Balthazar's POV

Summery PLEASE READ: A fanfic of a fanfic my friend Siriusfan13 is writing a fic called 'Against all Odds' read that before reading this! SPOILER ALERT In 'Against all Odds' there is a scene where Balthazar is been controlled by his original master a Morganian named Jacobus. Jacobus uses this control to have Balthazar attack Dave, the scene in the fic is Dave's POV I wanted Balthazar's. Siriusfan13 told me she has plenty on her writing plate and to write it up myself and she agreed to beta. She knows about this, it meets with her approval. I am not ripping her off.

Disclaimer: All Publicly Recognizable Characters, Settings, Ideas, etc. are the Property of Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Productions. The Original Characters and Plot are the Property of the Author. The Author is in no way Associated with the Owners, Creators, or Producers of Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Productions. No Copyright Infringement is intended.

"No. Balthazar, one more chance. Please."

But Balthazar ignored his apprentice, an easy feat since his 'headache' was getting worse. Jacobus was constantly barraging the master sorcerer's mind, and the constant buzzing was annoying. It always felt like wasps were flying around his skull. But right now it felt more like an angry swarm. Balthazar brought his hand to the bridge of his nose to help him focus, stave off the attack. He stopped by the tool shelf leaning heavily against it for support.

Right now he was more concerned with forcing back this assault than standing.

"Balthazar? Are you okay?" came the apprentice's voice. Balthazar could hear the boy start to walk towards him.

Balthazar's nails dug into the wood of the shelf as he tried to block his mind, but it was futile. Dave's words broke what was left of the paper thin barrier, as concern for the boy overrode Balthazar's concentration, breaking his focus.

'Hello, old man,' came Jacobus' cheerful voice. Balthazar could feel his old master's joy at the Merlinian's fast growing fear.

"Get out of here, Dave," said Balthazar in a low voice.

"Balthazar?"

'Dammit can you not ask stupid questions? For once can you just do as you're told?' The master sorcerer opened his mouth to tell Dave Jacobus was taking over, that he'd have an easier time fighting his former master's control without Dave watching, when the swarms' buzzing got worse.

'Don't tell him I have you. And no using the oath to communicate either.'

Balthazar gritted his teeth. He had to convince Dave to leave. "Get the keys from my coat and take the Phantom," he ordered in even measured tones. Talking was getting difficult, each syllable made the buzzing worse. He was having trouble moving his lips to form them. "Don't go home. Get out of here." His mouth was becoming difficult to open as the oath tightened it's hold. He needed to focus, force the words out. "Now."

Dave's eyes widened in alarm. "He's coming back, isn't he?"

"Dave." 'Run you idiot.'

"If he's coming, then I'm staying here."

"Dave," snarled the master sorcerer, his voice taking on an odd, harsh tone. Balthazar focused his mind. He could feel the oath loosen, not by much. Jacobus' order held, but Balthazar could talk again. "For once in your life, shut up and listen to me. Go. You're in danger. I'm not. Just go before I—." He broke off sharply as Jacobus' voice once again came through.

'I gave you the chance, old man. And I told you that anything I did to him now would be on your head... Kill him.'

'You can't be serious—'

"No." said Dave, interrupting Balthazar. "Not without you."

"Dammit," Balthazar hissed. Why couldn't the kid just run?

'This is getting tiresome. Stop talking and kill him.'

Balthazar's grip tightened on the shelf. He tried to talk again, tell Dave to run, but the order was sticking. His mouth stayed closed as the words tried to make their way up his throat. Instead of ordering his apprentice to run, Balthazar abruptly turned and in a jerky motion, he scooped up a knife from the shelf and threw it straight towards his student's head.

To the ancient sorcerer's relief, Dave managed to freeze the blade in mid air. He barely managed the feat in time, but he was alive. Unfortunately Balthazar knew where he could get a better weapon, and the oath was forcing him to walk towards it.

"Balthazar!" shouted Dave, throwing up a shield just in case his master sent something else in his direction.

'Run, Dave. Just run that shield won't do you any good.' Balthazar tried to focus on stopping. He had to. Dave couldn't win. Balthazar hadn't taught him how to block a sword, not that such lessons would have done any good against this blade. He bend bent down to retrieve the sharp thin metal from the box of nick-knacks he had brought from the store. He had carefully selected some of the items to help protect him and his apprentice in case of attack, and now he was going to use the sword to kill his student.

'No!' thought Balthazar as his hands gripped the sword. 'You need him alive!' the master sorcerer continued desperately. He didn't understand. Jacobus wanted Dave under his control. Why was he doing this?

TheMerlinian felt an odd sense of glee strike him, the exact opposite of his true emotions. He always hated it when Jacobus transmitted his emotions. 'The boy is hopeless, Balthazar, and this is a fitting revenge. Don't worry. We'll deal with your wife as soon as your son is dead.'

"A sword? Seriously? You brought a sword?" shouted Dave, panic tinting his voice.

Dave frantically looked around as Balthazar continued to approach. The master sorcerer was trying desperately to shake off the oath to clear his mind, but every time he tried to focus and free himself, the oath merely stayed put. It wasn't letting him go.

Dave dropped his shield and began to form a plasma bolt. Balthazar could feel the power radiating off the thing.

'That's it. Don't hold back.' Balthazar knew the bolt wouldn't do much good but it would force him back a bit, and if he could regain just enough control to not block the attack properly…

The apprentice's lips were moving slightly, but no sound came out. Dave looked up and seeing his master's face, his plasma bolt faltered and dissipated, as did what little hope had been forming in Balthazar. Dave raised his hand gesturing at the sword.

'Dave, no!' Depending on how much force Dave put into the attack, he could end up slicing off his own hand. Balthazar fought to drop the sword if he could loosen his hold enough Dave's attack might work.

The apprentice cried out in pain, taking his eyes off his master to look at his damaged hand. Dave stepped back, cradling the limb. Fear griped Balthazar, how bad was the damage? Could Dave still fight?

'Dave move!' thought Balthazar, briefly cursing the apprentice for losing focus. Still, Balthazar wasn't surprised. Dave just wasn't used to a real combat situation.

Balthazar could feel himself losing what little control he had. So far he'd managed to stay in a defensive position, a loophole in Jacobus' orders. He hadn't said how long to take in killing Dave, so Balthazar was able to move slowly, defensively but the buzzing was getting stronger as was the compulsion to shift into an offensive position.

'No need to be so careful. He'd rather die then hurt you. Attack the boy, Balthazar, now.'

Balthazar felt himself smoothly shift from a defensive stance to an offensive one just as Dave recovered enough to focus back on the fight. Balthazar charged and finally Dave did what he should have done at the beginning and ran.

Unfortunately it wasn't in the direction of the exit. Not even the stairs where he'd at least have the high ground.

'See what I mean old man? Your boy is hopeless. Might as well kill him.'

Despite the situation Balthazar felt himself bristle at the comment, so did Jacobus, Balthazar could feel the bloody smirk.

Balthazar mentally cursed as Dave sprinted towards the card table his injured hand tucked under his other arm, he levitated a few pizza boxes and sent them in Balthazar's direction. The sword made short work of them. Still they bought Dave enough time to jump behind the card table, but only thirty seconds worth. Balthazar kicked the thing aside as Dave launched himself to his feet. He threw a weak plasma bolt at his master, but Balthazar's sword had no trouble deflecting the blow. Balthazar was furious. A weak attack wouldn't have done Dave any good, even without the sword. Why couldn't the kid lob a half decent bolt? He put more effort into blasting Balthazar during training!

Dave stared at his master his mouth hanging open. He quickly refocused and raised his hand. Balthazar was afraid he was going to try levitating the sword again, but a second later he felt something smash into his back.

The blow sent Balthazar crashing to the ground landing on his injured shoulder. He cried out as he skidded across the stone floor, tearing his bandages. He lost his grip on the sword and heard it clatter as it moved across the floor, far away from him. Dave must have levitated it. The sword was only dangerous when wielded.

Balthazar rolled onto his back relief flooding his being. He would have smiled if Jacobus didn't still have a firm grip on him.

"Balthazar?" Came Dave's voice, "Are you yourself again?"

Balthazar tried to open his mouth to warn Dave to stay away but his master wouldn't allow it.

'Don't talk. Just focus on making long painful sounding breaths, lure him to you, then take him down. Make sure he can't use his magic just like I taught you remember? Of course you do.'

After a few short seconds of silence, Balthazar heard rapid footfalls. He could feel Jacobus' joy at the fear that flooded him.

"Balthazar! Are you okay?"

As Jacobus had ordered Balthazar, could feel the oath as it forced him to shoot out his leg, catching Dave's ankle taking the boy down. Dave managed to twist himself so his hand took the worst of the fall, but he was too slow and Balthazar was on top of him. Quickly the master sorcerer twisted the boy onto his back and grabbed Dave's hands, crossing them and pressing the boy's hands palms down into the apprentice' own throat just like he had been taught.

'And here I was afraid you'd be rusty, but you're even better than I remember.' Commented Jacobus gleefully as Balthazar jammed his knee into his student's solar plexus.

'Don't stop, Balthazar. Squeeze the life out of him.'

Balthazar felt his fingers tighten around Dave's throat as he stared directly into the apprentice's eyes. The fear in them was all the motivation Balthazar needed to redouble his efforts. He had to fight the swarm of wasps in his head that was fast becoming a swarm of jack hammers.

"Balthazar, stop..." Dave managed to choke out. "Fight it."

Balthazar could feel Dave squirming beneath him, trying to get away; hoping his master would regain control. But Balthazar was starting to realize that wasn't going to happen. He couldn't shake the oath. 'No' he thought 'I won't kill him.' He couldn't give up. Dave was counting on him. He had to fight. He mentally thrashed against Jacobus' control. He'd never fought his former master so hard, but it wasn't working.

'You don't have a choice, old man.'

Balthazar's fingers tightened around the boy's throat. He was going to kill Dave. He had sworn to protect the kid. Now he was going to kill him. He could feel moisture building up behind his eyes. He quickly shut them. He didn't want Dave to see, and he didn't want to watch Dave die.

Balthazar's throat constricted and his body went numb at the realization.

'Dave is about to die. I'm going to kill him.'

He took in a deep shuddering breath as he made a last ditch effort to shake the oath. 'Step One: Clear your mind...' He told himself. Regain control. You can do this.' He took in another breath, but the oath wouldn't let him go.

He couldn't do it. There was only one option left. It was something he swore he'd never do, but what choice did he have?

'Jacobus stop!' Balthazar cried out mentally, his 'voice' thick with desperation and fear. 'I'll do anything! I'll come back, I'll be a good little apprentice! Please!'

'I gave you a chance to save him. This is on your head. Now open your eyes, Balthazar. Watch your son's life fade from his.'

Balthazar opened his eyes to see Dave had clamped his own shut. He could still feel the boy's pulse beneath his finger tips. It was getting weaker.

"It's okay," whispered Dave, weakly. To Balthazar the words were like a knife to the heart. "If it happens, it's not your fault." The muscles in Dave's neck rippled as the boy forced out an agonizingly slow breath. "It's his." The metaphorical knife twisted and Balthazar felt as if his heart had been cut out. There was nothing left. Nothing but despair and emptiness.

Dave relaxed, accepting his fate. The master sorcerer tried desperately to pry his hands loose of the boy's neck. This was not okay, not in the slightest. Dave was young full of life. He was a good kid, a good man. How could Dave say this wasn't his fault? He was the one who joined Jacobus. As an apprentice he had given up fighting the Morganian; instead he had willingly tortured and murdered so many. If only he had just stayed in the fields, worked the land, died after a couple of decades, a piece of someone else's property.

He'd give anything to not be here, doing this: his magic, his life, anything if he could just loosen his grip on his apprentice's neck.

He should have used the oath to order the boy away when he first felt Jacobus gaining control, it would be better to have Dave rightfully hating him for the rest of his life.

'Never mind, let him go.' Came Jacobus' voice suddenly in the same board tone that would be used to ask someone to change the channel on the tv. Balthazar felt the order fall. He released his grip on Dave's neck, quickly rolling off him and settling himself in a kneeling position at the boy's side.

The master sorcerer's relief was short lived as Jacobus' voice returned. 'Good show, old man. But I should warn you, if you truly love the boy kill him now, because when I get a hold of him, I will keep him alive for months. Grant him the mercy of a quick death while to you can. I will get him Balthazar, do you know why? Not because you are his master but because he loves you, and you are mine.'

The swarm faded, nothing remained but a dull buzzing.

"Balthazar?" Dave whispered, the effort required to speak the name was all that was needed to send the boy into a painful fit of coughing.

"Don't talk," Ordered Balthazar, his voice flat and barely audible. "Just breathe."

Dave, true to form, ignored the order and struggled to sit up. Balthazar glanced up then back down at the sight of the red hand shaped marks on the boy's neck. As much as he wanted to hold the boy, check him for injures help patch up the ones he had, Balthazar knew he didn't have the right to be near the kid, much less touching him. Hell, he couldn't bring himself to look at the apprentice at the moment. And the buzzing, though quiet, was still there, still tearing away at the tattered remains of Balthazar's defences. Jacobus could attack again at any time. Balthazar knew he should be putting distance between himself and Dave, but he couldn't bring himself to leave the boy.

"Are you all right?" asked Dave. The words led to another coughing fit. The apprentice dropped down onto his back again, breathing hard.

'Asks the victim,' thought Balthazar. Why was Dave asking that? Why did he care? Balthazar had tried to kill him. Dave trusted Balthazar, and he had almost killed the boy. Balthazar deserved to be under Jacobus' control, deserved whatever the Morganian had planed for him. It was his fault. He had known people like Jacobus killed for no reason, and he had still let the man take him.

Balthazar looked up at his student. "Don't ask me that." He again took in the red marks around Dave's throat, the laboured breathing and bleeding hand, all a result of a decision he had made long ago. He looked away adding darkly. "And do not tell me it wasn't my fault."

"Balthazar. You shook him off." Dave turned his head to look at his master.

Balthazar flinched and continued to stare at the stone floor. "No, Dave. I didn't. I'd have killed you. He let me go."

"What? Why?" Dave struggled to sit up, but Balthazar's fear the boy would hurt himself overrode his fear of killing him and Balthazar finally risked touching him enough to push the boy back to the floor.

"Stay down."

"Why?"

"It was a message Dave. He was making a point. He isn't playing anymore. He's just declared war. Against you."