Back to the other half of the Story. Enjoy It.

Chapter Eight

Takeshi looked longingly out the window of the room his father had given him. He had talked with him for over three hours while he laid out the terms of 'living here' as he had put it. Takeshi found this to be more of an imprisonment than anything else. Takeshi alone of the pair was allowed to wander the castle while Masami was confined to Cynder's quarters. Takeshi had guessed that this was for the express purpose of keeping the two of them apart as well as keeping an eye on her. He could easily see the brilliance behind it, it gave Lethek a large amount of control over Takeshi and he had no wish of harming her on his account. He looked back at the door and noticed Lethek standing there.

He was looking at Takeshi with something like wonder in his eyes. Takeshi didn't like the stare it made him feel uncomfortable so he looked back out the window. He felt his father move next to him and tried to avoid looking at him. This was hard to do owing to the fact that he was staring at Takeshi at close quarters. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw his father turn to look out of the window. He spoke to Takeshi, "Quite a marvelous view from here is it not?" Takeshi looked at his father so fast he cricked his neck; the change in his voice was so vastly different that it was unnerving.

His voice was no longer cruel and hard but soft and strong, gone was the cold bite and it was replaced by warmth. Takeshi didn't know what to think; judging from what he had gathered from past accounts from Spyro; Lethek could polymorph everything about himself including his voice. Could this be some sort of trick to catch Takeshi off guard? He continued to stare and he noticed something, the Black blade, Chaos Bringer, was not with him. Could the sword have something to do with the evil within him? Lethek smiled wider and continued to look out the window and he eventually said, "I hope to train you tomorrow, I hope you will be ready." Takeshi felt the hopefulness drain from him, it was as he feared; Lethek was simply trying to get Takeshi to warm up to him.

This would of course make it easier for him to control Takeshi and from where Takeshi was standing he would rather have eaten his own tail than play along. But as he reasoned he needed to in order to buy enough time to plan an escape to that end he said, "Yes, I know you are hoping to and I shall be prepared." Lethek smiled and looked at his son and said, "I certainly hope so we wouldn't want you to be killed in the first training session." Takeshi felt slightly alarmed at this news so he asked, "Is that likely to happen?!" Lethek laughed, His laugh was strong and warm but it was unnerving, hours before it had been Cruel and cold and knowing that Lethek wasn't really amused he preferred the latter. Lethek looked at Takeshi who shuddered beneath the stare; Lethek answered, "Not if you don't seriously commit yourself. I won't be holding back." Takeshi knew he wasn't bluffing and merely nodded, unable to speak. Lethek turned to leave and said as he reached the door, "I have given you a slave for all of your needs. Call him and tell him what you need."

He bellowed out the door, "Slave, enter!" A Young one entered the room; his eyes were blank as he looked unblinkingly forwards. Takeshi felt his anger growing as he watched Lethek looking into the young ones eyes while muttering instructions to him. Takeshi was unsure the child could here him, those eyes made one think he had no mind or will of his own. Lethek stopped and stood his paw on the little ones shoulder and said, "I am sure he will prove useful, perhaps just as useful as I found him." The young one turned its paw over and revealed a healing cut down the middle of it. Lethek smiled and said, "It was by this young ones blood that I was reborn, a fitting reward don't you think?" Takeshi felt anger boiling inside him but he mastered himself with difficulty and managed a curt nod. It was indeed the best thing to do keeping his father happy, he had no idea just how angry he could be and had no desire to.

Lethek turned and left while the boy knelt before Takeshi his head bowed. Takeshi tried to pull him to his feet but it was like trying to bend steel after being severely weak for a long while. All his efforts where unsuccessful and in the end he gave up. He looked at the young one and asked, "Can you hear me?" The slave looked up and nodded, Takeshi scratched his head and asked, "Can you speak?" The slave answered, "Yes Master, I can." The voice was young but it was a flat tone with no emotion in it at all. Takeshi shivered and tried to suppress unpleasant thoughts about Masami sounding like that. He asked the boy "Is there any library here?" The boy nodded and asked, "Would Master like me to show him the library?"

Takeshi was slightly tempted by the offer but he needed to rest for his first lesson that would start tomorrow. He shook his head and said, "No I am afraid not tonight, I must sleep." The young one nodded and said, "Then I shall leave Master alone." Before he left Takeshi asked, "Do you have a name?" The boy nodded but as he didn't say anything Takeshi asked, "Can you tell me what it is?" The book shook his head but said, "Master may call me what he wishes." Takeshi thought for a moment and said at last, "Then I shall call you Nicolas." Nicolas nodded and then left while Takeshi lay down to sleep.

Masami meanwhile sat in Cynder's room. As Masami looked around at the very comfortable room she heard the door open. Turning to see who it was she felt her hopes slide as Cynder entered the room. Cynder smiled and said, "I have conversed with Lethek and he has said that the two of you, that is you and Takeshi, are not to be permitted near each other unless either of us are there." Masami had expected that but it still came as a blow. She had hoped to be able to see and speak to him but now it seemed unlikely that it would happen. Masami looked back out her window at the night sky, she was happy that at least the stars shined the same as before.

Cynder sat down on the bed next to Masami and looked at her, Masami didn't look back she couldn't stand to she the darkness that dwelled in the eyes she knew so much. She hard no choice when Cynder put her paw on the side of Masami's face and turned it to look at her. Masami was surprised to see affection rather than anger in her eyes. Cynder snarled when she saw her own eyes reflected in Masami's. Masami looked alarmed when Cynder stood up suddenly and leaned over the fire place. Masami heard her growl, "I don't want to feel these emotions, and I don't want these memories!" And without warning she screamed in pain as she doubled over. Suddenly Lethek came through the door and put his paw against her back.

He called out magic and to Masami's utter amazement as she saw her mother, the good and just mother she had known for fifteen years pulled from the evil Cynder's back. The evil Cynder stood and panted as if recovering from a run. Lethek called more magic and created an iron cage out of nowhere. He thrust the unconscious Cynder into the cage and slammed it shut while the Evil Cynder looked disdainfully down at her. "I shall never understand what it was that you saw in Spyro," she said as Lethek put the cage down on the floor. He turned to look at Evil Cynder and said, "Synder, I ask you to come with me." Synder noticed the change in her name but made no comment but followed him out of the room.

Before he left he said to Masami, "These are your quarters now. Get some rest you are to be trained tomorrow." With that he left Masami alone. The minute the door was shut she rushed over to the cage and called, "Mother! Are you alright?!" Cynder groaned and slowly opened her eyes. Masami was relieved to see that she was fine and tried to force the bars apart but they remained firmly shut. Cynder sat up and looked at Masami with disbelief on her face as she asked in a hoarse voice. What are you doing here? In fact where is here?" Masami broke down entirely as she told her everything that had transpired.

Cynder's face grew cold when she learned what they had been forced into doing and could see no way out of it. She continued to listen until she finally said, "Shhhh, Don't fret I am sure we will get out of this. I am positive that your father is coming for us at this very moment but we have no time for talk you must rest for tomorrow." Masami hiccupped slightly and continued to gaze at her mother until she was shooed into bed. Masami could see that perhaps it could be bearable after all.

I hope you liked what I did in my Story. I would like to thank Rose for your help in this, Though I am sure you don't know how you helped. If anyone can come up with a better name For the Evil Cynder please let me know. I don't think its good but it was the best I could do at the moment.