Chapter 35:
Part 2:
Keeah paused. The faint aura of evil she had sensed earlier seemed to pulsate around her like a live beast, as if leeching out her strength and filling her heart with dread. She took a deep breath to gather her wits before looking around her. As they moved deeper into the cavern the aura seemed to thicken, coiling around them like a sinuous python. The walls and the floor also started to become damp, moisture oozing from the fluorescent walls and dripping from the stalagmites over their heads. Sometimes narrow cold underground streams ran across the path, their shallow waters hardly wetting their feet.
It was getting colder as well, their breath rising in a mist in front of their nose. Ancient braziers lit the path casting dancing shadows on the walls, yet doing little to dilute the shadows that spread in an intricate pattern across the cavern. They moved cautiously, the eerie silence of the cavern made them wary of their own shadow and jump at the sound of their foot.
"That's it!"
Startled, Keeah looked at Taasha raising an inquiring eyebrow.
Sotisku was more voluble. "Don't do that man!" He snapped, placing a hand over his chest. "Not here at least. "
Taasha grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. " Then his face became serious. " Before I say anything I would like to ask you something, why have we taken this particular path Princess?"
"Because its cold and creepy. " Suraco retorted dryly.
"No. " Keeah silenced him with a look. " Remember Mehen said something about a serpent. I told you earlier that I believe Mehen succeeded in sealing the library of Fa Sang and the only one who has any idea of where it is, or how it might be opened is this serpent ... I also believe that this is the very person who betrayed Fa Sang ... " She took a deep breath before continuing. "Do you sense this ... aura around you? I swear by Seiryuu, I am yet to feel anything so ... unclean, so evil. I think that this aura belongs to our quarry, and fortunately for us..."
Suraco snorted loudly. "Fortunate? Right."
Keeah glared. " The aura is leading me down this path. But ... what did you want to say?"
Taasha had a brooding look in his eyes. "What sort of creature are you expecting?"
"I don't know, something reptilian ... I think. Mehen did say serpent. Why do you ask?"
"I don't know what this one will look like, but I have a fair inkling of his name."
"What?"
"Wadjet. I am sure his name is Wadjet!"
"Wait Taasha." Suraco cut in. "Wasn't that the name of the governor of Fa Sang when it was attacked? How can you be sure its him?"
"Only think Suraco. In both the inscriptions we found Mehen has mentioned the fact that he does not trust Wadjet. Now, I have not noticed any codes of the berserkers in the cavern, though the presence of Mehen's missive shows that they had reached the cavern. But what happened after that? I am sure they were ambushed in the cavern itself. "
Keeah paled remembering her vision of the warrior's drowning in a sea of hooded mages, their halberds flashing like lightning before being gobbled up by the darkness of the cavern.
Taasha continued. "There's more. Do you know what Wadjet means in my tongue? It means serpent!"
"What?" Suraco was surprised. "Are you sure?"
"Definitely. "
Keeah frowned. ' Wadjet ... What spurred him to betray Fa Sang? Power? Knowledge? Both? ' She looked up, her nostrils flaring a little. "Whether it is Wadjet or not will be clear presently. I propose we move ahead. "
The others seemed to agree with her as they once again resumed their seemingly never-ending trudge. The cavern seemed to become narrow as they edged forward till it was reduced to a mere crack in the wall through which a person had to squeeze through.
Keeah squeezed through the crack, her foot landing with a soft splash in icy cold water. Easing out she found herself in another cavern, with its moist dome shaped head rising above her. This place was certainly different from the rest of the place, the cavern walls comprising of a rich black stone that gleamed when the dancing torchlight fell on the tiny rivulets oozing out of the rock face. Rough brackets were cut into the wall from which bronze braziers hung.
But the thing that caught her eye almost immediately was the stern black door that seem to rise from the water itself and the skeleton that lay in front of it. It was placed in a sitting position with its back to the door, the halberd it once wielded spread across its lap. Bits of tattered armour still hung from its skeletal bone...
' Could it be? Mehen?'
Keeah could almost see the warrior slowly sink in front of the doorway, his red gold hair matted with his own blood, a small satisfied smile on his face, before his head sagged in front as his soul began its journey in the afterlife.
" Mehen?"
Taasha's voice was almost a whisper, his eyes rested on the ancient skeleton. It seemed that he too had come to the same conclusion. Slowly he edged forward and Keeah understood that the water, which flooded the cavern floor, would hardly wet their ankle. She splashed ahead after him, the water almost numbing her feet.
Taasha bend forward, his clawed hands usually so steady shook a little when he touched the skeleton. The relic turned to dust under his fingers almost like the skeletons they had seen in Tur. Taasha dropped to his knees.
"Mehen..."
Keeah laid an arm on his shoulders. "Don't mourn for him Taasha. He did his job. Is that?"
"Yes. " Reverently Taasha picked up the strange halberd; its blade embossed with strange symbols and crisscrossed with red stains. For a while Taasha wondered what it was: rust or blood? Still the cold handle in his fist made him feel remarkably safe. "This is the Scarlet Fang."
"Then we must take it with us. " Keeah said quietly.
" We will. " Taasha nodded his head. ' And maybe ... one day I will be worthy to wield it.' He saw something gleaming in the water. Bending down he picked up the austere gold necklace embossed with the crest of Bastet. ' The amulet of Mehen? I will keep it. For good luck. '
"Princess. " A tiny squeak from Sotisku drew both his and Keeah's attention.
All of a sudden Keeah felt something icy creep down her spine. Following Sotisku's gaze she soon identified the cause of her discomfiture. A black fog seemed to swirl over the dark waters, as if a live manifestation of the evil that pulsated around them, slowly easing into the shape of a man. Black sooty robes hung from the somewhat gaunt form with a hood drawn over a flaxen egg shaped face. Rather deep set eyes stared at them malevolently from over an aquiline nose, a thin somewhat chafed mouth spread into a cruel half mocking smile, long skeletal fingers over laden with rings peeped from under the folds of the cloth and thick gold chains sparkled around his neck.
Something told her that this was the one they were looking for.
"Good evening. " He greeted them pleasantly enough, though the slick oily tone he employed made Keeah slightly nauseous. "It has been quite some time since I have received guests and even longer since I have seen a berserker. " His baleful gaze rested on Taasha for a long unnerving moment. " I thought they all died."
"Obviously you have been misinformed. " Taasha retorted sarcastically.
"Obviously. " He turned at Keeah once more. "I must own that I am surprised. How did you manage to come so far with your piddling little power levels? "
Keeah felt a brief stab of irritation. "Your people have become complacent. I daresay we took them by surprise. "
"Yes. They have been sadly out of practice. " He chuckled. "But I can assure you that I am not. So, what brings you to my humble abode?"
" I assure you that I have no enmity with you. " Keeah faced his gaze rather fiercely. " Once our task is done we will leave. "
"Leave? I think not my dear. Not when you desire to take that what is mine. "
"Yours?"
"Enough said. " His eyes glowed once. "Your antics have provided a lot of amusement to me, but sadly I don't keep dancing monkeys. You..." He raised a long white finger and pointed it at Taasha, the ruby signet on it flashing. "Berserker. Put that down and then I will let you join your ... friends. "
"I shall not put this down. " Taasha growled. "I know who you are traitor and today you shall meet your end, this I swear in the name of Bastet. "
"Seriously my good man. " Sotisku cut in softly, his voice a low whisper. "There is no reason to brag just yet. "
The man however, seemed amused. "Bastet? Her name did nobody any good. Did you see that poor, poor skeleton over there? He had her name on his lips till the end. Did it do him any good? No. He is dead."
"While you live Wadjet. " Keeah said quietly, her lips curving into a disdainful smile. "Not that it did you any good. "
"Girl, your words fail to amuse me. " Wadjet sounded angry.
"Good. We have little time to converse with the likes of you. Move aside and let us pass. "
For a while silence descended on the cavern, then Keeah felt Wadjet's aura spike suddenly. His eyes seemed to glow with some hellish light and he roared.
"Impudence. "
The darkness that surrounded him suddenly seemed to come alive, long slimy tentacles seemed to rise from the amorphous darkness rushing at them like the sting of a cobra. Instantly Keeah flung the shield in front of them, the sinuous arms that the darkness had extended crashed on the shield fruitlessly. Yet the force made Keeah stagger back, her eyes widening a little as the blue shield frizzled and disappeared.
"Pitiful monkeys." Wadjet let out a mocking cackle. " You shall all die. This is mine. All mine. "
"He is a Lich. " Suraco growled his voice low so that only they could hear what he was saying. " He is got to be a Lich, a damn powerful one."
The dark pythons rushed at them once again. Keeah defended, but once again her shield melted away into nothingness.
"Damn." She gritted her teeth. "How can you be sure?"
" Let's see. " He cast a mocking eye at Wadjet. " So Wadjet. " He said pleasantly. "Exactly which of these articles belong to you?"
Wadjet stopped, and for a while Keeah saw a blank look in his eyes before he roared.
"This is mine. All mine. Mine."
The black tentacle caught Suraco across his chest before he could move, picking him off the ground, landing with a splash in the icy waters. He groaned a little, sitting up, eyes widening a little as he saw another arm rush at him. Instantly Keeah was in front of him, her face puckered with concentration and for once the shield held.
"Sorry about that." Keeah cast a half glance at him. "Couldn't move fast enough. "
"Its all right. " Suraco wiped the blood from his lips. "But I was right. He is a Lich. See, he doesn't remember any more. He betrayed Fa Sang for something, presumably the knowledge in the library, which he wanted all from himself. But as a Lich, he traded his soul, so now he doesn't even remember why he perpetrated this heinous crime. " He chuckled. "Sweet. "
Keeah shivered a little. "Sweet? Hardly. "
The darkness rushed at them once more, this time the force of the collision caused Keeah to stumble back while the shield she had erected frizzled and died away. Before Keeah could react she felt something rush through the air at her, instinctually she flung herself to a side, but the unknown missile still grazed her hand, the sickly green fluid that coated it burned into her hand with a slight hissing sound.
"Shit. " She greeted her teeth rolling away from the sudden hail of missiles that rained on her, their burning tips touching the water with a hiss of green acrid smoke. Some of the arrows grazed her skin leaving a burning sensation where their tips touched.
' Damn it. I do not understand how he is able to concoct the spells so fast. ' Keeah crouched in the water pushing the dank locks out of her face. ' It is almost as if there is no time gap between two spells...'
Her eyes widened a little as she saw another arrow come straight at her; its green edge gleamed a little wickedly in the torchlight. She flung herself aside, knowing it was too late to avoid the full force of the arrow, gritting her teeth as she felt the razor edge dig into her shoulders. Instinctively she put up a hand to stem the flow of blood.
' Shit.'
OoO
Taasha crouched in the icy water, gracefully avoiding Wadjet's attack when Keeah's shield failed. He could not stop the low growl that rose from deep within his throat, or the bloodlust that seemed to fill his veins. His nostrils flared and he consciously controlled his hankering for blood.
His eyes narrowed a little when he saw Wadjet concentrate all his attacks on Keeah; the spells that flowed from the tips of the skeletal fingers did seem to end, appearing instantly as if by a mere thought. Though not a magic wielder himself, he had seen the mages in Ubasti weave their spells. He had noticed that they required some time to form the spell, drawing the energy from their ki. The more powerful the mage, the less this time they required.
' Lady Keeah is by far the most powerful sorceress I have encountered, but compared to Wadjet, she appears to be a novice. ' His teeth bared into a savage smile. ' We are seriously outmatched, but I be damned if I go out without a fight.'
He saw Keeah stagger as a arrow pierced through her shoulders.
' Now!'
He flung himself in front of Keeah, wielding the halberd he had picked up like liquid lightning, the razor's edge forming a scarlet shield on which the arrows crashed fruitlessly. He panted a little waiting for the next wave as the arrows suddenly stopped.
Wadjet stared at him, a disquieting emptiness in the sunken orbs before an essence of fear seemed to trickle in them.
"Mehen?" His voice shook a little, his eyes looked unfocussed. "You?" He broke into a laugh; his eyes had a demented look in them. "You shall not take what is mine. " Skeletal fingers curled over a dark ball of sizzling lightning. "Mine."
Taasha's eyes widened a little as he felt the ball hurtle towards him, expanding as it came, the malevolent aura it emitted caused shivers to run down his spine. Desperately he held up the halberd trying to defend him. The ball collided with the weapon, the force of the collision lifting him off his feet and hurling him into the wall.
He collapsed in a crumpled heap at the base, vaguely aware that even though the Scarlet Fang had saved his life, it would be quite some time before he would be able to move. He heard Wadjet cackle.
"Silly monkeys. You will all die."
OoOoOoOoOoO
Hotohori had to admit that he was irritated and the fact that he realized that this rather uncomfortable feeling he was experiencing was irritation, made him even more irritated. He knew that Shadow had forsaken him and something inside him told him that deep down he knew that this abandonment was only a matter of time.
' And yet, I decided to trust him. What was I thinking?'
Yet, even now, after Shadow had led him through several traps (without warning him of course), then smack into an ambush and now quite lost in the middle of a maze, he couldn't summon in himself the burning anger he should quite righteously feel towards Shadow. All he was aware of was a vague twinge of irritation, almost the kind he felt when Master Hakai kept prosing about princely etiquette.
' Well since I am lost anyway, I should see where this road leads me.'
His nostrils flared a little as he looked into forbidding pathway, sloping downwards in a serpentine fashion. The walls were dark and glistening with moisture, lit sparsely by smoky oil lamps that hung desolately from the walls. He put a cautious step into the corridor, feeling as if the dark walls were suddenly closing in on him, uneasily aware of the narrowness of the path and the small area it offered for maneuverability.
All his warrior's intuition urged him to turn back, whispering into his ear that Fa Sang was a place where deception ruled, telling him to regroup and rethink his strategy; yet something in him urged him to move ahead, overruling the missives of his mind. As he moved silently in the shadows, the dull light glancing off the steel edge, he was uneasily aware that he had never before felt so exhilarated, so...
At home.
' Now that's disturbing. Is this place affecting me in some way?'
He was vaguely aware that he was being followed, beings that slunk into the shadows, stealthily following in his wake. He did not spare them but a glance over his shoulders, uneasy, not because he was stalked, but rather because his unknown shadow-stalkers failed to inspire the smallest degree of fear in him.
' I should not have come alone. This place ... But I am here now and I will see the end of this road...'
He saw a narrow arched door rise in front of him. Slowly he eased the door open and entered.
' What the hell!'
He was aware of a slight crunching sound when he first stepped into the room. Now he understood its cause. It was a small circular room with glossy black walls that rose to meet a domed ceiling. A single brazier hung from the ceiling suspended by iron chains, its dull light doing little to dispel the shadows of the room. But the floor of the room was lined with bones, white with age, socket less eyes staring mockingly at him. He saw the skeletons were piled one on top of another, almost as if they had tried to climb over each other's shoulders in a desperate bid for freedom...
' What exactly happened here?'
There was a sharp clang. Startled Hotohori looked around to see that the door through which he had entered had closed.
' Damn.'
In the flickering light he saw another door at the other side of the room. He waded through the sea of bones, ignoring the sickening crunching sound as the bones were crushed beneath his heel to reach the exit. Upon nearing it he found that a single block of cold stone, similar to the ones that lined this room closed it. Putting his palm flat against it he tried pushing it. The stone would not budge.
Hotohori's lips curved up into a slow lazy smile, a deceptive twinkle danced in his eyes. "Charming. " He turned placing his back towards the door and looked around the room. The white skulls grinned mockingly at him, as if answering the question that plagued him.
' Hmm. I believe that these people were herded into this room and then the room was sealed. The people must have died of hunger and thirst. ' Hotohori chuckled darkly. ' Simple, but effective.'
He knelt in front of one of the skeletons that were still whole, ignoring the sharp bones digging into his flesh and observed the designs on the tattered tunic that still hung from its boneless limbs and the thick chain that coiled around its neck. None were familiar to him. He frowned, Freya's words coming back to him.
' Long ago Fa Sang was attacked. For many days Fa Sang held of the intruders, till one day it was betrayed by one of its priests. The intruders overran Fa Sang, but the soldiers of Fa Sang put up a vigorous resistance pushing the intruders into the catacombs below the island before the entrance was sealed magically.'
Hotohori frowned. Looking around he saw the light reflected from the gold ornaments scattered throughout the room and even in the semidarkness he realized that there was a king's ransom buried in this sea of bones, but he could see no weapons. ' Something doesn't add up. These people are civilians. Perhaps they were brought here to protect them, but if the people of Fa Sang succeeded in repelling the attack, then why wasn't these people let out?'
The pile of bones in front of him seemed to move a little. Hotohori blinked, uncertain of what he saw in the semidarkness ... then around him the bones exploded upwards, throwing up their contents like some macabre geyser. Hotohori hardly had the time to draw his sword when he felt something collide with him as forcefully as a canon ball, the impact causing him to reel backwards feeling something sharp sink into his shoulder.
Vaguely he was aware of dark shapes jumping on the walls, ricocheting off it like ping-pong balls, zooming towards him with the force of a deadly arrow.
' A trap?'
He succeeded in avoiding most of the attacks, but he was half aware of something hanging on to his shoulder like an rotting appendage. With a small growl he snatched at it, his hands closing over something bony and cold and wrenched it off his shoulder before thrusting it with a violent force on the dark wall.
There was a sickening sound, like that of a rotten watermelon bursting open and Hotohori realized that the darker stain that had just formed on the black walls was blood. The attacks had stopped and he was aware of the tense silence in the room as the black shapes hung from the walls like overlarge bats, baleful red eyes fixed on him. His hands were still fisted over the bony appendage of his assailant. Slowly he opened his fist letting the body fall at his feet. Still keeping his eyes on the shapes he put out a leg and kicked the body away from him.
An angry cry rose through the room as the body collided with the opposite wall; spitting angrily the shapes closed in on him. Hotohori bared his teeth in a small savage smile, red bleeding into his eyes, white knuckles closing over his cold hilt.
' Come fiends. You will be surprised.'
A shape landed on the bones and for the first time Hotohori got a good look at the things that attacked him. They were small creatures, hardly as tall as his waist, with misshapen limbs covered by a flaxen skin stretched taut over the oddly assorted bones that made their body. Slowly it limped over to its fallen comrade kneeling beside it and touching the dark blood that flowed from its open skull staining the white bones. Then it turned its red eyes towards Hotohori, teeth bared under the drawn white lips, before letting out an angry screech.
Hotohori's blade lashed out like a serpent's tongue and the screech was cut midway as the head went rolling.
"Don't dwadle kiddo's. " He chuckled darkly, his voice hardly matching his usually soft honeyed drawl, holding his sword casually over his shoulders. "I have an extremely important appointment to keep. "
The creatures rushed at him, falling from the ceiling like black rain. Hotohori's sword flashed in the darkness like lightning, cutting through the press of bodies, showering him with thick droplets of blood, anointing his hungry sword.
The bones were crushed under his feet as he moved over the slick ground; the savage smile on his face deepening as the red stain his eyes became more concentrated. The piteous cries of the creatures as they fell in a pool of their own blood sounded like music to his ears and he felt drugged by the heady wine of war. His sword was slippery with blood, yet his arms did not seem to tire; the weapon rising and falling with ruthless efficiency. As he danced the dance of death under the flickering lamp he felt something whisper in his ears.
' No mercy. There must be no mercy.'
He swung the blade savagely. "Yes. There shall be no mercy."
Vaguely he was aware that the creatures were no longer attacking him. They seemed to move away from him, as a pack of hyena's retreat in front of an enraged lion. He was aware that their cries were no longer that of anger, but pleading and piteous and somehow that seemed to trigger something primal inside him.
There was a soft clang and he realized that the door at the opposite end had opened and creatures crowded at it, eager to escape the prey that suddenly seemed to have morphed into a predator. With a small leap he cut them off, landing in front of the now small party. They cowered before him, inching backwards.
Slowly Hotohori's mouth curved upwards into a smile, then he threw back his head and laughed. Putting up a finger he absently ran a hand through his hair, chuckling, before whirling and walking away into the dark corridor that stretched in front of him.
OoOoOoOoO
Keeah eyes widened a little as she saw the violent ball of black lightning rush at Taasha.
' Oh shit.'
She saw Taasha desperately trying to shield him but the force of the collision carried him off his feet and hurled him into the wall. He crumpled like sodden paper, his wet hair falling over his battered face. She heard Wadjet cackle.
"Silly monkeys. You will all die. "
She saw a long green whip lash out like lightning in the darkness only to crash fruitlessly into the shimmering shield that covered Wadjet. Her eyes widened a little.
' No Suraco. Stay back.'
A dark tentacle shot out from the living darkness that collected behind Wadjet curling around Suraco before he could move hauling him up and suspending him midair.
"Silly, silly monkeys. Do you think your puny weapons can harm me?"
The tentacles closed cruelly around Suraco and Keeah could see that Suraco looked a little blue in the face. Gritting her teeth she hauled herself up.
' Suraco.'
Her eyes widened a little as she saw a familiar red -head move in front of her throwing something at the tentacle and heard the sharp tinkle of breaking glass. There was a violent explosion and the darkness was torn asunder by a brilliant blue light as white hot air rushed over them like an enraged monster. Keeah felt herself carried off her feet and deposited ingloriously into the cold water.
Groaning she sat up, looking at the bemused redhead sitting in the water not far from her.
"What the hell was that Sotisku?"
"A little this and a little that..." Sotisku grinned sheepishly. "But it worked pretty well. Don't you think?"
"Yes. So it did. " She saw Suraco limp towards her, casting a half glaring, half admiring look at Sotisku. "But do you realize that you could have killed me as well? "
Sotisku scratched his head. "Well. I didn't." He said defensively. "I wonder whether I got Wadjet though."
A fine blue dust floated over the area like a dense fog, slowly settling down. As the dust cleared they became aware of the still black figure and Keeah thought that she saw sparks of anger in his crazed eyes. The chafed mouth parted into a slow mocking cackle that send ripples of dread run down her spine. Sotisku gulped audibly.
"Oh well. One can hope. "
"I am tired of you silly antics monkey. " A long bony finger was slowly raised pointing its dark tip at them. "This ... ends now. "
Keeah's eyes widened a little as she saw four dark balls race out from behind him zooming towards them. Instinctively she rolled away, her hands closing over a sizzling ki-sphere. The white ball of energy collided with the dark ball with a vicious bang, exploding in a dazzling array of colors, showering her with the colors of the rainbow. Looking up her eyes widened a little as she saw that her comrades had been unable to avoid the balls and appeared trapped inside the somewhat translucent black bubbles.
White-hot rage filled her veins as Wadjet's dark chuckle echoed off the dark walls.
"You..." Her eyes turned an almost incandescent blue in color, almost white in their brilliance.
The ground beneath her feet rumbled as tiny red cracks appeared in it, hot air seeping through it with an angry hiss.
"Silly woman. Do you think this will scare me?"
Keeah's mouth curved upwards into a deceptively innocent smile. "No. I am hoping this will kill you. "
The floor exploded upwards, as if the earth was releasing her fury, the flaming column of molten lava engulfed Wadjet in its red-hot arms. Keeah sank to the ground panting and as her eyes returned to their normal color, the fury of the earth cooled.
"Silly woman. "
Keeah's eyes widened a little as something dark lashed out catching her across her stomach hurling her into the wall. She collapsed at its base coughing blood. A maniacal laughter fell on her ears as she looked up to see Wadjet still standing. Vaguely she was aware that the shield around him had disappeared and clothes and flesh looked singed.
"I am immortal. " He roared. "Your puny attacks can not harm me. Your friends I will give to my servants to play with. "He lifted a long finger at the bubbles. "But you, woman ... you I shall dismember myself. " He snapped a finger and the bubbles disappeared in a puff of smoke.
" NO!" Keeah watched horrified as her friends disappeared, rage filling her once more. "You fiend. If you hurt a hair on their heads ... "
"I assure you woman, I shall not hurt them. " Wadjet cackled. "But I cannot give the same grantee where you are concerned. "
Keeah's eyes widened a little as she saw Wadjet lift a long bony finger and cut open a tear in the air in front of him. Then he curled his fingers, as if summoning something from within the red tear in space. She watched in horror as long dark fingers ending in curved black talons pushed the tear apart and she could not stop the small gasp that rose to her throat when she saw the creature that stepped through it.
' Oh my ... Seiryuu aid me.'
She could not find any words to describe the horror that stood in front of her, a strange combination of reptilian and humanoid features with a long scaly tail that lashed behind it. It was hunched in front, with overlong front limbs almost touching the floor, ribs jutting out from under the slimy black skin.
"So woman, what do you think of my pet?"
Keeah forced her voice to remain neutral. "Very charming. "
Wadjet smirked. "Then perhaps you two should get better acquainted. " He gestured and the creature rushed forwards, jagged teeth showing in the wide alligator like mouth.
Desperately Keeah rolled out of the way as the creature clawed away a chunk of rock from above her head. For such a huge creature it move like lightning and Keeah found it hard to avoid its attacks. Once more she leapt out of the way of the creatures claws, only to feel its tail close cruelly around her waist lifting her off the ground. The small hooks at the edge of the scales that covered its tail dug into her stomach as the knot tightened.
Struggling for breath she looked into the dark eyes of the creature. She blinked.
' What the hell?'
The pain she felt was reflected in the creature's dark orbs and with a start of surprise she realized that the creature was in pain as well.
' It is almost like it is in mortal agony.'
She felt herself hurled through the air and suddenly she found that her head was wonderfully clear and even when the bone crunching collision jarred her body she was able to shut her rage and pain away. The creature roared again and for the first time she realized that its cries were not of anger or bloodlust, but that of pain and frustration. Instinctively her eyes went towards Wadjet and the way his long white fingers moved.
' By Seiryuu.'
The creature lunged again and this time Keeah managed to avoid its attacks cleverly. Her lips curved upwards in that smirk which send warning bells pealing in the minds of those who knew her.
' This ... is so simple.'
Her eyes slowly caught the all-important detail she had missed. The long narrow black threads that ran from Wadjet's hands, coiling over the creatures body, moving its limbs forcefully.
' He is using the creature as he would a puppet. I wonder what will happen if the strings were to break?"
Deftly jumping out of the way of yet another attack she aimed her ki ball at the strings. The energy sphere collided with the strings melting away the dark strands. The creature stopped midway, teeth parting in a strange parody of a smile before it turned towards Wadjet.
Wadjet's eyes dilated a little. "Back. "He raised his finger. "Back!"
The creature moved like a flash and all Keeah could see was a whirlwind of flying bones, dirt and blood, till the creature turned its bloodied snout towards the sky and let out a triumphant roar. Slowly it turned its face at Keeah as if judging her. Keeah stepped back unconsciously taking a defensive posture.
The creature lowered its head slowly, as if bowing before turning and disappearing into the tear.
Keeah let out a sigh that she did not know she was holding in before sinking to the ground. "Now what?"
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Menesku looked around the deserted hallway. The tall marble columns that flanked it stared down at him like silent sentinels and he had the unpleasant sensation that he was walking in the halls of the dead. But Menesku was not prone to flights of fancy and he easily curbed his runaway imagination to turn his thoughts to a more logical vein.
Getting down from where Freya had stranded him had taken some time. Scaling the slippery walls to get to level ground was a pastime Menesku had not enjoyed at all. Neither had he enjoyed the sense of unease and fear that coiled in his heart. Nor did he like the slow flicker of rage that seemed to cloud his judgment. Taking a deep breath he steadied himself.
' It is quite evident that from the moment we landed on Fa Sang we were being led into a trap and we played right into their hands.' Menesku frowned. ' And even though I have a fair inkling as to who is responsible, I cannot comprehend why? '
His feet stilled, gray eyes resting on a charcoal mark that marred the beauty of the marble column. His eyes widened a little.
' I knew it. Each section of the corridor is an exact replica of the next section. This place is one big maze and I ... am going around in circles. ' He chuckled. ' The most elementary strategy. Divide and conquer. Damn it. I have to find the others. '
He moved ahead, the naked sword hanging innocently from his fist.' Chulivey send up that spell as a warning. That must mean that they have been attacked as well. But who attacked them? ' He paused watching the sparkling water that erupted from the fountainhead. ' Did the people of Kutou reach this place? But then again...'
His legs stopped of their own accord.
' No.'
Drawn on the marble column in front of him were two marks, identical in shape and very familiar to its creator.
' How can this be? I am sure I took a different path this time.'
The empty hallways seem to mock him and the lazy wind whispered in his ears.
" You shall never get out of here. You shall never leave. You shall never find your friends in time, for this is where your journey ends. "
And for once Menesku found it hard to curb his fancy. The eerie silence bore into his iron will and blurred his logic. He knew that more that often mazes were designed such that a person lost in it will begin to loose his mind after some time and with a thrill of horror he realized that perhaps he was being more affected than he like to believe.
"No damn it. " He growled. "I am a Suzaku seishi. I will not die here, trapped like a rat in a hole. "
A black smoke swirled in front of him. Baring his teeth savagely he instinctively took a step back, fingers closing over the cold hilt.
"Finally. "
The smoke swirled into a dark bubble, which burst with a popping sound, depositing its contents on the floor in a crumpled heap. Its occupant, a sole golden haired man jumped up, panting for breath, before turning at him. The angry green eyes widened a little, surprise evident in their green depths only for a second before they became shuttered again.
"Menesku, you look lonely. "
Menesku bared his teeth, gray eyes showing none of the surprise he felt. " I assure you Suraco, you were not missed. "
"Menesku, you wound me. "
"I am glad. "
Suraco chuckled, green eyes flickering over the gashes and bruises, which covered Menesku's body. "I see that you have been introduced to the charms of Fa Sang. "
"Yes, Fa Sang is very hospitable. "
"And have we lost that privileged portion which we hold in your hearts?"
"Don't loose heart Suraco. Nothing can take the position you and your esteemed colleagues hold in our heart. " Menesku moved forward like lightning.
They met like raging temple bulls, exchanging blows for blows, each thrust, each parry filling their veins with the thrill of war and a strange sense of relief to be finally fighting against an enemy they knew ... understood. They broke apart panting, clutching the wounds that had opened during their scuffle.
Suraco raised a bruised face, lips curving into a smirk. " I am touched Menesku. "
Menesku inclined his head slightly. "As am I. "
Suraco straightened, consciously suppressing the sharp pains that shot up his body. His brow clouded a little when he remembered where Keeah was, feeling his gut twist into nauseating coils. However, his sharp eyes had seen a flicker of worry behind Menesku's usually impassive eyes and deduced that Menesku found himself in a similar predicament.
"I am curious Menesku. " He drawled. "Exactly how did you get here?"
There was only the barest flicker of anger in Menesku's eyes. "I could ask you the same question Suraco. "
"Yes, you could. "Suraco chuckled. "But I have no intention of standing here and exchanging pleasantries with you all day. Now, if you excuse me Menesku..." His whip lashed out like a serpent's tongue. "I have got a more pressing engagement. "
Menesku jumped out of the way of the hissing whip, mouth curving into a smirk. "Forgive me, your engagement will have to wait. " He moved like the wind easily cutting through Suraco's defense his left foot catching Suraco rather heavily in the stomach.
Suraco teetered, reeling back. "What is this Menesku? Your attacks have lost force. I could have sworn that at another time that kick was grunted to break my ribs. " His eyes ran over the strips of cloth that attempted to stem the sluggish flow of blood from Menesku's more serious wounds. "You are out of shape my friend. "
"Am I now?" Menesku chuckled feeling a little irritated that Suraco had so easily spotted the chink in his armour. "You will be surprised. " He moved ahead.
"Thank you Menesku. " Suraco parried his attacks. "But I have had enough surprises for today. So..." He froze feeling a chill creep over his spine. Vaguely he was aware of Menesku's fist rushing at him before he whirled and fell.
"Your mind is elsewhere Suraco. "Menesku's voice was severe. "I had not expected such tardiness from you. "
Suraco flicked the blood from his broken lip feeling the hair at the base of his neck rise. "Hush Menesku. " He growled. "Do you sense that?"
Menesku froze; a sudden feeling of awe and fear seemed to grip his heart. "Yes. "He kept his voice even with an visible effort. "I think it is an battle aura. "
Suraco paled. ' I have never felt anything like it before. Is ... is that Wadjet? I...' He got up, his face pale and serious. "Are you sure Menesku?"
Menesku felt his stomach twist into nauseating coils as another wave of pure power rushed over him. Slowly he nodded his head. "Yes. "
Suraco was quiet for a while. "I have a proposition for you Menesku. "
Menesku raised an eyebrow. "Go on. "
"Between Fa Sang and us... Choose the lesser evil. "
"And you give your word not to release Seiryuu?"
"Do not be stupid Menesku. I am willing to let you kill me, but I am not ready to let Fa Sang kill me. "
"Suraco, you flatter me. "
"Hardly. I am merely choosing the lesser evil. " Suraco's eyes clouded. "Believe what you will Menesku, but here, we are the lesser evil. "
Menesku took a while to answer, sensing the force behind Suraco's argument. "Very well. " He said at last. "For now..." He bowed a little. "For now, we are allies. "
"Good. " Suraco took in a deep breath. "Lets trace the source of this strange aura. "
"I would love too Suraco, but in case you have not noticed, this place is a maze. "
Suraco gave a low whistle studying the place. "So I see. " He blinked. For a while it seemed as an image had been superimposed on another background.
' What the hell?' With a feeling of awe he touched marble columns. ' Is this an illusion?' The image flickered again and with some surprise Suraco realized that perhaps they were standing inside one great, gigantic illusion.
' Can this even be possible? Fa Sang will never cease to amaze me. But who is maintaining this illusion. Wadjet?' The image flickered again; the miniscule change did not miss Suraco's eyes. ' An illusionist need to concentrate his entire mind on the illusion, if his mind wanders, then the world of lies he weaves will fail. Whoever created this is now unable to focus his entire attention on this, which is why the illusion is failing.' His lips curved into a satisfied smile. ' The changes are not so evident to the untrained eye, but to one who knows, its sticks out like a sore thumb. I may not be strong enough to dispel the illusion, but I think I can weave my way out of it. '
Menesku watched Suraco stare intently at the wall, wondering what strain of idiocy caused him to ally with the one person he would never trust. He shook his head. ' Perhaps, it is because I know Suraco cannot be trusted, is why I trust him. I suppose this is called a paradox. '
Suraco turned at him, tossing a glass vial in his direction, which he caught with practiced ease.
"Drink. " His voice was businesslike.
"What is it?"
"Medicine. "
Menesku turned the vial over in his hand.
"Now, now Menesku, I know Sotisku's medicine look horrible and taste even worse, but take it from one who knows, it works. "
With a sigh Menesku downed the fluid. It burned its throat as it made its way to his stomach but he felt strength flood his veins and the persistent throbbing of his wounds cease. Sotisku's fame as an unparalleled healer was certainly not exaggerated. If only...
"Lets go. "
Suraco nodded. "Follow me closely. "
OoO
Frankly Menesku felt a little bewildered. Suraco seemed to be leading him straight through walls and dead ends. It was not his nature to seek enlightenment out of Suraco, who he pictured nearly at the very top of his Must Kill list, but Suraco had spared him from that embarrassment. His voice had been sharp and prosaic.
' This is not a maze Menesku. Rather, it is an illusion, an image superimposed on another ... Just trust in my skills...'
Menesku snorted. ' Ha! Easier said than done.'
The aura that he felt earlier was nearer now and the air around him practically sizzled with power. For a while Menesku paused wondering whether even with his and Suraco's combined strength would they be any match for their unknown adversary?
They paused in front of a large arched doorway.
Suraco let out a large breath. "Shall we?"
Menesku nodded. "After you Suraco. "
"No, I insist. After you. "
"Coward. "
"Whatever you say."
The end of Menesku's lips twitched. "Very well. " He put a foot inside, consciously keeping his face impassive.
They found themselves in a large hall, their footsteps echoed from the vaulted ceilings and the marble columns that held it up. Torches lined the ornamented walls, their flickering lights casting sharp angular shadows, hardly doing anything to dilute the darkness that surrounded them. There was a single stone throne in the middle of the room and a lone figure sat on it...
"Shizimi..." Menesku hissed.
"You ... know him?" Suraco was surprised at the sudden heat in Menesku's voice. It was quite unlike Menesku to betray his emotions.
Shizimi sat casually on the throne with a simple regal grace, which made it seem that he was meant to occupy that position. The darkness clung to his body like a loving maiden, engulfing him in her velvety arms, kissing his face and shading his eyes from the rest of the world like a jealous lover.
Menesku saw the edges of his mouth curve upwards in a smile that was decidedly mocking. He leaned forwards shrugging off the cloak of darkness letting the yellow light dance on his face. Menesku was surprised to see shoulder length black hair frame his face.
' But ... wasn't his hair purple? I suppose that it was a disguise.'
That coupled with his strangely sharp hawk like black eyes presented a profile, which, Menesku found was disturbingly familiar.
' Damn it. I think the light is playing tricks on my eyes.'
His eyes fell on the sword that was spread casually over his lap ... he was unfamiliar with the design of the sword, he had yet to see a sword that was as long as a nagitana, yet it blade was flat, and the light dancing on the iridescent material showed that it was dual edged. Come to think of it he wasn't familiar with the material of the blade as well.
Shizimi's grip on the hilt of the sword was casual, almost bored, a simple cotton tunic covering his sinewy body, his lack of armour almost mocked Menesku's skill as a warrior. He chuckled, a low silky sound that was at once mocking and amused and gave only the barest hint of the true predatory nature of the man who sat before them.
"Menesku..." His voice was silky. "So you killed Freya ... I might have some use of you. " The mocking eye turned at Suraco. "And who are you?"
Suraco met his eyes squarely, tutoring his green eyes not to betray the trepidation he felt. "I am Suraco."
"Suraco. " He mused. "Hmm ...You are amongst the others. "
"Yes. Whatever that means. "
He laughed, a rich mirthless sound. "You amuse me ... Suraco. I believe you have left your precious comrade with Wadjet. "
Menesku noticed the infinitesimal stiffening of Suraco's shoulders. Apparently, it had not escaped Shizimi's bored eyes.
"You are worried Suraco. You should be. Wadjet is not known for his mercy. "
Suraco paled.
He continued. "Well, let us see whether the fearsome reputation of the Dragon of Kutou holds true. " He stood up casually holding his sword of his shoulders. "However, that can wait. Right now I am hoping that you two can alleviate my boredom. "
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Keep Reading!
Please Review!