Well, I was getting bored with writing fanfiction and thinking of quitting, but I may have just fixed it temporarily. You'll see what I mean at the end of the chapter.
As always, a gracious thanks to those of you who read this story. I find it rather inspiring that you take the time out of your day to actually read the nonsense bubbling around in my skull. Now, if I can just turn the art of making scribbles on paper into something that will make me money, all will be well and good in the world.
Oh, by the way, this chapter was supposed to be a little Halloween gift, but I wound up not finishing it until today. Oops. Happy late Halloween!
Dead
Even when they left the Open Air Cells, Katja still didn't seem normal. The biggest reason that Rogue thought that was because she wasn't knocking him over the head or screeching for him to get lost. Well, there had been a little bit of a scrape with that hand slap to the cheek earlier. Then, she'd cried out that he was a pervert. Aside from those two incidents, though, she wasn't pushing him away. As a matter of fact, she seemed like she wanted him around.
Nervous, hazel eyes jerked this way and that as they made their journey towards Thor's Field. There were less people roaming the streets, and the heart of the city was blocked off thanks to the event going on today. It was called Search and Destroy. Thanks to the way the kings were running the show today, they had decided against kidnapping any mages. People could volunteer to partake. Sting had happily joined into the Game loophole that let Guild Masters fight in certain situations. Five people had volunteered from each of the ten guilds to start the most intense version of Capture the Flag Earthland had ever seen.
Ten guild flags had been given to the members of each team. In those teams was two Guardians and three Seekers. The Guardians made sure the flag for their guild didn't get captured while the Seekers tried to steal the flags from the other guilds. Thanks to the size of the capital, only the centermost heart of Lance was being used for the event. Sadly, it was also thanks to the size of the capital that Rogue and Katja were having to take the long detour to reach one of the five safe paths that led to the coliseum.
And, while the outskirts of the city had been rather deadened, the closer they got to the arena, the thicker the masses grew. Vendors hawked their wares. Sorcerer Weekly was interviewing people for their magazine. A dark skinned girl with dreadlocks pulled into a band had a stand beside Sorcerer Weekly. Rogue knew her from the magazine. She was the DJ for their radio station.
"So, who are you rooting for in the Lancet Winter Games, miss?" DJ Black Magic, a name given to her thanks to her Vodou Priestess Magic, asked. Apparently, if people interviewed, they would get a free t shirt and issue of the magazine. There were even figurines of the participants set up at her stand. She looked like she was getting a lot of business. When her red eyes shifted in the direction of Katja, the Royal Guard Mage sunk deeply into Rogue's side.
Her head was hung until the woman Rylan was interviewing excitedly yipped, "I hope the Royal Guard wins! This is their first chance to prove themselves amongst all these other famous mages. Lancet could use more reasons for the normal humans to value mages instead of harming them."
"And, there you have it folks. This is DJ Black Magic reporting live from the Lancet Winter Games. Though Mage Rights are still in the throes of war and confusion, people are looking towards a brighter future. Speaking of brighter futures, I think that Rogue Cheney and the Poison Princess are strolling through town. Looks like this answers my question about what the two mages are doing outside of Search and Destroy." Before Katja could wrap her hands around Rogue's arm and drag him away from the interviewer, the DJ was already upon them like they were human prey. She didn't waste any time throwing a mic in front of their faces to ask, "So, is what Orga sang in the Field true? Are you dating the Poison Princess, Rogue? Fangirls have been going wild ever since the news got out!"
"Orga?" Rogue blurted out, rearing back from the microphone flying in front of his face. "What are you talking about?"
"Me! With him!" Katja hissed. As soon as a camera flashed, she suddenly remembered the hand tightly clenching Rogue's bicep. She couldn't shred from Rogue's arm fast enough as she yelped, "What did that soon-to-be-dead phone charger do?"
"Hey, Jason," the DJ hollered out to the man working the Sorcerer Weekly stand. When he rose his blonde head to see Rogue and Katja surrounded by squealing fans, she added, "Shoot 'em the clip. They weren't at the field to see it!"
"Cool!" the reported cried out. His hands picked up a lacrima before he tossed it into the air. Immediately, a holographic image of Gajeel and Orga showed up.
At just the sight of those two paired together, Rogue clenched his fists. His idol was going up against his teammate. Usually, he would have been confused on which one to cheer for, but since Orga had been shouting nonsense, he was hoping Gajeel would beat Orga six feet into the dirt.
Still, Gajeel looked prepped for battle. He had the Sabertooth flag in his hands and was standing with the sunlight beaming down upon his spiky, black hair. He looked like he was going to get away from Sabertooth's base until Orga dropped down from a nearby rooftop.
Black lightning danced around Orga's giant body. Thrusting his finger in Gajeel's direction, he shouted, "Looks like you've got something of mine, Black Steel." His words were mocking, a wicked grin played on the corner of his lips. In his own grip was Fairy Tail's flag.
"Right back at ya, Thunder God, but I'm not feeling up to becoming somebody's lightning rod again. How about we settle this like real men?" Reaching behind himself, Gajeel withdrew a small hunk of metal. Orga's eyes narrowed then widened when the metal grew and expanded. Before the God Slayer's eyes, the metal shapeshifted into a guitar with distinguishable feline characteristics.
"Hell, yeah. I've got a new song that I've been waiting to sing," Orga purred, his voice a low rumble as he tucked the Fairy Tail flag into the back of his pants pocket. His hand flew off to the side. Smoke and lightning flared out from his palm. When it finally cleared, he wrapped his large fist around a standing microphone. "Kick it, Gajeel!"
Not one to be outdone, Gajeel slammed his foot down against the stone road beneath him. Smoke flew up around his body. It fully engulfed him before growing even taller. Two short, feminine squeals cried out from beneath that mist. When it all dissipated, Gajeel stood with Levy and Lucy once more dressed as bunnies on either side of him. While Gajeel was geared up with his guitar pick between nimble fingers, the girls looked anything but happy to be here.
Even so, Orga took the crowd's attention off them by leaping via a flash of black lightning onto the stage. He whipped his mic around and asked, "I bet all you ladies are wondering just where Rogue Cheney is right now."
Females squeals sounded off. He gave them a few seconds of fangirling before crying out, "He's on daaaaate! You see when we all first came down here, there was this sweet young thing. And, she goes by the name of—" He paused for dramatic effect before throwing his finger towards the crowd. "—Poison Princess! With a heart like venom and a body like gold. She came to the guild, made our souls grow cold. Little Rogue Cheney did know what to do. Then, he looked to the chick and hissed, 'Damn, I'd bang you!'"
When Katja's head whipped in Rogue's direction, the Dragon Slayer blurted, "But, I didn't say that! That's all Orga's doing!" Katja didn't look like she really cared.
With her fists clenched on either side of her body, she growled, "His vocal chords are about to get turned into dust." Without any warning, Katja placed her hand on the DJ's shoulder. "Move. I have voice boxes to rot out."
Even when she stormed off, Rogue had to sigh, "Well, at least, she's acting like herself again."
Resting his head against his fist, Isaac couldn't help but search the crowds around the coliseum. He'd sent Rogue to retrieve Katja after the games had started, but neither mage had shown their faces. Not even the horrible cat wailing that was pouring out of the lacrima TVs had drawn out the two of them. Isaac knew that if he heard someone singing about him like that…
The king shook his head. The man would no longer have a voice box to yodel with if it was Isaac. Still, Isaac was gentler than fiery Katja. He could only imagine what Kat would plan once she heard Orga and Gajeel's duet. The two of them looked like they were having a rap battle but with guitars and bad vocals. Isaac was thankful when a battle between Catori's twin sister Winry Polterom and Lyon Vastia destroyed Gajeel and Orga's stage through a giant ice covered boat Winry had thrown. Where she got the boat? No one knew, but given the applause running through the crowd, everyone was glad Orga and Gajeel had stopped wailing.
Out of the corner of his eye, Isaac could see Levy and Lucy fleeing from the scene. They were still in their bunny costumes, and floppy ears bobbed this way and that way as they fled. As entertaining as that was, there was something else that Isaac was interested in. It was the sound of a woman's voice.
"Say he's my boyfriend one more time, Colin, and I will nail your balls to the clock tower," Katja hissed out. Her voice didn't sound angry. It sounded sickly sweet, almost like she would enjoy the suggested act then go dance in a field of poppies directly after. Ah. She really was pissed off.
"Kitten, why do you always go for the balls? I need those!" Colin yelped out, narrowly dodging Katja's booted foot.
"Oh, yes. It would be a shame if the world went without a bunch of little Colins running around in it," she sarcastically grumbled out, pushing the Myst Mage out of her way when he flashed his pearly whites at her.
That was typical. The only person Colin ever smiled at was Katja.
Trying to hold back his grin when Katja stomped out in front of him, Isaac greeted, "Katja, did you get any information out of our prisoner?"
"No," she hissed, remembering something that left a sour expression on her face. Oh, well. It couldn't be helped. Isaac hadn't been waiting all this time for her to snarl at him. He had a job for her.
Adjusting himself, Isaac stated, "It can't be helped. I have a new job for you." Immediately, Isaac watched her darkness recede. A mask of interest covered her expression as she went from revenge seeker to assassin.
"It is?"
"You remember the pirate ship that docked illegally on port without papers?" She nodded. "Rumor has it that the pirates on board that ship joined in rank with Grimm. Princess Adamine and Catori were on patrol, and it seems Adamine is familiar with one of the girls on board the vessel."
Isaac watched as Katja's face gradually fell with each word. She knew exactly what Isaac was getting at as he spoke. They were holding the pirate prisoner for involvement with Norman slavers when in reality his crime was a mere fine for illegally docking his ship.
He'd even pass on the fine since the ship had come in without prior knowledge of docking restrictions.
Scowling, Katja leaned her body back against a low wall. "You're telling me to go back. Aren't you?"
"Pretty much," Isaac sighed. Though the news was good for the pirate, it didn't solve the big issue going on in the capital. People were still getting abducted. Just last night, word had gotten out about another kidnapping. Isaac wasn't going to tell Katja about that case though. He already had a mage from the Magician's Alliance doing patrols with a small team he'd hand selected for the job. As for Katja, a prison transfer was right up her alley. "I'll have to send you back to the open air cells. I contacted Kraken as soon as I heard the news. He's already got the pirate waiting on the main floor. All you have to do is pick him up and escort him to the Alliance Building. His captain, Erika, won't be able to meet you there, but she sent a man by the name of Sinbard to pay for the fine."
"Sinbard?" Katja asked, narrowing her brows in question.
Shaking his head, Isaac stated, "It must be a common name overseas. I wouldn't claim him as your estranged father just yet, Kitten."
The assassin ran her hand through her hair. There was an odd light in her eye as she gazed over her shoulder and towards the Open Air Cells. Kraken had mentioned that the prisoner had knocked him out. Had Katja and the prisoner gotten into a confrontation?
Well, it wasn't like it didn't make sense. The man was a pirate. Government wasn't exactly a strong suit for him and his people. Even though he and his crew hadn't committed any crime, staying away from the Magician's Alliance and those involved in the Guard made sense. Besides, the pirate named Clint was apparently the king of great escapes. That was what Captain Erika had explained when Isaac had met with her about the release of her crewmate.
"Alright," she stated after a moment of contemplation. "Are you going to send me alone, or is the Dragon Slayer going to tag along?" She thrust her thumb off in the direction of the Saber team. Only a few of their members sat in the stands. Their main members were on the grounds and taking part in the fray.
On the screens, it showed a battle between Sting and Natsu. Yukino and Lucy were also matched up against each other. Both teams had stolen flags, and the winners were going to steal from their defeated opponents.
"Funny. You're usually gone by now. Did something happen in the cells?" Isaac asked.
Sure enough, he was brushed off. Flipping her hand up in a wave, Katja stated, "Nothing in particular."
Katja couldn't stand the look on the pirate's face when she went back to the Open Air Cells. The blonde man was nothing but swagger and smile as he leaned against a stone arch. "So we meet again, beautiful," he charmed.
While their initial interaction in the cells had set off some rather unsavory memories from her Time Out Box, Katja forced those memories back inside her box. She knew what the man had been attempting to do, and that was get free. She just wished he could have had some clothes on while doing so. Too many wicked memories in her life revolved around a lack of clothing. There was a purpose for pants, and that purpose was to be worn.
Scowling, Katja grabbed the manacles that were stationed behind the pirate's back. "Oh! Whoa there, lassie. How many times do I have to remind ye that we aren't even on a first name basis?" he crooned with a grin on those perfect lips.
"Katja," she growled, not feeling up to dealing with his antics at the moment.
"Clint Damont. Very nice, beautiful. Now, if you'd be a dear and loosen up these shackles, then we could get to know each other much better," he purred, leaning back to gaze at her with a pair of glittering blue eyes.
"I would say we're rather familiar. I've seen more of you than anyone should have to put up with," she bit out, jerking his chains to haul him down the road.
In her young life, Katja had done many prisoner transfers, but this one was a first on many accounts. Typically, her prisoner would have a sack over their head. Typically, the destination was the gallows. Typically, her prisoners were either rude or begging for their lives. They were not often charming, blonde haired hunks headed to pay fines for illegally docking their ship. How far the mighty have fallen, she thought to herself. Isaac sure had changed things around Lancet.
Was it a bad thing to admit that Kat preferred this to her old life? Probably not.
Sighing, Katja just kept putting one foot in front of the other. At this point the shackles binding the pirate were just for making sure he paid his fine. Surely, now that he was dressed, she would be able to take him in a battle. As a matter of fact, she would love to use her Poison Body Magic to knock him unconscious while she drug him down the road. Issue? He was tall, and she was of average height. Also, he was a solid block of muscle to her curves. Katja didn't think that she could deadlift two hundred pounds plus of raw muscle all the way to the Alliance Building. She was a strong girl. She just wasn't that strong.
In front of them, the road stretched out long and rocky. Only a single cobblestone trail led all the way out to the Open Air Cells, and the Alliance Building was in the heart of the capital. Several things could go wrong between here and there, but a little part of Katja felt comforted by the oddly writhing shadow stretching from one pine tree to the next. Perhaps, there was something to having a Dragon Slayer as a watchdog.
"So, Lass, is this a prison transfer, or what are ye doing with me? Your rolley polley of a guard dog didn't tell me anything. Just hiked me up from the ground and hauled me out like a pup by the scruff of his neck," Clint stated as he walked with her. He wasn't fighting this time. Either he figured it was time to give up fighting, or he just thought he could take her out at any time.
A frown crossed her lips at the latter idea. He was in for a big surprise if he really thought he could take her out with brute force. Katja trained with Princess Adamine, Master of Brute Force. No one could throw a punch quite like a hand coated over in faceted diamond.
"My princess knows one of your crewmembers. She requested for your release."
"Royal pardon from Princess Adamine? I couldn't be more flattered. Would you happen to know just which one of us she's friends with?"
"King didn't say. I don't ask the questions. I just follow orders."
"Ah. Like a good little assassin should."
There was something in his tone. It was something… accusing?
Deciding to ignore it, Katja turned her attention on more important things. This flirty, smooth talking pirate had gotten her once. It wasn't going to happen again. He was cuffed. Katja was in control. Besides, the horrible memories that he'd dragged out of her Time Out Box were neatly secured.
There wasn't a single way that he could get the jump on her this time. Katja was perfectly in control.
Or so she thought.
From out of nowhere, something plowed directly into the back of her head. Katja saw stars when she was thrown forward.
"For an assassin, you're not very vigilant," a voice she knew all too well chimed from behind her. Teeth gritted together as Katja's mind hissed, Lucian.
How the hell did he get the jump on her? And, why wasn't he at the competition? It would be too obvious they were up to something if they didn't have a separate… team… assembled…
Hazel eyes flared wide when Katja set her eyes on the sight before her. Rogue was the very first thing she saw. Though a burlap sack covered his head like he was about to be sent to the gallows, Katja knew exactly who was beneath the fabric. The long, black mantle he kept over his shoulder was a dead give away. She wasn't half as interested in the way his clothing thrashed as she was the blade pressed against his throat.
"He's an innocent bystander, Lucian. Let him go," she ordered, adjusting her feet and securing her hold on her prisoner. Clint looked one part confused, one part interested, and not a little angry at the situation going on around him. Kat couldn't have agreed more. She was confused with the sheer amount of troops Lucian had brought with him. She was interested to know whether these were the slavers she was after. She was angry because Rogue had nothing to do with Lucian's revenge.
"Really now, Katja. If I would have said that the day you murdered the innocent children in my clan, do you really think that would have helped?" Lucian purred as he strolled towards Rogue. Hands changed position, and suddenly, a blade wasn't at Rogue's throat. Lucian's hand was. A faint magical, aura writhed against his hand as he asked, "Didn't I mention something about taking away everything you love?"
Okay. So, maybe, Rogue did have something to do with Lucian's revenge. Wait a second! Love! Katja didn't love the Dragon Slayer. She'd only known him a couple of days!
"Katja Dear," Clint whispered, his lips barely looking to move as he put his two cents in. "These cuffs are starting to chafe my handsome skin. How's about you let me go, and I take care of your little rat infestation?"
Scowling, Katja tightened her grip on Clint. She'd promised Isaac she'd transfer Clint and get Hidden Mask. She couldn't let go of either one of them.
But what to do?
She was one against at least twenty not counting Clint. She was outmanned and with one hand staying on her prisoner, she was underpowered. She needed two hands to perform the Purple Haze spell that would put everyone to sleep. The rest of her magic was infused in her gauntlets.
Then again, she didn't want to hurt Rogue. If her magic messed up and she used something other than her sleep poison, she could kill him. She needed to think, and she needed to think quick.
"How about a deal?" Lucian asked, his voice calling to her at the other end of the road. It was an ominous tone that slithered up one side of her body only to slither down the other side. She was not going to like this deal. When Katja narrowed her eyes instead of answering, Lucian continued, "I'll trade the Dragon Slayer, if I can have you. Besides, you'd be much more precious than some nameless foreigner."
"And how do I know you won't double cross me as soon as I exchange?"
"Here's the thing. You won't." The smile that ran up one side of his thing was nothing if not cruel. Then again, Katja couldn't blame him. She kind of deserved everything that would happen to her once she traded herself for the black headed slayer.
Her Time Out Box rattled at just the mere thought that Rogue would be sold in the slave trade. She couldn't allow it to happen. She was a protector now. Other people's lives held more value than hers. But what to do about the pirate?
"Release me, and I can fix all of this for you," he growled out, still barely moving his lips.
"And, how do you know I won't be double crossed by you, too?"
"On my honor as a member of the Winter's Tale. Capt'n would wring my neck if I broke a vow on that honor," he stated, flashing her a heart stopping grin.
She frowned. Katja didn't know the captain of his ship, but if Adamine trusted them, Katja would have to, too. "I'll do it," she hollered out across the expanse of road. The pointed tip of her gauntlet's pinky finger slipped inside of Clint's cuffs and unlocked them without having them fall off. They would need that ruse if Clint was truly going to assist her.
"Then drop the prisoner and step forward, Katja. I'll send your slayer over once you've reached the middle of the grounds."
Releasing her hands fully from Clint's cuffs, Katja took a brave step forward. She was one hundred percent positive that she didn't miss the eager way Lucian's gang shifted with her step. They were eager to collect her.
They looked like famished wolves ready to go in for the kill. Their grins bore fangs as she stepped towards the halfway point, but as soon as she got there something strange happened.
"Aye, boss, aren't we supposed to be looking for the assassin?" one grunt asked from behind her.
"What the hell do you think we're all the way out in the middle of nowhere for, you idiot? Now, get moving. She's around here somewhere." Lucian curled his lips in an annoyed snarl before letting go of Rogue completely. Katja watched in awe as the slayer was released and walked away from.
Rogue's astonished face popped out once he removed the burlap sack from his head. "How did you…" His words faded off as he gestured to the mages wandering around them.
"Sheesh. Do none of y'all watch Doctor Who? It's called Glimmer Magic. Similar thing as the Perception Filter on the TARDIS. Unlike the TARDIS though, my magic only lasts for so long. It's the same thing I used for you two to think the inside of the Winter's Tale was just your average vessel. Now, hurry it up. I've got a docking fine to pay, and the two of you need to scat before Lucian catches a good look on you," the pirate explained. He grabbed Katja and Rogue before shuffling them like he was herding sheep.
The idea seemed like it was a good one until Rogue stepped into the line of sight of a grunt. "How the hell," one of them breathed. "Lucian, they're getting away!"
"Ah, shit. You just had to go and make things difficult. I don't even have a rapier on me," Clint groaned when the wandering men assembled themselves. His fist tightened before being released into the gut of an oncoming mage. The male went flying to stumble into the body of another.
"It's not my fault! I've never even heard of a TARDIN, TARDA, whatever the hell you were talking about," Rogue snarled. Shadows writhed around his body before they encircled his fist. He hollered out his attack before slashing his claws into another mage.
"Kids these days," Clint sighed. He hefted his leg up then threw it into the chest of another mage. "No imagination."
Katja shook her head as she dashed forward. While they played with the small fries, she had a bigger fish to catch. His magic was already causing his palms to grow. Katja could feel the water inside of her body already being summoned to Lucian's command. This was the reason Gatlin had wanted their clan dead. They could control the water inside of the human body.
Releasing a small lock that kept her gathered poison at bay, Katja let her poison leak from her skin and into the multiple reservoirs at the base of each knuckle on her hand. The purple liquid slipped from the main reservoir and down through engraved veins. It dripped onto the ground when she roared, "Viper's Fangs!"
Her body twisted in a whirl before her gauntlets came down like a lion's paw. All she met was cloth when Lucian used his coat as a distraction. With one hand stuck in the fabric, Kat barely had time to catch sight of Lucian's water covered fist coming her way. It slammed into her gut, sending saliva flying.
"You know, Katja, I like it better this way. Even though our master said not to damage the goods too badly, I just gotta keep the wounds under your clothes," he hissed out, leaning into her ear as he got a grip on her neck.
With teeth bared, Katja let her legs give out beneath her. Lucian's grip slipped from the sudden movement, and Kat sunk her gauntlets into his legs. The dagger sharp tips dug deep into the back of his knees. The sheer force of the impact sent Lucian to his knees on top of her. Using her right leg as leverage, Katja flipped her enemy over. Her powerful thighs locked him in place as she laid blow after blow against his body.
Cartilage broke. She heard bone snap. Her poison drilled in through open wounds and sent a wave of paralysis through his body. Every punch made her Time Out Box rattle.
Images of people she'd killed flashed in front of her eyes with every blow. An innocent child she'd lured into an alley. Dead. A mother of three Katja had cornered in a bedroom. Dead. A single father who led rebel attacks on the Norman nobility. Taken alive. Tortured. Now dead.
Her Time Out Box rattled and shivered. The rusted chains threatened to break, but she was beating out her own evil.
But not for long.
With bloodstained teeth grinning, Lucian somehow got his hand against Katja's throat. The cells in her body were being drained of their precious water resource as he sucked the water out. He watched as she gasped for air against the bone crushing grip at her throat.
Somewhere voices were calling out her name. It sounded like two men. Katja could hear feet stomping. She heard strangled gurgles right after. Her men or theirs? She couldn't tell.
As her gauntlets sunk deep into Lucian's biceps, her vision was starting to waver. A rushed form of dehydration was going through her body as Lucian sucked the life giving substance out of her. She thought she was going to die. Her Time Out Box was rattling something vicious.
When something crashed into the back of her skull, everything went black. An image of her mother's smiling face flashed through her mind. "Katja, you may never be able to be touched, but you can always make a name for yourself," Malia soothed before Katja was flung lifeless against the body of her bloodstained enemy.
How can I make a name if I'm dead?