Of Love and Hate
Ladybird Beetle slammed her fist into the face of a constable, the man flipping until he was flat on his face before her leg shot left, then right, impacting a pair of abdomens. Spinning around, her kick impacting the sides of both men's heads, sending them flat on their backs. "How did you get the information about this place, Charles?" she asked. On their way through the lower East side of Paris, introductions and information had been exchanged.
"It really wasn't difficult, I just asked a constable that attacked me where I might find Xavier after hours." Charles commented as his sword flashed down, sending his opponent's rapier with the move, before a slender foot impacted the man's face. Juleka flew past, snapping her whip at another constable, impacting his sword hand with a CRACK that reverberated in the tunnel while Black Cat grabbed the man's tunic and breeches from behind, and threw him at a pair of other men.
"What? Just like that?" she asked.
"I did have my dagger at the time, and threatened an impromptu excising of any future generations of his family," Charles then punched out with his sword hand, the pommel slamming against the next guard's head, "but I never sweat the minor details." Ladybird Beetle leaped, spinning so that her left foot impacted the face of one guard, before her right impacted the side of his head, sending him cartwheeling.
Black Cat shivered. "I would've talked too." Rushing forward, he swung his staff, knocking a small group of men onto their backs.
"... and what happened to him afterward?" Ladybird Beetle swept the legs of her next opponent, until Black Cat's staff slammed him down onto his back, the air evacuating his lungs.
Juleka scowled "Don't worry about him." She slammed her foot between a guard's legs, sending him to his knees, before one of hers impacted his face hard enough to draw blood.
"Did you kill him?" Ladybird Beetle asked, stunned.
"No." Charles commented, offering her a wan smile, one that she didn't deign to return. "He's being held in the dungeon."
"D-Dungeon?!" that stopped the lady in red and black. "What dungeon?"
Turning to regard the lady, Juleka gave a sheepish smile. "It's... where I do my best work. No sex, just... it's for those that derive pleasure from pain."
"As interesting as this conversation happens to be, I believe we have more important considerations." Black Cat stepped forward so that he could see further down the tunnel. Glaring around the corner, he saw a long corridor that opened into a large circular room. "Remember, these are just the outer guards. Most likely there will be a secondary line, and the judge's personal guardsmen." He gave a soft growl. "It's a classic defense strategy."
"Okay, so what's next?" Ladybird Beetle asked.
"From what he said, there should be a circular area with six or eight entrances. If it's six we're on the right track. Eight, and we've missed a turn." Charles whispered. "Xavier will be to the left, while his father is right. The other entrances are a sewer straight ahead, and two barracks on either side and behind anyone who enters there, holding twenty-five men apiece." Looking at Black Cat and Ladybird Beetle he sighed. "We've essentially taken out twenty, but if they come at us from behind... we'll be overwhelmed."
Black Cat looked at the pair. "You both confront Xavier and Judge Ross. We'll take down the guards."
"I know I can't stop you from killing him, Juleka," Ladybird Beetle commented, "but at least do it for the right reason."
Turning to regard the woman beside her, the black haired woman blinked. "I... I will." Looking away, she sighed. "Rose wouldn't want me to kill him for her... she would want me to make sure he never had a chance to hurt anyone else ever again." That caused the Ladybird Beetle to touch her shoulder, a smile on her face.
"She sounded like a wonderful lady, and I'm honestly sorry this happened." Juleka nodded, wiping a tear from her eye. Everyone moved slowly toward the circular area as she spoke, "Once we're in the area, take an entrance and go quickly. We're the distractions for Juleka and Charles. Once we're in, and fighting, go straight for the leaders. Be careful, because we're not sure what they may have for weapons, and if they have any of the concoction then try not to get jabbed by any needles or pins. Charles, if you and Juleka can restrain both Xavier and Judge Ross, we can find out from both of them whether there's anyone else involved. Afterward, I will accept any judgement you pass down."
"Agreed." Juleka remarked while Charles nodded.
"Let's go." Charles urged, and the quartet moved quickly toward the circular area.
Everyone nodded, before Ladybird Beetle and Black Cat rushed forward with their companions following, albeit a bit slower. Six members of the constabulary stepped forward at the sounds of running feet, each one reaching down to pull their rapiers. Black cat threw his baton, the flat end slamming against one of the guard's heads, only to ricochet and impact another. Both went down while Ladybird Beetle slammed her fist into one guard's face, and a foot in the stomach of another. The last two pulled their rapiers, in just enough time to feel the shoulders of a young woman and man slam into them, sending them sprawling. The entire room was a huge circle with six entrances. Men emerged from the tunnels to the left and right behind them. After knocking the guards unconscious, Cat and Beetle separated, with the former going right, and the latter going left. "GO NOW!" Ladybird Beetle shouted as Juleka rushed down the right tunnel, and Charles launched himself down the left.
oOo
It wasn't long before Charles emerged into a cavernous area with, what looked like, makeshift cells. On his left, he saw a sizable hole with what looked like a moving collection of fur. 'Rats! Just great.' His mind went through the possibilities of what they were fed, and it made him sick to his stomach when he looked around at the ready made food supply in the cells. People in the various states of starvation were being held in cages, while the sounds of fleshy impacts filtered out from a much larger pit in front of him. Stalking forward, he peered over the ledge at the stairs down until he saw the lowest area. Xavier stood there with another man, slamming his fist against his opponent's stomach while the man's arms hung limp at his side, blood coming from a wound on his right shoulder. He watched as the wounded man's arm came around, unable do do more than grip the blonde's arm before he dropped onto his knees.
He watched as Xavier stepped away, glaring at the man, before kicking him in the face, so that Charles could see who it was. "Pathetic." the judge's son breathed.
'David!' his eyes narrowed at Xavier as he turned, his fist going high. "Yes," Charles shouted, stopping the intended strike,"you are!"
Xavier looked up, glaring at the man that dared to speak in anything less than glowing terms of his personage. "Who in the hell are you?!" he spat.
Glaring at the man, his eyes narrowed as he pointed his sword, Charles snarled. "Touch that man again and I will be your death, Xavier Ross!" He watched as the judge's son started toward his clothes, and weapons. "I wouldn't recommend picking up any of that." Charles growled. "You're going to be remanded into the custody of the militia, be tried against an honest judge, and spend the rest of your natural life in prison!"
Lunging for his equipment, Xavier pulled his rapier our of its scabbard. "How about instead, I cut out your heart and feed it to the rats?!"
"What? In a fair fight?" Charles goaded. "Are you sure you're up to such a challenge, coward?"
His bare chest still exposed, Xavier stalked his way up the stairs, while Charles moved around, keeping his weapon at the ready. "I'll have you know that my instruction in the sword was handled by Armand D'Argencourt until I could best him." The older male gave an evil smile as Charles continued to measure his steps, and watch how his fingers curled and uncurled around the hilt of the rapier.
"Clearly your father paid him off to give you an ego boost." Although he sounded confident, the idea that the greatest swordsman in Europe would train this pompous child was more than a little disconcerting.
"You'll pay for that! Xavier rushed forward, the slender blade of his rapier leading.
His first strike would've taken Charles in the heart if his own sword hadn't deflected the blade. The two swords clashed together, came back, and impacted again with a ring of metal on metal. Backing up, the Rose Petal Inn guard allowed himself to give ground as his opponent swung his weapon around, their feet moving either forward and back or off to the side, circling. A thrust pushed him back a step before one of the cuts went across his front. It did little more than slice the cloth of his tunic, exposing his bare chest, but it was enough for Xavier to start laughing.
"Just one drop of blood drives the rats wild down there," Xavier remarked, "just the smell makes them hungry." He then thrust his rapier at Charles, sensing his victory. The younger man deflected the blade, his hand reaching out and wrapping around his opponent's wrist. The judge's son watched as his opponent brought the long sword down, his eyes wide as it went through his arm, just below the elbow.
The rapier lowered ever so slightly, before gracefully falling to the ground as Xavier screamed in agony. "Thanks for the idea!" Charles growled as he grabbed his opponent, and flung him toward the open hole. Although he tried to stop, the forward momentum took the judge's son off the ledge, and into the waiting jaws of the rats. It took nearly two minutes for the screaming to end. Still holding onto the wrist of the disembodied arm, he glared at the rats and tossed it in almost as an afterthought. "Now, to go check on Juleka."
oOo
Juleka's journey through the caverns was slower than Charles because the corridor that led to Judge Ross was quite a bit longer. She had just turned the corner, the sounds of fighting behind her a barely recognizable din as she approached a circular room with a vaulted ceiling. The entire space was filled out to look like a comfortable home. On her left a sitting area with a chaise lounge, small table, a chair, and a potted plant, all looking quite expensive, sat while on her right a massive bed four poster bed that could easily fit three people was surrounded by plush pillows, and adorned in sheer drapery.
Robert Ross pulled up his crossbow upon hearing the commotion growing closer. Just as the candlelight flickered across half of a white face, the illumination turning her eye red, he started to touch the activation bar on his crossbow. The only reason why Juleka was still alive was because that image startled him so badly that his body convulsed in fear, making his hand accidentally clench the hand bar on his crossbow before he had his aim set. She watched bolt fly past her head by nearly a foot and a half even as she stepped fully into the light of his room.
Lunging to the side, he tried to reach for another bolt, but she flicked her wrist, her whip cutting across his with a CRACK. A bloody gash appeared there, before her next strike hit the back of his other hand, sending his crossbow to the floor. "Agh! You stupid whore!" Another CRACK and there was a bloody mark on his right cheek. He staggered back, away from his weapon as she continued to approach. She could fully see a dozen young women laying on the pillows around the bed in various states of undress, and yet not a single one of them seemed to acknowledge her presence. Two lay upon the bed, fully nude, and watching with blank stares.
"You disgust me." Juleka stated softly.
Blood poured out of his facial wound as she stalked forward. "D-Don't hurt me..." the judge whimpered as she crossed the threshold. "I-I'll stop the kidnappings... the girls will be released..." another CRACK snapped the chain on his chest, adding another bloody gash. Reaching back, he pushed himself across the floor. "No! Please!"
Scowling down at the (soon to be) former judge, her eyes glowing with hate, Juleka pulled her whip up. "There's no way we can let you live... you'll just get away with your crimes, and do it all over again." Doing a little hop with one leg, she brought her knee down onto his chest, her hands going to either side of his head so that her whip choked him. She never saw his right hand come around, a faint glimmer of metal before he pushed the tainted pin into her thigh. At the sensation of being pierced, she looked down at his hand, and then his face as the fear was replaced by a victorious smirk.
"Manipulating stupid women like you is just way too easy..." Judge Ross commented with a scoff.
For a brief moment, her vision seemed to slow, a haze of pink filling it while a warmth spread throughout her body. Closing her eyes, she practically leaped back, away from her opponent. 'No!' she could feel her loins ache, becoming dewy so that a trickle of what she only wished was sweat flowed down her leg. The warmth continued to fill her body, making Juleka shiver as the heat threatened to melt her resolve. Letting go of her whip, she wrapped her arms around herself, praying that her mind was strong enough to guard against any male's advances, and yet she could feel the desire growing within her body.
Robert stood from where he had been cowering at the woman. 'I should've been an actor.' he snorted derisively. "Stupid little whore..." reaching down, he cupped her jaw in his hand, raising her up to look at him. The fact that she trembled told him that the "Servile" was working, but she needed to feel him, see him, and hear him for it to work properly. "Open your eyes."
He watched as she shook her head violently, managing to pull her head from his hand. "No! I... I won't become one of your..." she reached up, gripping her head in her hands. "NO!" Her shout reverberated through the caverns, causing him to glare at her.
"STUPID BITCH!" he shouted, backhanding her across the face so that she collapsed onto the ground, her hair covering her eyes, while her hand went to her stinging cheek. She lay there, sobbing at the contact, her eye feeling like it had exploded from the impact.
"Don't you EVER TOUCH HER!" Robert Ross looked up in enough time to see a young man rushing forward, a long sword clutched in his right hand. Reaching down, he picked up his crossbow, and used it to deflect the strike of the long sword, unfortunately, the impact cut the cord and damaged the trigger mechanism. Charles threw his weapon to the side, sending the crossbow hurtling into the chaise. Backpedaling, the judge managed to grab a flanged mace, but the sword's impact drove it to the side before a rapier seemed to appear out of nowhere. The blade pierced his abdomen, going up through his heart. Looking down, his eyes saw the hilt, and grew wide. "Join your son in Hell!" Charles growled.
Robert gasped out pathetically, staggering back a couple of steps before collapsing onto his side when Charles ripped the weapon from his dead body. When his opponent collapsed, Charles moved over to the young woman laying on the ground. "Juleka? Are you alright?" he breathed. Shivering, she leaned up to feel the light touch of his fingers against her burning skin, moving her hair away from her face. Her eyes opened to see his emerald green ones, all she saw there was love and concern, and suddenly she was pulling him into a passionate kiss. At first, he pulled back in shock, but after a few seconds he gave in to his adrenaline fueled panic that she was hurt. After the kiss, he spoke softly. "Are you alright?"
He watched as she gripped his arms, shaking her head and gritting her teeth. "S-Servile... he..." she shuddered. "I... I'm... trying to fight it... but..." with a scream of pain and frustration, she pushed him away and slammed her fists into her thighs. He wrapped her up in a hug, holding her close, which did nothing to alleviate the sensations of unquenchable desire that flowed through her veins. By the time, Black Cat and Ladybird Beetle joined the pair, Charles was holding a sobbing Juleka in his arms.
"It's over?" Ladybird Beetle asked.
Black Cat sighed. "I sure hope so..."
Epilogue
It would take days for Juleka to recover from the effects of the "Servile", with Charles all but nursing her back to health over the course of her convalescence. He remained attentive, and helpful, taking the lead on ensuring the guards knew everything that happened and what to be on guard against. Each of the girls that worked at the Rose Petal Inn would come to see the new madam, and offer their sincere affection for the young woman. Regardless of the reason why she had to take the brothel over, she rose to the occasion and offered to be just as open and loving as Caline. Dressed in a purple, off the shoulder dress, she greets all of the guests with her new captain of the guard by her side... a place he is never far from anymore.
The young women that were found by the quartet were sent to the local healers to see if there was anything they might do for the young girls. Although it took time for the "Servile" to leave their system, within a week each of the girls were speaking again. Unfortunately, each girl would have nightmares for the rest of their lives over the memories of what happened to them while under the effects of the drug. The only thankful part was that the concoction managed to keep the girls from ovulating during their incarceration, which meant that none would be burdened with children by Robert Ross... or his son.
Every one of the constables that agreed to assist in the kidnappings were sentenced to prison. None survived a month while King and Queen Bourgeois recognized Ladybird Beetle and Black Cat as heroes. The entire kingdom offered to aid in the recovery of the young women that had been kidnapped. Many of the men Xavier had starved into submission were hardened criminals, but the guards that survived from the Rose Petal Inn went back to work there.
Gabriel offered to assist in any way he and his district might, but Zoe Rossi informed him that she would take care of any problems. The matter was dropped during that Saturday meeting, as they prepared for the arrival of their newest council member. It was during that Saturday Market, Adrien and Marinette managed to walk through the area, Nathalie escorting. The pair spoke to several people, met up with Alya and Nino, and the two couples started forming a fast friendship. In spite of everything that happened, the pair smiled and laughed easily, enjoying their time together.
On Sunday morning, a carriage from Marseilles crossed the bridge into Paris, its red curtains and cherry wood construction drawing attention from all it passed. A strange design on the door, that of what looked like swipes crossing each other, was surrounded by a circle of white. Inside, a young woman and her mother sat alone, the latter's stern countenance nearly mirroring her daughter's cold resolve. "We have arrived, mother." she commented as she moved a curtain aside an inch.
"Good, Kagami." the woman scowled. "Tell me when we have arrived at the Agreste mansion."
"Understood, mother."
One man watching the carriage go past narrowed his gray-blue eyes. Turning away, he scoffed at the arrival. 'Those two idiots! It looks like I'll have to change my plans now that we have a pair of heroes to contend with.' With that, he strolled down the road, his mind already trying to come up with how he could turn this setback into an advantage. 'I will have the crown, or die trying!'
Welcome to the end of "Miraculous: Tales of Ladybird Beetle and Black Cat" which is part 1 of 5. Although I have gotten very little in the way of feedback, the little that I did manage to get has been worthwhile and I thank you Ladyrhi publicly for your encouragement.
There are several things I wish to let you know, not the least of which is that I hoped those that read the story enjoyed the narrative I brought about. Next, I will be taking a two week hiatus from this story to post a few other stories I have waiting in the wings, with one already finished. It will also give me enough time to fully write out the next couple of chapters for part 2 without feeling rushed.
I'm not sure when I'm going to start posting. I may make a schedule, or I may start posting part 2 at random intervals.
Part 2's title will be "To Live by the Blade". Here's hoping to see everyone who read this story in its entirety return for part 2.