From Dusk Till Dawn – Chapter 2: Nightfall
Jin watched as everyone woke up just a few hours later when the sun came up. Riven was still unconscious in Yasuo's arms when he woke up, and Udyr helped Yasuo get up. Lucian was the last of the group to wake up, for he was on a long journey already and suffered from loss of sleep. Regardless, he approached Yasuo:
"I know you told me that this girl is not your wife, but it is evident you care about her. I'll explain on the way there what I was talking about yesterday and we can go on to fixing the problem for sure."
Yasuo nodded, and put Riven on his shoulders as they went on to Ionia.
'Riven, stay with me, my friend. I know that this might pain you, but your life must continue.'
A few hours later…
It was getting dark outside, but the lights were still out. Udyr halted as they came to the crossroads where Ionia began, and walked up to the gate where Irelia was once again.
"Open the gates immediately; Riven needs attention."
"You expect me to open these gates to more strangers after just rebuilding my town? Get lost, Spirit Walker."
Udyr sighed. "You sure like to make things extremely complicated, don't you Irelia?"
"I've had enough of you, Udyr. You have left both your wives constantly and wish to come back like nothing has happened, and with people who present a potential threat to our own home?"
"Listen here, Irelia." Udyr gave Irelia a fierce stare. "I love this place more than I love my well being. If I hated this town, then I wouldn't entrust to build a family here, just like I wouldn't bring danger near. Now, unless you want to argue that you have somehow done more for the well being of this place than I have, then get the hell out of my face and open the gates."
Irelia did as he wished. "I will get back at you one of these days, Spirit Walker. You aren't half the man you used to be."
The gates opened, and Yasuo, along with Lucian, rushed in quickly with Riven still in his arms. They went straight to where Karma was located. Lucian knocked on the door, and Karma soon opened up when she saw Riven unconscious.
"The Exile doesn't seem to be in her best condition. What kind of dark magic is this that I presence in her?"
Lucian looked down at her. "I may not be qualified to talk, but I know this dark aura came straight from the Shadow Isles. It's like a curse that eats away a person's spirit until they succumb to the pain and become a living corpse."
"I see…follow me, immediately. This will need immediate attention." Karma took them to her room where she performed medical operations. It was a dark room that was lit up by a large array of candles with a thick scent.
Karma took off part of her dress, and her tattoos started glowing light green. "Put Riven over there where the light shines the brightest." Yasuo did as she said. "Strip her."
"Uh-...what?"
"Don't waste my time, Swordsman. This operation is extremely skin intensive. If anything at all fails, there is a chance she might die."
Yasuo had never seen a woman naked before and didn't believe it was right for a man to undress a woman. Even so, he did what he was told. Yasuo took off her shirt, and started to notice the wounds she always talked about on her arms and chest.
'Riven, I can finally understand what this pain is that you spoke of. I would have rather learned without stripping you, but these wounds look so…so familiar'
Yasuo put his hand on a particular mark on Riven's right shoulder, just under where her 'Z' scar was.
Karma became impatient. "Excuse me, Yasuo. I said strip the girl, not study her naked body."
Yasuo took his hands away, and backed off. He was still peculiar as to where he had seen that mark.
"The experimentation shall begin…Jainaze Torio Kalatz…TON!"
A chain of light was attached to Riven's chest, and Riven screamed in pain even though unconscious. Dark matter came out of where Karma was focusing her spirit energy.
Lucian took Yasuo out of the room to talk to him, and so that they would not interrupt the operation. "I've been starting to worry about something that doesn't quite make sense. The Exile shouldn't have survived this far after being cursed by Yorick."
"She has a strong will, but I too am confused. Since I expect that this operation will take a while, I need to see how my wife is doing, but will you tell me if she is alive?"
"I'll do what I can."
Yasuo left, and Lucian was still in query as he went back to where Jin and Udyr were.
'None of what has happened makes any sense. Any normal person shouldn't survive more than 1 or 2 hours after being marked for death. Hell, they shouldn't even feel pain.'
"Is she alive, Lucian?" Udyr wasn't worried as much as the others, but still wanted to know.
"Riven is alive…however, something is rotten here, but I can't figure out what it is…"
"What is it?"
"She should be dead right now, but instead she somehow lived through the curse that I've seen so many people fall victim to. The curse should have torn her spirit to shreds until she lost all control, and Yorick had every command of her until he snapped her out of it."
Jin stepped forward. "I think I know. Riven was here in Ionia while we left, but she was worried that the three of us were in danger. Surely she wouldn't have gone alone, so I believe she took Nidalee and Ahri with her to stop us. Somewhere along the line, they might have gotten lost or attacked."
Udyr didn't like the sound of that. "Those fools…damn it!" Udyr rushed straight out the door, and went home. Jin and Lucian ran along with him. Along the way, they saw Annie crying and sitting down next to an alley.
"Annie, what is the matter, child?"
"Bear...she's…Nidalee is gone!"
Udyr stopped breathing momentarily. "Where is my son?"
"Asleep."
"Soul is alive, at least. Don't worry little one, we will find her. Why are you wandering around the town? Isn't Ahri supposed to be watching you?"
"Fox lady kicked me out after Yasuo left…she was really mad and said she would get Yasuo back."
'Ahri, what the hell is this? Kicking out a little girl after her mother just left. Nidalee just…wait…'
"When was the last time you saw Nidalee?"
"She said she wanted to protect you, so she was gonna go after you. I saw her with Riven-"
Udyr gasped. "No…NO! Nidalee accompanied her after all?!"
Lucian stopped the both of them. "Jin helped me figure it out, but it was really simple all along. Your wives and Riven went as a group to where they thought they were doing. Yorick confronted them, and took Riven hostage. Nidalee isn't here and…"
Udyr stopped to think. 'The only one remaining…Ahri, who kicked out Annie after saying she wanted Yasuo back. Yasuo is on his way to…no way..this means…NO!' Udyr just finally clicked. "Yasuo…HE'S IN DANGER! We need to get there RIGHT NOW!"
(Meanwhile, Yasuo enters his house.)
"It's dark in here, and yet it is so light out." Yasuo flipped on a light, to see Ahri staring right in his face.
"You've been away long, sweetheart. Are you okay?"
Yasuo, startled, fell backwards to the door. "Don't scare me like that, Ahri. I thought you were in danger. Riven is in extreme pain, and Nidalee is gone. Were you with either of them?"
"I'll explain, but first…come with me." Ahri pulled him to their room, where she later started explaining. "Yes, I did accompany those two girls. I didn't want you to just leave me…" Ahri had Yasuo sit down on her bed. "So I told them that we should try and fight alongside them. On our way, we were assaulted by this zombie looking creature, and his army of ghouls."
"Y-Yorick?!"
"Who knows…" Ahri hopped on the bed and lied down. "What I do know is that the Exile girl will not get in my way this time."
"What? You know what happened to her?"
Ahri nodded. "She was the first one to get taken down by that Yorick fellow. He conjured a living image of her, and it looked like her soul was transferred from one to another…"
"WHAT?!" Yasuo tried to snap up, but he was paralyzed and couldn't move a bone.
'What is this? My body won't function. You can't be serious!'
"Calm down honey, you need not try and move. It will only make this harder."
'I should've known, but I was too damn blindsided to think that she would try something on me.'
"You haven't even heard the conclusion yet…Nidalee managed to run away, but Yorick offered me the gift of immortality in exchange for a portion of my soul essence. Take a look…" Ahri flipped a part of her hair on her right side to show the same mark that Riven had on her right shoulder. "I should feel pain, but immortality has taken away that from me. I want to tell you this because I want you to become immortal with me, so we can live together without anyone getting in our way."
"You made a pact with the enemy, and for what cause? Are you INSANE?"
"Love goes a long way, Yasuo. Just quiet down for a bit, I want to enjoy this moment." Ahri rolled over to Yasuo, and put her hand under his head. Then the next moment, they heard a large bang on the front door.
Yasuo could hear Lucian in the distant. "YASUO, GET AWAY FROM HER!"
"There is no need to listen to anyone but me." She put her hands over his ears, and kissed Yasuo. Ahri was slowly taking away the soul essence that Yasuo had.
"ASCENDED BEAR!" The door was struck down by a powerful slam by Udyr. "God damn that hurt! YASUO, WHERE ARE YOU?"
Ahri whispered to Yasuo, "This will be one moment, dear." Ahri then got off Yasuo, and walked out harmlessly. "You could've knocked, silly!"
"Shut the hell up, where is Yasuo?"
"Hmm? I was wondering the same thing. I haven't seen him since he left."
Lucian put both his guns up. "Don't even try, we know what you did, you traitor."
"I see…" Ahri looked at the ground, and her spirit energy flew through the room. She looked up at them with her fiery eyes and agitated look. "NO ONE WILL GET IN MY WAY ANYMORE!" She dashed and fired spirit bolts all across the room, but none landed.
Lucian caught Ahri off guard, and aimed for her head. "Give it up."
"Why don't you come closer and say that?" Ahri yanked Lucian towards her, while Lucian fired off a shot. Ahri laughed, and leaned over to Lucian's ear. "Immortal…"
Udyr shoved Ahri to the side before she could do anything. "Be careful, you idiot! One more false move and she could've killed you." Udyr pinned Ahri to the nearest wall. "Tell me where my wife is, and where Yasuo is."
"Okay, but on one condition..."
"And what if I decide to say no?"
"Then have fun guessing where your wife is on your own, Spirit Walker."
Udyr punched the wall. "You little…what is the condition?"
"You can let me down and stop bothering me, or you can kiss me. Your Choice."
Udyr let Ahri down. "Go to hell."
"Believe me, Udyr. You and Yasuo have already given me that experience. Now, when it comes to whereabouts on your wife, I cannot confirm her exact location. What I will say is that she is alive, but somewhere within the Shadow Isles."
Lucian asked a question. "What happened to Riven, and where is Yasuo?"
"Riven decided to play hero, but ended up losing her body to Yorick. Yasuo came here just a moment ago, but he left after me telling him about Riven. Poor thing is still concerned."
"You're lying."
Ahri put her hands behind her back. "Suit yourself, but it is the truth."
"If you really have no Idea where Yasuo is, do you mind if I take a visit to your room?"
Ahri's eyes widened. "…How did you?"
"I can read you liars like an open book. After three years of gambling, it's practically stealing money." Lucian and Udyr entered her room, and saw Yasuo on her bed. Yasuo was awake, but he was in so much shock that he still couldn't move or talk.
"What did you do to him?"
"Nothing…I wish we could've done something however. I only paralyzed his body momentarily so that he wouldn't react to anything."
Lucian studied Yasuo for a moment, and looked back at Ahri, who still tried to act like nothing happened.
'This down is full of loony tunes like this Fox girl. I need to keep my eyes open.'
"Let this be a warning, Ahri. Stay out of our way." Udyr and Lucian left, with Yasuo. Ahri laughed as they went on out.
"Next time you two get in my way, I won't be so easy…"
Lucian and Udyr went back to see how Riven was doing, while Jin took Yasuo and Annie to his house where he could help Yasuo and get more intel from Annie.
Lucian was the first to enter the room where Karma was exhausted from her operation.
"Will she live, Karma?"
"Most likely, but this curse isn't like anything that I have had to cure from the Shadow Isles. It wasn't spirit intensive, but it fed off this mark on her shoulder. I couldn't get rid of it, because it is connected to the arteries that pump blood into her heart. However, I sealed most of it so she shouldn't be possessed for the time being."
"Can you wake her up? I need to talk to her."
"She needs rest, but if you insist…make it quick." Karma put her hand over Riven's forehead, and sent a shock to her brain to wake her up.
"L…Lucian…Udyr? Where is Yasuo?"
"Don't worry about Yasuo right now. We have to talk about what happened to you. Do you still feel pain?"
Riven put her hand over her chest, and realized she had no shirt on. Her face turned bright red, and the others laughed.
Karma calmed her down. "All of them have seen you naked, so there is nothing to hide, child."
"Ugh…well I still feel a sharp pain in my chest, and on my right shoulder. I can hardly remember a thing because of how tired I am. The last memory of me was seeing Yorick, and then fighting Yasuo…then I collapsed. I wish Yasuo was here."
"RIVEN! RIVEN!" Yasuo burst open, and Jin couldn't keep up with him. "Riven, you're awake?"
Riven was glad to see Yasuo, but still felt embarrassed to have him see her naked body.
"Riven, I know where I've seen that mark on your shoulder."
"You do?"
Yasuo looked angry at finally realizing what that mark represented. He would have rather not remembered, but now that he has regained his memories, the pain came back, as a wolf cried out to the moon and he sat down next to Riven and looked at her shoulder once again.
'I can't believe that bastard Zed would do this…we will pay him back tenfold.'
(More Chapters Coming Soon)
