Alicia hadn't yet been able to find a sword, let alone anything else that would make as effective a weapon as a blade. She did however hold a torch, knowing it's metal hide would make an effective tool to attempt to bludgeon an attacker with it. However there lie a problem in using the torch in so crude a manner, the least of which being getting close enough to her attacker to use it. Alicia also wondered if she had the strength to beat someone to death with the torch, wondered and worried if she had the nerve to kill anyone that wasn't an actual monster.
Not that she had ever killed even that kind of creature before. All her years of practicing with a blade, and Alicia had yet to do more than slice up a wooden dummy. She had been hard pressed to find real opponents at the castle. The servants had been as disapproving as her father, thinking it wrong for their princess to pick up a sword, let alone use it effectively.
There had been only one guard that had deigned to practice with her. And he had quickly been fired, Barbarossa's wrath coming down on him. Alicia never found out for certain what had happened to the guard. She just knew he had disappeared from the castle, without even saying good-bye to her. Alicia didn't have any good feelings where the fate of the guard was concerned. She knew her father had wanted to keep secret the fact of his daughter's continued existence. Alicia hoped King Barbarossa had simply bribe the guard into silence with bags of gold, but a part of her wasn't nearly that believing of her father's ability to be generous.
"Alicia..." Lenneth''s voice was weak, the Goddess still not entirely recovered from her earlier feat of strength. "Stay alert." Alicia could have blushed, realizing the Goddess was aware of how her thoughts had started to wander. Now was not the time to think about the guard, to think about anything but their situation at hand. Alicia knew she was purposefully letting her mind drift, so as not to focus on the sheer terror she was feeling. The terror born of the unknown, fear festering within her from the moment they had awakened, chained to a bed.
They still did not know just who had taken them captive. Or for what reason. The fact that Alicia hadn't awakened in the dungeons did not reassure her, the girl's mind leaping to wild conclusions as to the purpose behind leaving her in so comfortable a bed. She wasn't entirely naive. Alicia knew of the nature of a man and woman, left alone in a bedroom. Even worse, she knew the woman did not have to be entirely willingly for the man to get what he wanted. She couldn't imagine how that act went about happening, but just the knowledge of being forced was enough to send chills down Alicia's spine.
She was pleased the trembles her body was doing didn't extend to the hand that held the torch. No one save Lenneth would know of her fear stricken state, provided they didn't brush up against her. For if they touched her, they would feel it, the slight shaking her thin body was doing.
Her every step was uncertain, Alicia taking care not to make too much sound as she crept through the building. Occasionally there was a window, cut into the stone foundation of the building. It allowed her to see just how high up they were, the building a spiraling tower with a windmill attached to it. A forest was spread out around the buildings, extending as far as the eye could see. Alicia had no idea just where they were, not recognizing the building, and spying no other defining landmarks.
Lenneth hadn't known either, though her voice had been certain as she deduced they were no longer near Solde. Nor did the Goddess think they were near Dipan territory, knowing of no forest as large as this one to exist in that kingdom. None of this helped reassure Alicia, leaving the princess only certain of one thing. They were a long way from home, a long way from anything they had ever known.
But they would have to worry about the problem of returning to familiar lands at a later date and time. For when, IF, they got free of this tower. Alicia had been walking for what felt like hours now, the corridors a confusing mess that did not often reveal the staircases needed to traverse down to the lower levels. Often, Alicia had to travel the entire length of one floor, before she could find the stairs that would allow her to descend to the next level.
They had yet to see anyone. Or hear a betraying sound of someone other than Alicia moving about this tower. The quiet only served to agitate Alicia further, lending eeriness to an already frightening situation. Who was it who had taken them? And why did they not show themselves? Surely by now they had discovered the room empty, the chains pulled free of their fastenings. And yet no alarms had been sounded, Alicia free to move about the tower unimpeded.
The remains of the chains were wrapped around Alicia's arms. She hadn't been able to get free of the manacles that were welded shut around her wrists. She hated the chains, hated the reminder they gave her, and the cold feel of their metal not dulled by her sleeves. She had to move extra slow and careful to keep the chains from rattling constantly.
"Alicia..." Lenneth again. She didn't sound any stronger, much to Alicia's disappointment. "Be careful...I sense we are approaching a power..."
"Power?" whispered Alicia, her stomach dropping in unease. She didn't dare believe the power Lenneth sensed meant anything good for them. "What should we do?"
A hesitation from the Goddess showed Lenneth was just as uncertain as Alicia. "Go forward but slowly..." Came her advice. It seemed the only option, they would never get through the tower if they constantly backtracked their steps.
Just as hesitant and uncertain as Lenneth was, Alicia continued along the corridor. The heavy rugs helped muffle her footsteps, Alicia creeping forward at a snail's crawl. She stayed pressed against the stone walls, trying to stay hidden in the shadows. Trying to ignore the wet feel of moss that grew from between the cracks in the stone, and the stains of a liquid that had to be recently spilled blood.
The hair on the back of her neck was rising by the time they came across a slightly opened door. Light filtered into the hall through the open crack, stronger than what the torch could provide them. Alicia paused, wondering if the person who had captured them was inside that room. She didn't want to find out, the urge to flee stronger within her the closer she got to the room.
"It is a warding spell." Lenneth suddenly announced. Alicia didn't dare voice her thoughts out loud, fearing she would be overheard. "Whatever is in that room, it's keeper doesn't want us to see."
Alicia thought their captor could keep his secrets to himself. She had no desire to look into that room, and Alicia didn't care if it was a spell that was making her feel this way. She stayed frozen in place, Lenneth having to urge her onwards. If the Goddess was suffering the same fear and uncertainties as Alicia, she didn't show it. In fact she could feel Lenneth peering out through her eyes, looking around with avid interest.
Alicia didn't want to see. She didn't want to go any closer to the door, wanted to run past it as fast as possible. But her gaze was turning, Lenneth's curiosity forcing them both towards the door's opening. Alicia started to make the slightest whimper of sound, protesting what Lenneth was attempting to do. And then her eyes focused on the room, Alicia not quite able to stifle the gasp that came out of her mouth.
It was a workshop of some kind. Large. With stone slabs that held covered objects on them, and a wooden desk that was cluttered with books, papers, and vials. There was blood pooling on the floor, originating from one of the covered objects on one of the stone slabs. Alicia would shudder to see it, the smell making her want to vomit.
But it was not the blood that held the Goddess' attention. Or Alicia's, once she properly understood what she was looking at. It was a statue, made out of luminescent pearl. Slightly larger than a person, the statue's back was to the door. Great wings sprouted from the statue's back, each and every feather carved in intricate detail. As was the folds of the dress the statue wore, and the individual strands of it's hair.
Even without seeing the front, Alicia had known a great deal of loving care had been taken in the crafting of this statue. She noted the hair was bound back in loose braided fashion, reaching down past the statue's hips. It wasn't a style of hair that many women wore in this day and age, but it was familiar to Alicia. Without even realizing it, she was pushing open the door, stepping inside the room.
Somehow she ignored the slabs, stepping cautiously past the blood on the floor. Her attention was for the statue, growing dread within Alicia and Lenneth both. She kept on clutching her torch, Alicia walking around the statue so she could view it's front. And then she gasped even louder, seeing the beautiful face, the ethereal loveliness that could only be attributed to a divine being.
Sapphires had been placed where the eyes should have been. The only bit of color in an otherwise pale statue. The elegant cheekbones, the full, sensual lips. The somewhat sad smile. Alicia recognized them all. It was a divine being, but not just any God. It was the Goddess that resided within her, Alicia having seen what Lenneth looked like only in her dreams.
It was shocking and frightening to think someone else knew what the Goddess actually looked like. It played into Alicia's fears that they were in fact captured by an emissary of Odin's. But Lenneth had yet to sense any divine energies. That surely hinted that whoever had abducted them was mortal. But it didn't reassure Alicia, because the statue was proof that their captor knew about Lenneth.
What did they want with the Goddess? Alicia did not know, and her fear made her shake all the more violently. Even less reassuring was the displeasure coming off of Lenneth, the Goddess hardly pleased by the statue.
"Lenneth. We should go." Alicia decided. "We should go now." She wasn't waiting for Lenneth's agreement, backing up from the statue. It frightened her, even more than the blood did, Alicia swallowing down a hysterical scream.
"Wait!" Lenneth's demand was not what Alicia wanted to hear, the princess still trying to get her legs to obey her enough to go running from the room. Lenneth wasn't trying to take control of the body, it was merely Alicia's own terror that was making it difficult for the princess to move.
"Look around." Lenneth told her. "There may be some clues as to what this all means..." Alicia tried to shake her head no, not trusting her voice to speak. Lenneth did not lose her patient tone. "Alicia, I need to know. Need to know why that statue is here and in my likeness. I need to know who has taken us, what they hope to accomplish in bringing us here..."
"C...can't it wait till another time?" Alicia asked, but knew it was a foolish request.
"They had a reason for taking us." Lenneth told her. "We won't be safe until we know that reason...and know how to stop them from repeating this crime."
Alicia shivered, not having considered that once they escaped they would have to be on constant guard from further abduction attempts. "O...okay." But even with that agreement, it was difficult to move. Difficult not to keep staring at the statue.
Somehow, together with Lenneth, she managed. Alicia began moving towards the cluttered desk, leery of the vials that lay scattered next to the books. Some of the liquids in the vial glowed, a bright, fierce green. Alicia took care not to touch the vials, instead peering at one of the books. The book was opened, messy handwriting scrawled next to the printed words on it's pages. Alicia could feel Lenneth's disappointment that the book did not reveal anything more than details about some unholy spell.
"Necromancy." Lenneth hissed in Alicia's mind. "We are dealing with a defiler of the dead."
"Is that what is on the slabs?" Alicia asked, though she had a good feeling she already knew of the answer. "Dead bodies?"
"Most likely, yes." Lenneth agreed. She had already turned her attention to one of the other books, but the Goddess would only be rewarded with more frustration. "These tell me nothing of what I want to know!"
"Then let's just leave." Alicia begged her. "Please?"
"Courage Alicia." Lenneth advised her, but didn't try to stop Alicia from turning away from the desk. She felt the Goddess looking about the room, felt her lips turn down in a frown. Lenneth was displeased with what she was seeing, but Alicia could only feel the urgency mounting within her own self. She knew they had to leave, and they had to do it now. They couldn't afford any more delays, not even to quell the curiosity Lenneth was feeling.
There was a dagger laying on one of the stone slabs. Lenneth called Alicia's attention to it, urging her towards it. "It might prove the better weapon than the torch." Lenneth reasoned.
Alicia had some experience fighting with a dagger. She made a much better swordswoman though, preferring the long length of a sword's blade, to the short one of dagger. Compounding the problem was the fact that this particular dagger already had blood on it, dried remains that hinted at whatever dark purpose it had been used for. Alicia didn't want to touch the dagger, fearing that the malice of whatever spell it had been used for, would transfer onto her.
She was still staring at the dagger when they heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Whoever it was, wasn't trying to be quiet, openly stalking towards them. "Quickly Alicia!" urged Lenneth, and Alicia's fingers closed around the dagger's hilt. She was moving into reacting, hurrying towards the door. When the door began to open more fully, Alicia lashed out with the dagger. She heard fabric rip, and a startled man's voice cry out.
"Hey now!"
She didn't pause, pulling back the dagger only to attempt to bring down the torch in a movement meant to knock the man unconscious. But the torch never connected with his head, the man at the last second put up his arm. It blocked the blow, some of the torch's flames transferring to the cloak over his arm. The flames licked eagerly at the cloak, the man shouting out a commanding word.
"Extinguish!"
The torch and the flames immediately went out, but the cloak was already damaged where they had touched. Alicia didn't pause to gape and stare, instead swinging the torch about wildly. She meant to distract the man with the torch, all the while plotting to sink her dagger into him the instant he left one of his sides unprotected. But he wasn't that easy to distract, the man crying out another spell.
"Flash!"
A bright light exploded before Alicia's face, her eyes blinded by it. Even Lenneth cried out, the Goddess no more able to see than Alicia. Alicia didn't drop the torch, bringing it and her arm up to shield her eyes from the light. Her other hand which held the dagger, continued to lash out, wildly seeking a target. Something heavy would crash into her, Alicia falling over backwards. She'd hear the clatter of the dagger on the floor, realizing she had let go of it during the fall.
The impact of the stone floor against her back expelled a breath from her. Alicia still held the torch, and she flailed wildly with the metal. Something knocked the torch free of her hand, Alicia crying out a no as weight settled on top of her. She was still blinded by the light spell, but could feel that it was the man that was sitting on top of her. Straddling her legs, as his hands grabbed her by both her wrists.
"NO!" Alicia cried out in panic, as her hands were forced to the floor, held above her head. She continued to panic, and even Lenneth's attempts to calm her were not working. Alicia began bucking her body, trying to rise up off the floor and knock the man off of her.
"Stop it!" The man snapped out in a terse tone of voice. "Struggling will get you nowhere!"
His words only furthered Alicia's attempts to get free, the princess just short of screaming. "You..." The man shifted, one of her hands being freed so he could cover her mouth. She smelled the leather of his glove, tasted the magical discharge of his spells on her tongue. She screamed this time for real, the gloved hand muffling the sounds. Alicia took advantage that one hand was free to began beating him wherever she could reach. From the feel of things, she was hitting his shoulder which was hardly an ideal target.
She continued to strain, even as the man pressed his full weight on her. Alicia could hear him hissing, could faintly hear Lenneth advising her of something.
"Hold still and bide our time Alicia. Let him think we are completely at his mercy..."
Alicia almost sobbed then, thinking Lenneth deluded. There was no need to fool this man into thinking they were helpless, because they truly were. Helpless and at his mercy, and all too quick to submit to whatever nefarious purpose he had brought them here for. She continued to struggle, determined not to go to her fate quietly and meek.
"Alicia!"
"Hold still, will you?" The man sounded as exasperated as Lenneth now did. "We do not have time for your hysterics..."
Apparently Lenneth agreed, for the Goddess was seizing control of Alicia's body. It wasn't an easy or effortless task, the Goddess still greatly drained from her earlier display of powers. Alicia continued to scream inside Lenneth's mind, scrabbling to wrest control back of the body they shared. But Lenneth wasn't giving up, ignoring Alicia's attempts as she allowed their body to relax beneath the man.
"That's better..." The man said in approval, but he didn't relax completely. "If I remove my hand, you have to promise not to scream."
"Don't promise him anything!" Screamed Alicia. It was a protest Lenneth chose to ignore, slowly nodding a yes with her head. The man sighed, and his hand fell away from her mouth, Lenneth taking in a deeper breath of air.
"Remember...you promised." The man said warily, but made no move to shift off of them.
"That I did." Lenneth agreed. It wasn't that she wanted to adhere to any promises, especially to the one who had kidnapped them. But she knew screaming would serve little purpose in the long run. They needed to conserve their energies for a fight, for the first chance they got to attack this man. "You have a purpose in bringing me here. You will tell me that reason."
She and Alicia were still blinded by the man's earlier flash spell. But already around the edges of her vision, she could make out some colors. It would take a few seconds more, maybe even minutes, but their vision would return to normal. Alicia was in such a state of panic, she couldn't take relief from Lenneth's thoughts.
"Reason?" The man repeated, sounding puzzled. "Ah...I think there has been a misunderstanding between us. I am not the master of this tower."
"Oh really?" Lenneth did not try to hide the doubt in her voice. "A servant then?"
"Hardly."
"Too powerful to be a prisoner." She quickly pointed out. Her eyes fluttered rapidly, trying to adjust as her vision began to grow stronger. She could now make out the figure of the man, though Lenneth could not make out the details of his face. He existed as a shadowy, blurred figure.
"Not powerful enough." There was a weary, almost sad note to his voice now. But Lenneth didn't trust it, anymore than she trusted the man on top of her.
"You're heavy." A none too subtle rebuke, Lenneth wanting him to get off of her and Alicia.
"Forgive me..." He moved, slow and cautious, off of her. Lenneth did not spring up immediately, keeping her eyes on the man. Her vision was almost back to normal now, she could make out his hair, which was brown in color and short.
"What did you mean, not powerful enough?" Lenneth asked. Alicia was still panicked, but nowhere near as much as she had been when the man had been on top of them.
"There is a reason I came to this tower." He told them. "A reason that I suspect ties into your reason for being here." Lenneth blinked rapidly, hoping that would help fix her vision.
"And that reason is what?" Lenneth demanded, ignoring the hand he offered her. She would stand on her own, slowly pushing up off the floor.
"My party was attacked." He began his explanation. "Nearly everyone slaughtered. Those that weren't killed were taken...for what reason I do not know."
"You have come to rescue them?" Lenneth inquired, not sure she bought his story.
"To rescue or kill the one responsible for what happened." He told her.
"An admirable goal if it's true."
"You doubt me?" He sounded affronted as he asked that of her.
"You'll pardon me for not being immediately trusting after the day I've had." Lenneth answered in a wry tone of voice. She let her chains rattle, calling his attention to them.
"Ah of course." She didn't have to see his face to know he wondered at the chains. Wondered how she had gotten free enough to move about the tower. But Lenneth wasn't forthcoming with answers for his curiosity.
"You are the first person I have seen since escaping my prison." Lenneth continued. "I have yet to see any other captives, nor have I seen our...host."
"There's nothing but monsters inhabiting the lower floors." The man told her. "I doubt they are here by chance. Something or someone is controlling them."
"But who is that someone..." Lenneth wondered, even as Alicia squeaked in alarm at the thought of having to fight past monsters to get out of this tower. She couldn't do much but send Alicia reassuring warmth, Lenneth still trying to puzzle out the mysteries behind their capture. And of this man, who she didn't trust enough to believe he was what he said he was.
"No doubt some twisted soul who has devoted his or her life to Hel's ambition." The man sounded disgusted then. If it was an act, it was good, the man sounding convincing in his disgust.
"Most likely." Lenneth agreed, The man had turned to look around the room, Lenneth bringing a hand up to rub at her eyes. When he turned back to her, her vision had finally righted itself, revealing a friendly looking face with amethyst colored eyes behind the clear panes of spectacles. But he wasn't familiar to her, or to Alicia. "Just who are you?" Was that her question, or Alicia's?
"Ah...forgive my rudeness." He apologized. "I am Lezard. Lezard Valeth." He swept out his arm, and performed a deep bow, never taking his eyes off of Alicia's face. "A mage and mercenary for hire...And you are...?"
"...Alicia..." That was all Lenneth would give him.
"Ah Lady Alicia." Lezard straightened from his bow. "I wish I could say it is a pleasure, but these circumstances are too dire for that." He sighed. "I fear for my companions...fear they are already dead. Especially after what you have told me."
"Far be it for me to suggest we abandoned your comrades...but there is an air of uneasiness about this place. Might it not be better to come back with a larger party of warriors?"
"That will take time my companions may not have." Lezard frowned. "I fear for their well being. From what I have seen, their abductor has no sense of mercy or restraint."
"Then I will help you look for them." Decided Lenneth.
"What?" shrieked Alicia in her head. The man was just as surprised as the princess.
"AH...it's a generous offer. But my lady...what can you hope to do?"
"I am no stranger to the sword." Lenneth explained. "But I don't offer my services out of the goodness of my heart."
"Of course." He hardly seemed put out by that admission of hers. "What is it that you want from me?"
"Safe escort from this tower and these lands. I know not where I am, nor do I have the money to travel back to my home." Lenneth pretended to hesitate. "And the sword you wear at your side."
"It's a hard bargain you drive." Lezard was already moving to unbuckle his sword belt. "I do hope you can live up to your side of things." Their fingers grazed each other's, when Lenneth moved to take the sword from him. It was at that instant she released her hold on the body, giving back control to Alicia. The princess was startled by the sudden change of position, nearly dropping the sword in response.
"Careful." Admonished Lezard.
"Sorry..." A flustered Alicia said, and quickly buckled the sword belt around her waist. Lenneth could feel Alicia was brimming with questions, ones she could not voice without Lezard overhearing them.
"Be at ease Alicia." Lenneth advised her. "I have gotten us a sword, an escort, and a promise to return us to our land. We are better off now than we were an hour ago." And still Alicia was nervous, her one hand resting on the hilt of her sword. She and Lenneth both watched as Lezard began exploring the workshop, the man actually moving to lift the cloth off of one of the slabs.
Alicia couldn't help but flinch, quickly turning to avert her eyes at the sight of the body that was now revealed on the slab. It was off a young woman, naked, and with shoulder length blond hair. Lezard let out a hiss, some muted curse before he quickly covered the body's nudity with the cloth. But he didn't cover the dead woman's face, his own expression dismayed as he stared at her.
Still not looking at the body, Alicia spoke the question Lenneth was urging her to ask. "Did you know her?"
"Yes. Yes...I knew her well." Came Lezard's answer. "She was one of my companions...one of my party members who was abducted..."
"I...I'm sorry." Alicia whispered.
"It's not your fault." Lezard said, then moved away from the slab. He would uncover each of the three remaining slabs, and each one held a different body on it. All were female, and all had the same coloring of the first woman. Alicia felt a chill go down her spine to realize she fit the profile of the murderer's preferred victim. Even Lenneth sounded subdued, whispering how they were fortunate they hadn't ended up on those slabs themselves.
"There's a dark purpose behind the murder of these bodies." Lezard murmured. "We must stop this fiend from killing any more women."
"Yes." Alicia and Lenenth were both in strong agreement of that.
Fire flared in Lezard's palms, the light of it reflecting on the panes of his glasses. "We cannot offer these women a proper burial at this time. But I can make it so the fiend does not further defile their bodies."
"Let him do it." Said Lenneth inside Alicia's mind. "The fire's cleansing is the only thing we can offer these women now."
"All right." Alicia said out loud. It was as though that was what Lezard had been waiting for, the mage casting the magical fire from his hands, and onto the first of the bodies. The fire would work quickly, flames eating up the defiled flesh. Alicia tried not to choke on the smell of roasting flesh, wondering who if anyone they could pray to for the souls of these women.
In the end she whispered a prayer to Lenneth, knowing if it had been possible, the Goddess herself would have taken hold of these souls. She would have seen to their safe passage to the underworld, would have given them her blessings.
Lezard did not pray, at least not out loud. He merely stood there, staring at the slab that had contained the body of his former companion. Regret was on his face. It did not match up to the hard anger in his eyes. He was angry over what had been done to his companion, and it was an anger that would propel him to seek out the one responsible for her death.
The bodies had not finished burning, and already Lezard turned away. "We mustn't delay any longer." He sounded weary, resigned to what they would have to do. Alicia began to nod her agreement, the princess eager to flee this room and the horrors it held.
"Yes, let's..." A fierce breeze suddenly stirred the flames higher, causing Alicia to gasp mid sentence. There was no windows in this room, no way to explain the sudden breeze. No normal reason for the wind, save for magic. With a shudder shaking her body, Alicia drew her sword, slowly turning in place. She saw only the shimmering of colors, reality distorting itself in one spot.
"The master of the tower reveals himself at last!" Came Lenneth's shout in her mind. Alicia found herself nodding, grip tightening on her sword. She didn't look for Lezard, but heard him begin chanting the words to a spell. It had to be a powerful one, even Alicia could feel the gathering of the magics Lezard was calling upon.
"Who dares disturb my spells?" Came an angry voice that boomed out loud enough that Alicia wanted to clap her hands over her ears. The air wavered, and with a pop of sound, the tower master appeared. He was tall but willowy as a weed, and dressed in dark gray robes. The robes weren't clean, splattered with blood and other brightly colored liquids.
He was pale, almost sickly so. With beady little eyes that seemed to flash malevolently at Alicia. She tried not to shake in fear, reminding herself that it was this man, this monster who was responsible for her being here. For her capture, and the deaths of these women.
"Meteor Swarm!" Lezard had finished his chanting, his voice raising higher as he flung the spell towards the tower master. The air in front of him shimmered again, some kind of invisible shield blocking the worse of the spell.
"That shield only works against magic!" Lenneth told her. "He'll have no protection from your blade."
"Right!" exclaimed Alicia, charging forward. Her fingers were wrapped tight around her swords' hilt, and her legs were tensing in preparation for a leap. Alicia would jump sideways, avoiding the fireball that had come close to searing her feet. She'd hit the floor, and go down to one knee but there was no time for rest. Lezard was chanting another spell, Alicia's feeling the energies gather around her, giving the princess her own protection against the tower master's spells.
"Now Alicia, now!" Alicia charged forward, knowing it took a great leap of faith on both her and Lenneth's part, to believe in the protection spell of Lezard's. The tower master continued to sling spells at Alicia, and they would hit Lezard's shield, and disperse almost immediately. But some sparks of lightning got through, the tiny zaps making Alicia grit her teeth in pain.
But she didn't stop her forward lunge, Alicia's borrowed sword slashing across the tower master's middle. The fabric of his robes opened, revealing the unprotected stomach beneath. Lenneth urged her to strike that spot again, Alicia shaking from the effects of the lightning that had danced over her skin. Only to realize seconds later it wasn't the only reason she was shaking, the floor starting to open up beneath her.
"Jump Alicia!" Lenneth ordered, and Alicia obeyed. She leapt forward, just missing the hole that had tried to take her out. The ground beneath her feet was quaking, cracks appearing all over the stone. "He's going to bring down this whole floor if he's not stopped!"
Alicia knew she couldn't allow him to do that. Even if she was afraid. Even if she had never killed anyone before. With a wild scream that was born of fear and determination, Alicia slashed her sword across the revealed waist of the tower master. She screamed a second time when blood spurted, splattering onto her and the remains of the floor.
Lezard was still chanting, even as the tower master let out a strangled sound. Blood was coughed up with that sound, the man hunching over to grasp at his stomach's wound. Alicia didn't know if she had it in her to strike another blow, almost hoping the tower master would live. If only to keep her hands clean of his death.
"Don't kill him Alicia." Lenneth's order was as puzzling as it was a relief to hear. She didn't know why the Goddess wanted this man spared, but Alicia was glad not to be the one to end his miserable life. Her sword arm began to lower, Alicia positive the fight was over with. Unfortunately no one told that to Lezard, the spell he had been chanting for the last several seconds being unleashed. It would torpedo into the wounded tower master, the man letting out an earthly shriek of pain.
"NO!" Alicia felt Lenenth's frustration in that moment, watching as their abductor slowly blew apart. His insides were disintegrated completely by the spell Lezard had let loose with. Nothing would remain of the man, just as Alicia and Lenneth would be left without the answers to the reason why they had been adducted.
TO Be Continued...
So long time no update for this fic. Which still needs a title. X_X I didn't mean to be gone so long, but I've been very hesitant about this fic. Partly cause it holds the potential to get very dark soon...and I usually don't post my darker pieces to this site. ^^;; Kinda nervous about this fic now! But then as I was trying to work on one of my other Valkyrie Profile fics, I suddenly got hit with inspiration for this one. To the point I couldn't concentrate on the other fic until I got this chapter down on paper. X_X Doesn't mean this is gonna be updated that frequently. I'm still riding the waves of inspiration for OSVP. (Another one that needs an actual title.) But I decided to take the fic back to the basics of my original idea...it's still gonna have some of what my corrupting influence pal wanted to see. But it'll take a while to get to what she wanted. XD I must say I am shocked at the feedback I got for this story. Didn't think many if any people would be interested in this idea. Kinda thought people might lynch me if I put Lezard anywhere near Alicia! :o
Michelle
Alpha Huntress, thanks. I was hoping it would be interesting to someone beside me and the friend of mine! ^^'' So many what ifs indeed, some of which may get addressed. We never did get in the game series, a clearly defined reason for what Silmeria did that was so "bad." I'm rather tempted to make it be the same offense though. X_X
LordLezardValeth, thanks! Yeah...there's several ways this can end...I'm trying not to let my fears of upsetting someone influence me into doing a lesser ending...just cause to do that would in my opnion cheapen the idea I had. But well we'll see if fears get overcome over time. X_X The changes to the orignal story are kinda overwhelming me right now...erg...*runs away from the fic.*
Kyrie, thank you. Ah..I do intend to bring at least Rufus into the story. I was hoping maybe by chapter four. *knock on wood* We shall see about Dylan. And other characters too. ^^;; Hmm...did Lenneth talk like that in the second game? I honestly don't remember. But I've always written her without the thou and other old stlye speech. I've never been able to really get into the habit of her VP 1 game speech pattern. Forgive me! Ah...I haven't described Alicia yet, but I was gonna keep her with how she looked in the game. To me, Alicia and Silmeria didn't look that alike. So it wasn't a real issue I thought of. I shall think about it, but I think over all it might be better to keep Alicia looking different from Lenneth. Can't say why, but if you know Lezard, you can probably guess without me spoiling. Thanks so much for the feedback.
Taeniaea, thanks! I'm glad you think so. :)
Walks with wheels, thank you! I am trying to! Well...this chapter probably didn't make it much clearer who captured them, but there are hints to it. I'm think the point of view planned for three will give the readers at least the answers. Lenneth and Alicia not so much.
Nessa671, sorry for the wait. ^^;;
Minaseiko1, I will try my best. Thanks!