled for the upper hand as Duke pinned the sorcerer down and growled at him, "Ya won't touch her cretin!"
His voice, mind, and nature should have been gone by now, yet he held on as he fought the sorcerer.
Stryx rushed to Heart's aid, helping her up with his good side, and still welding the blade with his injured arm. The warlock fought against Duke, slashing at him with the dagger over and over again, "Get off of me, you miserable beast! For this insolence, you will lose your remaining eye!"
Duke took slash after slash as he fought back. Heart trembled watching Duke like this and leaned against her ally. As the spell surged through Duke he felt something keeping his sense of self intact. Asteroth could sense the barrier within Duke, though eroding away steadily now, of magic placed in him.
"Duke...?!" Heart tried with her distorted voice as her face shifted back as did her body, leaving her in rags of her stealth suit.
"Ya won't take hers or her magic..." Duke's voice finally trailed off as he held the sorcerer in place with his claws.
Grimacing, Asteroth glared at the once duck, gritting his teeth, however, he raised up his chin, exposing his neck, "Do it, beast. Do it, and be rid of me... submit to your inner beast. Come on, boy... you can't resist, can you?"
Duke froze, his remaining eye widening a bit. He fought with his own movements as he raised his clawed hand up. He knew he could end him and save Heart from this cretin, even if this were a violent way to do it...right? He wanted to give in, his claws came down towards Asteroth's throat.
"Duke!" Heart cried with her trembling voice shaking his protected core.
He paused in his strike.
"Not like this Duke..." Heart begged him, "You're my thief remember...?"
Why did a word once used against him as a way to insult him hold so much honor to it when she said it? He tried to remember.
"Exactly, thief. You were nothing more than a run of the mill burglar. And now... you're a feral beast. So... don't hold back. Relinquish yourself." He sneered, narrowing his eyes.
"That's not true!" Heart shouted while looking at Duke, watching him recoil slightly, "Duke, you know I love you! I love that you're my thief! You're not a beast! Please listen to me! You were my anchor and now I'll be yours!" Her voice grew firmer despite her tears as she spoke to him, "You weren't run of the mill! You were the best jewel thief on Puck World and the thief to steal my heart away remember?!"
Duke still frozen at first then got to his feet standing firm as he stepped back from Asteroth with his noble core intact. He then looked to Heart with a weak smile.
"... pathetic..." Asteroth hissed, before releasing another bolt of arcane energy at Duke, sending him flying.
As Duke was sent flying back, hitting the wall and crumbling to his hands and knees, Heart pulled herself over to him with what strength she had suddenly summoned from within her. She crept over to him, shielding him with her wings still out as a cover over him.
Seeing the three of them weak, wounded, and reeling back, his eyes glowed intensely, his hands crackled with arcane forces, as he approached, "I will salvage what I can from your remains. But now, it is time to be gone of you pests."
As he drew near, a large shadow loomed over him from behind. His eyes grew wide, as a a sinister voice cackled behind him, "Ya want a beast? Well dear... allow me to be a gracious guest, and give ya exactly what ya desire."
Lucille, her mouth twisted ear to ear, claws fully extending from her fingertips, and her fur bristling, stared with eyes glowing an intensely icey blue. Licking her lips greedily, she lunged upon the wizard, drawing her head back, before sinking her teeth into his neck and shoulder with a sickening crunch.
Behind them Duke writhed as his body remained in it's warped form, growling and struggling to remain as himself. It were as though he couldn't find his way back. He looked up at Heart, struggling to get up. He managed to get half up as Heart wrapped her arms around him, kneeling before him as she did.
"It-...It's okay Duke, listen to me..." Heart begged him while trying to get her own magic to wake up to help him.
Duke held onto her, trembling as he listened to her, "You're my thief...stay with me...please...I'll be your anchor as you are mine..."
As her hand caressed the back of his neck and head he began to shift back. The first sign of this being that she felt his feathers that made up his hair. His clawed hands reverted back as they gripped her tightly, his bulked up muscles in his arms and torso transferred back to his lean frame, the fangs went away as he breathed rapidly, as did the scales that broke away to reveal his feathers beneath his torn stealth suit. At last he gasped for pained breath as he embraced her as tightly as he could, "Heart...?"
She hugged him as he knelt before her still, "I love you Duke."
"I love ya too," he breathed before looking into her eyes as they transitioned back to how he knew them. With a smile he got to his feet and pulled her up and close to him.
Lucille looked up from her gruesome meal, having her fill for the moment. Wiping her mouth, she brought herself up from what remained of the warlock. Looking at the two lovebirds, Stryx quickly approached her, "Madame... I believe there is something we simply need to talk about when we arrive home..."
Duke's body resisted from exhaustion at first as he stood with Heart. As he held her close to him he whispered desperately in a way to her, "I will always stay with ya love."
He then walked Heart over towards their two allies. Both of their stealth suits torn up into near rags. Yet then Duke paused as he looked to a fatigued Heart beside him. With Stryx standing behind him looking up at Lucille, Duke looked to Heart before giving a swift heart felt bow as he took her by the hand and kissed it. Heart felt her core ignite as her magic came rushing back.
Suddenly around them the fortress began to crumble and Heart quickly forced a hand outward, creating a portal for the four of them to run through. Duke swept her up in his arms quickly ans hurried through to find a midnight blanketed Anaheim on the other side. The two followed after, leaving the defeated warlock behind.
As the fortress collapsed, and the portal closed, his hand began to twitch, as he looked up, the color drained from his skin, and his eyes glowing green with hatred.
Back in the mundane world, Lucille and Stryx took a deep breath, before turning towards their friends. Lucille, clearing her throat, walked up towards the two. "Ah am dreadfully sorry about all that... Ah should've been more careful with the spellbook... but, at least now we are finished with that mess. Ah do hope our next outing is far less eventful than that."
Duke carefully set Heart down, but didn't step away as she grasped his arm for support.
"What matters is we're all safe, and his magic is eradicated," Heart said before looking up at Duke.
Duke then mentioned, "I think that spell was on me as soon as we got inside. I felt my core burnin', but nothin' happened until he forced it."
Heart looked away nervously, glancing at Lucille for a moment, before back at Duke.
"On the contrary.. Ah believe it was due to a bond between the two of you. Ya two are deeply linked, both emotionally and magically... now, Ah advise ya two go home. Ah fully intend on doing so. This has been enough adventure for one night for me..." Lucille said as she turned towards the owl, and gave a soft smile. "And Ah believe we have something to talk about... dear~"
Duke looked to Heart only slightly surprised by this point before smiling at her. Heart blushed a bit in response, only encouraging him to lift her back up into his arms despite his taxed body. He then gave an encouraging smile to Stryx and gave a nod of thanks for his help, "Good luck friend."
The owl nodded, as the two of them walked off into the night... and in the distance, Duke and Heart could see Lucille pulling the owl close to her side, pressing him against her large figure.
They smiled watching their friends before Duke turned to carry Heart safely home. Their teammates were relieved to see them return mostly intact and listened to their adventure. As they explained Duke noticed Heart looking up at him as they sat with the others around them.
"It seems somethin' has manifested within me Heart from your magic," Duke mentioned, "Whether directly from your will or from simply bein' with ya over time, it kept me safe so I could fond ya."
Heart smiled as he then pulled her close to him on the sofa they sat on. He then lifted her up once more as he carried her towards their room.
"Duke?" Heart asked while clinging to him. "Yes love?" He answered softly while he stepped carefully while carrying her.
He felt her cling to him in a way.
"Stay with me?" She begged softly, "No matter what it takes?"
Duke paused in his steps as he looked over her with a sweet smile, "Of course darlin'. Why do ya-?"
Flashes from the fight ran through them both, and he knew why.
He looked into her sapphire eyes and smiled, "Even through this we stayed connected sweetheart. An' even like that I heard an' felt ya. Thank you for stayin' with me."
He hugged her impossibly tight as she embraced him in turn, "I love ya so much my fair maiden, an' I will stay with ya no matter what it takes."
He then continued to carry her as though they were on a fairytale as she answered him lovingly before reaching up to kiss him, "I love you too my noble thief."
