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Chapter 49: Cacophony

Metal heels came tapping softly to where Scipio lay. His concussed head turned towards the sound of the footfalls, his eyes could barely see the outlines in the dimly lit chamber. From the highest ground to the very bottom of Giruvegan, he fell. Now, he still drew breath, even if he wished he was dead, even if he was supposed to be dead.

'You cannot be rid of me that easily, Scipio.' A sultry voice said. To Scipio, what he perceived were inaudible murmurs. He could barely keep the lids of his red eyes open, was it sleep that willed it shut? Or was it his inability to bear sight to this woman, even if she would appear so pleasing to any beholder?

The metal heels halted in front of his bleeding face, his head caught on one of the protrusions during his long plummet. One foot, enclosed in metal, prodded his limp head. His fingers twitched, an itching to grab and destroy the foot. A searing pain shot through him, grunting, he turned his head away from Hilaneya's foot.

Hilaneya chuckled and then knelt beside the downed judge, 'How is it that you have come to hate me so?' A smile crept along her lips; there was no stab of remorse in her sultry intonation.

Weakly, Scipio lifted his hand and moved it towards Hilaneya's face. Before his hand drew close, Hilaneya intercepted him and took his hand in hers and pressed it against her cheek.

'Fool.' Scipio croaked.

'What was that?' Hilaneya asked in a soft voice, her eyes closed.

'Fool.' Scipio repeated, it was less than a croak now.

He shut his eyes, and then willed every ounce of energy he had…

He tore his hand away and brought it back swiftly and forcefully, dealing a blow to Hilaneya. She was unprepared for the blow, the jab hit her squarely and she rolled away.

Scipio scrambled to get up and made for the stairwell, his mind was still in a haze and his legs were weakening. He staggered frantically for escape.

"Do not run away from me, Scipio!" Hilaneya's voice taunted behind him as Scipio pushed his legs to run.

He was only a few meters away from the first steps, his mind clearing up and his knees finding their robbed strength, when he was suddenly swept away, towards the wall.

A smooth, soft hand, applied pressure to his throat and another pinned his right arm to the wall, Hilaneya had him trapped again. Her body pressing against his, she hissed into his face, 'Show a little humanity!'

'Oh?' Scipio coughed blood, 'Like the humanity you showed me?' He attempted another blow with his left arm but before he could even part it from the wall a blade skewered it in place. There was no pain, only a sting and then spreading warmth.

Hilaneya drew away from him and then stabbed his right arm into the wall with another sword, Scipio merely grunted and bared his teeth.

Hilaneya sighed in exasperation, 'It is as if you do not wish to see me.' Her beautiful eyes glared at him menacingly.

Scipio replied abruptly, his mind now in his control, 'And you failed to realize that from the start.'

Hilaneya slapped him, 'That for the first time we met today,' she slapped him again, pivoting his head, 'that for the second time we met today!'

Then almost, as if nothing had happened, Hilaneya composed herself, her blazing gold eyes subsiding into their usual amber. Eyes that had the power to captivate Scipio all those years ago, eyes that were as mysterious as his own and Scipio hated them. Hilaneya's lips curled, surveying Scipio trapped on the wall.

"This looks familiar Scipio," she whispered her voice as soft as silk and as venomous as any reptile's. The Judge Majister felt her approach him, her body near to him, and even in his armor, he felt Hilaneya's soft skin touch him, warm flesh against cold metal. Then that hand travelled up his back and came to rest just below his mask, on the cheekbones underneath, making him face her reluctantly.

"I have missed you, you know," she whispered, inching closer so that Scipio felt her sweet breath blow against his lips. "All those years we were parted, I did." She hovered so close to him, Scipio new just the slight movement from him and he could capture her lips in his own. He knew this and she knew this and she was playing with. He refused to fall prey to that wile again.

Hilaneya moved closer, her fingers caressing his face gently, a touch that was disgusting yet enthralling at this time that Scipio felt his stomach turn over. " And I wonder," she hesitated her voice growing softer and softer as she drew closer and closer. "If you have missed me too?"

Before Scipio could formulate a reply, Hilaneya closed whatever remaining distance there was between them and finally captured his lips with her own, drawing Scipio in a deep and sensual kiss.

It was a slow deliberate kiss, as if Hilaneya took pleasure in torturing Scipio, and the Judge Majister found himself succumbing to such advances. Memories and sensations that he had long forgotten came flooding back, threatening to overpower him and Scipio had a vain suspicion Hilaneya knew that too.

"For someone who prides himself to be inhuman, you are still very warm, my Scipio," Hilaneya paused and whispered against his lips, and the spell broke.

Growling, his eyes narrowing, Scipio tore away from the wall, freeing his impaled arms. Swiftly, his hands found Hilaneya's neck and gripped it with all his strength. Hilaneya gasped for air while Scipio shook her violently. Hilaneya kicked his chin hard, and his grip faltered. Both judge and assassin wheeled backwards, recovering from either infliction.

Hilaneya breathed sharply as she massaged her abused neck, she lifted her head to look at Scipio, only to find out he had gone. He took the opportunity and was now leaping across the levels of Giruvegan, ascending quickly and then disappearing from her sight.

Hilaneya with curses worthy for the most stalwart pirates saw that Scipio was parted from her again.

XOXOXOX

After travelling with hardly any more hindrance, the party reached a large opening in the mines, a room unlike any part of Henne. They came to a large, circular room where a massive chandelier was suspended at the center. There were four channels which led to and from the room; all four led to the cardinal directions; one in front of the party as they entered, two to either side of them and the one behind them. The group eased into the room, cautious of any ill mannered being which may spring from a shadowed corner.

At the obverse was Balthier, his Fomalhaut casually slung over his right shoulder. Fran trailed him, her bow in hand. The rest followed in a tight formation while Basch distanced himself, protecting the rear.

The sky pirate let his hazel eyes roam the corridors and then halted. The rest stilled themselves as well, after a few moments. They circled out below the chandelier. It seemed the safest at the moment until they decided which course to take.

'This is interesting,' Balthier remarked sardonically, hand on his belt. He looked to the others, as if expecting them to comment. 'Well?' he asked the party, 'To what end?'

Vaan and Penelo exchanged glances and shrugged. Yvelle was silent as ever, choosing to let her eyes roam the corridors once more while Larsa looked over to Basch as if asking for his opinion. The Judge Majister was silent for a few moments then he moved. Basch strode towards the entrance to their left and began scrutinizing it. He knelt down and began scooping up dirt and started sifting through it in his palm while his other hand held tightly to his spear.

With a bit of impatience, Balthier watched him to do this, even signaling to the others to search for some clues as to which path to take. Vaan seemed to share his impatience because he shifted on his feet before saying in a loud voice. "Do you think we should split up? I mean to cover more ground?"

Basch replied immediately, 'That would be convenient, but not wise. We are most certain of survival if we are to stay together; we are no match for the fiends here alone. You have seen them before, they assault you in droves, endlessly.'

Balthier raised an eyebrow and Vaan ducked his head; the older man knew Basch meant no ill, even though Basch's arguments made the younger hunter appear a bit stupid.

"So what do you suggest we should do, oh Captain?" Balthier surprisingly came to Vaan's defense, though the sky pirate was sure that Basch was oblivious to this. However, at Balthier's obvious sarcasm, the Judge Majister straightened up from his crouched position and turned to face the two men.

Meanwhile, a little distance away from them, Fran, who was inspecting the eastern chamber along with Penelo, Larsa and Yvelle, suddenly jerked her head towards the southern entrance, her ears pricking.

'Fran?' Penelo asked, recognizing the sudden spasm in her friend. Penelo's voice immediately caught the others' attention. In a sudden show of déjà vu, Fran began breathing heavily, hands automatically rising to clamp over her head, as if trying to shut out all noise. Her ruby eyes began searing in pain and her usually stoic face flashed with emotion.

"So much Mist," Fran whispered in a strained voice. "So much evil…!" Fran could barely breathe now; Penelo was next to her, offering helpless arms in attempt to render solace. In that span of minutes, everybody became if it even was more possible, tenser. Basch shut up and readied his spear. Vaan unsheathed the massive Ultima and scanned the chambers surrounding them, leading to them. Yvelle, with frightened eyes, tucked a few locks behind her ears and tried her best to help Penelo with the struggling Fran. Larsa looked around apprehensively as he slowly prepared his own weapons. Balthier strode to Fran and held her shoulders, 'Rest, we'll handle this,' his stern glance passed over Penelo and Yvelle, 'to the center of the room, make her safe.' Penelo nodded and with Yvelle's help guided the incapacitated Viera.

Balthier chambered a bullet and stood in front of the southern entrance. 'Circle out!' he cried sharply at the others. Vaan quickly stood to his right and Basch took a place to his left. Larsa rushed behind him, securing the north. Yvelle, with a few whispered words, cast Shell and Protect not only to Fran but to everybody in the party, the glows of the spell casting eerie lights over the party. Penelo drew her daggers but knelt close to Fran, one arm around the Viera.

There was a maddening silence, occasionally broken by Fran's hisses of pain. What seemed like hours later, a cacophony of sounds: roars, howls, growls and all manners of odd noises which were unmistakably animalistic came echoing from unexplainable sources. Then a pattering, stomping and rasping wind was the only warning before several Nightmares and Tyranorox exploded from all the entrances.

'Repel them!' Basch yelled to the others before his voice was drowned by the roaring of the beasts.

The air was a mixture of ugly noises as weapons and monsters came into contact.

Three creatures rushed towards Balthier, all of them massive. He fired all eight rounds in his Fomalhaut, he could hear the breech click as it chambered bullet after bullet despite the chaotic uproar. Six hit the Nightmare in front of him; the other two pelted a Tyranorox which struggled to cram itself into the room.

Vann swung hard at the colossal reptiles which assaulted him. Several were hit and recoiled in pain, in their great mass; they stumbled and crushed each other as they fell to the floor. There were tremors as more and more Tyranorox stomped about.

Basch gave the Nightmares no quarter; one lunged for him and quickly found sleep as Basch impaled it with his Zodiac spear, he flung the lifeless Nightmare at a cluster of enemies and quickly charged towards them. He dove headfirst into a fray and now wrestled with several Nightmares and Tyranorox. He kept the creatures at bay with his left arm while he ended them with his spear.

Larsa held his ground for some time until a Nightmare kicked him to the ground. He hacked at it desperately and was saved by Penelo, who made quick work of the fiendish horse. Larsa got up quickly and nodded to her before proceeding to endure the assault.

Amidst the unbelievable pandemonium; Nightmares being flung around short of a limb or head, Tyranorox falling dead to the ground, grunts and battle cries, the sound of steel biting hard into flesh, gunshots, growling and roaring, was silence. For the Viera at least. She could hear nothing, only the ringing in her ears and a distant laugh.

The battle raged on. More and more fiends came and squeezed into the already crowded room. The party held them off on all fronts; each entrance was slowly piling with corpses.

A fissure snaked across the ceiling, before it suddenly erupted and showered the party with a rain of dust. The chandelier, fortunately, was not fastened to the ceiling alone but to a level right above them.

There was a moment of confusion before the battle broke out again. The fiends were momentarily blinded and gave the party a good chance to deal critical hits.

Vann casted Haste on himself and then cleared the entrance of Tyranorox, several of the reptilian skulls rolled on the floor, decapitated. Basch was being squeezed by too many monsters; he lost his grip as he was buried in a pile of growling fiends. The pile continued fidgeting before it was engulfed in a bright pillar of light. Moments passed and the light diminished, Basch was panting as he tried to get up and fight on.

'Help!' Vann shouted to no one in particular. Yvelle turned around to his yell, her sapphire locks following her movements. Looking quickly about, she saw most of her companions echoing Vaan's cry and since the other healer of the group was otherwise occupied, Yvelle quickly stepped in.

"Heal!" Yvelle cried, her hands glowed and then wisps of light shot from them and entered the bodies of the other party members. Around her she saw her comrades straighten up from their slack positions; Larsa even throwing Penelo an X-potion as an aid.

'Most kind.' Basch said as he quickly got up and skewered another fiend.

Balthier emptied his weapon at a charging nightmare. He fumbled for extra ammunition before a Tyranorox tail swung and hit him hard. He was flung to the far end of the room, hitting the wall and falling to the floor violently.

'Balthier!' several voices cried and Vaan, being the closest, rushed to the fallen pirate.

At the reverberation of his name, Fran quickly arose, as if her strength came echoing back, her hand seizing her bow tight as a vice.

'F-fran?' Penelo asked, bewildered, her stance completely forgotten at fascination at her Viera friend. Fran did not seem to hear her for the Viera's right hand quickly plucked an arrow from her quiver and took aim, a dreamy look in her eyes, a distant gaze. Penelo continued to consider her disbelievingly before she recovered from her confusion. With a shake of her head, Penelo straightened up and prepared to rejoin the fray.

Meanwhile, Fran's eyes cleared, with a toss of her snow white hair, she exhaled deeply, cried "Volley!" then let loose her arrow.

In a stunning display of magick, the single arrow miraculously separated into what seemed to be hundreds and rained on the fiends. In an orchestra of howls, moans and groans, the fiends shuddered and fell dead.

"Is it over?" Penelo's whisper broke the stunned silence which followed after the demise of the beasts, the rest of the party rising from whatever depths of beast carcass they got buried in.

Vaan who was struggling to pull out his Ultima blade from the hind leg of a dead Tyranorox, turned at her whisper. He shrugged ruefully, somewhat glad that Fran had unleashed yet another powerful attack. At the thought of Fran, Vaan suddenly remembered Balthier, whom he had shoved when bits of the ceiling threatened to come crashing down on them when Fran unleashed her magick. However, when Vaan looked about for his friend, he was surprised to find him propped against the cavern wall, being coaxed by Larsa to drink an X-Potion while Yvelle healed his broken ribs. Fran seemed to have gotten over her little spasms as well for she strode purposefully towards where her partner was, her hair willowing behind her, bow still held in her hand, ruby eyes back to their impassive state.

"Will you be able to stand?" she asked Balthier who had grinned waggishly at her when she stood in front of him, eyes bearing down upon his form.

Balthier cocked his head. "You insult me if you think I cannot." He replied easily, even pulling himself up from the floor, despite Larsa and Yvelle's protest. "I presume you hear more of them coming?"

Fran's tighter grip on her bow answered them.

"You cannot be serious." Larsa replied, his face and clothes streaked with dirt and beast blood and looking almost unrecognizable. The others were in the same state of disarray; Yvelle's white clothes stained with purple Tyranorox blood, Vaan had a large gash on his upper arm and cheek, one of Penelo's braids was undone, and Basch had lost the sleeve of his shirt.

Balthier merely clapped a hand on the Emperor's shoulder, rejuvenated by Yvelle's healing and Larsa's potion. "Not to fret, we've faced tougher adversaries before."

Vaan sighed before unsheathing his blade once again. "Yeah Larsa, I did warn you this was going to be dangerous."

"How long till the next onslaught?" Basch's voice if it was possible, was rougher.

"A few minutes." Was the Viera's answer.

"That gives us some time to recuperate then," Penelo said brightly, extracting a few ethers from her pack and tossing one to Basch and another to Vaan.

"I think this is a good sign," Yvelle added her voice to the mix, as she accepted the potion Larsa offered her. Several pairs of eyes travelled towards her and she ducked her head in embarrassment.

"Does it not mean if we are facing such thorny adversity then there must be something of value at the end of this path?" she asked them.

Silence greeted her statement and Yvelle feared she said the wrong thing yet again. But Balthier's short chuckle broke it and with an amused glance at her he gave Vaan a look.

"Your student is more sky pirate than hunter, Vaan. Are you sure you are training her in the right profession?"