Chapter Three: Black Heart
Yeah, Ari will get his POV chapters in this story. But I need to do Linda again first.
Linda couldn't sleep. Why? Well, she didn't like to admit to herself, but she kept thinking of Epros. She toyed with his necklace, which she had argued with Marlene for an hour before she got to keep it. He said he could explain…
He better have a good excuse. She thought.
With a sigh she got out of the bed she was borrowing in Ari's home, the same room during the winter breaks. She looked at the open door to Rosalyn's room and wondered where the Hero was. Everyone guessed she must have gone off to grumble about Stan somewhere, but he was gone too...
Deciding it wasn't her business, at least not right now, Linda stepped outside into the moonlight, glancing around.
No one was here. That didn't mean anything; since Epros could appear without warning...It was his trademark, as the former Evil King of Phantoms.
And it appeared today wasn't any different.
"It appears I was not waiting in vain, I knew I'd see you again."
Linda walked over to the fountain, and looked into its shimmering clear depths. She turned around, leaning against it, and looked at Epros who was smiling softly at her from across Ari's yard.
"Hi, Epros." She said shortly, twirling the necklace. "The others think I should let Big Bull and Coach at you, but I said you could explain first before I let them loose." She pouted slightly, and Epros walked a little closer, slowly, with his head down.
"'Tis true, I know, I have much to tell. If you will be patient, all will come out well."
Linda smiled, crossing her arms. "I'm listening."
"I did this to protect, to shield, you see. If I didn't he'd come after thee."
"Who?" She asked curiously. He walked a little closer.
"The Devil King, the Shadow Lord, he has as many names as this rhyme does words." He smiled, and Linda giggled.
"Well, okay Eppy." She said teasingly, knowing he hated that nickname. "Do you have any proof?" Linda added quickly, remembering what Rosalyn had said about guys winning you over with empty promises.
"Yes, I do, is the fact of the matter. But do you say no or yes? I prefer the latter."
Linda smiled at him, but he still didn't get too close. "Prefer yes to what?"
"Will you begin, start over with I? I'd be delighted, I actually might cry." He smiled, green eyes twinkling.
Linda was too happy to notice anything. "Oh, of course!"
He bowed, still moving a little closer. "Then please, remove the necklace, of this I desire. It's from our old relationship, and does not symbolize our new fire."
Linda giggled again, taking the necklace off, and dropping it in a coil on the wall of the fountain. Epros stepped closer, and he reflected on the water. That wasn't his reflection…
Then, it kicked in. She saw it in the fanged grin Epros gave her.
Fangs? That wasn't Epros. He didn't have fangs. Or green eyes.
"C-Coach?" She whimpered, praying it was just the Shadow Evil King playing tricks on her. It wasn't. Before she could grab her microphone from her bag, Epros pounced, transforming in midair.
He went from a ghost, resembling a human, to something that did not, all in the space of the moment he jumped, and the instant he landed. Strange spines erupted from his back, rising like a hedgehog's. Darkness filled the air, covered his body, drifting upward like thick smog. The green eyes lost their pupils and transformed into a flat disc of shimming jade, like fire. Long claws, silver and hooked, emerged from the hands and a tail erupted from the body, thrashing wildly, spikes swinging to the side.
Linda let out a high pitched scream before the creature dug his claws into her shoulders, lifting her cruelly into the air. She tried to scream again, but darkness engulfed her mouth, cutting off any chance of talking. Pain erupted like wildfire up and down her body. The creature had a strange face, almost like a dragon, but thinner and longer. There were ridges too, just faintly, and spikes around his neck like a mane. The creature laughed, sending chills down her spine, watching her like she was some kind of interesting piece of meat.
He spoke then, its voice carried a dark chill, with the familiar accent that Stan carried, and even a hint of Epros's.
"Foolish girl. Surely you should know better by now?" He lowered his head and fixed her with his pupil devoid eyes. He laughed. "No weapon? Pity. That's quite alright, I assure you. We are going to enjoy our time together, you and I." He laughed once more at Linda's expression.
"It won't work. My friends will find you!" Linda was surprised that she could talk, and then she realized the demon had just been waiting for an answer. He covered her mouth again.
"Ah, but that's what I hope. They're here." He cocked his head to the side, just as the door opened and Ari came bounding out, holding his sword. Big Bull wasn't far behind, and even Marlene looked out from the house, walking down the steps, looking nervous and proud at the same time, something that only the real Marlene could do. She recently learned to do some healing spells, and she was rather good at it. Weapons, though? No. She just wasn't...the type of person for that.
Linda stared wildly, kicking her legs in the air. The demon simply lifted skywards, and his body rippled only faintly, showing no signs of pain, as Ari's Overdrive attack simply got absorbed by the demon. It ran interested eyes over everyone, and then sighed.
"Ah, quite a shame. I was hoping to meet the Evil King and the Hero? Not here? What a pity." He casually shifted Linda to one arm, which was now caught in dark bonds made of some strange, stiff material. "Tell them my master wishes them, and you, a good day."
"Who's your master? And who are you?" Marlene demanded.
The demon raised a scaly eyebrow. "Ah, Princess Marlene. Or former princess, I should say. Once lost and alone in Triste, known as that 'sobbing distraught girl'? Yes, I know all about that." He laughed a little, looking at her shocked expression. "Now, you found true love, have friends, and live in a big, albeit kind of run down, manor. How sad it would be to have something..." He dug his claws further into Linda's skin, drawing more blood, and the girl only whimpered helplessly, as her friends watched, feeling the same way. "Happen to them. Or more specifically, him." He turned his head to look directly at Ari, and Marlene grabbed his shoulder. Ari only looked back at her and nodded, before turning to the demon again.
"We didn't ask for a monologue on Marlene's life. What we did ask is who are you, and who is your master?"
"Screw that, what are you doing with the Diva?" Big Bull demanded.
"How rude. Allow me to introduce myself." He bowed with one hand, still holding Linda. "I am known as Melas Kardia. I must wait for him to show up, shouldn't take too long now. As for my master, well, you should ask your resident Evil King for that, no?"
Ari shouted, "What does Stan have to do with this?"
"Not just King Stanley. Also, the Hero Rosalyn. Or the not-so Hero..." Melas trailed off, chuckling in his cold voice. "And, here is my guest! Wonderful!"
"Guest? Isn't this Cub's house?" Big Bull said in confusion.
It was Epros. He had appeared from somewhere behind Ari's house, and his red eyes passed over to the crowd of scared Heroes, the fountain with the necklace resting on it, all coiled up, to Melas Kardia and his prisoner.
"Release her, Melas, of this I demand! Or this will be your final stand."
"Sorry. No. Can't do that, you see. The Master wouldn't like it, no? I have to tell you something, though." He smirked hugely as Epros's cards sliced through his shadowy form, and nothing happened. Linda's eyes stared into Epros's, begging him to do something.
"Get on with it, then." Marlene demanded.
Melas nodded. "My apologies for taking so long. The key has been found, we just need the lock. Isn't that so, Epros?" The demon smirked, winking his green eyes, and then before anyone could move, he levitated up, vanishing into the clouds. And was gone.
Clouds...? They weren't there earlier. And there were an awful lot of them. Everything seemed dark and heavy; the air felt like it was electric charged.
Epros landed softly, picking up the necklace. His eyes stared at the chain, the L and the E...
No one said anything for a while. Then Ari spoke.
"We need to find Stan."