Chapter 23, biotches! XD Have fun with it!
-Jack Knights
Murmuring voices broke through the deafening silence, piercing his skull like a thousand needles. He groaned and instantly wished he hadn't when a fresh jolt of pain went up his jaw. He tried to breathe through his nose but almost drowned, his own blood gurgling in the back of his nostrils. He coughed and felt his ribs ache painfully. The whispering died down when they realized he'd awakened and he cracked open an eye, trying to get his bearings.
"Welcome back to the world of the living, Dagg," said a scratchy voice to his left. His eye roved to see who spoke and he felt a chill go down his spine. One of the Twinrova witches... he realized when the old hag drew near, a wicked smile on her face. "We'd thought you'd died."
I doubt you'd let me die so easily, he thought bitterly. "What do you want?" he said, trying to sound menacing, but didn't manage it.
"From you, nothing now," she continued, her smile growing wider, showing rows of jagged, decaying teeth.
"Yes, you've already told us everything we needed to know," said the second witch as she came into view. "Isn't that right sister?"
"Yes, and then some," she said and they cackled together. Dammit... I thought I'd be able to hold out longer, he thought grimly, his face contorting in anguish. "What now, did you really think you'd be able to keep your friend the Sheikah from us?"
"And now that we know it, so does he," hissed the second. As if on cue, the King of Evil walked into his vision, his polished armour barely clinking as he approached. He knelt before Dagg, lifting his face with a finger.
"You done me proud," he said approvingly. "I think you deserve a reward for all your troubles," he turned to the witches, who were whispering fiercely. "Make sure he heals properly."
"Yes, milord," the said, bowing low. Ganondorf disappeared from his sight, which was a brief repose for Dagg. Until the witches came over to him, evil smirks abound.
"He never said how long we should take, did he?" the one asked.
"No sister, he didn't," he other's eyes brightened with malicious intent. "Nor did he say by what methods."
"Then let us take our time," the hag said leering, "discovering our sire's limits."
"Yes, and let's see how far we can push past them."
Link awoke from a nightmare, a shout escaping his lips. He sat up too quickly and his head swam. What had I dreamed, he thought, mind racing, that was so horrible I screamed in pain? The Hylian thought back, but was unable to remember anything other than searing pain and horribly dark laughter. He shuddered, frightened to sleep, lest the dreams come back. He looked around him, surprised that he couldn't see anything. He remembered being in Trex's workshop and as his eyes adjusted, he realized it to be true.
A lingering part of the nightmare slipped into his mind again and he shook. What's become of me? Why am I so disturbed by these dreams? he wondered as he rested his head in his hands, closing his eyes. His forehead brushed against something cold and metallic, startling him. He opened his eyes and looked at his hands. My hands... I have two hands now, he realized, a brief wave of joy passed over him as he clenched his fists simultaneously. He experimented with his new hand, discovering that he couldn't move his fingers separately, like Trex had said, but as he rotated his new wrist, he discovered that writing might not be so difficult after all.
He studied his new hand—no, his new arm in the darkness. What light there was glinted off the edges of the steel, defining the outline off the plates. They were bigger than he'd expected, and the joint at his elbow was exposed, a combination of wiring and reinforced bone showing in between the metal. He grimaced at it, wondering if he'd feel any pain if he touched it.
He decided not to try.
Link found that whenever he moved his arm, he couldn't really tell just how far it went. He couldn't see, so the movements might have been exaggerated or slow. It was odd, because he could sort of see it moving, but he couldn't feel it. Likewise, when he touched it, he only felt smooth metal below his fingers; he felt nothing touching his arm. I guess I should have expected as much. It's not alive, of course I can't feel anything from it.
Suddenly tired, he lay back down, feeling the metal of his arm touch cool his side through the gown. It soothed him somehow and he eventually lulled back to sleep, despite the terrible dreams that might await him.
In his half-sleep, Link heard glass breaking. In the back of his mind he worried that someone might get cut, but he couldn't bring himself to care. The floor above him creaked and he sat up, annoyed that he'd woken up yet again. At least those other times it was the nightmares, he thought bitterly. He sat up and rand both his hands through his hair, reveling in finally being able to. He stood, deciding that he'd slept enough and fumbled around in the dark for a light. He eventually found the switch near the door, along with his clothes and a new pair of gloves.
Might as well see what everyone else is doing, he mused as he pulled on his clothes with ease. It's like I never lost my hand, he smiled as he pulled on his pants. There was a second crash, much louder this time and a heavy thud. What's going on up there? he thought as he put on the gloves, which were dark gray and silky smooth. As he was buttoning up his shirt, he heard a scream, startling him. He grew even more frightened when the scream suddenly cut off. He tied on his headband and flipped the switch, plunging the room in darkness.
He slowly opened the door and looked out into the small kitchen. It was dark as pitch, and he crept around the corner, going to the stairs. He was doing fine until he stepped on a loose floorboard and it squeaked loudly. Link stopped, tense as he listened for movement. When he heard none, he continued, looking into the first room. It was empty and he looked into Sheik's. Empty again... where is everyone? He slunk into his room, which was void of life as well.
That was when Link saw the line of light shining through the space underneath the door to Jaz's room. He inched toward the door, putting his ear against it as he watched a shadow pass in front of the light. He heard fierce whispering and Jaz murmured, frightened. Turning the handle very slowly, he cracked open the door and looked inside. Jaz was sitting on her bed, looking at her hands, which were in her lap. Two men, clad in dark clothing were in front of her, their backs to the door. One of them had a knife.
"Where is he?" said the man with the knife. "Tell us where you're hiding him or we'll kill you."
"I... you'd kill me anyway," she said as she glared at them. Link felt a surge of anger when he saw the red mark on her face; they'd hit her.
"True," said the other man. "But we'd do it quickly if you'd tell us. You of all people should know how long we can prolong someone's death."
"Just think back to your traitorous parents," he leered and her eyes widened in surprise, which quickly turned to hatred. Jaz jumped at the unarmed man, snarling. The man with the knife grabbed her by the hair and put the dagger to her throat. "Don't do anything rash, me dear. I'm afraid my hand's not as steady as it used to be," he added, pricking her skin, a rivulet of blood going down her slender neck. He threw her down onto the bed, where she continued keep her silence.
"Where is he, girl?" the one who'd been attacked asked her, his patience running thin. :Tell us now!"
"I don't know where he went," she spat angrily. "He was here yesterday and now he's gone!"
"You know what I think," he man with the knife muttered as he leaned closer to her., grabbing her under the chin. "I think you're a lying slut. You got in his pants and now you think he'll love you, take care of you, give you everything you want, right? Reality check, sweetie, you ain't getting nothing after we're through with you."
"We'll have to take her with us then," said the unarmed one. "Let Ganondorf's witches have their way with her."
Jaz's eyes widened in fear and they laughed cruelly. Her eyes drifted to the door and when she spotted him, she tried to Link to go away by shaking her head. The kidnappers saw her and laughed harder; they thought she was begging for her life. The one with the dagger, obviously a loose canon, leered at her lustfully.
"I say we have a little fun with her before the Twinrova wreck her for good," he said, eying Jaz like a piece of meat. "She'll be no use then, just another discarded husk of a person."
"You could have your way with her afterwards anyway," suggested the other man. "It's not like she'll be dead. Just... soulless."
"Yeah, but it's more fun when they fight back," he sneered, grabbing her by waist, pulling her closer to his body. "Scream for me, honey."
"Don't you touch her!" Link shouted unable to take any more of their brutality. He kicked open the door and struck out at the one watching his friend grope Jaz, hitting him under the jaw. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious. He turned to the one molesting Jaz and drew back his fist. The kidnapper pulled Jaz in front of him, using her as a shield. Link faltered and the man laughed.
"So, have you been using this guy too?" he jibed. "Poor bastard, wonder if he realized you were such a whore," he said, licking her in the ear. She tried to pull away and Link advanced. The man putt the dagger to her neck again, raising an eyebrow at Link, daring him to try. "You won't even try to hit me? What a waste of a man. I think I'll make you watch as I rape your girlfriend."
Jaz stood on his foot, putting all her weight on it. He shouted a slew of profanities and threw her aside where she hit her head against the wall. Link threw his right fist forward, hoping it would make contact. The man held out a hand and stopped it before it could hit his face. Surprised, Link shout his other fist forward, only to have it stopped midway as well.
"As I said, what a waste of a man," he sneered, putting squeezing Link's hands with his own. He shouted in pain, glaring at the kidnapper. Acting on impulse, Link pulled his arms back, throwing the man off balance. As he stepped forward, Link brought his knee up into the man's crotch. The man paled, his eyes widening in pain as he fell to the floor, gasping for breath.
"Better to be a waste than not even qualify," Link snapped, kicking the man in the stomach. The front door opened then closed, and Trex called up to them as Sheik's quick steps bounded up the stairs.
"Hey, Jaz, you'll never believe who I saw at the pub," he began, then stopped short when he saw the kidnappers lying on the floor, groaning, as Link went to Jaz and looked her over. "What in Din's name happened here?"
"I woke up and heard a noise," Link explained. "They had her cornered up here."
"Well, well, if it isn't the young rogue," said the man clutching himself. "Long time no see."
"I see you haven't aged a day since the last time we met, Carlisle," Sheik said, all playfulness dead in his voice. "I thought I'd killed you back in the Citadel."
"Ganondorf has ways of keeping the dead alive," he wheezed, grinning broadly. "You should have never left. The things he can teach you—"
"He's an abomination who's twisted our people into tools of war!" he spat, lashing out at the man. Link managed to rouse Jaz, who had a large bump on the side of her head. Our people? Does that mean those two are also Sheikah? He turned and looked at the men, both of whom had red eyes and blonde hair. I thought he'd said he was the last one, he gazed up at the fuming Sheik.
"Let's tie them up and see what they know," Link suggested as Trex walked in the door. She merely sighed and instantly left, puzzling Link. He helped Jaz out of the room and onto his bed, where she lay down, resting. "Sheik, let's get a move on," he said when he saw the Sheikah standing still.
"There's no need," he muttered, looking down at the kidnappers. Link nearly gasped in surprise, their bodies were rapidly aging, already turning to dust. "They wouldn't have told us anything anyway. Sheikah are commited to keeping secrets secret. Besides, if Ganondorf had them under his command," he indicated their disintegrating bodies. He walked out the room, silently raging. Link followed after him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Why were those men after Jaz?" he asked. Although I think I know why... he grimaced. But how did they find out about me? Everyone who knew me is dead...
"They weren't after her," he said, going down the stairs. "They were after me."
"What?" Link said, astounded and confused. "What would they want with you?"
"I'm a traitor to my own kind," he muttered. "They were no doubt here for revenge. And now that those two found me, others will come. Trex and Jaz are in danger, again, and it's all my fault."
"You couldn't have known they'd come after you."
"Still, I should have known," he said through gritted teeth. "Now, we'll have to leave and Trex will have to relocate, yet again."
He went into the sitting room and fell into a chair, putting his head into his hands guiltily. Link sat opposite him, waiting patiently for the other man to speak. Trex came back from the kitchen, carrying—surprisingly enough—a cup of tea. She handed it to Sheik wordlessly and he accepted it without qualm. After a few minutes, Link grew restless, him new arm aching.
"Sheik, is this why you left the last time?" Trex asked quietly.
"Yes," he said miserably. "And it's why I'll have to go soon."
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "You ain't going nowhere, not until you explain yourself."