-Passing Judgment: Playing by the Rules-
-Parish the Thought-
Amber eyes glowed in pain within the darkened room; a small hiss was heard as a little shuffling took place to rearrange the way he sat. Leaning his back and his head against the wall, Zakardo clenched his eyes shut and gritted his teeth, the gash on his side throbbing with immense pain. Although it was wrapped up and patched, there was no care put into it and it still hurt like hell. Sweating ever so slightly, Zak gulped and bore with the pain as he glanced around the small bedroom like room that he and Lance were in.
However, Zak may have been in bad condition, Lance seemed no different, sleeping on the small bed his face contorted into an expression of obvious discomfort. Swat dripping upon the pill – despite the vent that circulates cool air. The child wasn't at all hurt in anyway … but the golden ring around his neck … Zak frowned as it shimmered a mock of innocence. Shaking his head, Zak prepared to move himself again, to crawl across the carpet floor and sit up next to Lance's bed.
As he did so the gash on his side sent shockwaves of unimaginable pain, but it wasn't like he couldn't hack it. He's been through worse and the only thing he could think about right now was comforting Lance … it was the least he could do considering the fact that this was his entire fault. Zak propped himself on the soft bed, looking down at Lance, Zak reached a hand to smooth away the child's hair and held still when Lance began to stir. He groaned, and then coughed, his arm shot up to grip the sides of his stomach. As if he had been kicked in the gut he curled into as small a ball as possible and lightly sobbed, "… Ace … help …"
Zak was heartbroken, so he whispered to try and comfort the kid as best he could, "It's gonna be alright Lance … Ace will be here soon … I promise."
"Azul …" Lance gulped and slowly, ever so slowly opened his silver eyes to stare up at Zak's golden hues and saw the pain, "… you're hurt …"
"Don't worry about me," Zak tried to force a soft smile, "what about you, huh? You alright?"
"…" for a moment Lance didn't answer, just stayed perfectly still, which frightened Zak for that moment until Lance sighed and nodded, "I think so …"
Zak nodded in response, "Good, that's good, I promise though, we're going to get out of here."
"Yeah …" Lance scoffed, "You promise …"
He said it in such a sarcastic tone that even in his weakened state it was prominent; Zak frowned and smoothed back the kid's hair, "Hey, what's with the attitude? You don't believe me?"
"…" Lance huffed, and shuttered when another wave of fatigue crawled up his spine, gritting his teeth and sighing tiredly he closed his eyes and whispered softly, "You … you promised me, one time, that you'd tell me who you really are … that you'd show me your home … but you never did Azul … you even promised you'd never leave … and you did."
Zak shook his head and dropped it to lay his forehead on the kid's bed, thinking to himself how ridiculous a time this was for Lance to be talking about minor promises. Yet, gathering his patience he figured it wasn't exactly Lance's fault he was loosing his life's energy to a damn ring he couldn't take off even if he tried. Zak bit down on his lower lip and sat back up the best he could to stare down at the weakening child, "Look, Lance, that was a long time ago … and it's complicated to explain, you wouldn't understand …"
Lance blinked, and snorted, "Oh … I know … just like it's complicated to explain the fact that I'll die in a matter of days if I don't get to the Trove anytime soon … yeah … I'm just a kid … I wouldn't understand …"
A few tears started to stain his pillow as he turned over slowly, facing his back to Zak's sad and guilty expression, pulling away from Lance, Zak sat back and stared at the ground distantly. Thinking about the fiasco back at the Cat's Eye Temple and how he managed to get Lance out of the ankle cuff and managed to get them hidden in the jungle. The plan would have worked, they would have gotten away … but the dragon Jylin had was no joke, in his true form he hunted the two down ruthlessly. Zak pushed Lance to run and while he did Cashes lashed out with his claws and just managed to scrap a gaping hole on Zak's side. It hurt like hell, and Zak would have died if Jylin hadn't have come around and "decided" to spare his life if he told him where Lance was.
Zak was ready to die in order to allow for Lance's freedom … but alas … Cashes eventually found Lance and after they found out where to go next they were off and here they were now. Locked in a room because Jylin had no more cuffs to keep the child close, one loosing energy and one just too hurt to have energy to heal himself. Zak felt so helpless … just how he felt helpless when his brother – his naïve, kind hearted, noble brother – was killed. Zak swore to every heaven and hell there were in the cosmos that he never meant to hurt Raven … or to chase her away for that matter. He was just wracked with so much crap that it was impossible for him to even begin to comprehend that what he had been doing was wrong and unjust.
Oh the irony …
Trying so hard to make sure the world doesn't fall into chaos, but it turns out he had a knack for it …
Just like Ace did … that was the only reason why he and Ace never got along. Because Ace had the strength to be bad, to do all the things only a real social psychopath would do … and yet still keep his sanity. Zak envied that of Ace and wished he cold be able to distinguish what was right and what was wrong and when to stop when he's known he's gone too far. To be sane enough to be able to make those kinds of calls were – to Zak anyway – amazing.
Click!
Zak braced himself when he heard the door opening, leaning against the bed he glared at the door, and at the dragon that nearly spilled his guts out all over the jungle floor. Cashes with his bright acid-green eyes glared down at Zak with sharp fangs, and snarled, "It's a sad day when the Prince of Azarath is reduced something as pathetic as you are … you better be thankful that your father was merciful enough to spare such a miserable creature such as yourself."
"Is that all you came her for?" Zak sneered, "To harass me? That's a new low … even for you."
"On the contrary," Cashes snorted and entered the room, standing aside from the door he shrugged in boredom, "I'm here because master says he wishes to speak to you and child … so awake the human."
Zak gritted his teeth and muttered as he reached around to gently nudge Lance awake, "And yet you say I'm pathetic … who's kissing who's ass pet."
Cashes snarled, "You're in no position to poke fun at me."
Zak ignored him as he nudged Lance more time, "Lance, up, troubles back."
Lance grumbled and slowly, carefully sat up, still drowsy from sleep and weak from the ring, he glanced towards the door and rubbed his eyes when he found his vision was still a bit hazy. Clearing it up, he saw Cashes and sighed in aggravation, "Oh … it's the Toad … is that all you woke me up for Azul?"
Zak didn't know where the Toad thing came into play, but it made him chuckle at the humor in hearing Cashes snarl. Thank God for simple pleasures … but when a shadow cast over the dim lighting of the outside hall, it appeared that God had once again vanished and left Zak and Lance to deal with the Devil himself all on their own. Jylin … a powerful man with a great aura, demanding respect with every step, his neatly kept hair gelled back and out of the way, board powerful shoulders perfectly complimented by the suit he wore. A striking resemblance to Zak, and as should be, for Jylin – or Kain – was his father.
Alive and in the flesh … staring down at his son with a passive, indifferent, and basically unreadable expression. As cold as ice … like how Zak use to remember his tyrannical father, Zak scowled, "And here I thought I was staring at a ghost all these years … how unfortunate that all my efforts to keep Azarath free from your reign had all been in vain."
Kain's amber eyes twinkled with an odd expression of amusement as he walked into the room, "Zak … Zak, Zak, Zak … my son … I applaud your efforts, truly I do. You were always my favorite; Taciko was never really as impressive as you were, too gullible. He'd believe me if I told him the grass was black … poor thing, never realized that being an honorable man also meant dieing a youthful death."
Kain stepped back, expressing mild shock when Zak suddenly found the strength to leap up off his spot on the ground to reach for his neck in order to strangle him to death. Only Cashes was faster in whipping out his tail and slamming it into Zak's stomach, throwing him across the room. Over Lance's bed, knocked into the wall, Zak slid down and stayed unmoving for awhile. Trying to catching his breath and his sanity as a few mournful tears were slipping from his blazing golden eyes. Clenching his hands into fists he gritted his teeth and tried his best to ignore the pain as he got on his knees, whispering, "He was my brother … he was my brother and your fucking son … you took his life without even flinching … he didn't deserver it …"
"You're right," Kain held up his hand to signal to Cashes to stand down when the dragon snarled and prepared for another confrontation as Zak found the power to get to his feet. Lance stayed on the bed, now wide awake and bracing for any other surprises; he observed the scene and tried to be invisible. Seeing as this conversation had nothing to do with him. Kain shrugged, "You're absolutely right … he didn't deserve death … but he asked for it. First with showing interest in that half-bred child … then defying your truth … and finally … just plain: getting in the way. The first strike was meant for you, with you out of the way I could manipulate Tac in anyway I wished … like I said, he was gullible."
"He looked up to you!" Zak shouted, "There's a difference! He thought you were a good man … and for awhile you had me fooled … until you started breeding creatures like that thing –" Zak gestured harshly towards Cashes who growled at Zak in irritation as the Azarian Prince continued, "– claiming to create the first Dragon Riders to defend Azarath from its enemies when it was all about domination … you were looking for an easy way to control Azarath's neighboring dimensions and what easier way than to control a whole fleet of dragons. After all … every damn world has their share of stories … especially here on Earth, where you found the perfect means of starting your army strong with an unlimited supply of beasts through Dragon Trove where the strongest of the strong are hatched … like Malchior, a Sorcerer Dragon, or Cashes a Warrior Dragon."
Kain chuckled and nodded, "Very good … as clever as ever … but now that you know where this is headed, then you should know that you can make this all stop if you order that dragon of yours to get rid of the problem … permanently."
Lance gasped quietly, having heard the whole story and understanding just where Malchior came from, and just who Azul really was … Lance shook his head and found he couldn't stay quiet any longer, "No … Azul … yo-you can't!"
Zak looked down at Lance and reached out a hand to ruffle the top of his head with a tired smile, "It's alright kid … I'd never give this bastard the satisfaction of us giving in."
"How brave of you," Kain scoffed and glanced at Cashes, "but stupid nonetheless … Ca –"
"Jylin!" Jylin looked out the door into the hall where one of his lackies came running in rush, "Jylin! They're here!"
"They" being Raven, Trenton, and Malchior, Jylin frowned, "So they flew through the night …"
Cashes snarled, "Master, let me take care of them … it's time we end this game! Malchior is probably too tired to fight back properly, we have the advantage!"
"No," Jylin snapped, "he still has that damn sorceress with him … and that thief is no push over either. We have to move, now."
"And of your son? What of his fate?" Cashes growled, not liking this idea at all glared at Zak and glanced at his master.
Jylin thought for a moment, then looked at the lacky down the hall and snapped his fingers for him to step forward. As the man did, Jylin ordered Cashes to fetched Lance as he whispered to the man, "Get rid of Azul."
The man nodded, "Yes, sir."
Cashes reached for Lance, but the child scurried away, closer to Zak who grabbed him and pulled him from Cashes. However, Cashes got a hold of the child's ankle and without remorse yanked the child from Zak, Lance yelped, "AZUL!"
"Lance!" Zak jumped over the bed to stop Cashes who exited the room and walked down the hall. Determined to follow, Zak took one step towards the door and stopped dead in his tracks when he found himself staring down the barrel of a gun. One of Jylin's followers, stone cold, and with no hesitation pulled the trigger and fired the gun, but the bullet never pierced his head.
Zak had side-stepped the gun a second before the man pulled the trigger and reached out to grab his wrist, twisting it Zak smashed his elbow into the man's face and knocked him out cold. Picking up the gun and stuffing it in his back pocket. He winced when the gash on his side protested his movements, but he couldn't rest now, not after Lance had been taken out of his sights. Zak promised the kid that he'd get him out of this hell, and he'll be damned if he doesn't keep this one promise to him.
--
Malchior dropped out of the sky as if he had been shot, morphing into his human form only half-way, leaving his wings and his tail, Trenton grabbed a hold of Raven and made sure they landed on the ground the correct way. Although the same couldn't have been said for Malchior, the dragon smashed into the ground, creating a small crater in the Earth. Raven gasped and jumped to her feet, running for Malchior she dropped next to him worried when she saw his eyes were closed and he was unresponsive, "Malchior?"
Malchior stirred, but growled and turned on his side when the uncomfortable position he was in crushed his wings, Raven put a hand on his shoulder as he hissed and snarled, "Gods … remind me never to do something like that ever again …"
"I will," Raven sighed and smoothed her hand over his wings, "you alright? You seem so tired."
The dragon opened on crimson eye to give Raven a dry look, "Really? You're impressive observation skills never seize to amaze me, love."
Raven sneered, "Not now Malchior … can you move?"
"I suspect that I should have to … where did I land us?"
Raven looked around and couldn't exactly pin point their condition in the dark, shaking her head she opened her mouth to answer, but Trent answered that before her, "We're near the Panama Canal … it's just up ahead, but the Dagger Caves is just a mile behind us."
"The Dagger Caves?" Raven raised a skeptical brow and asked, "What's that?"
Trent looked down at her and shrugged, "The Wolf's Fang was found not too far from there … maybe up the Canal towards the Galapagos Islands … I just thought if we're following where the Jewel and Knife were found, then Dagger Caves is a good place to start looking. Been there before, but because of a few … incidences … I was forced to leave."
Raven narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "And who were you at the time when you were forced to leave after these alleged "incidences"?"
"I think I went by the name of Criss Daniels then, legitimate expedition believe it or not. A few of my men died of strange causes. Didn't want to risk it and pulled out. Never went back."
Raven frowned, "Then do you think it's wise of us to go in when you didn't have any hope before?"
Malchior sighed tiredly, and got off the ground, on his feet, his wings dragging on the ground. Twitching ever now and again in irritation from being moved, his tail swishing impatiently from side to side, he locked his crimson hues with Trenton's silver orbs and static shock consumed a very thick air of tension. Raven in between them, looked at either, not really understanding the animosity raised a brow when Malchior snorted, "I don't see a choice in the matter … if we hope to stop Jylin than we're just going to have to take the thief's word for it."
"What's the matter lizard?" Trent sneered; Malchior growled at the insult and narrowed his already glaring red eyes on the human warningly. Trent as smug and arrogant as ever scoffed, "Don't like it when a human knows more than you do?"
"It's not that at all …" Malchior growled, "I just don't like humans … period."
Trent held up a hand to his heart and fringed pain, "Aw, you're breakin' my heart, and here I thought we were the best of friends … guess I was wrong, we really can't both agree on the same thing."
Raven eyed Trent and Malchior with an uneasy, slightly lost expression, not understanding where this was coming from. She made sure she was firmly in between the two guys; least they decided now was the best time to join a Fight Club. Ironically, playing the peacemaker, Raven became the voice of reason, "Okay then … we're going to Dagger Caves … breath, both of you … Malchior …"
Raven slipped a hand on his chest and applied pressured, just to distract him from his stare down with Trent, it worked and he looked down at Raven. His mean, 'I'm-gonna-chew-you're-back-when-you-turn-around' glare changing in the snap of a finger when he backed off and nodded in submission. Knowing that she had his compliance, she looked over at Trent and stiffed a wince when she felt a sudden sharp pain in her heart. Flinching ever so slightly, she inched away from Malchior and narrowed her eyes. Not really on Trent, but imagining the pain, wondering where in the hell it had come from.
She gulped and blinked; again, looking up at Trent the thief closed his eyes and took a deep breath, shaking his head as if contemplating a few things in his head, he scoffed and proceeded to trudge through the jungle. Muttering ever so quietly to himself, "I don't got time for this."
Raven frowned and went after him, leaving Malchior to follow behind as she caught up to Trenton's side, and the first thing she asked, "What's going on? Why do I get the feeling you and Malchior aren't getting along all of a sudden?"
"No idea what you're talking about," Trent ignored her as he pushed through the jungle, never bothering to slow down for Raven's sake when she ran into a few branches of a couple of trees. Too busy trying to keep up with Trent, never really paying attention to where she was going, Raven growled and again caught up to the thief.
Momentarily glancing back to realize that Malchior had fallen far behind, which to Raven was kind of odd considering the fact that he was dragon, he should be able to keep up easily. However, never minding that minor problem – minor because she knew Malchior could take care of himself – Raven looked up ahead to Trent and pushed her way through the dark jungle and finally caught up to the thief. Grabbing his wrist she pulled him back in order to stop him, but never prepared herself for when he harshly slapped her hand away and glared deathly cold silver eyes stabbing deep into her soul.
Raven once again felt that sting – that tightening fist – in her heart, backing away when he leaned over her in a threatening fashion. She gasped slightly when she found a tree stopped her movements, never bothering to look back, she challenged Trenton's stare with her own. She sneered, "What's your problem … I'm still on your side in case you've forgotten."
A flash of an unknown emotion crossed Trenton's eyes so fast Raven didn't even pick it up, but went stalk still when he pulled an X blade on her. The tip pressed against the bare flesh of her stomach, smoothly crossing over it and going up her side, creating a very uncomfortable tingling sensation which went through out her body. Only when he rested the tip at the crook of her neck did the seriousness of the situation hit her and the look in his eyes … she figured it was the look of rage. How she figured was the chocked tone in his voice, like he was suppressing something deadly as he said through gritted teeth, "Still think you're on my side."
Raven glanced down at the blade and took a breath when he applied pressure, looking back up at Trent she calmly, but defiantly asked, "Are you threatening me?"
"No …" he whispered gruffly and stepped away from her, throwing the blade down and stabbing one of the tips into the ground he scowled, "I'm just returning the favor of you always reminding me that we can't cross this line … you're not on my side … you never were."
He motioned to the X that was stabbed on the ground between them both. Raven looked down and glared at it and kicked it away, "X, if this is still about tha –"
"Forget about what happened there alright," Raven was slightly startled with the outburst, and kept quiet as he steamed, "it's not about that it's – it's … it's …forget it, just forget it. I give up, you win, do what you gotta do, and I'll do what I have to do."
"X …" Raven sighed in frustration, "X, if there was any easier way to –"
BANG!
Raven cringed when she heard the silence of the dark jungles disturbed by not only the sound of a gunshot, but the sound of a vicious roar. Both Trent and Raven glanced at one another, Trent looked up and narrowed his eyes in suspicion, "Where's the lizard?"
Raven's eye bugged out, "Oh-no … Malchior!"
Rushing in the jungle in the general direct where the roar had come from, Malchior leapt back and perched up in a tree and smirked devilishly as Cashes growled and held his arm. Snarling into the night where the bullet had pierced his arm, Zak limped out of his hiding place holding a loaded gun, "My bad … forgot to put the safety on."
"I've grown tired of your impudence!" Cashes' acid green eyes glowed in the dark and the whites of his eyes bled black, his fangs and claws lengthened and his tail whipped out he roared and leapt for Zak. However forgot about Malchior who jumped from his perch and tackled Cashes to the ground. Tumbling and coming out on top, Malchior grew his claws and lifted it up to tear the dragon under him to shreds, but Cashes flipped him up over his head. Malchior corrected his landing and stayed crouched on the ground, Cashes rolled to his feet and snarled when Zak fired his gun again, aiming for his head.
Cashes dodged, Malchio followed and with his tail slapped Cashes right across the face, but Cashes ducked and swirled around a tree using the momentum to kick Malchior across the head. Malchior went down and Zak let out two more shots, Cashes dodged them both, climbed the tree and once high enough launched down to finish off the Azarian Prince. Or at least that was the plan …
"Azarath! Metrion! ZINTHOUS!" out of nowhere a black encased tree was ripped out of it's roots and flung at Cashes, forcing the dragon to flip to his feet on the ground and whip his tail around to cut the tree clean in half. Half of the trunk flew to Zak who leaned back to avoid the trunk and the other half Malchior dodged. With eyes glowing white in perfect contrast to the black jungle behind her, Raven glared threateningly at the new dragon, "Don't. Move. Who the hell are you."
She demanded an answer, not requested it, Cashes snorted, "A witch … how … pathetic."
In a flash Cashes was gone, Malchior went after him in order to save Raven, "Raven! Get down!"
Raven stood her ground and once Cashes came within striking distance, from behind Raven a whole barrage of red X blades flew around her and impaled Cashes, sending him flying with the velocity the blades had impacted his body. Raven gaped in shock and spun around to face Trenton, his silver eyes glazed over as he slipped even more X blades in between his fingers, Raven shook her head, "X! Don't! You can't kill him!"
Running to stop him, Trenton shrugged her off and marched up to the dragon with numerous X's sticking out of various parts of his body. None of them lethal, just on his shoulders, some through his clothing and on his arm, Cashes struggled to get on his feet, but Trent planted another blade in his clothing to keep him down. Zak on the side frowned and sighed, having only seen Ace this mad just once … and it ended very badly for the other that dared to mess with him at that time. Ace had a mean temper, something a lot of people mistakably misjudged about the usually nonchalant and easy going thief.
Trent marched up to Cashes and planted his foot right on his chest, forcing Cashes down, never caring that he was threatening a dragon. Cashes' tail swirled around and reached for Trenton's neck, but as if he expected the move Trent's hand went up and an X blade chopped off the tip of Cashes' tail. Malchior winced and turned away as Cashes roared in pain and retracted his tail. Trenton leaned down and brought the same blade to Cashes's face allowing him to sniff his own blood as he whispered harshly through gritted teeth, "I know you're working for Jylin … now you're going to tell me where my kid is, or I snip off more than just your tail. Now … TALK!"
Cashes growled and bared his fangs, "How in the hells can you prove I'm working for anyone?"
Trent grabbed his collar, yanked him up and slammed a fist ruthlessly in his face. Raven narrowed he eyes, and shook her head in silent protest, not at all liking the way Trent was handling the situation … it was almost as if he was taking out his frustrations on the dragon. His silver eyes practically on fire as he burned into Cashes' soul, "That's strike one … answer the fucking question, where's Lance?"
"Human …" Cashes growled, "if you hit me again … I promise you, you'll –"
SMACK!
Another fist to the face, Raven glared, "X! Stop it!"
Zak glanced in the sorceress's direction and wasn't quite sure what to think or for that matter what to do … he hasn't seen her in forever … and the last time he did see her they weren't the best of friends. He wondered if she'd recognized him … but then slapped himself for such a stupid thought, of course she'd recognize him. However, right now wasn't the time for memorize, Zak turned back to Ace when the human ignored Raven's plea, "You wanna threaten me again? Where the fucks Lance!"
Cashes hissed, his power growing with his anger, his acid eyes splashed trying to melt Trenton's silver glare, he growled and dug his claws into ground as he hissed, "By the time you reach your precious Lance the only thing that'll be left of him is his discarded remains after I've chewed off my fill."
Trent flipped out a butterfly knife, flipped it open and prepared to stab where it'll surely kill the dragon with one strike. Raven couldn't let him and rushed to his side, grabbing his wrist and pulling him back she stared into his rage filled eyes and tried not to let his strong emotions overwhelm her as she pleaded with him one last time. Trying to convince herself, and Trent at the same time, that he wasn't a murderer, Zak frowned at her efforts. They were all in vain … she didn't know Ace, didn't know what he was truly capable of.
He wasn't called "Ruthless" for nothing.
But Raven didn't know that, and pleaded, "X, don't, you can't kill him!"
That one moment of hesitation, bought Cashes enough time to turn the tables and finally kick Trent off of him. Trenton rolled and stopped in a crouch, glaring as Cashes flipped to his feet and took off into the jungle. With his butterfly knife still in hand he flipped it back into its safe position and stuffed it in his pocket. Raven watched Cashes getaway, and looked back at Trent, however, when she did he had already taken off after the escaping dragon.
Malchior snorted, "For a human he's abnormally fast."
"He's Red X …" Raven whispered, as if stating Trenton's alter-ego was the answer to Malchior's suspicion. She levitated a foot off the ground and led the chase, "Let's go, before we loose him."
In a gust of wind Raven became the night and vanished with the shadows, Malchior jumped onto a branch and looked down at Zak with a curiously raised brow, "She never even noticed you …"
Zak shook his head, "Leave it alone, it's better that way."
Malchior nodded in compliance, "As you wish … can you keep up?"
"… I can take care of myself; the others need you more than I do."
"…" Malchior nodded again and answered the same, "As you wish."
--
"Master!" Cashes grunted when one of the x's he failed to extract sliced through his shoulder as he ran into a tree. Bleeding, leaving a trail of blood, Cashes reached the Dagger Caves where Jylin, Lance, and at least five other men were just now coming out of the caves. With a dirt smear on the exhausted Lance's face, his weak silver eyes looked up at Cashes and when he did he tripped on a rock and went down face first in the dirt.
So tired …
So weak …
Lance felt like laying there and staying there for the rest of the night … he was just too meek, the ring was really sucking his life away from him. It didn't hurt … it was just taxing. Jylin's golden eyes narrowed and a small scowl appeared on his face as Cashes stumbled into the clearing, "Cashes … you do realize that your incompetence has cost us our location. You lead the enemy right too us!"
Cashes gritted his teeth and held his wounds, ignoring the pain as he tried to cross the clearing to get to his master, "Master … it's impossible … I concealed myself and went too fast for the human to keep up! Even the other dragon couldn't have possibly caught me!"
Jylin's scowl deepened, and the five men that covered him suddenly cocked their automatic AK47 and pointed at Cashes. The dragon frowned in confusion, but when Jylin reached down to pick Lance up and forced him to stand in front of him with a knife to his neck. Lance barely registered what was going on, and looked up when Jylin growled, "Trying telling that to him."
Cashes slowly looked over his shoulder and his acid-green eyes bugged out when he saw a whizzing x blade headed for his neck, dodging to the side the blade continued straight to Jylin who simply moved his head. The blade chopping off a strand of his neat hair, his golden eyes narrowed and a brow raised, looking back at the jungle where Trent stood staring at Lance and glaring at Jylin, "Let him go!"
"In return for what I wonder?" Jylin smirked and held Lance's shoulder tighter when he felt the boy wanting to head to his uncle, "Do you have any idea what your nephew is worth right now?"
"Do you have any idea how pissed I am right now?"
"Ah, Ace …" Jylin smirked and shook his head, "You still have a lot to learn … maybe spending a little more time with Slade than you usually do will help straighten out that head of yours. Jumping from one side to the other can't be healthy, even if it's to satisfy a little curiosity."
"…" Trent calculated … never bothering to take to heart any of what Jylin was saying … until the next string of words strung a tight chord around his neck and tightened till it suffocated him and pushed him beyond the limit of self control.
Just like old times.
"Poor Ace … I bet it must hurt for you to love … it must be so frustrating for you to keep up this mask of indifference as the world you built finally falls apart." Jylin chuckled, "She's a Titan, Ace … you don't even come to mind as she lists down her priorities … only the child. As soon as little Lance here is safely in protective custody, you'll be slammed behind bars so fast it'll make your head spin."
Trent gritted his teeth and said in a low threatening tone, "How's about I make your head spin."
7 X blades sliced through the air faster than Cashes could move to tackle the human down and tear him apart. Lance thought fast, and with as much energy as his body could muster grabbed Jylin's hand and bit down – hard – forcing the man to let go and dodge away from him to avoid the blades. Lance dropped to the ground and held his hands over his head when the AK's fired, all aimed for Trent, Lance braved to look up screamed for his Uncle's attention, "UNCLE TRENT!"
Trent sliced at Cashes' claws as the dragon attempted to cleave him a new hole to breath out of. However, as Cashes' pulled away to avoid the bullets, Trent stood two seconds too late to think of what to do to defend against bullets, stupidly he stood still a braced for the pain, but it never came. Suddenly encased in a familiar black shield, Trent looked back and saw Raven coming up behind him. With one hand holding up the shield she held out the other and chanted her three favorite words, "Azarath! Metrion! Zinthous!"
A shock of pure energy pulsed through the jungle and threw the men off their feet and back into the caves, some even hitting stone walls and knocking out. Raven stood next to Trent her eyes piercing white she dropped the shield and before she could say anything, Trent was running after Lance. But only five steps there, Cashes' roared and stalled Trent, pulling out another blade, Malchior suddenly popped out of no where and intervened. Taking down Cashes, the two dragons snarled at one another, leaving the space clear for Trent to get Lance.
Lance got to his knees and struggled to get on his feet, relieved to see his uncle coming for him, Lance's relief suddenly turned to fear when a flash of silver caught the corner of his eye. Jylin, had thrown his knife! Lance panicked, "NO!"
Raven heard the cry and gaped when she saw Trent was on a collision course with the knife. Both Lance and Raven held their breath, fearful for his life, X surprised them both when he caught the knife and flung it back at Jylin, who dodged the knife, but caught the handle. Twirled it with his fingers and held it out, the entire knife grew out and turned to out to really be a sword.
Trent sneered and glanced at Raven, "Raven! Take Lance and get out of here, now!"
Raven made a defiant face … wanting to help … wanting to stay … to be by X's side so badly it hurt, but she was smart. She knew that was irrational and gulped down the tightening in her chest and ran for Lance. Scooping him up in her arms, she looked back longingly at X, hoping that maybe he'd turn around to see how badly she didn't want to leave him. But to no avail, too focused on Jylin, X didn't look back … and maybe it was for the better.
It'll help her convince herself that these feelings she had for X weren't real at all … and it was just the heat of the moment did she fell in love with.
Not X … she didn't fall in love with him.
Parish the thought …
Damn the idea …
And shred the fantasy …
She was Raven the Ice Cold Teen Titan
He was Red X the Ruthless Thief
Black and White …
Saint and Sinner …
Parish the thought …
Raven ran into the jungle, determined to get Lance to safety … the kid was top priority … X never came to mind where priority was concerned.
--
Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own the Teen Titans … but the poem beaneth this, is all mine, you steal it I'll steal your face, so don't you DARE lay claim to what is mine vermin or I'll have your brains served to my cat on a silver platter … and I mean it to …
A/N: This is just a little something that came to mind when writing this chapter … I think it's on Raven's point of view, but you can perceive it however way you wish. I just thought should share this with your guys. Hope you like it … if not, oh well, it was worth a shot.
By the way, I think I kind of melded the character's character out of whack, and I'm awfully sorry for that (bows lowly) TRUELY VERY SORRY FOR IT!
L8r daez!
--
Silence the scream
Parish the thought
Damn the idea
And shred the fantasy
--
You can be you, just let me be me
Don't test the forbidden, don't long for the dream
I never loved you, but I did love the thrills
Those feathery touches, the fiery chills
The look in your eyes, it set me on fire
Burned me to ashes, but ascended me higher
--
It felt like love when I gave in
But I realized now it was just a pleasurable sin
The greed to have you all to myself
And never to share you with anyone else
It kills me to say, that this was all a mistake
And whether the truth kills me, this is for both our sakes
--
No matter how we see it, whether it's wrong or right
The truth of the matter is, you can't make Black turn White
Or turn White into Black, which ever way it goes
On either side, there are too many foes
But there is hope, I declare, for I heard somewhere said:
"Between Black and White, within the gray line, there is a little bit of red."
--
Silence the scream
Parish the thought
Damn the idea
And shred the fantasy
--
For this was all for naught …