Chapter 22
Ancient History
"Where are you going?" Lovino heard how Antonio moved closer as he repeated the question. He tried to figure out a solution but all the ideas that came to mind only felt wrong, he knew they wouldn't work. If he tried to run, he'd get caught. Screaming wouldn't work either since Antonio had chosen a room far away from the others. Lying wouldn't work either. The only option he could think off that had even the slightest chance of succeeding was to try and trick him. He took a deep breath, every believable lie had to have at least a small piece of truth in it. That's what made it believable.
"I had a dream, I have to repeat it to Arthur before I forget about it" Without turning around, Lovino stood still with his hand on the handle and carefully pushed it down. He felt Antonios presence right behind him and flinched when he felt Antonio grabbing his wrist.
"Let's not wake him up, he's been working hard lately, tell me instead and I'll write it down so we can tell him in the morning" The grip on his wrist tightened and Lovino felt himself get pulled around against his will. The look on Antonios face scared him, the smile was so obviously fake and you could almost feel the anger burning within him, the heat shining through his eyes. Lovino felt his other wrist get caught and they were both lifted above his head. "Tell me what you saw."
"Let go of me" He tried to sound demanding, but it was hard as he was too scared to even move.
"I will, if you tell me" Antonio smiled again and leaned in right next to his ear to whispered "I won't hurt you if you tell me" That was the only proof Lovino needed, he was sure this wasn't the Antonio he knew. He struggled to get out of his grip but it was no use, the grip was too tight and as a last resort he tried to kick him hard in his side. Antonio only laughed as he easily avoided it and pushed Lovino down on the bed, still holding his hands above his head. "Are your future vision a bit blurry? Maybe something is blocking it, what could it be I wonder?" He chuckled creepily and grabbed both Lovinos wrists in one of his hands, the other one motioning towards the wardrobe that slowly opened. A thin rope came out and moved through the air towards them. Lovino froze in fear but soon realised that this was his chance as Antonio focused on the rope. He managed to rip one hand free and before Antonio could react, Lovino got a hit in right over his cheek. The rope fell and Antonio rolled over groaning, finally making Lovino fully free. He quickly stood up and backed away.
"You're not Antonio!" As the thing slowly stood up, Lovino turned and rushed towards the door. He knew that he had to get away. He threw himself at it which made it fly open but he could only take a few steps before he suddenly froze. It felt just like he had suddenly turned into a statue, stuck without being able to move, but soon he felt how he got pulled back inside the room.
"I hoped I wouldn't have to waste any more energy on you but you're far too tiresome" Lovino had never seen that look on Antonios face before. It was filled with hatred, with anger, with lust and with more than a little madness. Of all those years they had known each other, this was the first time Lovino was genuinely scared of Antonio.
.
Emil looked at the clock, it was already 3 am but he couldn't put the book away. Despite having been so tired before, he now felt fully awake while reading in the light of his phones flashlight. He wasn't sure what to call the book. It told stories of wars from ancient times as if they had happened but the way they fought couldn't be real. Battles between mages, using energy to strike, not having any actual weapons except their bodies, it sounded all too improbable. Though, if he thought about these few days, nothing really seemed impossible anymore. He looked over at the bed where the other two nations were sleeping peacefully. Mathias tail was waving again, showing that he probably was having a really good dream. Emil chuckled and returned to the book before he flipped pages to the next chapter.
The images were gruesome, they had been throughout the whole book, but this one really took the price. Emil had to take a moment too look it over and even after he had taken it all in, it left a bad feeling deep within him. It showed a battle, a very one sided battle to be exact. The men having the upper hand stood at the right side on the image while the rest were either laying dead on the ground or running away as fast as they could with terrified looks on their faces. Despite them retreating it seemed like the winners had no plan on letting them. They were all smiling creepily, no one holding any actual weapon but some seemed to hold fire, all in different colours, in their hands. But this wasn't the worst part. The worst part was how behind them stood dark creatures, all holding what seemed like strings connected to the humans, seemingly controlling them. Emil gasped at the sight but quickly started reading. He had to reread it all multiple times. It sounded strange and all too familiar.
Nobody really remembers when they turned against us, some people even believe that it never happened. But I remember, I will never forget, and the cries of the families that lost a son, a brother, a father or a loved one to them will never disappear. They have always been by our sides but we have never really seen them, maybe that's why they suddenly attacked. Feeling ignored, feeling weak, both of those can drive anyone mad. Maybe they were just born that way. Born to kill, born to bring destruction. First, they took our bodies, forced us to hurt our own kind. Our own friends. Then they slowly took our minds, we lost them, trapped somewhere unable to think or see at all. It was at that moment they became us, the ones we were didn't exist anymore. Everyone was scared, there was nowhere to hide and you couldn't know if yours would turn against you too. The only ones that survived the attack was the ones, like me, that cowardly hid or travelled to other countries while our brethren got killed fighting. I can't say that I regret it. I survived. But I'm sorry.
It wasn't until a certain man found a way to break through, to reclaim his body as his own, that we had a chance to fight back. We saw hope, for the first time we saw a future. Some say that the battle lasted for 100 years. Some claim it was only a week. It doesn't matter anymore because, even now when we feel like it's over, we're never safe and we never will be. Even now they always watch us. Our shadows.
Who is your friend and who is your enemy? There was only one way to know for sure. If their shadow moved on their own, you could be sure that they were either possessed or about to be and you had to kill them. Many begged for mercy, saying that they weren't possessed, but we couldn't know. We could never be sure. If they weren't moving, you were safe. Still, some people sided with the shadows as they believ…
"Antonio" His whisper was barely audible as he flipped to the next page but couldn't find any more information. The sentence stopped so suddenly it was almost as if something had happened to the author. Still holding the book, he made his way out of bed. He considered waking up the other two nations but as he looked at them, he couldn't. Mathias had laid a protective arm around Lukas that seemed to sleep very deeply. While thinking that Lukas needed all the rest he could get, he carefully snuck out of the room. After all, he only had to go to Antonio and warn him so he would have a chance if the shadow decided to turn against him. He figured that it still was Antonio in control since he didn't have that creepy smile or evil glare the people on the picture had, he was still acting just like himself.
.
"Oh, you almost had me there for a second" Lovino stared at the Antonio sitting at the end of the bed. He, himself, was sitting in the middle of it with his hands tied behind his back and his feet tied together as well. Antonio was smiling but something was wrong, he looked crazy as if he had gone mad. He wiped his nose that was still bleeding. "You can be quite strong when you need it, well I guess that makes sense since-"
"Who are you?" Lovino interrupted while trying to not show his fear. Antonio frowned a bit and put his finger up to Lovinos lips.
"Shush, I do like getting interrup-"
"Where's Antonio?" It seemed like it took all of his self-restraint not to smack him right there and then.
"You've always been a spoiled brat, you know that?" The room was dark, the only light being the one coming from a lonely lamppost outside the window. Lovino watched as whoever-it-was stood up and took a few calming breaths.
"I can't get upset, can't waste any more energy." He suddenly looked up and stared behind him on the wall. "Of course I can't! He'd just find out again and as I already said, I can't waste my energy!" Lovino frowned in confusion, what was he doing? He watched as Antonio stood up and walked over to the wall, slammed a fist in it and added "It's taking too much energy keeping both his and Alfreds memories locked away already! I can't mess around with his thoughts anymore." His eyes suddenly grew wide in anger "SHUT UP! My plan won't fail." Suddenly, Lovino noticed the weak outlining of a shadow on the wall which was enough to make him realise.
"The shadow, it's Antonio isn't it?" His voice made "Antonio" turn around to stare at him and Lovino could see that he was slowly losing whatever control he had left.
"You figured it out huh? Good job! 100% correct! What's your prize let's see…Money? Ladies? Freedom? What do you want?" He turned on the lamp making Antonio clearly visible on the wall. "Maybe you want your memories back? Sure! I don't have to keep them anymore!" A sudden pain spreading from his forehead made Lovino gasp and fall back on the bed. It didn't last for long but when it faded he suddenly remembered.
"You! It was you that knocked me out that time!"
"Bravo, Bravo!" His voice was filled with sarcasm "Oh my, how rude of me! I guess it's time for an introduction" He walked closer just as Lovino sat up again. "My name is Shade, former shadow to a certain very annoying Spaniard." He suddenly looked up at Antonio on the wall "You quit it. He can't run anywhere so you can stop telling him to" Shade chuckled and looked over at Lovino "He knows what I'm planning for you so he wants you to get away" He was suddenly close and placed both his hands around Lovinos cheeks and mumbled, almost only to himself. "Such a pretty face, it'd be a shame to ruin it. But well…" He placed a kiss on Lovinos forehead. "At least you're mine now"
They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
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"What do you think?" Tino plopped down on the bed next to Berwald.
"Hm?" He got a hum and a confused look as an answer so Tino elaborated.
"Do you think it's Gilbert attacking us?" He swayed with his legs over the edge "I mean, it's certainly a possibility but we shouldn't assume anything as long as we don't know right?"
"Hmm, I don't think it's him" Berwald nodded thoughtfully "If he was alone as Ludwig said I don't believe that he would let his guard down long enough to get overpowered. Even though he certainly is annoying at times, he isn't gullible and he has been in many battles. He wouldn't get taken that easily" Tino blinked at him.
"Berwald…"
"Yes?"
"This child thing seems to make you more talkative, I think that was the longest sentence I've heard in years!" He chuckled as Berwald only blushed as an answer "But I guess you're right." Tino hopped of the bed again "I wonder who it can be though?"
A/N Once again, thank you for all the support! If you who follows this story got multiple alerts about it, I apologise. I've had some trouble publishing it!
Jasmin: Whatever it is going on in your life, you will get through it. Even though it seems hopeless at times, you can do it. I believe in you! Meanwhile, I hope that my story can keep brightening your day at least a little. Stay strong!