Ch 15. A Proposition.
He laid on the small bed in the windowless dimly lit room, unsure of how long he had been there. His limbs were tied to each corner of the bed making it difficult to move, almost difficult to breath. His arms and legs had long ago gone numb. His entire body throbbed from the constant pain of the beatings he had endured. There had been no moments of peace from Shredder's men; they had him beaten, tortured, and Shredder had continuously violated him. But still he would not give into him. Shredder constantly demanded he tell him the whereabouts of his family, give into the power that constantly threaten to devour him. But still he would fight. He had told him over and over again that he would die before he gave into the demands, and he was certain Shredder would see to it that he did.
What few moments of time he did get to himself, were filled with the nightmares of the village he had seen a dozen times over. The people screaming as they were being killed, the fire lighting the night sky as homes burned down around him. Only now the nightmares had become more intense, more horrific, more...real. The people seemed to look at him and begged him not to kill them, they begged him to spare their lives and begged him to stop the onslaught. But why him? How could he had stopped it. Why was he the key? Throughout it all, he kept hearing the voice and feeling the strange evil trying to overtake him. Yet somewhere deep inside his very being, another feeling kept him strong, he continued to focus on that feeling, but it was getting dimmer, and he was getting weaker.
Shredder stared at the door to the small room that currently was being used as Leonardo's prison cell. He scowled and clenched his fist, a growing look of anger and frustration evident on his scarred face. "How can he continue to fight the power after all this time?" He wondered to himself. "For a week I've had that creature beaten and tortured and he still defies me and the Tengu." His eyes narrowed. "HOW?!" He growled and pounded his fist on the cement wall.
"Master Shredder?" Tiger Claw, along with Xever, came up behind him shaking him out of his thoughts.
"Bring that vile creature to my room." He told the mutants and walked toward the stairs that led out of the cold dark basement.
They walked into the small room, dimly lit with only a single light bulb in the corner and stared down at Leonardo. They wrinkled their noses in disgust at the odor of sex and blood lingered in the air.
As he came forward, Tiger Claw had a faint look of awe as he stared down at the beaten turtle while Xever only stared in disgust. Tiger Claw shook his head as the turtle opened one eye and looked up at him with no emotion.
"What do you want Tiger Claw, Fishface, come to have more fun?" Leo said with an exhausted voice.
"Master Shredder wants you brought to his room cub." Tiger Claw answered walking over, he began to remove the bindings that held his legs. To both Leo and Xever's surprise, he very gently lowered Leo's legs onto the mattress, wincing inwardly to himself as Leo let out a pained groan as his legs were moved for the first time in days. Tiger Claw then proceeded to release his arms. He took a canteen he had from his belt and aided Leo in slowly sitting up so he could have a drink of the cool refreshing water.
"Why do you continue to resist the power that is rightfully yours?" He asked him.
Leo looked up at the tiger through bruised eyes. "Why would I...accept...something evil...it will take...my soul?" He asked him in return, his voice hoarse and pained.
"It will be better then enduring this prison and the torture." Xever pointed out, rather sarcastically.
"Would it?" Leo was exhausted, his body felt like rubber and he leaned hard against the large tiger. The two larger mutants placed their hands under his shoulders and picked him up. They half dragged him along while he attempted to move his feet under him. They dragged him up the stairs and into a large hall, they walked for a little bit until they made their way to another staircase that led to another floor and another hall. After an exhausting walk for Leo, they finally made it to a room with a set of red double doors. Shredder's room, Leo thought. Now understood why his family had not come for him in however long he had been here, he was not even in the foot headquarters. "How long?" His asked in a voice that was weak and scratchy.
"You have been here for almost a week." Xever replied.
Leo nodded as he was brought before the double doors that opened to Shredder's room. "You need..to put some...windows ...in that room...if you're going...to have guest." He told him, choking out the words.
Tiger Claw smiled sadly at the small joke. He had to admit, deep down he did respect this turtle who continued to not only defy Shredder and fight him with everything he had, but he also continued to fight the power of the Tengu. If they were not enemies, he could see himself fighting alongside this young turtle and be proud about it. "If you just gave in." He continued. "You would have power most people only dream of."
"I'm not...most people." Leo returned. "Neither...are you...or any...mutant." Tiger Claw knew that was a stab at Shredder and his humanity, if there was any in his hateful soul. But Shredder wanted what he wanted and Tiger Claw knew this turtle was the only way he was going to get it. He also knew one did not defy Shredder once you joined his side, and the only way to get out was to die, most likely by Shredder's own hands.
Shredder stood in his room, the curtains drawn making the room darker then the outside. He stared at the Tengu mirror, thinking of the demon locked inside and the last time he had spoken with the evil entity.
Two days before:
Shredder knelt once again before the mirror and bowed his head. "Your servants awaits you my lord." Shredder gritted his teeth as he said the words, in his mind he was no ones servant, but this was necessary.
"You have my vessel, but you have not yet given him to me." The demon's face looked down at Shredder angrily.
"He still refuses to give into your power."
"I only need his soul and his willingness to accept me. I am sure you will find a way for him to give into your demands. Bring him to me."
"Why do you persist on going after someone who does not want what you have?"
"You do not have the right to question me."
"I only wish to understand. I am more then willing to accept you and all that you have to offer, but you continue to want the creature that hates you and all you stand for." He dared to look at the face. "Why?"
"You and I, Saki, have a common enemy." Smoke swelled within the mirror as a village with many people came into view. "Many years ago, when I first walked the earth, I demanded they follow me, bow to me and serve me. Those who refused, I took care of...permanently. Then one dared to fight me, stand up to me and tried to banish me."
One of Yoshi's ancestors." Shredder mused. He began to see the connection.
"Yes. He was almost successful. But he had a son, his first born whose mind and soul opened up to me and accepted the power I gave him. He allowed me to take his soul and in return, I gave him the power to create the Sword of Tengu. He thought the power would assist his village in staying safe, but he did not realize the power I gave him allowed me to destroy his village and his family, I used him to slay the villagers who defied me, which is why I named him Satsugai-sha, he is my slayer." As the demon spoke, the scene of the village went from peaceful to a fiery scene. "I sent my army to assist him, but his father and siblings escaped, and before I could go after them, the boy fought me, and won. He found a Shinto priest who was able to capture me and place me in this cold forsaken cell." The death scene faded away and once again the face of the Tengu demon appeared before Shredder.
"How could a young boy win over such power?" Shredder questioned.
"His spirit holds a secret I have yet to learn. But when he gives himself to me, he will not escape me this time. But it is HIS soul, and only HIS soul...I MUST HAVE!"
Shredder reluctantly accepted the explanation, he bowed and watched as the demon once again faded from view. He smiled evilly as he thought back on the words the demon said. He only needed the turtle's soul and willingness. Now, he had a new plan.
Present:
The knock on the door brought Shredder out of his reminiscing. "Enter." He turned and watched as Tiger Claw and Xever half dragged, half carried a bruised and beaten turtle into his quarters. They laid Leo on the carpet, a little too gently, Shredder thought. He dismissed them and walked over to Leonardo.
"Your family is not worth this, turtle." He said, his voice filled with venom. "Your rat master is not worth this torture you are going through." He bent down and lifted Leo's chin with his bare hand. "I have won, tell me where they hide and I will let you live and join my clan."
Leo opened his eyes as best he could and stared up at the monster that knelt before him. Shredder could almost feel the hate and anger rolling off the turtle as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly, Leo's mouth opened as if he wanted to say something but instead he spit in Shredder's face.
Furious, Shredder backhanded Leo and roared. "Why do you fight!?" He yelled at him. "Why do you resist a power so great?!"
"I told you Shredder." Leo laid himself back on the plush carpet and spat out blood. "I would rather die then betray my family or give into the Power of the Tengu."
Shredder smiled down at him. "You would willingly give your life so they may live?" He asked, once again kneeling before Leo. He grinned evilly as Leo weakly nodded. "Then I have a proposition for you." He sat in front of him while Leo attempted to lift his head in curiosity. "Give me your life...and I will spare theirs."
Leo narrowed his eyes and let out a weak laugh. "You take my life and you will no longer hunt my father or brothers?"
"That is the deal." Shredder looked down at him. "Of course, I could just kill you and continue to hunt down your pathetic family, but this is so much easier." He sneered.
"I don't trust you Shredder." Leo said, laying his throbbing head back down. "You kill me, you will continue to go after my family weather I give allow you to or not." He looked back up at him. "You have no honor, and you need me alive to accept the power which I will never do."
"I am not a man who makes promises lightly." Shredder told him. "When I give my word, it is kept." He stood up and walked toward the mirror and looked it over. "As for the power." He turned back toward Leo and glared down at him. "I have all I want, I can use the sword when I wear my own gantlet and the rest of the artifacts are a fine collection to keep." He grinned. "What more could anyone ask for."
Leo lifted his head and regarded the evil human. He would give anything to keep his family safe, even his life. And if Shredder truly would take his life and allow his family to live in peace, it may actually be worth it. Besides, Leo thought, he didn't know how much longer he could keep up fighting the evil want of the Tengu power, and in the end, he figured this may be the best way to get away from it. It would be honorable, to sacrifice oneself so others may live while getting away from the horrible nightmare that continued to plague him and probably would for the rest of his life.
Finally, Leo, fighting back the tears that threaten to fall, looked up at Shredder one more time. "You give me your word...that you will leave my family alone...if I allow you to take my life willingly?"
"Yoshi has taken much from me." Shredder mused. "Taking you from him permanently will be just as sweet."
Several seconds went by before Leo finally nodded his head. "Then do it." Leo said. He watched Shredder stand and walk to his desk. He heard a drawer open and saw Shredder remove a vial along with a hypodermic needle. He filled the needle with the fluid and walked back over to where Leo still laid. He grinned down at the turtle as he squirted a small amount of liquid into the air, he then jabbed the needle hard into Leonardo's arm causing Leo to grit his teeth as the needle sunk in.
Leo felt his eyes grow heavy and his heart beat loudly in his ears. His vision swam and darkness began to cloud over his mind, thoughts of his family came to him as he began to slowly lose consciousness. He began to see memories of his life play out in front of him. "I'm doing this for them." He told himself. Tears fell as one by one, faces of his loved ones flashed in his mind. "I love you." He whispered. He felt his body grow heavy and the sound of his heartbeat slow. A warm peace came over him as he slowly fell into a deep and final slumber.
Shredder stared and watched as Leo's eyes finally closed. He then stood and walked over to the door. "Tiger Claw." He called. The door opened and the large tiger walked in. "Have Bradford deliver a message." He handed him an envelope. "Then take Leonardo to Stockman's lab." Tiger Claw obediently bent down and placed the turtle over his shoulders. He was just about to turn when Shredder called him one last time. "Tiger Claw." The tiger turned back to him. "Make sure Stockman does not fail me this time." Tiger Claw bowed his head and left the darkened room, leaving Shredder alone to finalize his plans.
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Okay, before I start getting hate reviews, please be aware that there are many more chapters to this story and I really don't like character death which is why I did not make any notations of it in the summary. Also I do prefer happy endings. So stick around and see where this goes. One more thing, words in Italic are the demon's thoughts reaching out to others. In this chapter, like the third one, the demon is speaking directly to Shredder.