Guess what everyone! I don't care what the rules say anymore! I write what I want, when I want. Oh look! I'm replying to imaginary people, these are just more characters I've made up, they aren't reviewers or anything!

BlueTrillium- Ah... thank you for the volunteering of Beta reader. I'll think about it since I'm the type that just likes to post up a chapter right when he's done instead of waiting for someone to correct it. But yeah, I might consider it if things get really effed up.

Takun18- Ewww! Fayt/Woltar? No no no! Okay... (Shudders) Perhaps that will be cleared up in this chapter. ;; I can't even imagine Fayt with... (Gags)

May- Yes I have noticed the lack of dark fics as well. And the ones that are dark are kind of... eh... Not to my liking really. The pairing actually, is going to work kind of like this... Nel being confused between people... You'll see.

NelZelpher88- (Chuckles) Like the details do ya? Well... It's going to get a bit more darker, a bit more graphic. And I'm proud that I got you hooked! Heeheehee! I hope you'll like the graphicness of this chapter.

IceBlueWings- I can't picture... Albel attempting to seduce Nel that way... he seems more twisted to me actually, ahahahha! --

I must admit, for the lack of reviews, you guys make good ones. This is my first fic where I'm having actual critique that's not just. 'Nice chapter... Update soon!' Not that those aren't great, a review is a review, those just get boring after five hundred or so. Anyways!

Disclaimer- I do not own er... Star Ocean, yeah... Almost forgot the name even. I'd also like to point out that some ideas from this story are based off of the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter novel series by Laurel R. Hamilton. I think that's the author's name...

Cold To The Touch

Nel had remained silent for quite awhile after Fayt had awoken her. The sight of lighted hallways was comforting at first, but disturbed her to no end. From what she could tell, there isn't any source of light anywhere, so where is it coming from? It was some sort of runological power, that's her guess anyway.

Following behind Fayt, it gave her a chance to catch up on sorting out her thoughts, and her feelings. She willed her fear that she felt when she woke up, so she could think much more clearly. Something is obviously not right about this place. Ever since she reached Airyglyph, she's had nothing but nightmares, and bad experiences. No not Airyglyph, ever since Fayt showed up again.

Nel's eyes narrowed in annoyance at the thought. She has yet to find out, why exactly he came to Elicoor once more. She took a moment to think of a way to pry the information out of him, if she played her cards right, asked the same questions, she could. First things first however, she'd have to lift the heavy silence that had fallen upon them, "What happened to everyone else?" She asked, it was a question she did somewhat want to know about.

"Huh?" Was Fayt's reply, having obviously been absorbed too much in his own thoughts to have caught her question.

Nel fought the urge to roll her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest as she stopped, "Everyone, where are they?"

Seeing that his traveling companion had stopped, Fayt stopped as well, "Oh... Well, Sophia is with her mother as you know. Mirage I believe went to visit her father. Cliff had continued with some sort of Federation neutrality idea for a few months, last I heard was he went back to visit Mirage's father. I think he went back mainly to see Mirage though. Maria, I'm not sure what happened to her. She disbanded Quark and went on her way. Peppita finally had her show. And that's basically all I know since you'd know more about Roger, Albel, and Adray."

Nel only understood about half of what he said, having not heard of a few of the things he spoke of before made it hard to understand what he spoke about half the time. "And you came here." She pointed out. Fayt only nodded his head, "Why?" She questioned.

Fayt shook his head, "I've told you before Nel, I wanted somewhere like Earth, and be able to live peacefully."

"Hmph... You call this peaceful?" Nel questioned before she crossed the distance between them. She stood her five-seven stature up on toes to meet Fayt's five-nine, meeting him eye to eye. "Now tell me the real reason." She more demanding than anything.

Fayt didn't back down from her. With a space of three inches between them, he was not intimidated by her. There was a time when her intimidation tactics worked on him, when he was afraid of her. But not anymore, he wasn't afraid of anyone, not since the defeat of Luther and his trip through 4D space.

Even if he isn't afraid of her, he still doesn't know what to do. He couldn't very well just start shouting into her face. He fancied the idea of trying to fluster Nel for the first time. With her this close, and her face out of hiding from behind her scarf. She looked a little more than cute standing there glaring at him like that. She held so much pride in herself, he could tell so easily . He could just as easily turn an annoyed Nel into a very pissed and murderous Nel by simply leaning forward. After all, he doubts Nel is used to getting embarrassed.

Even if he fancies the idea of embarrassing her, Fayt isn't one to just kiss some girl just to get to them. Though kissing would have been the all time embarrassment, it would have embarrassed him as well. So he did the next best thing, "You know Nel, you're kind of cute when your angry." He commented with a grin, only half-thinking about what he just said.

The reaction was more than he could have hoped for. The Aquarian spy gave out a sound that Fayt could only describe as a growl, as she dropped to her heels and backed off. What amused Fayt the most however, is the fact she hitched her scarf up more to hide her face. He already knew what the reason for that action is.

"What was that?" Nel asked, her eyes narrowing at him, as if daring him to repeat what he said to her.

Any response Fayt had was quickly interrupted by a ringing come from his pants. Nel eyed him weirdly, and Fayt himself wasn't sure what it was. That is until he reached into his pocket and pulled out the compact communicator. He flicked it open and the screen on it opened up to reveal the Inventor's Guild's liaison on the other side waving. "You just saved my life." Fayt said into the communicator, smiling brightly.

Welch Vineyard's smile dropped into a curious look as she tilted her head to the side, her handstick resting on her shoulder, "Oh? Have I called at a bad time?" Her voice called through the speaker of the communicator, letting all around Fayt hear her voice.

Fayt glanced up from the communicator to pass a quick glance at Nel. She didn't looked angry anymore, just curious. With one lone brow raised up in question as she listened to the conversation.

Fayt gave an uneasy cough and turned back to the communicator, "No, not really. So what's up? Something happen?"

The brunette on the other end just rolled her eyes, "Isn't that the most unintelligent question. Nothing ever happens here. If there was, I wouldn't be calling you."

"Oh... gee... thanks..." Fayt pretended to be offended.

Welch just smiled on her side of the line, "Well, it's true. With nothing happening, and the Guild Master out at the bar, I'm all alone with the few inventors that stayed. I'm bored. Plus... I was going to ask you something."

"Oh? What's that?" He asked, sounding interested. He wondered if Nel thought it odd of him to have a conversation at a time, and place like this over the communicator. Then he decided that he shouldn't care what she thinks anyway.

"Well... since you'll be walking about a few towns. I was wondering if you could try and get some fresh inventors to join the guild."

"Oh... Um... I can try.. I guess."

"That's great! Thanks a lot. You have my utmost gratitude!"

"Of course..." Fayt paused for a moment before adding, "And if you still have nothing to do when I go through Peterny again, I'll drop by."

Welch's face scrunched up into a scowl, "You better."

Fayt couldn't help but thing it sounded more of a demand than a joke coming from her. He had once had a conversation with the Guild Master. The old coot, had told him once that Welch is a short fuse. He didn't believe him at the time, talking with her now, he's beginning to wonder. Not that he has a problem with short tempered women. He seems to constantly be around them. Maria... Mirage... Nel.

"You do know she disconnected right?" Nel's voice brought Fayt back to reality.

Looking down at the screen, Fayt found the screen blank. He closed it with a flick of his wrist, "Of course I did."

"It's not good to lie to a lady you know."

Fayt and Nel both nearly jumped out of their skin as the voice filtered through the corridor. Looking around, they didn't see anyone. The voice couldn't be pinpointed either for it seemed to bounce off the walls from all angles. They didn't expect the person to drop from above and land a few feet in front of them. The act made both of them wonder if he had been hanging from the ceiling.

The man stood an easy six feet tall. Golden blonde hair, parted in half, and reaching down to his jaw line. The skin on his face was pale with a blue tint about it, as if he were freezing to death. He has a short black cloak that just reached his hips, with gold linen. His black leather pants fit snug to his legs.

His piercing blue eyes settled on Nel before looking back to Fayt, "After all, they are keen at picking up lies."

Nel, being an elite in the Aquarian army, already had her daggers out and posed to strike, "Who are you?" She demanded.

"Hmm..." The man frowned in annoyance as he walked over to the wall, his hand lifted up to a torch, "She is a bit demanding, isn't she?"

Fayt made no effort to move, or reply to him. The man in turn smirked, showing them a hint of fangs, "You've trespassed in our domain. Your struggles begin here mortals, prepare for nightmares to awaken. You won't be leaving this our domain for quite some time." With that said he pulled on the torch, which turned out to be a hidden switch.

A loud clink echoed in the halls, and before Fayt or Nel realized what was happening. The floor below them gave in.

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Albel found himself, on his own free will, heading down beneath the city. All around him, he saw dungeons, but no sight of the men he sent down to explore the place.

"Hmph! Who'd have known there was a place like this in the dungeons underneath the castle. The elite investigative team hasn't come back... Did they fight over credit, or goof up... I didn't think they'd have any problem with this mission... I guess I expected too much from them. They may be useless, good-for-nothing worms, but I guess I'd better at least recover their corpses..."

"Heh... Another guest. First six, then one. Foolish bravery... Or is it recklessness?"

Albel stopped in his tracks, glancing around for any sight of the person who spoke, the voice seemed distant yet so close to him. It was like a distant echo in a cavern. That's when a man just appeared, his form at first transparent, before it took on a solid state. It was as if it were a spirit before it was a body. Romero stood in all his ghostly glory.

"You look like something of a fighter, but you are still a man of this world. You are no match for me. It would be best for you if you just went home peacefully. Or would you prefer to become another one of my mute servants, like those who came before?"

A trace of a smirk crossed Albel's features, his claw resting on the sheath of his Crimson Scourge as he leaned back a bit, "Hohooh... So you're the cause of all the problems..."

Romero's expression remained blank, not giving off any trace of emotion for the swordsman to pay off of, "And what if I was?"

That confident and cocky smirk never left Albel's face, his eyes narrowing a bit as they began to glimmer with the thoughts of killing, "Don't expect to die painlessly. I'll smash your pretty face until you're begging me to kill you and get it over with."

Romero covered his mouth with his hand, "Hehehe... You're a brave one. However..." His form vanished without a trace, only to reappear further back from where he was, "I am a servant of the gods, created by Folstar, the God of Death. Do you really think I would sully myself by fighting with a lowly mortal organism like yourself? Korima, Raxa, Mizua, Sazka... Come out, my servants..."

Like Romero had, his servants phased into appearance. Strange muscular creatures, sluggish in movement appeared. The four stood in front of Romero, acting as a wall to protect him.

"Co... Co... Co... Comandeeeeeeeeeeerrrrr..."

"Ka... Ka... Kakakakakakaka..."

Albel glanced back and forth from the two servants that had called out to him, his eyes slightly wide and his thoughts swirling with confusion. The voices he heard, were the voices of his men coming from those creatures. His murderous gaze settled behind the creatures, at Romero. He crouched down in a stance, his hand resting on the hilt of his Crimson Scourge, "What the... Beh, you scum!"

Romero just smiled at Albel, continuing to hover a foot or so off the ground to get a good view of the fighter, "You, who were abandoned by the gods you served, and left behind on this land... May I, in my great kindness, extend a special hand of charity to you, and retrieve you as my own?"

Albel glanced at all four creatures, two of them used to be his men, no doubt the other two were the same, "Look at what's happened to you, fools! Think of your place!" He tried getting through to them, hoping they would listen to their captain and perhaps join his side, if not get out of his way.

Romero shook his head, looking more or less, disappointed, "Ah, how terribly unfortunate... Very well, it is time for you to burn in eternal despair!"

Romero's servants, once Albel's loyal followers, advanced on their captain. The Captain of The Black Brigade stood firm, not backing down, "If you fools think I won't kill you. You're sadly mistaken. I'll rip you apart before you manage to get your slimy claws on me." The threat didn't seem to stop them, whatever they were, they didn't have freedom of will. They followed their 'Master's' order.

Albel unsheathed the Crimson Scourge from it's sheath, the blade glimmered in the darkness of the corridor. A crimson aura lit up around Albel, a circle of light formed under his feet, ancient symbols written across them. His eyes flashed yellow as he called about the power of creatures older than any civilization ever found, "Dragon Roar!"

A dozen dragon heads soared out of the circle of light under Albel. They arced up into the air, and came crashing down on the four creatures that are Romero's servants. The attacked, burned and tore away flesh with each dragon that attacked. If you listened closely, you could hear the sounds of distant roars from the dragons, instead of the rushing of energy. Romero's servants shrieked and howled in pain.

Albel felt no remorse doing in his once loyal men. To him, he was doing them a favor, freeing them from the capturer, breaking them free of slavery. Even if the cost was death. However, his victory was short lived, and all the anticipation in the world couldn't have helped him for what Romero was doing. He swung his mighty soared slowly in the air, he gave it the illusion of several swords and arms followed his own. A red fluid erupted all around Albel's opponent, "Sword Of Darkness!"

The entire corridor shook as the red substance, which Albel now realized is blood, came rushing at him. It was like a waterfall, falling horizontally towards him, splashing against the walls of the corridor. In the back of Albel's mind, he took notice that what the blood touched, it burned, which meant that it was going to do more to him than just cover him in blood. He held his claw up to his face and turned his head away a moment before the blood swallowed him whole.

Soft laughter echoed throughout the endless darkness that he was given. He had seen and heard nothing for so long, that there had been a time when he thought there was nothing left. No fights to be fought, no blood to spill, no king to serve, no life to live. Everything was absolutely peaceful for just a moment. And Albel hated it more than anything else, so hearing sounds saved him from a nightmare.

"This one will be so much fun." He tried to recognized the voice, put a picture to it, but there was no picture for the voice, he had never seen or heard this person before. He can only tell that it's a woman.

"Romero said he got himself a new pet. I didn't think it would be anything worth while." Another voice spoke, which happened to be female also. He could feel a hand on his face, fingernails brushing across his skin. "Do you think he's tasted him yet?"

"If he hasn't that means we'd get to first. After all, he's not here right now. And neither is Thronnes." He could hear the two women give a sound that was half a giggle, half an excited laugh.

The laughter stopped at he felt the hands slip down to his bare shoulders, all went quiet. He felt something brush the side of his neck, and it wasn't fingers. He felt breath brush across his neck, warming the chilled skin. Two sharp digits pressed against the surface of his neck. He became fully aware of himself, his head jolted to the side, away from the two points on his neck.

The hands tore away from his body, as the woman that was touching leapt back, a surprised cry releasing from her lips. "Oh look, he's awake Miriam." Albel blinked his eyes slowly, trying to make himself gain more focus. Once he could see more than just the constant haze in his vision, he settled his haze on the one called Miriam, and studied her form.

Miriam's blonde hair fell to the right side of her head, and was pinned down to keep it from moving. It fell to her bare pale shoulder. Where her face was pale, her lips have a pink tint to him, either naturally or from something else. Black eyeliner, brought her blue gaze out more, making them more tempted to look into them. Albel choose to not look into her eyes, something told him it would be a mistake.

Instead he took in the rest of her appearance. A black tight fitting tank top covered her chest, and only her chest. It was cut short, ending just a few inches below her breasts, leaving her lean stomach to be viewed. She wore fingerless gloves that reached up to her elbows. For the lower half of her body, she wore tight black leather that seemed to mold to every curve of her legs. She kept the button of the pants undone, no doubt to make her appearance more tempting. She was obviously into seduction as a means of getting what she wants. Her dark forest green boots have three inch soles to give her some added height.

When Albel turned his gaze to the other woman in the room, he found her dressed in the same exact outfit. The only difference between the two were that this outfit had a dark crimson tint in it. Her red hair was done the same way as Miriam's, and is the same length. She too had put on eyeliner of sorts to bring out the green of her eyes.

Miriam glanced over to the redhead and gave a sort of smirk to her, "I think you have an admirer Succubus."

The two shared that annoying laughter that Albel already wishes her could tear out their throats just to make them stop. He tried moving his arms, only to find his wrists shackled against the wall. His ankles weren't having any luck either. Usually people get kinks, and blisters from being shackled to a wall for too long, Albel Nox is accustomed to the position. In Airyglyph, they used to shackle him to the wall when he was a boy when he did something wrong.

Albel finally recalled as to how and why he's where he is. Romero had placed him here, and started asking questions, questions he had no answers for. He wished to know about some Aquarian woman. Albel doesn't know any Aquarian women, so he wouldn't know any answers, even if he did, he wouldn't give the fool the satisfaction of getting the answers. Albel took quite the beating. His chest and back had slashing from a whip, and they're several burn marks scarring across the skin. Throughout the torture however, Romero had not once struck Albel's face, leaving it alone. Which only confused the swordsman to no end.

Albel struggled in his restraints, "Bah... you fools better release me."

"Or what?" Miriam asked as she took several steps towards him, her hips swung with each step she took towards him.

"Yes... tell us what you'd do to us." Succubus added, and unlike Miriam, she stepped all the way towards him. Even went as far as wrapping her arms limply across his neck. She pressed her body against his own. She leaned the side of her head on his shoulder so she could look at him from that angle, "Do share with me." Her voice had lowered to a mere whisper, a voice that lovers share in their bedroom, something she had undoubtedly mastered to use against men. Her breath brushed his cold skin, and he knew what she was doing, she was trying to tempt him.

Albel tried moving, but he couldn't get very far, "Get off me maggot."

At one point or another, Miriam had left the room, leaving the two alone. Albel cursed himself for not paying more attention to her. Now she could be anywhere, though he figures it doesn't matter when you're stuck against a cold concrete wall. He heard Succubus laugh a little, still not having removed herself from him, "I'll rip out your throat if you don't move your filth off of me."

"Strong words coming from someone who has no means of backing it up." Succubus pointed out, her fingers brushing his hair from behind his head, "I can see why he didn't kill you. You are a cute catch." Albel felt her turn her head until her lips were pressed against the large pulse of his neck. He tried moving his head away, but with her right hand lost in the hair at the side of his head, she pulled him towards her. "Don't worry... I won't bite you right now."

"Get off of me." Albel said calmly, though there was an edge of anger in his voice; the taste of danger.

Succubus just gave him a low mumble laugh as a response before he felt something smooth and wet run across his neck. "You tell me to get off you, but your pulse is picking up. I can feel your excitement by a mere brush of lips along your neck." Her voice carried through the silent chamber. Even with how silent she tried to be when speaking, it still managed to echo off the walls.

"You disgust me, worm." Albel practically spat out. He turned his head to shoot her a glare, but all he could see was her hair. As if she sensed his gaze on her, she slowly raised her head from his neck. His vision began to waver when he caught himself in her gaze. He felt himself began to fall, further and further into the darkness. He felt the strong pull, his whole world close to shattering. Yet he couldn't tear his gaze from hers, he found himself trapped in those endless pools of emerald. His mind was on that breaking point, just stuck between staying whole, and from shattering apart.

Just as soon as it seemed all would be lost, Succubus covered her mouth and laughed, closing her eyes in the process. Albel immediately felt normal, as normal as he could ever be. When her laughter died down, Succubus reached out with her hands, resting them on his bare chest, "You're not as smart as I thought you'd be, starring into a vampire's eyes can have quite the affect if the vampire chooses to break you."

Albel felt physically, and mentally exhausted. His body hung there limply, his head bowed as he tried collecting himself together. Succubus slid her hand against his chest, pressing one of her nails into the skin, until she broke the skin enough to make it bleed. The scratch made Albel give the barest of flinches. He straightened himself back up, his head feeling much heavier than it should be.

Succubus's gaze remained fixed on the blood slipping out of the small incision. Her tongue dabbed her lips wet as she stared at it like a dog stared at any sign of food. The corners of her lips curled into a sly smile, her eyes giving off a new brilliance before she looked up to his face, her mouth parting to show off her fangs. Perhaps she was trying to scare him, if she was, it didn't work. It would take a lot more than an incision to scare Albel, if there is anything that scares him to begin with.

Succubus said nothing as her arms wrapped themselves around Albel's waist. She slowly lowered her mouth towards the wound. Albel tried drawing back, but the wall kind of put the idea out the window. So he was left to just stand there, without being able to stop her. He could only try to tear out the shackles from the walls.

He pulled at his shackles as he felt her tongue run across his chest, lapping up the blood that had began to run down. The sensation was nothing compared to the feeling of her lips fully surrounding the small wound, and the feeling of her trying to suck the blood out of him from that small mark. She hadn't led when she said she wouldn't bite him, but she never said she wouldn't drink his blood. Albel expected she still would a moment after she spoke, so this didn't come as much as a surprise.

Albel couldn't stop himself from withering under her mouth, trying to move away in any possible angle. The arms around his waist however, made it hard to do much about her. He's never been one to enjoy being at anyone's mercy, no matter what predicament it was. This wasn't any different. He clenched his claw, trying to break it free. He could picture his claw plunging into her chest; grabbing her beating heart in his clutches. He could picture her face at such a moment, a picture perfect, beauty of fear and shock, of life's final moments as death creeps closer. He'd watch her heart give it's final beat in his claw before he'd crush it.

His pleasant thoughts were interrupted as Succubus stood back up, wiping her mouth clean with one of her perfect unflawed hands, then licking the blood off before turning starring up at Albel, trying to catch sight of his eyes. He directed his gaze somewhere besides her eyes, a bit relieved that he still had the long skirt intact. "I do hope Romero decides to keep you the way you are. It's been so long since I've had the opportunity to taste the blood of a mortal, though yours has the taste of death in it, giving it an extra spice to it. Yes he should keep you here, I'd make you my playmate."

Albel's nose scrunched up in disgust, "You're only quickening your death fool."

The door to the chamber opened up, both Albel and Succubus glanced over to the door to find Romero walking in. Why he chooses to walk into the room instead of just popping out of thin air like he did to Albel in the corridor is beyond him, not that he really cared either.

Romero kept looking between Albel and Succubus, a brow raising in question. He took notice the new mark on Albel's chest, one he hadn't inflicted himself. "Now Succubus, I'm sure you haven't been playing with my new toy have you?"

"Just a little." Succubus answered offhandedly.

Romero shook his head and glided towards Albel, "Alright you foolish one. I've come with a name this time. I know she's an accomplish of yours, for her and another foolish warrior have come done searching solely for you. What do you know of Nel Zelpher."

"Heh.." That brought a reaction, unlike any of the other times he questioned Albel. He seemed a bit amused at the mention of the woman's name. "Nel Zelpher is Aquarian scum. She's nothing but a maggot." He claimed, he let out a laugh, a little sadistic laugh, "She's the one you've been trying to get information about through me? Heh heh.. Couldn't pick someone better? The woman so stubborn, she needs to learn her place."

Romero waved him off with a flick of his wrist, "You seem to hold some sort of resentment towards her. I do admit, I'm a bit curious as to why."

"She's Aquarian scum." Albel stated as if it were the answers to all.

Romero gave him a long look, "Hmm... So you do not know much of this woman than?"

"Bah, whether I knew anything or not, I wouldn't give you the satisfaction of getting out of me."

Romero gave a bemused look before glancing over his shoulder towards Succubus, "You seem to like this one, am I correct."

Succubus smiled, giving a hint of her fangs as she eyed the chained man, "Yes, he's something fresh to play with." She let out giggle, that really wasn't cute at all, in fact, it was somewhat scary at how innocent it sounded that Albel could tell was just an act.

"Hmm..." Romero turned his gaze back to Albel, his eyes lingering on his beaten form for sometime, "Since you don't know anything. I have no use for you. I could just kill you right now." He turned around, and made his way towards the exit, "Succubus, you may have him." After a moment he added, "Even though I'm not going to kill you, Succubus will probably end up breaking you in half. She tends to get lose control of herself."

"Oh hush! You lie." Succubus exclaimed defensively.

"I sent Thronnes to drop our two trespassers a visit." Romero said before he left the room.

Succubus practically glided back over to Albel, her lips contorted into a knowing smirk, that told Albel several things were going to be coming to him. She slid her nail along his bare chest as she leaned against his body, "We're going to have a lot of fun... wait and see. First, it's time for you to sleep so I can move you to a more fitting place." Albel blacked out even before the strike to the head registered in his mind.

((Gives a wide smile)) I'm not even going to give y'all the pleasure of knowing what's expected in the next chapter. I hope this one answered a few of your questions. Of course, with answers only comes more questions. ((Cackles))