Hey guys. Here's another chapter. Sorry about the wait.
Hehe… I love writing about Bruixe's violent tendencies. And not hitting-people Bruixe. I-wonder-how-many-ways-I-can-kill-you Bruixe.
Thanks to Blastbone and RockOnRose for being steady reviewers. You guys rock. And of course, I don't own anyone except Bruixe. Enjoy.
Axel's recovery was long and tedious; Roxas had pummeled him within an inch of his life. Xigbar – the best healer by far now that Vexen and Zexion were gone – had prescribed Axel bed rest until further notice. Bruixe and Demyx spent their days in Axel's room, keeping their friend company and amusing themselves by waging intricate Nobody-wars across the wide white floor.
By the end of the seventh day, Bruixe's Rogues had completely mastered the art of destroying Demyx's Dancers. "It's not even fun anymore," she complained as her minions disposed of the last one. Axel chuckled.
Demyx looked as if he were about to reply, but suddenly the door flew open, effectively ending the conversation. All three of them looked up to see Saix there, flanked by two huge Berserker Nobodies.
"What's going on?" Demyx asked warily.
Saix smiled coolly. "I hate to break up the fun, but –"
"Spare us the melodrama," Axel muttered from the pillows. "Spill it already."
"You'll remember our little conversation in the computer room?" Saix asked, looking directly at Bruixe. "You told me 'it would have to wait', no? But after all, there are certain rules around here, and consequences for not maintaining those rules…"
Bruixe looked from Saix to the Berserkers to Axel, and suddenly she realized what was happening. She leapt to her feet. "No," she growled threateningly.
"What's going on?" Demyx demanded again.
"So what, you're the bounty hunter now?" Bruixe snarled, getting right up in Saix's face; she was an inch taller than him, and now she used it to her advantage. "You won't take him. Not if I have to fight you myself."
Saix raised an eyebrow. "Don't be hasty, dear Bruixe. Or shall I add you to the bounty list?"
"Bruixe," Demyx hissed cautiously.
She ignored her friend and continued to glare menacingly at the Diviner, daring him to test her. Behind her, Rogues left over from the mock-war chattered and purred, bladed forearms clicking against the floor as they sensed their mistress's anger.
Saix gazed back at her impassively. "I will only ask you once. Stand aside, Number 14."
"Not likely," she spat. Her mind buzzed with possible plans of action. she could easily destroy the Berserkers, but her distraction would undoubtedly be enough for Saix to kill her anyway. No, she'd go for his throat, a much closer target, and she'd just have to hope her Rogues – or Demyx – reacted fast enough to take care of the minions. Saix was inches away – it wouldn't even take a kodachi. She could snap his neck with her bare hands.
Of course, it would be faster to go for the face, shove his nose back into his brain. But she wouldn't need the extra advantage; she was faster than Saix, she knew it. And somehow the neck seemed more appropriate. More vulgar. Fitting for slime like Saix – a messy end.
But Axel seemed to guess her intentions. "No," he said firmly. There was movement behind her, but Bruixe refused to tear her eyes away from Saix.
"No, don't get –" Demyx started to say, and then a heavy hand was on Bruixe's shoulder.
"It's all right, Bruixe," Axel said, using her as a sort of crutch to steady himself. "I'll go."
It's not all right! she wanted to scream, but he nodded reassuringly, and Bruixe knew by the look in his eyes that she would never be able to change his mind.
"Don't get yourself in trouble for me. If I go quietly, there's no reason to fight," he said reasonably, looking at Saix. "Right?"
The Diviner nodded, a tiny smirk spreading across his face. "Wonderful." The Berserkers shifted to allow the two of them passage, and then they were gone.
"AAAAARGH!" Bruixe roared as the door closed behind them, releasing her pent-up frustration. She kicked the door angrily, ignoring the protest of pain in her foot.
"Easy," Demyx warned her. "There's nothing we can do –"
"How can you say that?" she yelled, whirling on the Nocturne. "How can you stand there and say there's nothing we can do? There has to be something! I can't just stand here and watch shit like this happen, I won't, and just because you're too afraid to stand up to them doesn't mean –" She broke off as hurt registered across Demyx's face.
"Shit, Demyx, I didn't mean that," she said, horrified at herself. "I shouldn't have said that…"
"'S okay," he said quietly. "It's the truth… I'm not brave like you, or strong like Roxas, or clever like Axel or anything. I'm a coward."
"No, no, no," Bruixe whispered, smothering him in a giant hug. "Don't say that. You're a good person, Demyx… you're funny, and cheerful, and… we're gonna get through this, you and me. Together."
He nodded reluctantly. "First Roxas, now Axel…"
She pulled away to glare at him. "Don't give up on him just yet. Look, I don't even know… where is Saix taking him? What happens now?"
Demyx looked away. "They'll take him to the dungeons. You said they know you and Axel let Roxas go… they'll interrogate him, try to find out what he knows. Saix… he… he's their torturer."
"Knew I should've offed him while I had the chance," Bruixe muttered bitterly.
Demyx blinked, appalled. "Are you serious? You really would've killed him?"
"Absolutely," she replied with utter confidence. "I was going to snap his neck. Teach him to mess with my friends."
"But then you'd have been in major dog poop," he reminded her.
She laughed forcefully. "Would've made me feel better. Besides, better we were on the run and together than split up and arrested. Like now."
Demyx's forehead creased. "They won't kill him, you know. They know if they did, you'd be their enemy. Even more so than now. As long as Axel's alive, they can use him as blackmail, make sure you're on their side."
Bruixe scoffed. "You make it sound like they're scared of me," she snorted.
"But they are," he told her. "You can't tell? You're unpredictable, Bruixe, and if you did turn on them… you're strong enough that you'd do some serious damage. And they're afraid you'd take me and Axel with you… well, not so much Axel anymore. But think about it. If we deserted… joined Roxas, well, I guess Sora and Ansem the Wise… the Organization wouldn't stand a chance."
That one threw her for a loop. "Never thought of it that way," she mused. "Kinda makes you wish we'd've abandoned ship a long time ago."
"Too late now," Demyx muttered.
"Better late than never," she disagreed. "But Axel… this is a mess."
"There's nothing we can do tonight," he pointed out. "Not while Saix is around… and Xaldin will be standing guard, probably… we can sort this out in the morning."
"If you say so," Bruixe replied.
Bruixe slept badly that night, plagued by dreams of fire and torture. In her nightmares, the ghosts of her past were all too real, especially alongside the demons of her present – she woke in a sweat, glancing at the clock. Four A.M.
A noise sounded from outside her room. She pulled on her cloak and slipped out the door, looking around. The sound echoed through the halls, and now she recognized it with a sick feeling.
Somewhere in the castle, Axel was screaming in pain.
Bruixe sprinted towards the dungeon, taking stairs three at a time, sliding around corners like a demented race car from hell. She stopped abruptly at the dungeon entrance – Xaldin stood in her way, arms clasped behind his back.
"Going somewhere?" he asked in his deep, raspy voice.
Axel's yells were louder here, almost unbearable.
She could kill Xaldin, but no doubt Axel would die if she did, murdered by Saix before she could reach him. Bruixe clenched her fists angrily, helplessly. She turned her back on Xaldin, hating herself, hating them all. So much for not having a heart.
The days passed by agonizingly slow. Every night Bruixe would jam her pillow over her head, trying to drown out the macabre howls of torture, failing miserably. Every night she scouted the dungeon entrance, only to be turned away by Xaldin's unfailing presence.
She knew what the look on Xaldin's face meant – the Organization knew that she would betray them without hesitation if provoked. But somehow Bruixe didn't care.
Didn't care, that is, until Demyx came hurtling into her room one morning.
He hadn't bothered to knock, which in itself would have worried her. His face was contorted in panic, and he was babbling incoherently. "I – you – orders, mission, kill, Sora, no, Roxas – Axel, you – mission, I –"
"Run that by me one more time?" Bruixe asked, raising an eyebrow.
Demyx took several rushed, gasping breaths. "I overheard Xemnas and Xigbar talking. There's a mission in Hollow Bastion. They're planning something big, and Roxas, no, Sora will be there. But they want someone to slow him down while they finish preparing the 'operation'. They want Sora to win, though – it's a suicide mission. They know you're a traitor. They're gonna send you."
"No way in hell," Bruixe spat.
"If you don't go, they're gonna execute Axel!" he wailed.
Bruixe stopped breathing.
"Don't you get it?" Demyx cried. "You've got to run, get out now, before they can trap you with this. If you don't you'll die!"
"I can't," she whispered. If I go, Axel…
"You have to!" he half-shouted.
Bruixe shook her head. "Not yet."
"Why not?!" he demanded.
A grim smile spread across her face. "Because I'm taking Axel with me."