The pools of water in the rocks had frozen solid. Descole was thankful that he hadn't thrown off his cape in attempt to be dramatic - the cave had grown much colder since they had last been in there - a change which was a sign the Azran were ready to pass over their legacy. He continued to walk, doing his best to occupy his mind to block out the protests of Aurora behind him. Yes, this was a death sentence - he was well aware of that.
When he had reached the top of the steps up to the gateway, he stopped.
Aurora also came to a halt, leaving a large gap between them. Her hands hung at her sides. Why was he not listening?
"Please, professor!" She begged, cradling her face in her cold hands. Maybe now that he had stopped moving he would acknowledge what she was telling him. "The Azran legacy... It isn't what you think - it has the power to destroy the world!"
Descole spun around and took a few slow steps towards her. Behind the mask and straight face, it was impossible to tell how he was feeling. "I don't think you quite understand, Aurora." He said flatly, and then the pace of his speech quickened in frustration. "I have dedicated my whole life to this: I spent days on end researching, building machines, preparing myself in every way possible. And I lost my family in the process." He shook his head. "I know what will happen, and I do not care anymore - so long as Targent loses."
He didn't know why he was bothering to explain himself, but it wasn't worth wasting any more time doing. Turning back around, Descole took out the keystone - oddly, it was warm to the touch.
Aurora dropped her hands back down. How could a person be so obsessed with revenge that they forget that other people have family, friends, lives to live..? She took a deep breath in. This would be risky to say, but he had to hear it. "Professor, I-I know that you are a good man. You still have the capability to love and... to hope."
Descole stopped in his tracks. A droplet of icy water from the rocks above fell, trailed down the end of his hat, dripping onto his cheek. What did she just- He fixated his eyes on the intricate patterns on the gateway. "As Desmond Sycamore I hoped to get away from revenge, to live a normal life with my family." He murmured. "And you know what came of that?" He snapped suddenly, his voice full of bitterness. His gaze remained intense and unmoving. This shouldn't have gotten to him so easily.
Aurora looked down at her clasped hands. Evidently his mind was already set, but this wasn't something that she would give up on. "...Please, don't do it." She plead. "Don't be the cause of humanity's downfall."
"I told you - no, Aurora!" He shouted, the sound of his voice reverberated throughout the cave. He turned around to see the girl had lowered her deep blue eyes. When she looked up to see him staring back, she shuffled away. She looked terrified. For all it was worth, he could have apologised, but using the keystone was too important. He had to do it before-
"Descole! Stop right there."
The masked man cursed under his breath. He comes to save the day yet again, He thought. Typical.
"Descole, you will endanger all of us if you go ahead with this!" The professor's voice was direct and authortiative. "You must listen to Aurora-"
"Must I?" He looked straight at layton. "The final Azran puzzle is mine to solve, and that is what I intend to do."
Luke had run straight over to Aurora, and was flooded with relief when he saw that she was safe. He gave her a warm smile, but it wasn't returned. His face dropped. "Are you okay? He didn't hurt you did he?" He said with concern. Why did she look so distressed?
Aurora shook her head. "He won't listen," She whispered. Luke looked up at her sympathetically. "He says he knows what will happen but..." She paused. She could hear more footsteps coming from the entrance of the cave.
There was an audible cracking of ice, accompanied by a haughty laugh. "We will be taking it from here, ladies and gentlemen."
They didn't have to turn around to know who it was.
Pushing past Layton, Bronev stood waiting by the steps, a smug grin on his face. His henchmen spread out behind him, and there was one in yellow that everyone was able to pick out.
"Hah, I see she betrayed you after all," Descole scoffed. "I did warn you."
Layton grumbled to himself, but said nothing.
Emmy felt everyone's eyes shift to her. Why didn't the professor just believe Descole? It would have been a lot less painful, She thought. Her glazed stare lowered to the floor. He didn't deserve any of this.
"Have you finished?" Bronev folded his arms. "Hand over the keystone."
Such complacency, Descole thought. He mirrored Bronev's folded his arms and smirked."As if I'd listen to tha-"
Guns were pointed at him from all directions.
Descole's hum of laughter trailed off. How foolish of them. He couldn't believe that they'd try to use guns - not when the Azran had measures in place to prevent weapons from working close to the sanctuary. He knew that, but evidently they had still not learnt it.
Keeping the arm in which she held her pistol outstretched, Alex moved over to Emmy. "Make top hat get it back." She hissed between gritted teeth, not taking her narrowed eyes off her target.
Emmy's eyes cut to the other woman. "What? How?" She had already betrayed Layton. Doing something could sever his respect even more.
"I don't know!" The other woman said. She flicked back a strand of her hair. "Threaten the kid."
Luke?! Emmy shivered. Alex was too intense. They were meant to be threatening but... She looked over at the boy. He was looking away, distracted by the main action and occationally looking at Aurora. She couldn't - he was so It would have been different if it was under the orders of Uncle Leon - she would have had no choice then - but from someone who had only just joined the organisation? "No, I can't do that."
Alex shot her a death stare. "I'm sorry, what was that?" She asked, putting on a gentle voice.
Her saccharine tone made Emmy want to lash out, but she resisted the urge. She closed her eyes for a second. Luke, Layton, I'm so sorry. Upon opening them, she dashed towards Luke. Snapping an icicle off a rock, she brought the makeshift weapon to the boy's neck.
Luke let out a yelp, feeling the forceful thud of his heart against his ribcage. By the time he felt the frozen dagger at his neck, he was too terrified to make a sound.
Layton looked across at her with horrified disbelief. He had been too trusting - he should have never let the boy leave his side.
Descole barely twitched. "Do what you want to the boy." His voice had a hint of twisted amusement - he was expecting a real threat. "No matter to me."
"Professor," Emmy called. "Get us back the keystone."
Layton looked over to Descole with an unspoken indignation - he could have at least remained quiet. He turned back to Emmy. Surely she wouldn't do anything to Luke. She may have decieved them, but she wasn't heartless. "Emmy why? Why are you doing this? You must know what's at stake here."
Alex shifted her gun towards Layton.
"Hurry hurry, boys." Bronev taunted, tapping his fingers on his arm.
Emmy let herself exhale, and her grip on Luke fell slightly from the dizziness. She felt sick. She wouldn't hurt Luke, but Alex would undoubtedly have no qualms about shooting the professor.
"Layton," Descole began. He'd seen the man risk his own life to save that boy's more than once, but now was not the time to do it. He needed something to happen - right now he was locked in place by the guns pointed at him. "Don't you dare cooperate."
"He won't have to cooperate if you hand over the-"
There was a cry of pain as a bullet ripped through the air.
Well there's only one more chapter left, but depending on how long it ends up I may make it into two.
And in response to one of the reviews I recieved on the last chapter: *Sadist mode on* time for some death, then.
