I've pulled myself out of my writing funk and decided to post another chapter! V Took me freakin' long enough! And so, without further ado…
Chapter 5: A Dangerous Pretense.
The dune harpy let loose a shrill peal before settling lifelessly at his feet. Sigmund kept the blood stained blade free of the scabbard – they were fighting more often than not in this place. Beyond the fallen winged creature Edward's great sword was cleaving through the air; the fire gigas the stoic man faced was already staggering. Dominica's massive blade had struck its wide back a moment before. An arrow whistled its deadly pursuit; Aya's aim true as the broad head found the gigas's eye, felling the monster.
Capell pulled his sword free of a slain Quetzalcoatl a short distance beyond the fire gigas and raised a questioning look to Sigmund.
Are you okay?
Sigmund twirled his blade beside him; stretching the tendons in a hand that was already growing stiff from gripping the sword for so long. He did not remember the trip out of the Gate when the Force had pulled him from this place and his madness, nor could he remember the amount of fighting it had required to traverse the world within. He had been unconscious during most of that excursion. And when he had inhabited this place with the beasts, they had not fought him as they did now. It was almost as though they had viewed him as one of them. The idea of it repulsed him.
A jerk of his chin towards Capell and the young man seemed satisfied. However just as Sigmund thought the young man had believed his silent answer, thin fingers were tugging at his head gently. Michelle's eyes then peered up at him, and Sigmund brushed her aside as gently as he could while making clear that he did not require her aid.
"I am fine." He said, holding her hands down in a manner that was more than slightly restraining. "Have you looked in on Capell?" At this the sweet face before him almost frowned.
"He asked the same thing of you," she was scolding him without actually scolding him. Michelle never spoke to him in a way that could be considered outright cross. Gentle fingers tugged free and reached for his head once more. "Of course I did." Michelle said in response to his question and Sigmund's hands fell to his sides, allowing Michelle to finish her examination. Capell had stopped fighting and was now watching them.
Whatever complaint Sigmund had thought to lodge against the forced treatment died at the look from his son. Capell did not look at him to intimidate, or to corner him into obedience. True concern was clear in those eyes.
He had clearly not been lying when he had told Sigmund he needed his father.
Throughout his second life – the life he had lived after forfeiting his Lunaglyph – Sigmund had never felt needed. He had felt important, respected, admired, and appreciated, but never truly needed. True he could cut the chains, but he had always suspected that there were others with his ability, even before he discovered the reason it was possible for some and not for others. And so even then he had not felt necessary; only convenient.
But Capell had said plainly that he – Sigmund – was needed. Capell still wielded the Emblazoned Sword Sigmund had given him, though there were far more superior blades he could use in its stead. And though he had not spoken of things like affection or love, the reaction Sigmund had received when embracing Capell had been all the confession Sigmund needed. It had nearly overpowered him when Sigmund felt Capell's hands pull at his shoulders; when he had looked into Capell's face and saw tears.
His son cared for him, and by the grace of fate Sigmund would make certain that he gave his son the father Capell should have had his entire life. Whatever guilt that filled him, whatever sins he still must atone for; Sigmund would not deny Capell the father he desired.
When Michelle was finished Sigmund strode over to his son who had been joined by Edward. "We should hurry," he announced, "time is different in this place. There is no knowing with any certainty how long we have been here."
"I had that same feeling," Edward frowned, "nothing here changes to reflect the passage of time; and the fighting has been so consistent I cannot even use our battles as a reference point."
"We must press on with as little combat as possible. It would be fatal to attempt to rest here," Sigmund said, looking out to watch as Eugene and Dominica took down another dune harpy; Eugene's staff spinning and striking out swiftly. He had been forced to learn to wield the rod as a physical weapon when he had lost the arcane offensive powers of a mage, and had even managed to earn Balbagon's praise at the skill he now displayed.
"There is a place where we can rest safely," Sigmund went on, "but it is far from here, and we still have enemies a good deal stronger than these to face along the way."
Capell nodded and started for the next teleporter, rounding up the others with a broad sweeping motion of his arm.
"How far is this safe haven?" Capell asked, trying to keep the group far enough from the closest beasts to avoid fighting. Their trail curved and snaked over the sands, but it was helping. Though they were more powerful, and more aggressive, the monsters of this world were no more intelligent than the ones back home. If Capell kept the creatures at a great enough distance the things seemingly did not notice the humans were passing through.
"The Oradian Dunes are the second plane of the Seraphic Gate." Sigmund watched a fountainbeak wing along in the distance, his sword arm tensing slightly as he waited to see if the avian would notice their presence. The bird continued on obliviously. "The place we seek resembles Castle Kolton. There are no beasts there to contend with, and in that place we can rest and prepare for what lies ahead. It is, however, the eighth plane of the Seraphic Gate."
"I hope Michelle brought enough healing supplies." Dominica mused and the fair healer smiled sweetly.
"Why do you think Eugene carries such a big pack?" She returned and the former mercenary chuckled, her mirth fleeting as a harpy started for them. "I've got this one."
"I'll cover yer back." Vic announced and trotted off after the tall woman.
"Where are the Queen and Gabriel?" Capell lead the group onward, watching Dominica and Vic to be certain they didn't need help. The thief's swift strikes distracted the quick-moving monster long enough for Dominica to cleave the thing's skull with her Braveheart.
"The Ethereal Queen resides in the thirteenth and final plane, a palace the likes of which I have never seen before. Gabriel Celeste inhabits the eleventh plane, a copy of Castle Prevant." The teleporter appeared when they rounded a short rock cliff. "But before all of that," Sigmund gestured with his sword, "we must first pass through this gate and into the False Luce Plains."
XXXX
The wyvern in the False Luce Plains had nearly put Michelle into fits, though Rucha and her Hydrake had been magnificent in that battle. While most magic had vanished with Veros, some had remained. Like Capell and his flute, the twins' remaining powers were derived from Seruleus, allowing Rico to continue on as a beastmaster, and Rucha as a summoner. The triumph on that cherub face when the winged monster had fallen told the group the girl was finally beginning to outgrow her fears.
The next plane, a copy of Bihar Mines, had kept them stumbling in the darkness for longer than they had hoped. The place seemed to absorb the light of lanterns and sunstones, causing them to continue stubbing toes and falling victim to sneak attacks from Lumpers. Kiriya had muttered about the need to bathe excessively after one particularly close encounter with the little wretches.
After that was an accidental wrong turn into the replica of Port Zala and its coast. That place was a dead end for their mission, but had within a Leviathan that had bruised and battered them all before finally falling to their counterattack. Retracing their path back through Bihar Mines to the correct teleporter had put most of the party in sour spirits for a while after that.
And then there were the Cobasna Timberlands, which had made Edward shudder and pale. The mimicked lunar rain within had fallen harmlessly upon them, now that they bore no Lunaglyphs that could twist them into monsters. Yet the memory of that day in Kolton still clung to the reserved man, and Capell had watched his best friend go quiet as they passed through, Edward scrutinizing the falling light with trepidation. The Peluda they had been forced to combat had almost been a welcome distraction; until they realized they stood a very good chance of being burned to cinders if they were not careful.
By the time they reached the sixth plane, a strangely desolate version of Nolan, the Force was bone weary; their pace had slowed considerably. Even Sigmund was moving with less urgency, though his eyes still bore their intensity and he still spoke to them of the need to hurry. The twins had glanced wistfully at the familiar image of their house upon its hill before Capell pushed them onward.
"Only one more plane and then we can rest." He said with enthusiasm that had to be forced in part. "We'll eat, get some rest, and then finish what we came here to do. Come on people, the sooner we get there the sooner we can leave."
"And go home!" Vic added longingly. "What kinda place is this?! Even that stack of reports on Ed's desk is lookin' pretty good to me!" Edward chuckled wearily.
"I'll second that." He added and brought his sword down to crush a crab that had come underfoot.
Ignoring the approaching wendigo, Capell hurried the Force to the teleporter at the center of town. They had been running from fights more than actually fighting of late. Despite Sigmund's words of caution, avoiding battle had been harder than they had thought. The landscapes had been teeming with bloodthirsty creatures.
Bright light flared from the teleporter and they were within an unmistakable building. Though he did not recognize the exact hallway in which they stood, the architecture was clear – they were inside Vesplume Tower. Capell turned anxiously to Sigmund, and the looks of a few others followed.
"I suggest we press on," Sigmund said to no one in particular, his eyes fixed on the hallway before them, "I for one hold no love for this place." Capell smirked at his father's admission.
"Let's find the teleporter," Capell tugged his head in the direction they had to go. "I could use some sleep."
The hallways twisted, Order soldiers and a frost gigas met them as they tried to move on. In these cramped quarters there was no choice but to fight, and the members of the Force took turns at the fore to keep the strain of battle as minimal to all as possible.
Beyond their fallen foes was a door that vanished when they approached. Another door followed with no beasts behind it. Capell pushed them forward; the hallway gave no option to make a wrong turn. A third door dissipated.
A large chamber stood before them, a chamber not uncommon for the Tower. Beyond its massive pillars and elaborately designed floor, a small figure floated on six dark wings. Sigmund exhaled sharply in surprise, but Capell made no sigh that he had noticed his father's reaction.
Only the winged figure before him held his attention now.
"Leif?"
Aya gasped from behind and, without hesitating, Capell moved towards the boy, reaching for him.
"Leif!"
Sigmund's iron grip on his injured shoulder caused Capell to cry out in agony, but his father did not let go. Capell felt Sigmund pulling at him, urging his son back. Capell resisted. It was Leif!
"Gabriel." The name Sigmund spoke made no sense to Capell. He couldn't grasp its meaning. Only the boy before him meant anything. He was alive! He hadn't died after all! Capell ignored the explosion of pain his father's hand caused on his shoulder and tried to jerk free of Sigmund's hold.
Leif pulled a massive doubled bladed sword seemingly out of nowhere. When he opened his mouth a voice, as menacing as any Capell had ever heard, laughed in anticipation.
Capell blinked in confusion. Leif had a man's voice? No not a man's… The name his father had spoken finally meant something to him.
"Gabriel Celeste?" Capell could accept that the image he had built up of what Gabrielle should look like – all muscles and imposing stature – could be wrong. But not this. Not Leif. This was Leif. His father was wrong. He had been insane before, after all…
The laughter from the boy stopped and sorrow took its place in Leif's features.
"You couldn't save me before," the dark voice blended with the voice of a boy and Sigmund watched his son recoil, "you couldn't save me. You said you would take care of us. Why were you so late?" Capell's chest heaved.
"… Leif…"
The boy shook his head miserably, tiny fists clamping down on the hilt of his sword desperately. "Please… I'm so scared! I can't find Faina. What happened to Faina, Capell?"
"Stop it!" Aya shrieked from behind.
The new Liberator sobbed, and Sigmund realized, his skin crawling at the thought, why Gabriel had taken the form of a child. It was a weapon against Capell. Whoever this boy had been, the effect of seeing him here was unraveling Capell's mind. And the others seemed nearly as reluctant to raise their weapons against the boy as Capell. With the same punishing grip Sigmund jerked Capell around so that the young man faced him and only him.
"That is not the boy, Leif," Sigmund said quietly, "do you understand? It is a ruse to make you surrender before the fight has begun. Do not give in, Capell. You have to fight him, or he will destroy you." Capell shook his head, his eyes pleading.
"Not Leif…" Sigmund nearly bared his teeth.
"Then I will go in your stead." His words were gentle and in complete contrast with his expression. Before Capell knew what he had meant, Sigmund's blade was raised and he was rushing the winged child with murderous intent. Alfheim clamored in their ears painfully within the confined space.
Capell watched in horror, torn by the desire to save the boy and to protect his father. The menacing voice returned, commanding Sigmund to repent. From behind Kiriya was moving past him, followed closely by Dominica.
Leif was… Capell shook his head. Reality snapped into him like a bowstring. He had watched Leif die with his own eyes. And that time was not like when they had lost Sigmund. This time there had been bodies to bury. Capell could still remember the slight weight in his arms as he lowered the shrouded boy into the grave with his sister. He could remember the smell of blood…
Capell's blood boiled in rage. In hatred.
His scream of fury echoed against the stone walls and Capell hurtled forward, the Emblazoned Sword cutting through air and colliding with the great twin bladed sword, pushing the enormous weapon down so he could peer into the imposter's eyes.
"Leif is dead!"
"Wretched fool!" The deep voice boomed from the thing that resembled the boy he had so cared for, "you shall pay for your transgression!" Capell roared again, Dancing Rhapsody pummeling the red and blue blades. Sigmund's blade joined Capell's and the two struck at the boy repeatedly. Dancing Rhapsody succeeded by Spinning Waltz. Eternal Refrain and Reginleif in unison from the two men, and all within just a few seconds. Sigmund stayed close, spurring the young man on. Who this Leif had been to Capell did not matter at this point, only that they lived and Gabriel did not.
With a sudden flare of red and white light, Gabriel vanished, appearing once more on the other side of the room, two faespheres materializing to either side of the room. The Force dispersed in response, scattering over the room in a blanket maneuver, some of the party taking up combat against the black orbs. There was no place within the chamber Gabriel could go that would put him at a safe distance from a human combatant. And now Capell's best friend stood closest.
Edward's Twinstream bashed against the apparently frail figure, and yet when he had finished the boy turned to look at him as though he were a flea. Edward plunged in once more with Rising Current.
The dual sword spun wildly and an attack the creature called Noble Play ripped at the Burguss King, sending the man ricocheting against a stone pillar before finally crumpling to the floor.
"Ed!" Capell screamed in terror for his friend. Heedless of the dangers, Michelle was between Edward and his attacker instantly, tiny pouches and vials of medicinal powders and potions clutched tightly in one hand while her other hand worked to pry open his mouth, her teeth pulling at the stopper of a green-tinted potion. Balbagon planted himself firmly in front of the pair, his great axe swinging in a barely controlled arc that had the boy-creature gliding back to stay out of range.
Capell bolted for the deity. They could not fight Gabriel one-on-one. It had to be a group and whoever was closest could support Capell in his attacks. A flash glinted at his side, Sigmund's blade shining in the dull light as he hurried beside his son. Though the elder never once cast his eyes at Capell, the son knew that his father was not going to stray far from his side during this fight.
Astrogul materialized at its young mistress's command, the others closing ranks as well. Edward had been all the proof they needed that this was going to be a battle for their lives. Honeysuckle nearly grazed Balbagon's ear as it erupted from Komachi's fingers towards their target, Aya's arrows firing in rapid succession as the ranged attacks gained a head-start on the melee fighting.
Before the others could come too close, father and son reached their target. Capell's Levantine Slash and Sigmund's Grinn Valesti struck as one and, distracted by Aya and Komachi's attacks, Gabriel's back pounded forcefully on the floor. Diminuendo Dive was called out viciously and a wicked down slash from Sigmund's blade followed closely, preventing Gabriel from rising into the air once more. Dominica's massive blade fell down upon the child-like body as well, the mercenary acting in harmony with their attempts. If they could keep him prone-
The dual bladed sword pinwheeled above their fallen foe and Capell was struck by the blade first. He felt his feet leave the ground, felt his body collide with something hard, and then he was flying again, Sigmund grunting from beneath him when the two finally collided with a wall and came to rest upon the floor. Voices were crying out somewhere behind them. Capell pushed himself off of his father and spun round to see Balbagon and Eugene had taken the Cassandrans places, with Aya in the background raining Raven Venom upon Gabriel, her face twisted in anger. Dominica was pushing herself upright from where she had landed on the other side of the room.
Capell stepped forward and felt his head swim. He looked down. Blood was pooling slowly beneath his sword arm. No doubt that the old wound had reopened, and now it could be worse; he didn't remember how much he had bled last time. Sigmund's expression picked up something akin to fear at the sight of Capell's state.
Not even moments into the fight and already they were suffering seriously.
"Medic!" His father was shouting at the top of his lungs and Capell shook his head, both in denial and to clear his vision. He could still stand – he could still fight. Kiriya was locked in combat against a faesphere, and could not acknowledge if he had heard the call for aid. Michelle still hovered over Edward and looked to Capell with worry.
"You stay with him, Michelle," Capell ordered, pointing the blade at her to make it known it was not a request.
"Capell," Sigmund's tone was firm, but Capell turned a hard gaze to his father.
"Later." The Liberator bolted for the fighting grounds once more, the heavy chink of metal behind him telling Capell that his father followed closely.
The Nightwhisperer's timid voice called out and Nightshade answered her. The pretty warrior was instantaneously behind Gabriel, her deadly craft landing blow upon blow and before Gabriel could complete his maneuver to circle and counter her, Komachi was away once more.
In tune with the thoughts and habits of one another, Aya acted once Komachi was out of range, Devouring Vulture clearing the area, making certain that she did not miss. As one the members of the Force acted, attacking, distracting and never giving their foe a moment's respite. Though Gabriel was landing blows of his own, Capell was surprised at how well the battle was now going for them. They had never before fought a foe in full force. Even Veros had been faced with only a party of four. Yet with Veros they had possessed Lunaglyphs – capable of reviving and healing the injured instantly. In this fight their significant advantage was now missing.
Gabriel's blades stilled and Sigmund stiffed.
"Scatter!"
Bodies leapt and rolled away from the flying menace at Sigmund's cry. None questioned his reason or hesitated at his command. The dark voice echoed within the cavernous room, but the attack he called Critical Flare failed to touch a single person in thanks to Sigmund's warning. Capell sheathed his sword and produced the flute. Prudentiae had the ability to counter all magical effects, not just those that had been attained through Lunaglyphs. When next the twin blades stilled, the melody withered Gabriel's spell into worthlessness while the Force was able to press on with their attacks.
Capell's song cut off abruptly when a groan sounded from behind him. He dared a glance behind him and found Edward was rubbing an armored hand over his face, Michelle pulling his arm aside so she could continue her work. Capell's head spun dizzily again when he returned his attention to the battle, and he had to dance a step to keep upon his feet. Though she stood less than twenty paces from him, Capell could not distinguish Aya's features upon her face. He blinked and his vision became distorted immediately this time. The fingers within his right gauntlet were slick; yet he knew he wasn't sweating that much.
This is bad.
The dual sided sword ceased it's swinging again and Capell brought the flute back to his lips, Prudentiae saving his friends from the attack that would have been unleashed.
Gabriel's eyes rose to the source of his consistent disruption.
Red and white light flared and when Capell blinked the sweet-faced monster was before him. Faintly, as though hearing the world through a long tunnel, he heard as Noble Play was called forth; saw the flash of red and blue steel as it spun for him too quickly to see with any detail. His mind managed to distinguish the cries of his father and Aya; the clamor of another armored body as it began to move rapidly.
Pointlessly.
The flute clattered to the polished floor; the Emblazoned Sword rang loudly as it met the deadly attack above the combatants' heads, halting the blades. Blood dripped from Capell's wrist, leaving crimson droplets upon his hair and cheeks. Capell ignored the fact that he could not see clearly, that lightheadedness threatened to overtake him. He heaved with all of his might, pushing the attacking weapon from him violently. Gabriel launched into another attack, but by some miracle Capell could not fathom, the new Liberator moved faster.
"Spinning Waltz!" Gabriel staggered and Capell did not hesitate. Diminuendo Dive, Marching Boots, Dancing Rhapsody, Eternal Refrain; Capell unleashed his fastest attacks upon the deity without pause. His stomach twisted and heaved as the world spun around him rapidly, and he shut his eyes frequently to keep himself from succumbing to vertigo. The bizarre sword Gabriel wielded made his attacks slower and made it nearly impossible to counter Capell's lightning-quick strikes. Capell lost track of what his comrades were doing; only the feeling of his sword landing blow upon blow against his enemy held his attention, and Capell pushed on without mercy to his foe or himself.
Another performance of Dancing Rhapsody ended and when Capell moved into Crescendo Spike, his blade met only open air. Capell held his next attack at bay long enough to see where his sword must go now.
Round green eyes seemed to grow impossibly wide when Capell's unsteady senses found Gabriel once more. A strangled cry gurgled from the god – all dark and sinister with no trace of the boy's sweet soprano. Black wings folded and the body of Gabriel Celeste fell at the Liberator's feet. Silence followed, and Capell waited, sword raised and ready for the deity to launch into another attack. Nothing came.
A second of silence passed and Capell kicked the dual-bladed weapon, sending it skimming across the floor. He poked at a limp hand with the toe of his boot and received no reaction. The hand he prodded moved in limp reaction before stilling once more. No breath stirred Gabriel's chest, no pulse beat at his pale throat.
Gabriel Celeste was dead.
Capell's body suddenly felt unbearably heavy, and he allowed the Emblazoned sword to fall from his fingers, unable to hold it up any longer. To see the boy's body laying there like that; memories of another time assaulted Capell and more from emotion than injuries, Capell felt his legs try to give way.
"Capell!" Aya was under his good arm and he gladly surrendered some of his weight to her support. From behind he felt his armor being unfastened, bleary eyes turned to find Sigmund studying the buckles as he worked. Beyond Aya's shoulder Eugene was kneeling before Dominica, mixing blue powder with water from a flask to cake into a cut on her forehead. Capell looked down to his hands and blinked. His gauntlet was streaked crimson and when he flexed his fingers more of the stain emerged from the seam between his cuirass and munnion. The blood was his, he realized.
"Who else is injured?"
Kiriya stepped before him, and Capell was obligated to swallow a vial of green berry potion.
"A few minor cuts and bruises," the master healer said off-handedly, "but none worse than you and Edward, for all the foolishness you displayed."
"Enough." Sigmund's tone was even, yet it gave no room for compromise. Capell felt his cuirass pulled from him with care. Aya helped to lower Capell to sit upon the floor and Kiriya knelt before the Liberator, not even granting Capell the courtesy of unfastening his own tunic. The bandages that spanned his shoulder now matched the dye of his tunic and the shade of his eyes. Capell heard Aya's quiet inhalation and Kiriya's face screwed up into a frown.
"So much for getting out of here quickly." The blonde man murmured, but with kind hands he began unraveling the bandages. Capell blinked heavy lids, staring absently at the body sprawled on the floor before him. Balbagon lowered himself beside the winged corpse, checking to make certain Gabriel was truly dead.
"Veros sure wasn't that hard," Vic slumped against a pillar, watching Balbagon for a moment before turning to the healers. "At least I don't think he was. What's the queen gonna be like if this kid was that tough?"
"Gabriel was no child," Sigmund responded coolly, "he wore the image of the boy in an attempt to gain an advantage." Sigmund's eyebrow arched as he peered down at his son, "and it almost worked."
Capell's head bowed in that familiar way everyone knew. No matter his stature, Capell could not stop himself from apologizing for every small infraction. Yet after a moment the apology they had all expected did not come; and Capell did not stir. Before Kiriya or Aya could act, an armored hand pulled roughly at a fistful of auburn hair. Capell's head was jerked upright by his father. His normally tanned skin had paled to a deathly white; his eyes closed and features slackened. He was unconscious.
"Capell!"
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A/N
Sorry about the wait. The moron fairy paid me a prolonged visit – I couldn't get the story down in print in a way that made me happy. So because I'm neurotic I did not post until I kicked that dumb b***h to the curb.
Yami, thank you for your enthusiasm! Please don't throw your laptop through a wall, though – I can't be responsible for the destruction of electronics or extensive building damage. ;o)
Thanks everyone for your feedback – it's great to read!
I hope this chapter lived up to your expectations.