Note: Hey guys! I'm back with another chapter and I DO know it's quite early. Meh, school's about to start so I might not be able to upload on the weekends thanks to somebody jagging my conscience to go to swimming practice. With all that aside, I hope you guys enjoy the chapter, because Armik is definitely NOT enjoying it.
Normal POV:
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT YOU DON'T HAVE EVEN AN INKLING OF HER LOCATION?" Armik furiously roared.
Takashi flinched at the sound of Armik's furious voice. He looked around in quick reflexes and sighed. There really was no escape.
The throne room he had used to occupy was now changed to suit Armik. Chained doors and burned windows, he must really not want Takashi or Aurelia escaping.
"YOU'VE BEEN HER MISERABLE FATHER FOR YEARS! YOU PATHETIC TWIT!" Armik continued, "AND YOU TELL ME THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A SINGLE CLUE ON UMI'S LOCATION?"
Armik lashed out on Aurelia in his anger. Takashi angrily tried to attack Armik to defend his wife but he was restrained by Alpha and Beta. Tears began to drop from Aurelia's eyes, hurting Takashi even more.
Takashi could do nothing but look down in shame. He now felt guilty not only to Aurelia, but also to Umi. Why did he ever trust that monster, Armik?
Armik continued to scowl at both Takashi and Aurelia, launching whips at them both with his scaly tail.
Takashi would have loved to wipe that attitude off Armik himself but seeing that Alpha and Beta were restraining him and that Gamma and Squalo were guarding Aurelia while threatening her, he decided that attacking would not be a very good idea.
Armik soon quieted down after his outrage. He slowly and calmly turned to Takashi.
Armik opened his mouth, "For the last time, do you have even the tiniest hint of which direction could Umi possibly escaped to?"
Takashi looked down and said, "I-I... have no idea."
He braced himself for another one of Armik's whippings but to his surprise, Armik didn't lash out at him.
Instead, Armik just turned his head away in disgust as if to say that whipping Takashi would just not be worth his time.
Takashi found this opportunity to speak, "Why do you want my daughter so much? You have my kingdom and riches already, why go so far? Why take away the only thing I have left? Can't you just settle for someone else?"
"Silence!" Armik hissed, "Your daughter is the only one beautiful enough and so, worthy enough to be my queen, and if I were you I would be wary of your tongue and know the position of the one you are speaking to-"
He stopped in mid-sentence. An unearthly grin curled up from his lips. His eyes turned to slits as he eyed Takashi. Takashi almost wished he had never spoken now.
"Well, well, well," he casually said, "maybe you are right about choosing someone else. This would make my days of ruling more... entertaining and it could also serve as your punishment."
Takashi replied with a puzzled look on his face.
Armik maniacally chuckled, "If you don't find your daughter and give her up to be my queen, I will be tempted to take someone else's beautiful queen as my own."
Armik's eyes narrowed onto Aurelia and Takashi knew what he was thinking.
"NO!" Takashi pleaded, "Please! You've gone too far!"
Armik paid him no attention. His deep red eyes were filled with so much greed and lust, anyone looking straight at them would've drowned in such odious thoughts.
"It's your fault that I'm deprived from what is rightfully mine," he continued, "So it's only fair that I take what is yours. Right, Aurelia?"
He tickled Aurelia's chin with his tail, his red eyes were now sharp slits bleeding with lust. Aurelia found this uncomfortable and tried to move away but she was restrained by Squalo and Gamma. Takashi was practically in tears by now seeing the situation.
"I'll do what I can!" Takashi pleaded, "Just... Please, please, please don't touch Aurelia!"
Armik rubbed his tail under his chin as if to show that he was thinking about it.
"You have until nightfall," Armik snorted, "Besides; you're supposed to be her father! Shouldn't you know where she would go if she were to escape? Besides, you know how impatient I can be. So if you don't give me an answer by nightfall, I just might get acquainted with dear Aurelia here."
Takashi's face expressed more disgust than anger. He had never pictured Armik to be like this. What happened to the noble image he had always pictured Armik to be? It was all just an illusion, and his daughter had told him about it. If only he had listened to her, he wouldn't have to risk Aurelia like this.
"Fine," Takashi muttered, his confidence shattered.
Armik maliciously grinned, "Wonderful! Two brains are better than one, or two queens for me are better than one! Whichever comes first."
Takashi could do nothing else, he his head to Aurelia and tried to hide his tears.
"I love you Aurelia, and I won't let Armik do anything to you. I'm... sorry," he muttered to her, tears dripping down uncontrollable from his eyes. He gave Aurelia a swift kiss and went off to Umi's room to find any clues (with permission from Armik, of course). He slowly picked up a small rock comb and smiled as he tried to picture his daughter combing her own hair.
His smile faded and was replaced by a frown soon enough though.
Why did Umi use this comb even if she rarely attended any parties? And coincidentally, those days she usually uses these and her make-up she always seems to be eager for dusk to fall? Takashi wondered, Could it be that she does something else at night? Her windows ARE always open...
Takashi decided that he wanted to confirm his suspicions. He was allowed by Armik to go and gather information; of course, with Alpha and Beta supervising him.
Takashi nonchalantly inquired Ai of Umi's recent actions.
"Ai, do you know anything that Umi wouldn't want me to know, such as sneaking out or escaping, possibly?" Takashi pressed.
Ai tensed upon hearing the question and Takashi immediately knew that she was trying to hide something.
"N-no sir," she said, "I assure you she didn't do anything like that."
Takashi raised an eyebrow.
"Please Ai," Takashi pleaded, "Please tell me the truth. There is just too much at stake here."
"Well..." Ai muttered, "She did go to Sunset Reef by midnight sometimes... It was because there was someone she... uh... liked."
Takashi was aghast with what he heard.
"Why didn't she tell me?" Takashi exclaimed, "If only she told me, none of this would have happened and Armik wouldn't have usurped the throne like this!"
I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, Ai sarcastically thought.
She became nervous though when Takashi looked straight at her, the one thing she didn't want him to ask her was who Umi had found favourable.
Takashi, however, didn't press any further.
"That is all I need to know," Takashi dismissed her politely, "Thank you."
Ai humbly bowed before him and swam off.
Having gathered what he had needed, he was prodded back to Armik by Alpha and Beta, who were both getting bored of their job and were debating whether they should just throw Takashi in the dungeon or defeat him in battle.
"Time is ticking," Armik chuckled, enjoying the expression on Takashi's face.
"Armik," Takashi grimaced, "I have found out that Umi used to sneak out to Sunset Reef."
Armik raised an eyebrow.
"And you're telling me this why?" Armik asked.
"She might still be there," Takashi pointed out as-a-matter-of-factly.
Armik merely snickered, "Do you honestly think she would be stupid enough to stay somewhere quite near the tribe she just escaped from? Oh, and by the way... TIME'S UP!"
"WHAT?" Takashi yelled in protest, "B-but you didn't even-"
"Shut up!" Armik chuckled, "I'll leave you alone in the dungeon now. Your thinking abilities have failed me, I am very disappointed in you. As for Aurelia... She's staying with me, you see..."
Takashi's eyes widened in horror.
"You can't just-" he tried to protest before being cut off by Armik.
"Take him away," Armik cruelly ordered to the four Sharpedo, leaving him alone in the throne room.
He turned over to Aurelia, her eyes filled with loathing.
"As for you, Aurelia," he casually said, "You are almost as beautiful as your daughter, you know."
On any normal occasion, Aurelia would have enjoyed the compliment. But when it came from Armik, it made her angry, scared, or even disgusted.
Aurelia took a step backwards as Armik swam forward towards her.
"What do you want with me, Armik?" she yelled back, her voice laced with her deepest loathing.
Armik just smiled as he inched closer, "I just want to get to know you more."
Aurelia angrily slapped him back with her tail.
"Ack!" Armik yelled, "You're as stubborn as that pathetic old thing you call your husband, aren't you? You don't want to suffer the same fate as that fool Takashi do you, or dwould you like to be put on the front lines of war?"
Armik suddenly stopped speaking, as if he realized he had either said something wrong or ingenius.
"Hmm... High risk, high return, eh?" he muttered to himself.
"Hmm..." he crookedly smiled, "Why bother looking for her... If I can bait her back?"
Armik paced back and forth for a while, ignoring Aurelia, as he was busy planning something. He muttered silent calculations to himself.
He finally opened his mouth and summoned Squalo back in the room.
"Squalo! Bring Takashi back here at once!" Armik ordered.
Squalo immediately nodded and proceeded to bring Takashi back.
"What is it now, Armik?" Takashi bitterly spat.
"Well," Armik taunted, "I need you to answer one question."
"What?" Takashi asked back, eyeing Aurelia to see if she was fine.
"Your... army," Armik continued, "Is it ready for battle?"
"What do you mean?" Takashi asked, suddenly becoming wary of Armik.
"Just answer the question, prisoner!" Armik angrily scowled.
"Yes," Takashi replied, "but we've never used them in years. Why ask about them?"
"It's simple, really..." Armik smiled cunningly, "I am going to start a catastrophic war. News of such a war would spread, and once word of it reaches Umi, she would surely come back here and finally be mine!"
"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?" Takashi yelled, horrified at what Armik had said.
"Say what you will," Armik continued, "But I will still continue with my plans. Oh, and for your assistance, you may stay here instead of the dungeon. In fact, I'd rather let the two of you enjoy the sight of the war that will soon unfold. With both of you helpless, of course."
Takashi just sighed in defeat.
He opened his mouth to ask a question, "Armik, who are you going to wage war against?"
Armik's leps curled up into a megalomaniacal grin, "Isn't it obvious? The Gyarados Tribe!"
Note: Well, things sure are getting big... Who knew that something small like that could start an all-out war... Poor Umi, she has no idea, doesn't she? Either way, I guess that's all for now. I gotta go soon, so leave a review. Seeya~