Hey everyone! This is a very special chapter in honor of its number - chapter 30! What? How did this become so long? And not even half way!
Anyway, so instead of following Lloyd or Sheena, this chapter we check in on an old friend who was left behind... Zelos! Also, a certain someone you might recognize is introduced!
Enjoy!
Warning: Contains content not recommended for those under 18. I don't own TOS.
Zelos sighed, lying on the bed in the guest room of his house. Since Sheena left instead of him, he'd taken over the guest room so that anyone observing the house would see movement in this room and not his, since he was the one who was supposed to be in Sylvarant now.
Pulling the communicator out of his pocket, he checked it for the millionth time before replacing it again. He really wanted to just call Sheena but he knew that it could make trouble for her if her communicator went off at the wrong time, so he forced himself to wait.
Sebastian knocked on the door, entering after a moment and swiftly closing the door behind him, balancing a food tray in his hands. The servants of the house were all aware that Zelos was home but their loyalty to their Master protected him. Trevion, however, had no such sense of loyalty and due to his frequent drunken ramblings, it was better if Zelos stayed out of his sight.
Today was one of those rare days when Trevion was actually home, forcing Zelos to remain in his temporary room.
"Thanks, Sebastian." Zelos said, sitting up as Sebastian handed him the tray, setting it on the bed in front of him.
"Of course, Master Zelos." Sebastian nodded, moving about the room, automatically tidying up.
Swallowing a bite, Zelos asked: "So what's new? Anything going on?"
"Everything is the same, the house is functioning as normal. I believe Lina has gone to the market. Your father is still in his room, but he told Samuel he intends to visit friends tonight, so you won't be cooped up too much longer, Master Zelos." Sebastian said.
Zelos nodded, munching away at the food. They both paused at the loud banging on the front door. Zelos swallowed and stood up swiftly, sharing an uneasy glance with Sebastian.
There were muffled voices and a loud shout, then the pounding of feet coming up the stairs. Quickly, Zelos took out his communicator and shoved it into Sebastian's hand. "You remember how to use it?" He asked urgently.
Sebastian nodded, pocketing the device. "Master Zelos – " He broke off when two papal knights burst into the room.
"So the bitch was right! Arrest him!" one yelled, both quickly grabbing Zelos and firmly holding his arms behind his back. He struggled, glaring.
"What is the meaning of this?" Sebastian demanded.
"Zelos Wilder, you are under arrest for treason and conspiracy to kill His Royal Highness the King, Her Royal Majesty the Princess, His Royal Eminence the Pope, and the whole of Tethe'alla." The other papal knight stated.
"What? Are you crazy?" Zelos yelled, furious.
"I demand to know the reason for this." Sebastian said firmly.
"He has betrayed the world and failed his mission." The first knight said.
"Silence." The Commander of the knights said, walking into the room and moving in front of Zelos, forcing his head up by his chin.
"So, you were hiding here, hmm? Such a coward. Where is the Chosen One?" the Commander demanded.
Zelos glaring but said nothing.
The Commander smiled fiercely. "Oh, you will tell us eventually. Take him away."
"Master Zelos!" Sebastian yelled, moving towards him but blocked by the Commander.
"It's fine Sebastian. I'm going on a holiday." Zelos grinned before being lead out the door, Sebastian and the Commander following.
"Holiday, indeed." The Commander said mildly.
"I'll get help, Master Zelos. I will free you." Sebastian said.
Zelos shook his head. "Don't worry about me – there are more important things."
"Enough chitchat." The Commander ordered as they reached the landing.
Zelos started at the girl sobbing by the doorway, being firmly held by one of the knights. She looked up at Zelos, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Master Zelos! They – they found me at the market. They threatened me. I'm sorry!" Lina sobbed.
"Lina… It's okay." Zelos whispered, before glaring at the Commander. "If you pricks hurt her, I'll have your jobs!"
"You're hardly in any position to make such bold statements." The Commander said as Sebastian took Lina from the knight gently and hugged the sobbing girl to his side.
"What's going on? Zelos?" Trevion said, hurrying down the stairs from his room.
"Your son is under arrest by orders of the Pope. Don't interfere." The Commander said.
"I demand an explanation!" Trevion said. "That's my son!"
Zelos stared at Sebastian. "Get them out of here. Protect them."
Sebastian nodded, passing Lina off to another servant before going to Trevion. "Master Trevion, please. Let's discuss this upstairs. Do not cause a scene."
"Yes, listen to the butler. Let's go." The Commander said, marching out of the house, dragging Zelos with them.
"Zelos!" Trevion yelled, moving after him but Sebastian stopped him.
"Dammit, Sebastian, that's my son! What the hell happened? I will go to the King at once!" Trevion angrily spat.
"I will tell you what I know and then I will gladly accompany you." Sebastian said grimly, telling Trevion the version of the facts that he intended to repeat to His Majesty, making it seem as though Sheena had merely gone to her village instead of to another world.
Zelos winced as he was roughly shoved onto a chair in one of the interrogation rooms of the Coliseum's jail section.
His wrists and ankles were snapped into the manacles hanging from the arm rests and leg stands of the chair and he cursed, tugging at them restlessly.
"Comfortable?" The Commander sneered, before snapping his fingers and ordering the other knights out.
"All right, Mr. Wilder. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. All you need to do is tell me where the Chosen One disappeared to and I can let you go." The Commander said.
Zelos glared at him.
The Commander smiled. "If you don't tell me, of course, I will force the answer from you – torture has been authorized."
Zelos narrowed his gaze but still said nothing.
"And if you lie to me and your information proves false, I have permission to punish you even more severely. Do you understand?" The Commander asked.
"I'm not gonna say a word- you're wasting your time." Zelos spat.
The Commander grinned cruelly. "Oh I do love it when they fight." He knocked on the door and two knights appeared with a tank and tubes. They brought the device in and set it next to Zelos. The redhead could see the water sloshing around the tank and followed the tubing connected to what appeared to be some kind of release value up to some kind of face mask…
His eyes widened and he stared at the Commander, who smiled at him.
"I see you know what this is. Do you still refuse to talk?" The Commander asked.
Zelos frowned, mentally cursing the knights and the Pope, forcing an image of Sheena to the front of his mind.
"Well?" The Commander asked, leaning in.
Zelos opened his mouth… and spat on him.
The Commander glared at him, wiping his face. "Hook him up."
Zelos struggled, tossing his head back and forth, but the knights yanked him by his hair and slipped the mask on. It was slightly bulged and hallow, covering his nose and mouth and strapped tightly in place. Zelos tried rubbing the straps against the chair to dislodge it, but the knights attached the back leather straps to the chair, limiting his head movements.
Panting with adrenaline and fear, he glared at the Commander, who smiled as he raised his hand and lifted one finger.
A knight flipped the switch and water flooded the mask with tremendous pressure. Zelos quickly ran out of air, body jerking spastically in its bonds, trying to escape. His eyes bulged and he screamed, water flooding his lungs. Drowning, they were drowning him.
The mask was ripped off and the machine flipped off at the Commander's mark. Water spilled down Zelos' shirt front and onto his lap, his chest heaving as he coughed up water.
Gulping in large breaths, he managed to lift his head to glare at the Commander.
"Still have some fire in you, I see. That won't last long. Ready to talk?" The Commander asked.
"Never." Zelos rasped.
The Commander nodded and the mask was forced back on. Zelos struggled, yanking at the manacles as the Commander raised his hand. He took a deep breath and the switch was flipped, water flooding him once more.
Hours later, hands manacled behind his back, shirt and pants soaked, Zelos was led stumbling to the jail cells. There were curses and catcalls yelled, and he had enough presence of mind to be thankful he was being led to the holding cell for those prisoners who had enough status or bribery money to avoid fighting in the Coliseum.
He stumbled as he was shoved in, falling to his knees on the concrete floor painfully. The cell was locked behind him and the knight said clearly, "See you tomorrow."
Zelos winced, fearing how much his body could take before he gave in. He tried to stand but fell over without the use of arms, lying on the cold floor.
Boots appeared in his vision and he dragged his eyes upwards to meet piercing blue ones framed by cobalt hair. The man crouched down and Zelos noticed he, too, wore manacles, but at least his hands were in front of him.
"I am going to help you sit up." The man said before cautiously touching him, maneuvering him so that with a bit of help he was sitting against one of the solid walls of the cell. The three other prisoners were in a corner and Zelos stared at them curiously.
"Don't stare at them and they'll leave you alone." The man said, sitting next to him.
Zelos turned to him. "Thank you. I'm Zelos."
"…Regal." The man nodded.
Zelos tilted his head. "You kinda look, I don't know, familiar somehow. Do I know you?"
Regal returned his gaze with a level stare, saying nothing.
Taking the hint, Zelos shrugged. "Whatever. Doesn't matter."
"Why are you wet?" Regal asked.
Zelos shuddered. "They want information." He said, hoping he wouldn't have to elaborate.
Regal looked at him in sympathy. "I am sorry. You won't tell them?"
"I can't." Zelos said firmly.
Regal nodded and silence fell. Zelos squeezed his eyes shut, trying to ignore the way his throat ached or the dull throb in his shoulders or the rawness of his wrists.