Hi again!
Oh my god, I have so much schoolwork right now it is unreal. Not only do I have to do my entire Physics coursework by Friday instead of Monday (Everyone else's deadline...) I also have a TWENTY PAGE PLAN to write for Chemistry. I may actually scream if I hear the word "enthalpy" one more time.
My advice from this? Don't do three sciences for A2. I am slowly dying.
But you get an update anyway, and one for Promenade, because I'm masochistic like that and actually enjoy giving myself more work Oo
Hopefully the next update will be on time, but I have an interview at Oxford which requires me to stay over for a few days *nervous jitters*
Disclaimer: Do not own, do not earn. Wish I did though.
And a big, big, big thankyou to all my reviewers. I do love to know what you honestly think... I'm always looking to improve, and all I ever get from my friends is "good". Not that my friend has even read this story...
Freakyanimegal... I have a confession. I couldn't find the part you mentioned Uh, but it's... Necessary. Yes... Necessary *shifty look*
Anyhow, enjoy!
Chapter nine: Animal Instinct
The next day, the only time Forcystus actually saw Lloyd, he put something strange on his arm that made his Key Crest disappear and walked away instantly, leaving Lloyd staring at his hand in absolute confusion. His Exsphere looked exactly like those the rest of the prisoners wore… And the bangle that Forcystus had put on his wrist clacked against his Key Crest and reassured him that it was still there. He had no idea how any of it worked, nor any idea why Forcystus was doing this, but he knew he had little choice but to go along with it. The Cardinal seemed unwilling to speak to Lloyd after the discussion they had had, but he didn't dare ask any of the other Desians why. They thought it was bad enough that he was taken care of as it was.
That night, Lloyd sat in his cell, examining his hand. If he felt all the way up his arm, eventually he could feel the slight lump that was whatever Forcystus had stuck on him – it wasn't a chip, and that was all he knew, all the Forcystus had said. He didn't know what the bangle was supposed to be for, but it did belong to Forcystus, so Lloyd didn't dare take it off. If he lost it, the Cardinal may well get angry with him, and that was the last thing he wanted.
"What's happening?" He wondered aloud. So much had happened the past few days, with the visit by Yggdrasill being the thing that stuck in Lloyd's mind and scared him the most. That half-elf was… Strange. Feathers… Lloyd thought. I know I saw them. So Yggdrasill must be… An angel. He must have a Cruxis Crystal like Colette… Lloyd sighed and pushed the bangle up his arm like he had often seen Forcystus do. It didn't react at all, just brushed against his clothes, so he let it fall, listening to it clink against his Key Crest. He recognised what it was made of – Inhibitor Ore. He hadn't recognised it at first because it was worked in a strange way, and the only time he'd ever really seen it before was raw or as a Key Crest, never in any other sort of state. But, after examining it closely, Lloyd had decided that that was all it could really be. There were strange letters carved into it, in a language that Lloyd couldn't read, and he now knew that Forcystus was hiding a lot more than he had first though. And perhaps probing wouldn't be the best idea.
He had decided to leave bugging Forcystus for a chip until the current panic about Kvar was over. Not that Forcystus showed fear – he never did – but Lloyd knew it scared him. His hands had been shaking when he put the weird device on Lloyd.
On a whim, he got the Magic Lens out and held it up. Forcystus was sat in the control room working, looking slightly stressed. He had his cannon off and was typing with two hands, frowning at the screen. Lloyd noticed with slight worry that he was altering the security systems, although it was probably just for Kvar's visit…
Forcystus stopped typing with a string of curse words to look at his hands, which were shaking violently.
"…Lloyd…" He muttered under his breath, hitting the nearest available unbreakable thing – the join between two computers. "This had better be worth it…" He started to try and type again, but eventually had to break off and hold one hand in the other, trying to stop the inexplicable shaking. "…Tch… Damn…" He swore fluently and leant over, his knuckles white with his efforts.
…What's happening to him? Lloyd wondered. Forcystus made a noise of pain, but it wasn't particularly loud.
"Sir?" Lloyd heard Roy's voice.
"Gah! No, go away, I'm fine," Forcystus muttered through gritted teeth. "It'll pass. They always do." There was a pause, Lloyd presumed for Roy to give him a look, before the sound of footsteps was heard again. Forcystus' breathing was starting to become laboured. "…Kvar… You had better come quick… I need that… Bracelet back…" Forcystus murmured, going back to his computer, typing much slower due to the shaking. "…If Lord Yggdrasill comes now… I'm doomed…" He murmured, glancing up at the screen and frowning. Lloyd lowered the Lens.
What's wrong with him? He wondered. What's put him in pain? What does… This do? He held up his arm, looking at the bangle. And why did he give it to me…?
Forcystus woke Lloyd the next morning by rattling the bars of his cell. Lloyd put his hands over his ears when Forcystus ran his cannon along the bars.
"Argh… Stop it…" He protested.
"Up!" Forcystus ordered. Lloyd sleepily sat on the edge of the bed and looked at Forcystus, rubbing his eyes. "L025! Stand!" He snapped. Lloyd looked worried at that. Had he did something wrong? Forcystus never called him by number! "We have a visitor in the Ranch, and I expect you to behave accordingly!" The Desian continued.
Kvar! Lloyd realised, nodding quickly. "Yes, Lord Forcystus!" He promised. I can't screw this up. I screw this up, and I die. I WILL do this right! Forcystus nodded, regarding the monitor for a second.
"…I'm afraid I've only one explanation for why you're not doing Ranch work," he whispered. "I've had to tell Kvar… Well… That you're a pet." Lloyd had to work viciously to stop himself protesting.
"…Yes, Lord Forcystus," he murmured through gritted teeth.
"I can't put you to work; else the Exsphere's signal will be obvious to Kvar. Please, L025, play your part." He paused, tapping in a code on the lock. "If Kvar learns your name, he'll know whose son you are. I need you, just today, please, not to disobey, or make any mistakes."
"Yes, Lord Forcystus," Lloyd replied obediently. Forcystus nodded as the door slid open.
"Good. L025, come," he ordered, his voice once more at normal volume. Lloyd nodded, following as he'd said. He knew that Forcystus was taking a lot of risks for him, so the least he could do was try in return. He couldn't help but think that taking him near Kvar wasn't the best idea, though.
He just wished he had a weapon, so he could cause the Cardinal some pain for killing his mother.
"Ah, Forcystus," Kvar murmured as they approached him. "This is your little human, is it?"
"Lord Kvar," Lloyd greeted, bowing down to one knee to show respect. Over and over in his head, he was repeating kill him kill him kill him…
"This is L025," Forcystus murmured. "You can stand," he added to Lloyd, who did so. Kvar smiled in a very worrying way.
"How delightful," he remarked sarcastically. "I never thought you were the type to keep a human like that, Forcystus. Especially after…"
"Just get on with what you came here to do," Forcystus snapped before Kvar could say any more, which simply made the other Desian laugh.
"So impatient…" He remarked, glancing at the bangle on Lloyd's wrist. "I thought that was yours, Forcystus?" Forcystus said nothing, which simply made Kvar laugh harder. "Human trinkets. I will never understand why you ever wore it in the first place. Now, where do you keep your inferior beings?"
"…I will show you," Forcystus murmured, walking forwards. Lloyd followed, making sure to stay behind him. As he'd said before, walking level would make Lloyd his equal… Which he was not. Lloyd could see Forcystus' hands shaking, despite the fact that his fists were clenched. However, this time Lloyd had no way of knowing if it was anger, fear… Or whatever he had been afflicted with the night before.
Forcystus lead Kvar out into the courtyard, where most of the prisoners were working. Lloyd held back any sound of protest when he saw a young boy – the same one Forcystus had nearly killed, in fact – doing the same hard labour as the adults. Today was not the day to complain. Perhaps when Kvar was gone and Forcystus in a better mood.
"They work well," Kvar remarked, sounding slightly surprised. Forcystus made an irritated noise.
"They have been scared into it. They made the mistake of a show of defiance a week ago," he replied. "They won't stir up trouble for a while." Lloyd didn't get any glances this time, perhaps because they were too scared to look up at the two Grand Cardinals. Kvar laughed harshly. The way he clacked his staff on the floor as he walked was starting to severely irritated Lloyd, and he had actually clenched one fist, but he was being careful. He knew that the bangle clacked on his Key Crest, and it would be quite hard to explain if it actually happened in front of Kvar.
"So your humans actually rioted?" Kvar murmured. Forcystus made an irritated noise.
"It was not a riot, it was simply a disturbance. They were incited, anyway. H045, whom you refused to have back, if I remember correctly." Kvar just laughed.
"A problem case. I thought you were the ideal Cardinal for dealing with problem cases? Because you were one yourself, you know…"
"Kvar," Forcystus growled, and the other Desian chuckled again. Lloyd bowed his head, trying not to appear as interested as he was. He was also trying to fight the 'kill' urges rising in him. It was getting harder with each passing second.
Forcystus led them into the Processing Plant. Lloyd could feel Kvar giving him looks. And it was making him go red with embarrassment. Why wouldn't the Desian leave him alone? He hated the scrutiny. Forcystus never did anything of the sort, even if a few of the other Desians did. Kvar went up to Forcystus and whispered something in the other Cardinal's ear with a low chuckle, and Forcystus glared at him and hissed "Not a chance, Kvar," back. It didn't take much for Lloyd to work out that he had been the subject of the conversation. He dreaded to think what Kvar wanted with him.
What if he recognises me? Lloyd thought, horrified at the thought. What if he wants to take me back to his Ranch and extract my Exsphere and… K-kill me? Forcystus put one hand on his shoulder, as if sensing his unease, and Lloyd could feel him shaking slightly. He looked up at him, confused, but Forcystus shook his head.
"How very sweet," Kvar murmured sarcastically, making Forcystus turn and spit something insulting at him in a low voice. Lloyd winced and bowed his head, hating to be the cause of trouble. Oh, how he wanted to stab Kvar just then…
They were walking down some corridor Lloyd didn't recognise, with Forcystus talking to Kvar in a low voice, full of thinly veiled hatred, about productivity of the Ranch, when things started to go wrong. Lloyd could feel the bangle on his wrist burn suddenly, even through the cloth, and he made a small noise of shock. Forcystus, however, cried out in pain suddenly and fell back against the wall, despite nothing seeming to have happened.
"…My," Kvar remarked, glancing at Lloyd, who was rubbing his burnt wrist and looking at Forcystus in confusion.
"Lord Forcystus?" He asked. "Is something wrong, my lord?" Forcystus shook his head, getting back to his feet.
"…Nothing," he murmured. "…Forgiveness, Kvar. My Exsphere does that sometimes…" Kvar laughed.
"Oh, yes. Your Exsphere," he replied, his tone full of contempt. "The concern your little pet shows for you is truly admirable, Forcystus. Where did you manage to catch such a find?"
"Iselia," Forcystus replied, rubbing the back of his hand over his forehead to try and quell whatever pain was there. "They violated the treaty, some half-elf kid talking with an inmate. So I went to 'talk it over' with them. Got L025 as payment." Kvar laughed.
"…Wonderful…" He murmured, giving Lloyd another look which made him have to avert his eyes.
I am going to stab him so many times he is never going to have felt so much pain in his life… Lloyd reassured himself by thinking. Once he got his hands on a sword and was free of the Ranch, Kvar was walking dead. That made him feel better.
"Eyes off him. He's not yours," Forcystus spat at Kvar.
"…Such a spoilsport…" Kvar murmured. "Alright, I'll have your records and go. Clearly there was a… Mistake in the readings."
"I told you it was a malfunction. All machines make mistakes sometimes," Forcystus muttered, walking down the corridor at a faster speed. Lloyd had to hurry to keep up, and he pushed the bangle up his arm automatically, like Forcystus had often done.
Forcystus frowned when they came up to a security light.
"…Clearly my equipment malfunctions, too," he murmured, not looking happy. "They are meant to all be off. My apologies, Kvar. I'll go get the records; you can wait in the nearest room…" Lloyd looked at Forcystus frantically, not wanting to be left in the same room as Kvar for more than three seconds without a weapon.
"Certainly," Kvar murmured. "I do so hope you are… Quick." Forcystus opened the nearest room with a quick code – Lloyd made a mental note of the numbers – And Kvar walked in, grabbing Lloyd as he did so.
"Kvar!" Forcystus reprimanded. Kvar laughed.
"I thought your little pet didn't have a chip…?" He murmured. Forcystus cursed softly under his breath.
"…I won't be long," he replied.
"L-lord Forcystus!" Lloyd called as the Cardinal left, now quite worried. Kvar laughed.
"My, you are very attached to him, aren't you?" He murmured, pulling Lloyd into the room properly. Lloyd made a worried noise. This was not a situation he'd envisioned, and he was certain Forcystus hadn't planned for it either. "Forcystus is certainly quite anxious to keep hold of you, too. So selfish," Kvar continued, glancing at Lloyd's Exsphere. "He'll have to give you up in the end, of course…" Lloyd shivered at Kvar's tone of voice, wishing the Cardinal would leave him alone.
…I have never wanted a sharp object more in my whole life… Lloyd thought, thinking sadly of his swords. Even made of wood, they would still do plenty of damage if he channelled a Demon Fang through them, or a Beast. That was one technique Forcystus had taught him that he really did like, since Forcystus had let Lloyd knock him down to demonstrate its power. That had been fun.
"I never thought Forcystus would keep a pet," Kvar continued, pulling Lloyd a little closer. Lloyd could see his eyes, black with red irises. They scared him, and he made another uncomfortable noise. "He has far too many morals for that. I suppose being in charge of the Ranch for long enough has finally made him shake them off. Still, a non-aggression treaty! With inferiors like you. How foolish."
"…As you say, Lord Kvar…" Lloyd mumbled, deciding that agreeing would be the best option. I am going to kill him so painfully, I am going to break that annoying staff of his, I am going to make him suffer like he made my mom…
"Oh, you are so delightfully obedient," Kvar murmured, moving to grab Lloyd, but he moved away on instinct. Kvar tutted. "Surely Forcystus has taught you better than that?" He mused. "What's your number, inferior?"
"…L025," Lloyd replied. It felt unusual, giving a number instead of a name. It was like he was nothing. Just a designation.
"L025. And what name would go with that, hmm?" Lloyd hesitated. Forcystus had said that he wasn't to let Kvar know his name; else he'd work out who he really was… "Well, inferior? I asked you a question. Answer!"
"I…" Lloyd started uncertainly.
"Kvar! I said he wasn't yours," Forcystus growled, entering. Kvar laughed and moved away, much to Lloyd's relief.
"Of course, Forcystus, of course," Kvar replied amiably. "I was simply asking him a few questions."
"I bet," Forcystus muttered, handing Kvar a disc. "There. I apologise for the inconvenience."
"Oh, I quite enjoyed it, actually," Kvar replied, making Lloyd shiver. Forcystus narrowed his eyes.
"Tch. L025, here," he ordered. Gratefully, Lloyd stood up and started to walk over to Forcystus, but Kvar grabbed his wrist. Lloyd tensed; glad it wasn't the hand with his Exsphere on it. "Kvar!" Forcystus spat.
"It's only an inferior being, Forcystus. Surely you're not that attached to it?" Kvar enquired. Forcystus moved forwards angrily, and Kvar let go of Lloyd and grabbed Forcystus instead.
"Kvar!" Forcystus protested.
"L-lord Forcystus?" Lloyd murmured, confused, moving forwards, but Forcystus gestured him away. He fell silent, but didn't move.
"I will be looking at these records carefully, Forcystus. Very carefully," Kvar growled. "My suspicion would have been removed had you not mentioned Lord Yggdrasill's little visit. I think you're lying."
"Well you're wrong," Forcystus hissed, and Kvar hit him. Lloyd cried out.
"Lord Forcystus!" He exclaimed. No-one hit Forcystus! That just… Didn't happen! Forcystus locked his gaze with Kvar's, and Lloyd saw a light on the floor. Intrigued, he picked it up quickly, before either Cardinal could notice, and stuck it in his pocket without looking at it.
"You have crossed a line, Kvar," Forcystus hissed, breaking free of the other Cardinal's grip. "Out of my Ranch. Now."
"Oh, so threatening," Kvar mocked, tapping his staff on the ground once more. "I want that little pet of yours, Forcystus. And I will get it."
"Over my dead body you will," Forcystus growled. Kvar grabbed Lloyd in a chokehold, making him cry out in shock. He didn't struggle.
Best behaviour, best behaviour! Lloyd told himself, trying to resist the urge to hit the Desian or try and break free of his grip.
"Let. Him. Go," Forcystus hissed. Kvar laughed.
"Far too attached," he repeated. "You should know, playing with inferior beings isn't going to get you anywhere good, Forcystus." Forcystus spat angrily, and Kvar let Lloyd go. "I may well be back, Forcystus. For that little inferior being of yours."
"L025 is at my Ranch and there is no reason to move him," Forcystus replied. "Get out. Before I throw you out!" Kvar simply chuckled.
"I'll see myself out," he responded, walking out of the room. Forcystus glared after him.
"…Scum," he spat. "He'd better leave. L025, with me. We're going to make sure Kvar leaves." Lloyd nodded, walking over. Forcystus stalked out angrily, going down to the control room, and Lloyd followed without question, hoping that the Desian would explain things to him once Kvar had gone.
Once they got to the control room, Forcystus did nothing but watch the CCTV until Kvar had gone.
"What was that thing he was riding on, Lord Forcystus?" Lloyd asked. The flying thing had been sleek, almost like a mechanical bird, and Lloyd had been fascinated with it.
"A Rheaird," Forcystus replied. "It uses mana energy to fly. Very useful, actually, I have a few of my own." Lloyd noted that down for future reference. Maybe, instead of going out the main gate, he could steal a Rheaird.
Finally, Forcystus sat down. "Lloyd, come here," he requested, and Lloyd was pleased to note that his name was being used again. He walked up, and Forcystus ran his fingers up Lloyd's arm until he found the device he'd put on the day before and pulled it out. Lloyd had to try very hard to resist the urge to back away at the contact, after Kvar. "There," Forcystus murmured. "Keep this, in case we get another surprise visit. You have to put it on the skin, mind." He put the strange device in Lloyd's hand, and Lloyd examined it. It was like a chip, but a bit different.
"…Kvar hit you," Lloyd murmured.
"Lord Kvar," Forcystus reprimanded shortly. "And yes, he shouldn't have. Arrogant little… Tch." He cut himself off. "He just wanted to see if I'd slip up. Can I have the bangle back?" Lloyd nodded quickly, pulling off his arm and passing it to Forcystus, who slid back over his Exsphere. "…Thank you. Apart from that one little… Mishap… That went better than I thought it would." Lloyd didn't think it had gone well at all, but didn't mention that. Forcystus was still stressed out, he could see that. "Kvar will be ever the irritance," he murmured. "I didn't expect him to take such a… Liking to you, however."
"He said you were attached to me," Lloyd murmured. "He… He was creepy." Forcystus laughed.
"Creepy? Perhaps. He's been messing with things that aren't to be messed with, with those little projects of his. Don't worry, Lloyd. You won't be going to his Ranch any time soon if I have anything to say about it. And I will have a lot of things to say about it." Lloyd smiled slightly, and Forcystus gave him a strange look.
"…You know something? That's the first time you've actually smiled since I brought you here," he remarked. Lloyd frowned, smile disappearing instantly. "I expect today has been quite stressful for you…"
"…Thank you… Lord Forcystus…" He mumbled, although he felt kind of bad about saying it. Why am I thanking a Desian? Gah… None of this makes any sense… I can hardly tell right from wrong any more… Or was I just wrong about it in the first place…? Forcystus looked at him, confused.
"For keeping you safe from Kvar? I have to, Lloyd. It's more than my life's worth to let you get hurt, and besides, the last thing I want is to give you to scum like Kvar." Lloyd smiled slightly. He did care, in his own way.
"As you say… Lord Forcystus," he murmured. Forcystus sighed, running one hand through his hair irritably, the bangle clacking against his Exsphere. It was strange for Lloyd to see it back on Forcystus again, not to feel the weight of it. He didn't even know what it did; apart from Forcystus had suffered in some way without it.
"Come on, back to your cell. I think you've had more than enough excitement for one day," he murmured. Lloyd frowned. He hated being treated like a child, even if he technically was still one.
I don't need you to tell me how much 'excitement' I've had, he thought bitterly. Like you can talk, anyway. Despite that, he still followed Forcystus back to his cell in silence. At least he was being called by name again. He didn't know why, but being called L025 really got to him. It touched a nerve.
"In, go on," Forcystus told him, ushering him into the cell and locking it. "And don't even think about bugging me for the next few days. I know what Kvar's like. Be careful." Lloyd nodded slowly, watching him go. He lay down on the rough bed, and felt the object he'd picked up move in his pocket. Intrigued – he had almost forgotten it – he felt around in his pocket until his fingers closed around it. It felt strange, downy, almost like…
He took it out. A feather. A little crushed from having been stuffed into his pocket, but still a feather, pure white and giving off a strange, unearthly glow.
What… What the hell? Lloyd wondered. Where did that come from? Why did Forcystus…? He took out the Lens, holding it up, watching the Desian, but he was simply working as normal. No sign of wings. No sign of feathers anywhere. From Yggdrasill, perhaps? No… His feathers were purple, weren't they? This doesn't make any sense… Lloyd put the Lens and the feather back in his pocket, before he confused himself too much. I just have to focus on what I have now… On what I can use. If I play my cards right it won't matter in the end. I'll be out of here before Forcystus can blink. He sighed, resting his head on his hands. But… Forcystus has done a lot. And Dwarven Vow #18… It is better to be deceived than to deceive. No! No, I can't think like that! I'm a prisoner! He's done me wrong. Just because I'm hiding the truth, my intent, doesn't make it lying as such… I'm not lying to him. I'm not using him… Dwarven Vow #57 came to mind forcefully: To use someone is the same as hurting someone. And he didn't want to be the cause of hurt… Despite all the hurt Forcystus had caused. I've got to stop this. All that matters is that I escape… Nothing else.
Nothing else.
He knew, in his heart, that Forcystus was more than just an enemy to him, now, and that was going to cause… Problems.
A/N: And now the real intrigue begins... R&R por favor ^^