Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom, Stargate SG-1, Reign, or anything else I reference.
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Gifts and Promises
"Where am I?" Danny asked as he found himself sitting at a table.
"We have come to talk with you." The man sitting in front of him wearing a cloak over his face said.
"Who is we?" Danny asked as he stood up and took a look around the room. There were no windows around them. No sign of where they could be. The only light was hovering above them. that covered the entire room.
"My name is Marik and I represent a tribe that wants to improve the world from what it is now." Marik said.
"Why not approach me when I am awake? If you can contact me in my sleep, then I am sure that you know where I am staying?" Danny asked.
"This is the only way we could speak to you without Qetsiyah interfering." Marik said. If they approached him anywhere else Qetsiyah would be aware and send her witches to spy. They were not ready for a fight with her yet.
"What do you wish to tell me?" Danny asked.
"I think that we can work together. Qetsiyah and her ilk have prevented us from improving the world. They want the people to struggle, suffer, and die when we could do so much more to help them." Marik said.
"I can understand the desire to see the world and know that you can help and make it better." Danny asked. "What I do not understand is why you have decided to ruin my sleep?"
"We want to show you a new path. One that can lead to power beyond your wildest dreams." Marik said.
"I assume that this 'power' you are referring to is Expression?" Danny asked. It was the latest topic he was researching after all. What Qetsiyah had warned him against.
"The witches would have you believe that it is a dark power but that is not the truth. They are just afraid. Afraid of what could happen if we take our rightful place." Marik said. The master would honor them with rewards for all of their work once they summoned him to this world.
'He sounds like a supervillain.' Danny thought to himself. "I thought that this was about helping the world?"
"You need power to bring safety and peace to the world. Words alone cannot help anyone." Marik said.
"Tell me more." Danny said. "If I helped you, what would I get out of this?" The part of him that was Vlad cautioned him against doing anything for free.
"When we summon the master, he will reward his chosen. We will rule continents in his name." Marik said.
"That sounds nice. There is just one problem with that." Danny said.
"What?" Marik asked confused.
"This planet is mine and I will not allow anyone to take it from me." Danny said as he used his power to lift Marik off of the ground and pulled the robes over his head. This was a mental space so it was not like he could do serious damage, but it still helped make a point.
"What are you doing?" Marik asked.
"Sending you and the other members of your cult a message. This world is mine. I won't allow you to summon some ancient demon to ruin it." Danny said as he started slamming Marik from one end of the room to the other.
"You will regret this. No one can stand against the master. He will take everything you love and smash it to dust." Marik promised.
"He has not gotten free yet in all this time, so I doubt I have much too fear." Danny sad.
Danny opened his eyes and looked at Queen Catherine sleeping next to him. 'Looks like I have found another group that I will have to destroy.' If nothing else the Earth had plenty of things to keep him entertained.
0-0-0-0-0-0
"Is something the matter?" Queen Catherine asked.
"I have a favor that I want to ask of you." Danny answered as he placed his cup down.
"How can I help you?" Queen Catherine asked as she turned from her papers to face him.
"I have recently gathered a new group of chefs and I wanted them to learn and gain experience. I was hoping that you could place a few in your kitchens." Danny said. He did not want to risk eating their food without proof that their memories and skills had been transferred to their current bodies. The people of this world would be a good testing group. Also, it would replace the cook he had taken from her and the one he would take from her.
"How many are we accepting?" Queen Catherine asked.
"I want you to take in four of them." Danny said. He intended to leave some with Queen Mary and Prince/King Francis in Scotland and drop the rest in England. The chefs from Totsuki specialized in Eastern food so it would be good for them to learn how to cook Western Ones as well.
"It will be done." Queen Catherine said. At least this way she would not have to worry about the cooks in the castle that would not attempt to poison her for their change in religion.
"I will have the four that I want sent down to the kitchens." Danny said. "May I borrow your throne room?" there were orders that he needed to give, and that room was good for dramatic purposes.
"You may use it as you wish." Queen Catherine said as she gave permission.
"Thank you." Danny said as he gave the queen a smile and walked to the throne room.
0-0-0-0-0-0
"I have a mission for you." Danny said sitting on King Henry's throne as he looked at the group. It was comprised of two Jaffa, two werewolves, and a vampire.
"We will fulfil any of your desires my king." Raios said as he kneeled alongside the others that were summoned.
"There has been another attack on a French village. I want you to find the culprits and bring them to me for judgment." Danny said. Many homes had been burned down and the survivors said that the attackers wanted them to spread the word. It could be the work of bandits taking advantage of the war, or it could be soldiers preparing for the invasion and making sure their morale was broken beforehand.
"We will make these criminals regret the day they committed a crime in your kingdom." Van'ya said. She had been raised for years to serve King Daniel and the goddess Nirrti and she refused to let them down.
"The five of you have been gathered to become a symbol that proves the different species can work together." Danny said as he stood up and moved from the throne. "That despite the differences between you that you can come together and take down the evil that tries to break our kingdom and kill our people." For now, that they were under his control that was what they were.
"We will move at once." Selene said.
She is the vampire of the group. She had been born fifty-four years ago but physically she looked eighteen. She was a member of Kol's bloodline, but her personality was a lot colder than the Original she descended from. She was trying to appear calm, but on the inside, she was radiating fear and anger.
"Good. Your supplies are in the Tel'tak that will take you to the village. Send reports regularly. I want to know how well you are getting along." Danny said and the group nodded and left him in the throne room. It was a simple mission to start them off. 'I wonder how their story will end?' He had yet to decide if it ended with them walking off into the sunset together or if they would die in a tragic manner that befitted heroes.
"I still do not agree on this." Qetsiyah said as she appeared in Queen Catherine's throne.
"I gathered the vampires because I wanted them organized. Right now, they fear me ending their line, but I want them to understand that serving me is better than the alternatives." Danny said.
"They will try to betray you." Qetsiyah said.
"It is likely to happen eventually. Do not worry so much. I will watch out for it." Danny said. It was well known that Vampires spent their centuries scheming for power and betraying others. "Have you found out anything about the man that hired the Englishmen to awaken Imhotep?" He doubted that it was Marik himself that hired them. If it was then that meant he was a low-level grunt. What was the point of being a villain if you did not have minions to do the jobs you found beneath you?
"The witches that practice expression knows spells that can conceal themselves from me and the others on the Other Side." Qetsiyah said.
"This is going to make things a lot harder." Danny said then though of something else. "Do you think that is the reason that you cannot find Mikael. Some witch used expression to hide him from you and the others?" There had to be some reason that despite months of searching that no one had found the last Original Vampire.
"It would be possible." Qetsiyah said. The Dark One would probably find the vampire species to be amusing pets. Stronger servants than humans and already attracted to the darkness.
"Does expression leave a trace?" Danny asked. If it was as dark as Qetsiyah claimed, then it had to leave something behind.
"Yes. The ground is marked with tainted energy. It takes centuries for the wound to heal." Qetsiyah said.
"Like Hammunaptra?" Danny asked remembering the feeling as he stood upon the sand.
"Yes. Many people have been sacrificed there. Their blood and their pain has soaked into the land leaving a scar that will take centuries to heal." Qetsiyah answered.
"Give me another location where there is still a trace." Danny said. He would record a sample of the energy and use his Jaffa to track down places and people that gave off the feeling.
"I will scour the earth for one." Qetsiyah said before disappearing.
'It is good that she is dedicated to this.' Danny thought to himself as he adjusted in the chair.
"My King this woman wants to talk to you." Iok said as he entered the throne room.
"Hello Lady Amelie." Danny said looking at the niece of Stephan Narcisse.
"I beg of you please do not kill my cousin." Lady Amelie pleaded as she fell to her knees.
"Your cousin is the one that challenged me." Danny said.
"He is a good man, but he follows his heart instead of his head and it leads him to trouble." Lady Amelie pleaded. She could not let this be another example of that. This sorcerer would torment her cousin in horrendous ways when he won. Luc did not deserve such a fate. Her uncle would never let this slide. Eduard was the oldest, but Luc was his favorite. It would start a war between her family and the sorcerer. She would do anything to save her family from his wrath.
"Let's talk about it. I am a kind king, and I would hate to cause such a pretty girl to cry." Danny said with a smile as he leaned back into King Henry's throne.
"I will do anything." Lady Amelie said as she looked up at the man before her. She expected that she would have to sleep with him. There were rumors around court how the sorcerer was a lustful beast that would go after anyone that stuck his fancy.
"Do me this one little favor and I promise you that I will not kill your cousin." Danny said.
"What is it that you wish of me?" Lady Amelie asked as she walked up to him.
"I want you to kidnap a cook." Danny said enjoying the confusion she was feeling.
"I do not understand." Lady Amelie said.
"You do not need to understand. All you need to know is that I want this cook. I would capture him myself but since you asked me not to kill your cousin this has become your task. Complete it and I will not kill him." Danny said as he put his knuckles next to his cheek and started tapping the throne with his free hand. He had been planning to deal with Cristophe for a while, but the urge had increased as he had recently killed a prostitute that had been working in Pam's brothel.
0-0-0-0-0-0
(Edinburgh, Scotland)
"Hello Kenna." Danny said as he pulled her in to a hug.
"I have been waiting to see you." Lady Kenna said as she wrapped her arms around him.
"How did you like your gift?" Danny asked as he looked at Kenna's dress. It was done in the Dinain style. A short golden top that revealed her stomach with a long lower part of the dress going down to cover her feet. There was a purple sash that went down from her shoulder and stooped a few feet above the ground. It matched the bracelet that was on her wrists.
"I love it." Lady Kenna said as she twirled around.
"How long do you plan on staying in Scotland?" Lady Kenna asked.
"I can stay for a while." Danny said. Queen Catherine could contact him if she needed help.
"That is wonderful." Lady Kenna said.
"I think we should go and see the King and Queen. I have some questions for them." Danny said as he and Lady Kenna started walking through the castle hallways and headed for the throne room. His servants were remaining behind at a respectable distance as they carried the gifts that he had brought for the pair.
"Kenna is there any place that you want to see or go?" Danny asked.
"You mean travel the world?" Lady Kenna asked.
"Yes, and beyond. I made promises to you that I want to keep." Danny said. There were lots of places that he had seen in memories that he wanted to go and see for himself. The mountains of Kattegat, the holy land of the Vikings Upsala, Stonehenge, The Native American tribes, and much more. There was no reason that she could not go with them.
"What about the war?" Lady Kenna asked.
"We will keep track but that did not mean we had to stay in one place." Danny said as they walked into the throne room.
"We welcome you to our court." Queen Mary said with a smile as she looked at King Danny.
"I am glad to see that you two are doing well." Danny said as he looked at her and King/Prince Francis on their thrones. The two of them looked happy but as he looked deeper into their minds and feelings, he could feel their worry. They were worried what he would do when he found out about the problems that they had been dealing with.
"We have only made it here thanks to your help." Queen Mary said.
"I knew that we could accomplish great things if we worked together." Danny said with a smile. No need to start things off with difficult conversations. That could wait for a better time.
"Is there anything that you might need?" Queen Mary asked.
"Has my estate been finished?" Danny asked.
"I am sad to inform you that your estate has yet to be completed." Queen Mary said.
"Sad but no great misfortune. I will need rooms for myself and servants." Danny said.
"They will be provided for to the best of our ability." King/Prine Francis said.
"I have brought gifts for the two of you." Danny said as Brit and La'mi came forward each holding a cage in their hands covered by a dark green cloth.
"Thank you but you did not need to buy us anything." Queen Mary said.
"Consider it a late wedding gift." Danny said as the Werewolf and the Jaffa walked to the thrones with the covered cages.
"What are they?" Queen Mary asked. She was expecting a rare type of bird.
"Something that will blow your minds." Danny said as he lifted the covers off of the cage and revealed what was inside. The eggs that had been taken from Dragonstone had been sent hatched and sent to Dinai. These were duplicates that Nirtti had cloned.
"What in the world?" King/Prince Francis asked as he stared at what was inside.
"I think the word that you are looking for is dragon." Danny said. There was one for each of them.
"Where did you find these?" Queen Mary asked. She had only heard of such creatures in stories.
"I know of a family that raises them. Try to think of them as giant fire breathing flying dogs. Treat them well and they will be loyal to you and your family." Danny said. He was going to have rumors start spreading through Europe that Queen Mary and King/Prince Francis were raising dragons to burn down those that stood in their way. It should cause their enemies to think twice about aiding Rome and England in their attack.
"What is required to feed them?" Queen Mary asked. This was a gift from king Daniel. There is no way she would turn it down. She was grateful he blessed them with such creatures.
"They like meat and they require their food to be burned before they eat them." Danny said. "I have a favor that I want to ask of you."
"We will do anything we can to help you." King/Prince Francis said.
"I have recently gotten new chefs and I want them to get used to western cooking. I would like you to let them observe how your cooks prepare their food." Danny said.
"We would be glad to help you." Queen Mary said.
"Thank you. Now can you have your servants lead my servants to where they will be sleeping for our stay. I would like them to get some rest while we eat." Danny said.
"Of course." King/Prince Francis said.
0-0-0-0-0-0
"How is Sage doing?" Danny asked as they sat at the dining table. They had gotten here rather late, so the cooking had already been done by Queen Mary and King/Prince Francis's cooks.
"She has been helpful in keeping the mercenaries in line." King/Prince Francis said. Sage was rather different from most of the women he knew back at French Court, but she was great at coordinating the men and keeping them in line.
"How is Scotland?" Danny asked before putting a slice of chicken in his mouth.
"There have been a few people unhappy with our changes but not enough to worry yourself over." Queen Mary said.
"I have heard you have been having trouble with John Knox." Danny said.
"He has his complaints, but we can handle it." Queen Mary said. She did not wish for King Daniel to feel the need to step in. If they were reckless and did anything overt than his followers would rise up as he became a martyr. It would be harder to fight a war with England if they had to deal with rebellions in Scotland.
"How is my father doing?" King/Prince Francis asked trying to switch topics.
"He is doing well. He is tired of defending Calias and wants to invade England." Danny answered.
"That sounds like my father." King/Prince Francis said.
"Does he need more soldiers?" Queen Mary asked.
"I doubt it. I have heard that he has recently called for your uncle to bring him more soldiers." Danny answered.
"My uncle the Duke of Guise?" Mary asked.
"Yes. It seems that he has been gathering men into an army for some time." Danny said before putting a strawberry in his mouth.
"Are you certain that we can trust him? My father banished him from court because of his desires?" King/Prince Francis asked. Christan De Guise was an ambitious and shrewd man. If there was some way to gain an advantage than the man would take it. It was why his father had banished him from court.
"I am keeping an eye on him. Speaking of which can you trust your council?" Danny asked. Sage was dealing with the soldiers and mercenaries. Making sure that they protected the borders and towns. Preventing English spies from sneaking in and causing trouble. He let the two of them choose their own council, but he wanted to make sure that they would not try anything.
"I would like to think so." Queen Mary said.
"But you are not certain." Danny said.
"They are resistant to the idea of changing their religion." King/Prince Francis said.
"This is why I sent Sage to help you." Danny said. To compel those that could be useful but were stubborn and to eliminate those that could become a problem.
"I do not want to steal the free will away from the members of my court." Queen Mary said.
"You have a kind heart Queen Mary." Danny said. It is the also reason why she ended up imprisoned and beheaded in England. It looked like he was going to have to deal with it while he was here. "I heard that the two of you have been having problems with having a child." It was something everyone was paying attention to. The only way to connect Scotland and France together and for them to lay claim to England and Ireland. A child that would unite all the kingdoms together.
"We have been trying." Queen Mary admitted.
"Do not worry. The knowledge of Nirrti can accomplish many things. If you want, I can use the knowledge she granted me to help you two conceive." Danny said as he looked at the two of them. One of the inventions that the Alterans had come up with during their development was the way to create children in the event that the mother could not have them herself or if she had a difficulty in having children.
"Do you have children?" Queen Mary asked. She had known him for a while and yet to hear anything about him having children.
"I am going to have a child in a few months." Danny said. He was still unsure how to feel about it.
"We would be most grateful if you could help us." King/Prince Francis said. It would probably help Mary get over her anger at Lola. That way he could see his son again.
"Now Queen Mary about your mother and brother I hear that you are keeping them in the dungeon." Danny said.
"It is not their fault. Mary has tried to get them to see reason." Lady Kenna said.
"I do not doubt her efforts, but some people are too stubborn for reason to change their minds." Danny said.
"I have no doubt that they will see reason." Queen Mary promised.
"Very well." Danny said. He was not going to give up on this, but he was not going to ruin dinner over this. 'Kenna stay up tonight I plan on visiting you later.' He could see her gain a smile on her face before she focused back on her food to hide it from the table.
"I have been meaning to tell you something." Danny said to Queen Mary and King/Prince Francis.
"Yes?" King/Prince Francis asked.
"I want to open a school in Scotland." Danny said. He was already having an art gallery built in France. This was the Renaissance period, and he would take advantage of it. Increase wonder in the world and love of the arts. Build more schools to teach both boys and girls. This would all be done in Nirtti's name and would help them understand why being under his control was a good thing.
0-0-0-0-0-0
"Hello Sage. You sure got here fast." Danny said as he hit the striped ball into the hole. He had been surprised to learn that billiards was already a thing at this point in time but even though he was sad that he did not get to introduce them to the game he was happy to play.
"Where is he?" Sage asked as she stared at him.
"Where is who?" Danny asked playing dumb.
"You know who I am talking about." Sage said glaring at him.
"You mean Finn. He is in the castle. I will call him now." Danny said as he sent a telepathic message to Finn.
"How is he?" Sage asked.
"You can ask him yourself." Danny said watching as his strike missed and he hit the ball just a few inches away. That was one of the conditions he used when he was playing this game. He would not use his powers and if he lost, he would grant the wish of whoever beat him. Within reason of course. A wish like releasing all the werewolves was not one he would ever consider granting. Especially after he granted them their moonlight amulets.
It took ten Earth minutes for him to arrive.
"Sage?" Finn asked as he appeared in the room.
"What did you do to him?" Sage asked as she looked at him. She could tell that he looked the same as he did all those centuries ago, but he was no longer a vampire.
"I kept my promise with his mother. I put his soul in a mortal body." Danny said.
"Let us just enjoy the fact that we are together again." Finn said as he hugged Sage unable to believe that he was holding her once again.
"That is a wonderful idea. I hope the two of you enjoy a full and wonderful life." Danny said as the white ball caused two striped ones to fall into the hole.
"What about the rest of my siblings?" Finn asked. He had mixed feelings about the others. They had left him in a box for centuries. Carted him around like luggage. Never trying to free him. He wondered what caused them to betray him like that. A part of him wanted them to suffer in the darkness like he had.
"Rebekah is fine and free. You can contact her whenever you wish with the contact orb in your room to see for yourself." Danny said. She unlike her brother had been does with Nish'ta and was living out a happy life with a duplicate. "Your brothers on the other hand are going to be held in their coffins for a while. We did not part on the best of terms, and I would like them to take the time to reflect on their actions."
"Good." Finn said as he hoped he did not have to see his brothers for a long time.
"I am going to go. You two should catch up." Danny said as walked out of the room. He would rather watch the relationship drama the two had when they thought that he had left them alone. The B.I.R.D. perched at the window would record it all for him. He had plenty of other things to do this night.
0-0-0-0-0-0
"Hello Queen Mary." Danny said as he approached the queen in her garden. The night was pleasant. There was cool wind that passed by with a crescent moon hanging over them.
"How may I help you?" Queen Mary asked.
"I just wanted to talk to you." Danny said as he sat next to her on her bench.
"Is there anything that I can do for you?" Queen Mary asked.
"I wanted to know how you were dealing with the whole Lola pregnant with Fracis's child situation?" Danny asked as a way to break the ice. He doubted that she was going to pull a Lagertha. It was not Mary's style and despite Lola's actions he doubted that she wanted her dead. He had grown to like talking about mythology with Lola.
"She betrayed me." Queen Mary said.
"That is true, but she is one of your closet friends. She would die for you and would have if I did not enter your life." Danny said.
"What do you mean?" Queen Mary asked.
"Lola's fate was to be tricked by John Nox into thinking you wanted Queen Elizabeth dead and joined an assassination attempt that would lead to her death." Danny said.
"That's horrible." Queen Mary said as she believed him completely.
"She would do anything that you wished. Not even your mother would do that." Danny said.
"My mother may have her problems, but she would never betray me." Queen Mary said.
"That is where you are wrong. Your mother betrayed you long ago." Danny said.
"What do you mean?" Queen Mary asked.
"Your mother made an agreement with King Henry and Queen Catherine that would happen when you and King/Prince Francis got married." Danny said.
"What kind of agreement?" Queen Mary asked.
"If you and King/Prince Francis do not have a child they can kill you and keep control of Scotland." Danny said.
"That's horrible." Queen Mary said. She could not believe that her mother would put Scotland in such danger. She had trusted her mother to rule her country until she was ready to take the throne. Not sell it to France. "Do you know why she did it?" She would not put it past King Henry and Queen Catherine to make such a deal, but she needed to know why her mother had accepted.
"She was in danger and needed money. She thought that there would be no risk and you and King/Prince Francis would have a child easily." Danny said.
'It seems that I am going to need an heir soon.' Queen Mary thought as she looked at the castle walls and imagined the country that lay beyond.
"I will give you some time to think on everything but remember your mother betrayed you once already. Let me deal with them and you will not have to worry about it happening again." Danny said.
0-0-0-0-0-0
'It looks like everyone is here.' Danny thought to himself as he saw Luc waiting in the training field and the nobles filling the stands that he created when he had Raki fight the castle guards. It seemed that word had spread about their duel and the people in the castle were coming to see how it would end.
"My King it seems that ships from England are making their way to France." Kada said.
"I want you to send death gliders the area and burn them down." Danny said. The original had thought about letting the English and the Italians come towards France and let the soldiers fight it out weakening both armies, but he argued against the decision to reduce Queen Catherine's troubles and the repair that France would need. Rather the French could take the battle to England. It would give them the same result that he wanted.
'Up Onto The Overturned Keel. Clamber, With A Heart Of Steel. Cold Is The Ocean's Spray. And Your Death Is On Its Way.' He was thinking of the old poem because the royal family of England descend from the Viking Rollo. Rollo had become the Duke of Normandy following his betrayal of his brother Ragnar and his descendant William the conqueror took it from killing Harald Godwinson.
The passageway behind him was pushed open.
"You lied to me." Lady Amelie said coming through feeling enormous anger.
"How did I do that?" Danny asked as he glanced at her.
"You promised that if I did what you wanted that you would make sure that you would not fight Luc." Lady Amelie said. He had been captured by guards that served her family when he had come to bring her food. They used a sedative given by the sorcerer to keep him asleep.
"I promised that I would not kill him, and I won't." Danny said taking a sip of wine from Bordeaux. It was a gift from Queen Catherine and so he wanted to at least try it even if he did not care much for alcohol.
"Making an enemy of my family is not something that you want." Lady Amelie said. "You know how influential my uncle is. He can help you with the nobles that are plotting against France."
"Do not worry. You will still have a cousin at the end of this." Danny said as he stood up from his lawn chair and walked to the edge of the castle roof. He continued walking until he was standing above the training field. He whipped the wind into a tornado around him that connected straight in front of Luc and the nobles.
"Hello Luc, have you been waiting long?" Danny asked as he walked through the tornado. The moment he left it completely it broke apart returning the weather to normal.
"I could wait as long as needed to remove your vile evil from my country." Luc said with his hands on his sword.
'He is so lucky that his cousin made a deal with me.' Danny thought to himself as he walked to stand across from Luc. "I hope you have enjoyed the last few days because you are going to regret challenging me."
"What are you playing at?" Luc asked as he watched Danny walk to one of his servants. She looked like someone from the new world. According to rumors in the court they were loups-garous. Normally that would be ridiculous but when dealing with a man that brought storms with him it was better to not take chances.
"It would end too quickly if I used my powers or my regular sword. This way you feel like you have an actual chance." Danny said pulling the katana out of the scabbard. The werewolf took the scabbard back and walked to stand with the others. It was a souvenir that the eastern duplicate had bought while in Japan.
"What are the terms of this duel?" Luc asked.
"When I win, I will torment you in ways that you have yet to experience." Danny said.
"When I win you will leave this country and never come back." Luc said. He was not sure if the man could really die and if the chance did arrive, he would no doubt use his devilish powers to cheat. It was better to send him out of the country.
"Let's see how strong your resolve is." Danny said as he charged at Luc and brought his sword down in a strong swing.
"This will not be as easy as you think." Luc said as he moved out of the way and tried to knock the sword out of his hand. If it took the sorcerer's hand along with it that was fine with him too.
"I think you are very optimistic, but that will not save you here." Danny said as he used his katana to block the strike and he followed that with a punch to Luc in the stomach. It sent him moving backwards as he lost his footing.
"You will not beat me that easily." Luc said.
"I could do it even easier, but I am more than willing to beat you to the point you accept reality and stop being stubborn." Danny said as he moved forwards with a sword thrust.
"That is never going to happen." Luc said as he rolled out of the way.
"It is a good thing that the rules of the match are not up to you." Danny said as he walked towards him. The moment that Luc passed out was the moment that he lost.
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"Where have you taken my cousin?" Lady Amelie asked. The moment her brother was not able to move anymore, and the sorcerer had created another huge storm around the arena and when it was gone so were they. She had come back to her rooms to pace and panic about what she was going to do next when she found him waiting for her.
"I have him right here." Danny said placing something on the table that was covered in cloth.
"What are you talking about? What is that?" Lady Amelie asked.
"It's your cousin." Danny answered removing the cloth. The moment that he had taken Luc away from the training field he had appeared in the blood wood where his Jaffa were waiting with the device and jar prepared.
"What have you done to him?" Lady Amelie asked.
"I shrunk him." Danny answered her.
"Is he alright?" Lady Amelie asked.
"He is fine and do not worry despite how the jar looks he has plenty of air." Danny said as he pushed the jar forward towards her.
"How is he going to live like this?" Lady Amelie asked him.
"That is your problem to figure out. I promised you that I would keep him alive, and I have." Danny said.
"Yes. You did." Lady Amelie said wondering how she was going to explain this to Uncle Stephan.
"Good. Now you that you have admitted that you can give me Cristophe." Danny said.
"What are you going to do to him?" Lady Amelie asked. She wanted to know what sin she had made when she agreed to this deal
"Do you wish to see?" Danny asked.
"Yes." Lady Amelie said. She had a feeling that she would regret it, but this had to be done.
"Very well. Give him to me and we can start." Danny said.
0-0-0-0-0-0
"We are going into the Blood Woods?" Lady Amelie asked looking at the servants carrying Cristophe.
"It is the perfect place for what we are going to do." Danny said as he caused a deep fog to roll in and cover the path that they had traveled.
"What was that?" Lady Amelie asked as she whirled around in fear. There had been rumors of Pagans and blood sacrifices happening in these woods. Queen Mary had been threatened by a group of those savages that had snuck into the castle.
"The howl of wolves. Nothing more." Danny said with amusement in his eyes. They walked through the woods until they reach the area where the sacrifice was to take place. "Now it is time for our guest to wake up."
"What is going on?" Cristophe asked as he woke up. He felt that his arms were tied around a post. He looked around taking in his surroundings.
"I am sacrificing you." Danny said taking in the atmosphere. The sound of drums played by the Jaffa hidden by the mist, the werewolves dressed in robes standing around in a circle with arms stretched to the sky, and the full moon shining above the trees bringing a dim light.
"What? Why?" Cristophe asked as he struggled to break free of his bonds.
"That is not going to help you." Danny said activating the cuffs and sending a shock though Christophe's body.
"I have done nothing to you." Cristophe said.
"We both know that is a lie." Danny said as he moved his left hand up with his index and pointer finger extended. The five torches around him placed in a pentagram began to light up with a black fire. The werewolves in the fog howled in unison, and a cold wind enveloped the humans.
"What do you mean?" Cristophe asked afraid as the man walked up the stage and closer to him.
'I know that you are a killer.' Danny thought to him and watched as his eyes widened.
"You are in my head." Cristophe said with wide eyes.
"Yes, and so you know why you are here." Danny said as he pulled out the sword of Telchak.
"You know that all of this is not necessary right?" Arcadius asked as he appeared before them. Once a person had his mark no matter how they were killed they would end up in his dimension.
'If I am going to sacrifice someone to you then I need to make sure that the atmosphere is right.' Danny thought to Arcadius as he placed his right hand on top of Cristophe's head. The reason being so that Cristophe could see Arcadius while he was still alive.
"What is going on? Who are you?" Cristophe asked as he looked at the dark-skinned man.
"You are going to be staying with me once you die." Arcadius said stretching out his hand.
"You are the devil?" Cristophe asked as he tried to break free and run as far as he could.
"Correct and he is waiting to punish you." Danny said as he stabbed him through the chest with the sword of Telchak.
"We are going to spend a long time together." Arcadius said as his red portal opened between them.
"Please save me!" Cristophe pleaded as he looked at him and tried to hold onto a tree and fight the devil's pull.
'No.' Danny thought to him watching as Cristophe was pulled from the trees and into the portal.
"A rather wretched soul indeed. What do you wish in return for this?" Arcadius asked.
'I want memoires from the generals that fought during the warring states of China.' Danny answered while pulling out the sword. Given what happened in those times it would be no surprise that Arcadius could have some. The Eastern Duplicate had read a tale of a Qin general that had decapitated one hundred thousand prisoners while they believed that they were being given water. That was just one example of the cruelty that happened during those times.
"How many?" Arcadius asked.
'As many as you have. You are trying to be my friend. Friends give each other gifts.' Danny answered. The memories were no big deal for either of them, so he was going to ask for a huge number of them.
"Alright." Arcadius said.
"What have you done?" Lady Amelie screamed at him. She had been stuck in a haze of horror but watching as the sorcerer's servants free the cook's body snapped her out of it.
"I sacrificed him to the devil." Danny answered her as he turned towards her with a hard look in his eye and a smile in his mind.
Lady Amelie broke into a run as she tried to get as far away from this sorcerer as she could. Danny had no intention of letting that happen. At this time of night in a forest covered by fog she could get hurt. He also wanted to play a game with the young lady. See how she reacted when she learned that she was being "hunted" by the devil because of what she saw this night.