Monsters & Demons
Rated M
Genre: Drama & Adventure
Summary:
When Tori arrived at Hollywood Arts, she knew things wouldn't be the same. Little did she know that she and her friends would find themselves wound into more than teenage drama. Jade thought all she had to worry about was her status being threatened. Does Trina finally have a true friend? A trio of newcomers shows up, bringing along more than the gang bargained for. Homework and plays don't sound so bad anymore.
A/N:
Buckle up kiddies!
This is going to be a long chapter! There was no way to separate things without it impacting the story dramatically so I just went ahead and decided to post as is. The next chapter or two will carry the conclusion of this arc as well.
I hope you enjoy and thank you to those who've supported this story thus far! Love you guys and see ya next time.
Chapter 28: Timeless
Lying in 'her bed', Tori Vega simply stared at the ceiling in complete silence. To most, she would be viewed as the model resident; the type who truly sought rehabilitation and was willing to do whatever was necessary to attain it.
However, the truth was a bit less pleasant as the girl's face remained blank, frozen in an unreadable expression that prevented anyone from knowing what was truly on her mind. One could argue that she had been lobotomized the way she currently was acting. The sounds of birds chirping managed to catch her attention, made evident when she slowly (and creepily) cut her gaze towards them without so much as moving a single muscle.
She wanted to smile and get a closer look at the adorable grasshopper sparrow but, for some reason, she couldn't bring her body to respond to her mind's instruction, at least not right away. There was a major delay in her body's reaction speed as she somehow managed to turn over, albeit at a snail's pace, only for the sparrow to fly off literally a second later. Disappointed, the teen closed her eyes, mentally sobbing at how little she could accomplish since being kidnapped.
How long have I been like this?! she screamed.
Had it been months? Days? Weeks?
Despite her condition, time held no meaning as she pondered the only thing that mattered: She needed to get out of this place.
It was all Tori could think about after being taken. She couldn't stomach the idea of spending another day in this insane asylum but first, she had to find a way to avoid being drugged again before anything else could be enacted. As if on cue, she heard the door to her room open and a pair of footsteps entering inside.
"It seems our little patient's awake," a chipper tone that drove the Latina mad filled her sound holes as she felt a pair of hands flip her onto her back. She didn't remain that way for long as she was assisted by none other than Beck Oliver into a sitting position where she saw the owner of the infuriating voice: Ahrya. "I hope your stomach is feeling better."
"You... Where is...?"
"It appears the sedatives are affecting your speech. It would be a shame if we have to isolate you from our other patient."
Another patient? She couldn't be talking about...!
"You must be hungry." her stomach replied for Tori, groaning spitefully. "All you have to do is take your happy pills and you can get some yummy food." the girl taunted. "No medicine, no food..."
"Where... Where is... Travis?"
"I must apologize, Tori. My 'brother' will be joining us in due time."
Despite her strength being drained, the Latina mustered enough to glare fiercely at her captor. Ahrya met the malicious glower with a challenging one of her own, daring the weakened girl to strike. Only the gentle tap from Beck managed to break the visual war.
"What would you have me do now?" he inquired with a wooden tone that troubled Tori significantly. "Should I force feed her?"
"That won't be necessary, beloved. We'll just give her some time for her to contemplate her decision. I'm sure she'll come around before the big show."
Ahrya flipped her hair as she sashayed to the door, planting a kiss that went unreciprocated by Beck and leaving Tori to piece the puzzle together.
The door slammed shut, causing her muscles to flinch slightly as a result. Several minutes passed by when the realization finally hit her. First, she tried blinking, a simple task with an equally easy result. afterward, she focused on individual limbs including her fingers only to find that they too would begin to respond after a bit of effort and concentration.
Jade's somewhere in this creepy place. she grunted, rubbing her sore head. That means Liam and Travis will both be coming!"
Such a thought would've been comforting, but Tori knew better than that. This was nothing more than a trap set up for the boys by the vengeful Ahrya and, along with Jade, the two were threats to whatever this plot was being conjured. On top of that, it appeared that, with the actions committed with Beck, Robbie was merely a pawn in her game as well.
It took nearly half an hour, but Tori would find the use of her arms and neck were becoming more fluent in each attempt at movement.
I have to get out of here!
Just outside of her room, the hallways of the facility echoed from an incensed Ahrya and silent Beck's footsteps.
"I'll have that bitch's head on a plate!" she snapped, not caring who might hear her at the moment.
"Do you think it wise to get so worked up by a mere mortal woman?"
She turned to meet the calm stare of her controlled 'lover', sensing something a bit off with the boy. After summoning him, Beck was to be nothing more than a puppet for her personal use. Her mastery of spells and hexes should've kept him silent unless spoken to.
"You're not with me to think," she spun around, facing her classmate and secret lover.
Taking his shirt collar firmly in her clutches, Ahrya pulled him down to her level until her mouth claimed his own hungrily, nipping at his decadent lips every so often as if he was her last meal. The two held their position in the middle of the empty corridor until the need for oxygen became far too great for either to go without any longer.
There was no love behind the gesture, only pure lust personified as the flustered teen grazed her thumb over her plush lips.
"You're with me for my utmost pleasure. Understand?"
"As you wish."
The evening sky began to fade out of existence over the city of Los Angeles, engulfing the city in a blanket of blue-green hue. Given it was the weekend, the streets were abuzz with citizens and tourists alike looking to take in everything the seedy nightlife has to offer.
Celeste sat in the passenger's seat while Cecilia drove in silence, watching the mood of the area and, to a lesser extent, hearing the blaring horns bombarding her ears from all sides; it was clear that she wasn't a huge fan of the big city life. Whether it was the two-bit hustlers or the surplus of escorts soliciting potential clients, she began to wonder how her son was ever able to survive this part of town.
Despite this, there was one thing that troubled the elder woman even more than the annoying sounds. Her attention then settled on her youngest behind her.
So many questions filled her head as the tense silence continued to smother the vehicle's occupants despite the cool breeze flowing inside After showing up practically at his doorstep, they all shared the information they'd gathered about the current dilemma. In a family divided through corruption and betrayal, such wounds demanded time to heal.
Unfortunately, time was a luxury that they didn't have.
Celeste wouldn't be alone with the weight of estrangement. Cecilia did her best to watch the road, following the directions given by the elder. However, her eyes would casually drift to the rearview mirror.
There, she would find Travis staring out of the window at traffic.
She felt his wrath boiling despite his calm exterior, but his gaze would always betray him every time. The blood of Esu carried with it a fiery vengeance that longed to burn asunder any who crossed the Orisha.
Imagine such a power dwelling within a teenager.
"How much farther, Kataleya?"
"Take a left and we'll be on the trail that'll lead to the location."
The younger woman sat in between the boys, keeping a close watch over them as the vehicle followed the lone route. She worried for both Travis and Liam, but even worse, she pondered their fates. With the final match set, she was certain that the fate of the tribes would rest on either of their shoulders.
"Is this the place?"
All eyes fell on the spooky property that lodged a large mental facility. While this alone was enough to send one running for the hills, the aura of horror was accentuated by the mysterious figures wearing strange white markings on their bodies and faces.
Noticing their ceremonial garb, it was clear that this rescue mission would be treated as the final stage for Ahrya's and Jibola's twisted game.
The facility was built like a miniature estate that was formerly used as a cushy rehabilitation center for D-list celebrities who wanted to feel more important than they were. If one were to make a comparison, the entire property somehow reminded the lone male of a similar place in one of his comic books which didn't make him feel any better as Cecilia slowed the car just a few feet from the main gate.
"We're going on foot from this point on..." she announced while trying her best to ignore the stares from the various tribesmen and women.
The main gate was rather rusty and outfitted with two gargoyles on either side of the entrance, giving it a ghostly feel. It did nothing to dissuade Liam nor Travis as they pressed on past it, not paying attention to whether or not the others were close behind him. The only thing that mattered now was getting revenge.
The amount of hatred radiating from the pair only strengthened with each step down the dirt path, passing the Orisha members. With a ferocious glare, Travis went down every possible outcome, and the only one that gave him any form of comfort was ripping off the heads of those he once considered to be his family.
Like him, Liam's focus was on nothing else except rescuing Jade and making her captors pay.
Destroy them all...
Liam's soul flared with bloodlust.
Leave no soul unpunished...
Travis felt his lips tug back, revealing sharp canines along the corners of his mouth.
Even with their differences, both silently agreed that this game had gone on for far too long and a conclusion would have to be made. One way or another, this was coming to an end, neither denying their true intentions. The helpless mothers remained silent as they watched their offspring giving in to the demands of their scorned ancestors.
END THEIR MISERABLE EXISTENCE!
"AGANJU/ESU!"
The boys turned around to find Kataleya shattering the tense quiet. With fists clenched, she stomped toward the two with no hesitation. Fear held no grip on her for she forsook the ancient ways long ago.
"What? We're wasting time!"
"I truly understand, Neve," he felt a warm hand placed on his shoulder prompting him to peer into the eyes of the older woman, portals of love acting as a river of tranquility for his chaotic soul. "I know you'd do anything you could to rescue Jade. That being said, you mustn't throw everything away in pursuit of your mission. You're much more intelligent than that."
"But I..."
"Remember Yerba...!" Liam stood there for a moment, staring at her before turning to see the elder women nodding in agreement. "You and Travis care for your significant others; there's no denying the obvious, even if we wanted to. But, you mustn't be blinded by your emotions that you recklessly charge in and abandon your plan."
"I hate to admit it," Travis pinched the bridge of his nose. "But she's right."
Liam chuckled bitterly as an acknowledgment of his rival's revelation.
"So, what's the plan?" Kataleya beamed at the teens.
Turning around, the five stared at the house of horror, each with their brand of determination fueling their motivation.
"We're going to go inside and split up," Liam chewed the inside of his jaw lightly, choosing his next words very carefully. "Travis and I will search for Tori and Jade. Aunt Kataleya, I assumed you have your own goal for being here or were you truly here for moral support?"
"There's my smart Neve! True, I'm here to provide backup, but... I'm also here to take down the one called Jibola. He's currently a diplomat here in America but, I'm covert so it's off the books. I'm here on recon to shut down his operations."
"We'll be joining you..." Celeste stepped in. "Cecilia and I have a personal vendetta with this usurper."
"Alright. Then, let's go."
"Are we comfortable Ms. West?"
The deep voice of Jibola thinly veiled the smugness adorning his words. He was dressed in a sleek dark suit that fit him quite well, the perfect contrast to Jade's current garb. Her hair was all over the place and her earlier bonds were replaced by a dirty straightjacket that further added to her feral look.
She'd been thrown through the wringer as dark marks embellished her face; no doubt it was Ahrya's doing.
Her silence did little to intimidate the patriarch, though her evil stare was nothing to take lightly.
"You must forgive me for the rather unorthodox wardrobe change but, it was for your good."
Jade tugged at the sleeves that kept her limbs secured around her torso.
"I'd be a bit more comfortable if you'd let me out of this thing..." she returned in a mockingly sweet tone. "It's a bit tight around my chest and it's difficult to breathe."
"We both know that's not happening," Jibola roared in laughter. "If you had just been a good little girl, you wouldn't be in this dreadful place, to begin with. You shouldn't have tried to escape so many times..."
"What can I say," Jade sneered. "I've never been one for conformity and rules." She expected her captor to become angered, the raven-haired girl was surprised to find her chuckling.
"You're correct, hence the reason you're here while your significant other is in a more pleasant situation while you get to enjoy the loony bin. I'd say that you'd make for a good ally if you weren't so stubborn."
"Call it my charm..." she spat a glob of sanguine at him.
Just like her! The resemblance is uncanny...
"Whatever you call it, it does little to help you, Ms. West." The man began to make his departure but stopped short of the threshold. "Even the raven must learn that the spider is it's superior when it is grounded. Your friend has accepted this truth and it's only a matter of time before the lion and tiger succumb to the venom of its tiny master."
"Why are you doing this?" she swallowed, her dry throat feeling like needles.
"I'm sure you've learned of the feud between the lion and tiger clans," his lips twisted upward with demented glee, signaling that there was more to what Jade knew. "However, the folk tales only know what was written. Like with many stories, there is much more to the bad blood between the warrior and assassin clans. Aganju and Esu were both the best of the Orisha tribes which made them a threat to my people."
"Anansi's spider clan?"
"Yes. My ancestors, great as they would be, were seeking to conquer many regions of Africa. Unfortunately, such dreams would remain fantasy should the clans remain united. Esu's army was ruthless with love and passion for his fellow brothers and siblings while Aganju gladly took out high-ranking targets of their enemies to ensure victory."
"Long story short," Jade cut in, wincing from her painful throat. "You needed to eliminate them to take the throne for yourself."
"Yes. Your ancestor was instrumental in Anansi's plot. When Aganju fell for that pale warrior, it was the perfect time to strike. My clan gave the word of his 'betrayal' and he would be pushed into exile soon after. Esu, without the calm of his brother to balance his fire, would sate himself in the heart of battle until it became his only love and he too would be driven out in disgrace as a bloodthirsty monster, cursed to follow in the traitorous demon's shadow."
The hammer had been dropped, and with everything revealed, she couldn't shake off the web of darkness that threatened to suffocate her.
"My ancestor? You're not talking about that reincarnation shit, are you?"
"Of course not, child. I'm merely stating that your soul carries the same courage as Revna herself. Your friend above is no different as the panther spirit rests firmly in her heart. It's what caught the eye of Esu, restoring his passion for more than blood. Unfortunately, that light will soon be extinguished and the spider clan will continue to reign supreme."
"And what of me and Tori? Our friends?!" she growled, darkness filling her azure orbs with hatred and smoldering rage.
Before crossing the threshold, Jibola gazed over her shoulder, her eyes resting on a sight that truly made his blackened heart fill with glee.
"Perhaps, they'll be kept as pets for the age to come?"
With the plan underway, Liam decided he'd check out the east wing, insisting that Travis search the upper floor. His footsteps were the only ones accompanying him as he trekked through the various corridors in search of either girl. He wasn't sure why, but a part of him hoped that he wouldn't run into any trouble.
With the threat of the battle looming over him, he needed to be alone with his thoughts right now.
He pressed on for a few more minutes, finding nothing other than a flight of stairs that would lead him to the basement level. Looking over his shoulder, he headed down, cautiously watching for any traps or attacks. To his surprise, he'd find none, only a single hall that was dimly lit with dim orange lights that made it look like something from a stereotypical horror movie. Liam wasn't one to be shaken so easily and ventured deeper inside unaware that he was being followed by someone.
With each room he passed, he spared a look inside through the glass window but, there was no sign of either Jade or Tori in any of them. This caused him to feel a bit dejected as well as anxious to the point of wanting to turn around and check the other wing with the others. He wasted little time in shaking those thoughts out of his mind. He wasn't going to give up until he was sure they weren't there.
"Just how far does this damn hall go?" he groaned as his shoulder slumped.
He regretted asking this as he was stopped by a dead end that split off into two separate directions. Glaring at the wall, he pondered which way to go when a familiar sensation radiated from within.
Left...
Right.
Forward.
He wandered down the corridors, reaching another flight of steps that ended at a door that read: Dangerous Patients.
Somehow, he knew he was on the right track. Though his gut trembled at the prospect of what he may find, Liam pressed onward with his head on a swivel with each step.
The walk took several minutes but, Liam was finally rewarded for his troubles with a brightly lit room that looked like some form of a rec room for the residents to move around and exercise. It certainly was big enough to be used for that purpose. He squinted until his eyes became adjusted to the frequency of the fluorescent bulbs above, just in time to see something, or rather someone that was all too familiar to him.
Upon further inspection, he realized his vision wasn't deceiving him at all.
"Beck?" he choked, eyes wide in amazement. "What are you doing here?!"
He was greeted by a blank stare that hid the cry for help behind them.
"Welcome, Aganju..."
Two pairs of eyes remained secured on one another; confusion vs veiled guilt. Hearing him, Liam could tell that his voice was not his own but a construct of subjugation.
That only works if a hex has been on for an extensive amount of time! he grits his teeth. How long has she had you in her web, Beck?
Of all the people he presumed he'd run into, Liam had to confess to himself that Robbie Shapiro wasn't remotely close on that list. Now, here he stood in the extensively large white room several dozen feet from the retired ventriloquist who was relaxing with lanky legs crossed, giving off the impression that he'd been meditating or just contemplating something significant up until his arrival.
Now, two friends watched each other, the tense stillness surrounding them proving to be the perfect component to spark an all-out war of attrition.
"What did she...?"
"You're here for Jade, correct?"
A vein protruded behind Liam's temple from hearing that name, but he managed to regain his cool before his emotions could claim full control of his actions. It didn't take a genius to feel the contempt spilling through the boy's pores at the mere remark of the goth. He shut his eyes, not wanting to reveal what was behind his portals, his lips parting just enough for him to release the breath he'd been holding in all this time.
"If you know why I'm here," his words were crisp as the frigid arctic. "Then you know what I'm willing to do to get her back!"
"Yet, you hesitate?"
Liam was no fool, knowing the truth behind Beck's words, or were they her words pouring from his mouth? As if on cue, he was gifted the answer when a dark cloud swirled around the boy. His eyes were no longer a deep brown, replaced by an inky violet.
"Guess it's safe to say that you're not letting me go past freely?" he narrowed his eyes, cautiously analyzing his foe.
"You have a lot of nerve!"
"What are you talking about?" Another chorus of cackles echoed within the room, further cementing Liam's suspicions.
"It was you..." Beck whispered, letting the smoky energy coat his skin, turning it a stone-hued gray. "No matter how much patience I showed. No matter how many times I took her back. Every time, deep down, her heart was always with you!"
Now it made sense to the young man. Whatever was used to control him, it was feeding on Beck's insecurities, and regarding the power released from his body, there was plenty to sustain the entity. When the transformation, Liam wondered if he'd been trapped in an anime. But this was no satisfying moment.
Whatever Beck's coping mechanism was, it was at its breaking point and Ahrya was exploiting this to the fullest advantage.
"Dammit, Beck..."
"SPARE THIS ONE YOUR PITY!" the entity erupted, taking full control of his friend. With a psychotic grin that morphed Beck's face into an almost unrecognizable way, the creature pointed to a single door behind him. "All this one wants is to make you feel the pain you wrought on him! But, this one is fair too! The one you seek is right through that door hehehehe! Locked in her cage like a good little monster, with the prettiest muzzle on to boot! Isn't that lovely?!"
Liam's eyes widened in horror at the arrogance, his mind screaming with a surge of rage beginning to course throughout his veins. Fists clenched so tightly, you could see his knuckles turning several shades lighter. Limbs shivered as each second ticked on, thoughts of what he wanted to do to the cocky string bean in front of him.
It was obvious that he was being baited but, his heart didn't care at that moment as his lips pulled back into a full-out snarl rivaling any carnivorous beast you'd expect to find in the wild.
This didn't phase Beck as he adjusted his glasses, his demented smile never dropping. All he desired was to see Liam lose control, giving him the opening he needed. Gone was any degree of self-control as Liam charged him with malicious intent.
All is according to plan!
"Shut your damn mouth!" Wrath-fueled tears glistened as Liam pulled his fist back, preparing to inflict as much pain as he could muster on his unapologetic adversary.
As the distance grew smaller between the two, Beck didn't bother to move out of the way, instead choosing to hold out his hand to capture the enclosed hand in his palm without much difficulty. Being in a blind rage, Liam pulled away from the surprisingly strong grip and opted for a more aggressive approach.
Liam landed on the ground roughly only to spin for a sweep, missing Beck who had simply taken a step back to avoid the hard-hitting attack.
He charged with a roar like a bull.
Beck sidestepped, twirling around like a graceful dancer to lunge at his wild yet, predictable opponent. Liam narrowly dodged one flying fist, only to collide with an open palm that connected with his right shoulder.
Staggering back, he immediately felt something was wrong as he attempted to go on the defensive.
As he lifted his right limb to cover up, he'd realize that something didn't feel right, like he was losing the feeling in it. Confused, he didn't have long to ponder the state of the injured body part before leaping back from a swipe from his possessed opponent. The effects of the blow quickly drained the adrenaline from his 6'1" frame.
Block. Back off. Keep his distance.
Those were his only choices for the time being while his head tried to come up with a better plan.
Avoidance was simple, but it couldn't last forever. Soon, he'd either have to go on the offensive or he'd become too fatigued from all the running and dodging. Minutes passed with no contact, and Liam felt pressure emanating from all sides, a nearly audible chant ringing in his head: punch-kick-strike-hurt-something. He had to do something, if not for his sake, for Jade's.
"What are you doing?! Is this what that bitch left me for? A pathetic coward?!"
From the insults to his irritating cackle, Liam was truly feeling lower than dirt as he picked himself up.
Growling, the dark-skinned boy jumped in the air extending his leg out for a kick only to have that block with ease as well. This was only a ploy as he expected Beck to side-step the attack, opening himself for a second move. However, Liam would feel a crunching thud across his cheek that sent him sliding several feet across the crowd into the far left wall of the rec room. The thud his body made from connecting with the wall drove all of the air from his lungs along with a bit of blood.
What the hell? How is he so fast?
With no reply, Liam coughed up some more blood as a fist gripped his shirt collar. His body soon smashed into a wall after being tossed, this time leaving behind a lifesized cavity as he fell onto the floor, staining the white tile with splattered specks of crimson.
The boy's breathing was unsteady, one of the minor testaments of the damages he sustained up to this point. As he struggled once more to regain his footing, Robbie was given a better view of the destruction inflicted.
"This is boring..." he heard Beck lament, yawning dramatically in such a way that was uncharacteristic of the normal him. "She said you were stronger than this and yet, I just don't get it."
Black and blue markings adorned his face from the blows that caught him flush and his left eye had some signs of swelling.
Add to that the unknown extent of internal injuries and, one could assume the fight was over before it even got started. Seeing the pitiful display of Liam trying to get to his feet, only to repeatedly drop in a crumpled heap, Beck, or whatever was possessing him, figured that finishing him off was beneath him.
"You're not even worth it..." the contemptuous glare bore into the fallen male's soul like a sharpened knife to the neck. "I guess I can let you die on your own, like the wounded dog you are."
This time, Liam paused, forcing himself to think past his burning lungs. That voice... The tone didn't belong to the spirit in control anymore but to that of a former living man, no, a monster that pushed him to his limit long ago. The monster who threatened Jade's life in Yerba. Igor...!
His head swam with the hellish laugh while his eyes caught the vision of the beast standing behind the possessed Beck. Soon the world around them grew black as he struggled to stay conscious.
"Is this the welp who beat me so bad, that I nearly took my own life after he escaped?!" Igor bent over with a mocking sneer. "This can't be the one who carried a soul even darker than my own! Pathetic! I can't accept defeat to a miserable punk like you!"
Liam knew better than to think of the construct as real.
This was merely a hallucination, one that knew every aspect of him in mind, body, and spirit.
"You'd like to believe that I'll die from this... isn't that right?"
"It seems fitting... Just like you left me that night. Why are you so sloppy? This child should be light-work!"
"He's..."
"Possessed? A worthless excuse, boy."
"He's right," such a confession caught Igor off guard, silencing him for a moment. "Every time Jade and I have been around each other, bad things have happened! From our childhood to school trips to Yerba, and especially now! It's like I'm cursed!"
Igor frowned softly, his one eye casting pity for his conqueror.
"Maybe... Maybe she should've stayed with Beck, then none of this would have happened..."
"You don't know that."
Liam looked up, finally noticing the rare gesture on the man's face.
"What are you talking about?"
"There is no certainty that she would have avoided these terrible things. The only thing that would be assured is your absence. The boys who tried to harm her would have succeeded that day. The trip to my country would've been booked regardless, only without you there to protect her during the failed escape."
"She could have escaped with the others..."
"She would've met the same fate that night, brat!" Igor finally erupted, his fiery tone returning to extinguish the candles of the boy's pity cake. "She would have been caught; Tortured at MY hand until she either gave us information or died in the process! Your will to aid her was the difference. Even when you left, she found you through grit and determination! Does that mean NOTHING to you?!"
Liam rose to a knee, digesting all that Igor threw at him. Not a lie was told, whether he felt worthy of it or not, Jade gifted him her loyalty and heart...
"...something not easily given, correct?" the boy bowed his head. "Then, you are responsible for upholding the honor of her sacrifice. Am I clear?"
"Yeah..."
"Good. Now, man up and defeat this amateur! Stop quarreling with emotions and carry the warrior spirit that lives in you!"
Rise!
Liam grunted, pushing past the sharp agony coursing through his body. This surprised the shade that'd driven Beck's body all this time.
Fight!
One deep breath led to another, the beginnings of clearing his mind.
WIN!
"How are you still standing?!" it screeched, anger mixing with apprehension.
Rather than answering, the exhausted Liam merely stepped forward, ready to start round two. Unexpectedly, his even demeanor frightened the creature, making him step back. This continued for a bit, much to Liam's amusement, but only long enough to see what'd happened since returning to a vertical base.
"You're nothing more than a scared little puppy, aren't you?"
"You dare mock me?! Look at the wounds I inflicted on you before! Does that look like something a puppy could do?"
To indulge 'Beck', Liam spared a moment to notice the bruises all over his arms and face. True, the pain was still there but, by now, it'd begun to lessen. With a crack of his neck, a calm gaze met the trepidation behind his friend.
"I have to say, I felt more pain from another mortal in my last fight..." he shrugged. "If your attacks are paling to that of a human, I think you might need to go back and get some training in the afterlife."
"What?!"
"I mean, you did have eternity to get strong and this is the best you could do? Preying on emotions and weak counterattacks?"
"They still hurt you!"
"That says more about how unkempt my technique was before. I apologize for not giving you the best of me. Shall we try again?"
Liam then stretched out his hand, leaning on his back foot with the faintest traces of a cocky grin beginning to form. The entity within Beck was losing its mind; How dare this mortal turn the tables on him?! He was a former member of the Spider clan, skilled in taking down his enemies from the inside! No mortal, let alone a child was going to defeat him.
"I will have your head to mount on my master's wall!"
Beck ran at his impaired opponent with bloodlust oozing from every pore. Gone was his strategy to break the boy mentally, superseded by his unending thirst for victory. The shadows around his body began to morph into sharpened knives that would impale him from all sides. There was no way out! The warrior of Anansi had won this contest and would please his master's descendant.
"YOU CAN NOT ESCAPE! Any attempt will leave you run through like a kabob!"
And yet...
The dark tendrils hit nothing.
But, Liam's fingertips were firmly pressed against Beck's chest.
"You're right," emerald eyes glowed within the dark cocoon. "I couldn't escape. But, I wasn't trying to either."
"Wait... What?"
"You finally gave control back to my friend? Pity."
True to his word, the spirit had relinquished its consciousness back to Beck, choosing to hide in his soul once more. Liam wouldn't back down though, exhaling an undecipherable apology before a charge of lightning shot through the boy.
The pain was excruciating as evident by the scream that poured out of Beck's mouth. Liam still wouldn't relent, holding steady even when the spirit began to surface. Its branch-like arms reached for assistance that would never come. Its cry drowned out Beck who soon fell unconscious from the attack.
"PLEASE! I'M NOT READY TO-"
"Shut up, coward..."
A final surge ripped through the spirit before it began to vanish into dust, much to Liam's satisfaction. Though his left arm burned from the recoil, he was still pleased with the outcome. Beck's demon had been exercised, though he would need some therapy down the road.
"You owe me..." he huffed at the sleeping boy, grateful that he was still alive. "...and thanks, Dayo!"
Liam's mind recalled the battle with the Oya storm warrior who referenced their ability for cleansing magic. While he still had many questions about his blood abilities, they would have to wait as he stumbled through the door that would lead to his reason for being in this wretched place.
Despite his need to rest, Liam continued until he stood in front of a large metallic door. Being the only door in the hallowed corridor, this must've been his destination. His heart rate began to spike as he reached into his pocket, pulling out the white and blue security card.
As he brought it closer to the scanner, he felt himself trembling and hesitant to open it. He was about to rescue her from this accursed den of hell but was he prepared for what he'd find?
Saving Jade comes first... he chanted silently. Whatever happens after is out of my hands.
He took a deep inhale, closed his eyes, and then, swiped the card through the reader.
The sounds of several low beeps filled the corridor before one final beep and hissing combination informed the brother/sister duo that the door was unlocked. He wasted little time in opening the door, hoping to overpower the anxiety trying to claim control of his actions. Once more, bright lights made him squint until he grew accustomed to the level of brightness.
As he stepped inside, what he found nearly broke his heart.
Sitting in the middle of the room was Jade West, ensnared inside a straightjacket, and, true to Beck's claim, she was outfitted with a lunatic's muzzle.
Her hair was disheveled and her makeup was reduced to faded splotches under her eyes and cheeks. Her head was bowed slightly as if showing submissiveness to whoever entered this mind-numbing domain.
"Jade!"
She said nothing; at least nothing coherent as her only response was nothing more than random muttering. What did they do to her? When he reached out to embrace her, she jerked away almost immediately.
"Jade?" his throat hiccupped.
Shaken, the boy gingerly got to work undoing the wretched mouth guard and then the jacket that forced the unstable goth to hold herself.
Strap after strap, Liam wouldn't stop until the jacket was removed completely. He took it from her body and tossed it as far away as he could from her. Once he returned to her, finally he'd noticed the most glaring issue of them all.
Jade refused to look at him.
Every time he put himself in plain view of her, Jade would turn the other way or clench shut her eyes as if not wanting to accept the truth that sat not even a foot away from her.
"Jade, please."
"Don't hurt, please..."
Something was going on in her mind that refused to acknowledge Liam's existence. He then took in the sight of her bruises, hours old but still bright enough to reveal the impact of what she'd survived.
"Nobody's going to hurt you, Jade. It's me! I'm right here!"
"You're not real! It's my imagination!" she protested, shaking her head wildly. "They vowed to kill him."
Not wanting to believe this, Liam took Jade's hand, forcing her to finally look up at him. "You can feel me, Jade!"
This would prove to be a mistake on his part as Jade ripped away from him and then, in a wild exchange, managed to straddle the distraught boy with her hands firmly wrapped around his neck. This display of aggression exposed the extent of Jade's abuse.
"Don't touch me!" she roared with a mighty force. "Only he can touch me and she killed him!"
Feeling his air supply dwindling, he simply used enough force to loosen her hold enough to speak.
"If I'm dead, then how are you (gasp) choking me (cough) right now?"
While she didn't want to listen, this supposed illusion made a valid point. Here she was, fingers pressing against jugular veins while her body was resting on top of someone.
What made things even weirder was the obvious question: How could a psychological construct remove her straightjacket?
Jade sat there, her grip not getting any tighter yet, still staying firm as she contemplated one final thing. In her mind, no matter how real the illusion, she could close her eyes only to find herself back in her previous position. She'd envisioned images of Liam rescuing her, but each time proved to be nothing more than a construct due to forced medication and hallucinations.
This time shouldn't be any different, right? She'll just close her eyes and end this mental torture. Following up on her decision, the siblings watched as she gingerly closed her eyes and patiently waited for whatever was about to ensue after. All Liam could do was wait as she took a deep breath.
"3..." she whispered.
"...2..."
Her throat hitched as if fear had its grip on her throat.
"...1."
Opening her eyes very slowly, Jade scouted her environment, unsure of what to make of what she was witnessing. The door was wide open though neither Ahrya nor her father was there.
No signs of Beck or Shapiro either.
She then noticed that she was able to move her limbs freely. Never before had she been so thankful to see and feel her fingers wiggling around. She marveled at the sight, like a child receiving a brand new toy.
"I'm free?"
"Yeah..." she heard the male voice wheeze out.
Jade halted her bodily inspection to finally remember she was sitting on top of someone. Taking her time to revel in the voice, Jade crawled off of the boy, refusing to even look at him until he was finally able to sit up. Even then, she screwed her eyes shut, unable to handle the reality of who was there.
"Jade? Ayaba?"
His words dripped from his lips like honey, sweet and soothing to her but, there was a stinging in her heart to go along with that feeling. She shook her head violently at first, embarrassed at everything.
"I'm sorry..." her tone was no louder than a whimper, something she deemed deservingly pathetic; just like her. Soon, those words became the only thing she seemed capable of saying. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry..."
What Jade didn't expect was a sudden warmth engulfing her smaller frame.
Unlike the last time, he didn't rush her and as a result, she didn't tense up. Her eyes shot apart in confusion as he whispered something in her ear. It was something that she never thought needed to be said but, she was hearing it as clear as day itself.
"I'm sorry, my dragon..."
Separating, she finally gathered the courage to look at him, his portals revealing nothing but the truth that she so anxiously craved ever since she was forced to endure this hellacious ordeal.
Emerald.
Sapphire.
Harmony.
"Liam..." her lip quivered. "How did you...? Did you win or...?"
Not wanting to prolong her suffering, he nodded and smiled with tears staining his cheeks in the process.
"You come first, Jade. For now, we need to get you out of here."
"Wait... We?"
"I'll explain everything later, but just know that I didn't come alone. For now, hop on my back."
Though she wanted to protest further, the pain shooting through her made its presence felt. She silently obliged and took her position, marveling at how strong he still was after everything. She rested her head on his shoulder, allowing her mind to drift back to a time when such an act was before they'd become a couple. The laughter and jokes that followed were mandatory and yet, this moment seemed to have something that wasn't there before.
Protection.
She never had to doubt that Liam cared for her nor did she ever question his motives. She wouldn't start now either, drifting off a bit as he gingerly carried her. However long it took, she cared not. All that mattered was that this unofficial test proved something that Jibola had mentioned earlier.
They were the reason the other couldn't quit.
No amount of torture or psychological attacks would change that. But, there was something that triggered her curiosity as they traveled to the upper floor.
"I love you, Aganju..."
"I love you too, Revna."
