As they approached the final passageway that led into Eva's chamber, Vincent stopped short, the searing pain that hit him across the eyes catching him by surprise. She knows I have betrayed her, he thought in alarm, as he raised a shaky hand to his head.
Sephiroth turned to look at him, taking in at a glance the pained expression on the other mans face. "Am I going on alone then?" he asked.
"No…….no" Vincent replied, taking a step forward with a determined stride. The pain tore at him again, sharp talons seemingly tearing at his eyes, ripping the inside of his mind to shreds. He held onto the wall to steady himself, fighting hard to keep his breathing under control, he didn't want Sephiroth to witness his weakness. He took a deep breath, and forced himself to stand erect.
"Shall we continue then?"
Vincent nodded, and took a few tentative steps forward. Suddenly it felt as if all the angels of hell were loose inside his head. His brain felt as if it were boiling, splitting, expanding, and he felt his tortured eyes bulging in their sockets. He let out a groan of agony, before falling to his hands and knees, struggling to retain his hold on consciousness. He knew that he would not be able to go any further.
Sephiroth stood over him, a slow smile spreading across his face. "It appears that you are no longer to be spared" he said, pleasure in his voice.
Vincent pushed himself into a sitting position, pressing his back against the wall behind him. He reached into his cape, his fingers closing on three phials of mako. "Here….You will need these" he panted. He handed Sephiroth two of the phials, keeping the third hidden. It would be needed later. Hopefully.
Sephiroth raised a quizzical eye at the gift he had received.
"Even you will need some help….. if you are to defeat her, " Vincent said, fighting to breathe. "Once injected with those……it will slow her down a little…..maybe…… just enough………."
Sephiroth looked down at the defenceless body before him. Bending low, he put his mouth close to Vincent's ear. "You know that I will be coming back for you and the others when this is over, don't you?" he said softly, menacingly. "And that no amount of 'insurance' will save you then!" He stood back up, gloating smugness in his eyes. "What a shame you won't be there to see me," he continued, his voice rising, "As I strike the killing blow!"
With a final scornful laugh, he turned and walked away, staring as he did so at the two phials he still held in his hand. Annoyance flared through him that the other thought he might need them. He threw them contemptuously to the floor, grinding his heel into the fragile glass tubes and smashing them into a million pieces. He watched as the black mako seeped slowly into the ground.
If it was a fight this Eva wanted, then a fight she would get.
With his last shred of consciousness, Vincent raised his eyes and looked at Sephiroth's retreating figure.
"Make sure he is merciful, Cloud," he whispered.