Disclaimer: I do not own Grand Chase or any of it's characters. They belong to KOG.
Update! (after a year's silence... OTL sorry about that.)
"Won't you come live with us?" The mysterious blue eyed boy pleaded. "We could stay up all night talking and all day playing! Please Arme?"
" If you wouldn't mind, sir, I would like to go back to my home," The little purpled hair girl said.
"But Arme, if you come live with us we get to play everyday!" The boy whined.
"I'll come visit everyday, I promise." She said, taking his hand and wrapping her pinky around his. "I want to take care of the house my papa and I lived in. Besides, I have a new mama to take care of, whenever papa's gone to do his missions."
"But-"
"I hate to agree, but she's right boy." The man said sadly. He had the same piercing blue eyes as his son. "She may be young but she knows where her duties lie, and that is to her family."
"But we're her family too!" the boy protested. His blue eyes pleading for her to stay with him.
The older man sighed. His little boy was indeed spoiled to think he would always get his way. He would have to deal with this annoying trait later.
"I know!" The boy held his pinky in front of Arme's face. She took a step back in surprise. "Promise me. Promise me, Arme. That one day, when we're old enough, I'd come back for you."
Arme giggled and wrapped her pinky around his. "Then shouldn't it be you who's promising me that?"
"Lemme finish!" the boy huffed, cheeks red from embarrassment. "I promise I'll come back for you. That's a given. But Arme. You absolutely have to promise me that when I do, you'll say yes."
The man burst into laughter upon hearing his son saying those words. "Hey! Shut up old man!" the boy blushed profusely.
"Say yes to what?" the girl asked, confusion in her purple orbs.
"Say yes to me you idiot. We're gonna get married when we grow up! That way you absolutely HAVE to live in the palace!" the boy's face was as red as a gorgon's fire as he blurted out those words.
Arme smiled innocently and gripped his pinky. "Of course!"
"Nngh…" Arme groaned wearily. Another dream... Or was it a memory...? She sat up and noticed that she was still chained to the stupid pillar. The mage sighed as she adjusted her posture, trying to feel more comfortable in her present state.
"Why good morning princess," A cold voice shot through the air. Arme shuddered. "And how are we this morning?" It asked her tauntingly. A shadow crept over the ceiling and on the floor, slowly materialising into a person. Kaze'Aze.
"None the better," Arme mumbled. It's been three days since the kidnapping and she's been subject to these weird dreams which Kaze'Aze calls her suppressed memories. Some were good, the others horrible. Especially those the dark queen forcefully extracted from her by the use of some complicated spell even she never heard of.
"Well, four more days pet," The dark lady cackled in anticipation. "Four more days and you'll be rid of those horrid chains and we'll rule Bermesiah together!" She squealed in delight. Arme cringed. Both from Kaze'Aze's ambition and the sound she just made. It sounded like rusty nails scratching on a blackboard and that didn't even made sense.
"What do you mean we?" Arme's eyes narrowed at the thought. "Aren't I supposed to be a lifeless puppet or an empty shell of what has been or something?" She questioned. Something wasn't right here. You can't posses a body unless they're either inanimate to begin with or already dead. No two souls can reside in one object. That was rule number one in the Book of Possession Spells! Surely Kaze'Aze was bluffing. Mind control maybe but possession is just-
"Oh hush dear," Kaze'Aze rolled her eyes and smirked at the purple haired mage. "Haven't you ever heard of Soul Possession?" Arme's eyes widened at the mention of the spell. "Hmm, you might have, you might have not. Well it's such a long story, believe me darling, I know. So let me break it down for you. Soul Possession is a form of old and forbidden magic wherein instead of merely possessing one's body, you posses one's soul, therefore removed the threat of exorcism. For by exorcising the parasitic soul, you are also expelling the host soul, then killing the person by depriving them of any such free will or emotion. And the only way you can exorcise such would either be to kill the person, therefore killing both OR if the person's will is strong enough then voila, the parasite is expelled."
Arme's mouth hung open from what she just heard. If that's the case then there was no way… She wasn't a strong willed person to start with, and Kaze'Aze probably knew that. And is currently even breaking her even further that she'd almost be a mindless puppet by the time the witch decides to take over her soul. Lass and the others have only four more days to save her… After the soul possession spell is cast, all hope would have been lost…
"Oh and in case you're thinking that you're strong enough to resist me," Kaze'Aze said casually as she leaves the room. Leaving a loaf of bread and a cup of water for Arme to eat and drink. "We'll see how strong you'd still be when I kill your precious prince with your own hands." She sneered as Arme froze in horror. She then dissipated into thin air, her horrible laughter echoing throughout the room as Arme slumped on the floor.
"Hurry up and save me Lass…" She begged silently. "Please…"
"Damn it Elesis!" Lass practically screamed at their red head leader. "What the heck was that for?!"
"S'not my fault…" Elesis mumbled, pouting. It wasn't her fault really. She was just… hungry. That's all. Not her fault really. The stupid orc started it. He was the one who stole her lunch. She had all the reasons in the world for attacking it.
"If you didn't go and attack that orc we would've already be at Kerrie Beach by now!" Lass was beyond furious. Does nobody understand that they must get to Arme as soon as possible? The red head was nearly in tears. Be it in frustration, fear or humiliation, the striker didn't care. He needed to get his mage back. He needed to get her back now.
Ronan placed a soothing hand on their leader's shoulder. "Give her a break Lass. We're all as worried as you are, but we did just cross over from the Gorge of Oath, barely escaping from the drillmons because you decided that it's a waste of time fighting them, passed the Elven Forest and taking down the troll by midday and slaying the tons, gorgons and Gorgos in the dungeon we just passed, ALL in one day."
"We're making up for lost time." Lass retorts, crossing his arms over his chest. "Now we have to make up for lost time tomorrow too."
"Lass, we're all worried about Arme here and we all want to get her back as soon as possible," Jin said. "But you also have to understand that shouting at our leader won't help anyone."
Lass huffed and climbed up a tree. "Whatever. You guys go rest. I'll keep first watch."
Sighing Jin retreated into the men's tent with an already sleeping Ryan and an equally troubled Ronan, while the Lire and Amy guided a distressed Elesis into the other. Lass leaned back onto the broad trunk of the tree and frowned. They just finished off the Orc Lord back at the Orc Temple and he should be feeling good about a victory like that. But he just can't help but think that if they were able to successfully sneak past them as planned, they would be camping at Kerrie Beach by now.
As he mused on the day's happenings, he felt a slight tap on his shoulder. "Go to sleep princey." Ronan smirked. "Then maybe you wouldn't be so cranky."
"Shut up, lover boy," he huffed and jumped down from the tree.
"Says the man who's desperately trying to save the love of his life," Ronan teased.
"Whatever, I'm sleeping." Lass ducked into the tent and quickly dove under the thin covers so Ronan wouldn't see his reddening face. He wasn't desperate. He was just worried. Something could happen to Arme and he wouldn't be there to protect her. He just wanted her to be safe. What's wrong with that? He wasn't desperate. No he's not. Not… Ok maybe a bit. He admits to himself before he drifts into a dreamless slumber.
A scream pierced through the cold walls of the tower as the violet mage drops down on the cold wet floor.
"This should do for today." Kaze'Aze mused as she materialised in front of the panting mage. It took Arme all she had to not cry there and then. Pain shot throughout her entire body as she shook on the cold stone floor. "A few more days and your soul would be mine to control." The witch told her. "Soul Possession takes a horribly long time. It's really troublesome, but we're almost there."
"What…" Arme panted, raising her head to look at Kaze'Aze in the eye. "What are you… *pant* … doing to me…?"
"Ah, well, I'm possessing you little by little," she replied happily, causing the mage to stare at her in horror. "Yes, yes, you're horrified by the thought. I'm glad you feel that way!" She said in that horrible sing-song voice. "I get satisfaction from horrified victims, really, no joke." She winked and disappeared into the air.
Arme lied on the floor for a few minutes before breaking into sobs. "I'm scared…" She sobbed uncontrollably, her chains clinking as her body shook against the cold, unforgiving stone floor. "I'm so scared… Lass… "
Lass…
Who... Is that… Was that... Arme…?
"So, shouldn't we like… wake him up now?" Ryan ventured. Poking the white haired striker's cheek for the umpteenth time that day. "For real I mean. Like dump him in the river or something."
"What will you do if he doesn't wake up still and drown?" Lire scolded. "Will you perform CPR on him?"
"Eww gross, no way! We all know only Arme could even do such a thing with him."
"Right. So shut up and wait for him to wake up on his own."
"All right but I'm telling you, he'd be royally pissed if he finds out-"
Lass groaned and sat up bleary eyed. Something bright was blinding him. He squinted and saw that it was well past noon and sat up from his bed. "Why didn't you guys wake me up?!" He yelled and falls off the bed.
"Told ya." Ryan pointed out and left the room before anything else happens.
Lire shrugged. "Believe me we tried. You even slept through the entire battle with the crabs and the harpies." She said a matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, you even missed lunch!" Elesis said almost too happily. "Amy cooked. Did I mention that she's a great cook? Because she is! That said, you missed a lot when you missed todays lunch."
"Wait, WHAT?!"
"Aw Ellie, you flatter me," Amy cooed. "Though Lass, you should probably calm down. You don't even realize where we are." She giggled.
"Where we are- Where.. Aren't we outside the…" Lass trailed off as he realizes that he was sitting on a bed. An actual bed. Not some sleeping bag in the middle of some forest or near an orc-infested temple but a real bed, in a real room in an… "We're at an inn…? But I thought… Where the heck are we?"
"Serdin."
"What?" Lass turned to see a black haired man leaning on the door frame. "Who?"
"It's my gramps." Elesis said, narrowing her eyes at said man. "He's the reason why we got here so quickly."
"Wait, what?" Lass murmured. "You're telling me that that guy over there…"
"Yup!"
"…is your grandfather…"
"Exactly."
"That guy."
"Yes, that guy."
"By the door?"
"Uh huh."
"…"
"…"
"I'm going back to sleep." Lass said finally and hid under the covers. This was too much for him. Sure he hasn't been sleeping the past three days but this was just insane. One moment they were a day's journey from Serdin, then suddenly they're in an inn INSIDE Serdin.
He didn't even notice when they passed by Kerrie Beach or the Outer Wall! And who the heck was that mysterious guy who Elesis, of all people, claims to be her grandfather?! The guy doesn't look a day over thirty! Lass' head hurts. And he was going to sleep it off. He can't go fighting some old powerful witch in his state. No, he HAS to rest. Then maybe, just maybe the madness would die down a bit.
Even just a little bit…
"Arme… I'm almost there... Just wait a little bit longer..."
A/N: Ok ok I know I take like WAAAAY too long to update but at least I still do, right? Right? Anyways, I'm sorry for taking almost a year to update but please bear with me as the story's about to end in a couple chapters or so! (which means maybe another year of waiting... lllOTL) R&R as usual?