Chapter 35

Duke couldn't believe he was working for the Teen any more than he could believe how easily he'd fallen into his new role. He hated himself for it. More than hated himself for it; it disgusted him so totally he couldn't even bring himself to say anything to Jo. Instead he just tailed her and Lilac as they searched their way around the Southern Palace. Clearly the Teen had made it impossible for anyone to pinpoint his exact location and he'd even heard Jo admit that much herself to Lilac when the other girl had asked why the search was taking so long.

If Duke was being honest with himself, he was more concerned with why neither of them had acknowledged his presence. After all, he wasn't like them; he didn't have the power to cloak his position or anything like that. His tailing of them should have radiated out like a pulsating beacon, but for some reason he went by completely unnoticed. It was…

'Jo, stop,' he suddenly forced the words out of his mouth.

Instantly the two girls came to a halt and turned back towards him.

'Duke?' Jo frowned. 'How long have…?'

'You don't know?'

She shook her head.

'You can't go after the Teen Jo,' he gritted his teeth, as a sharp feeling of pain stabbed through him. 'You can't.'

'Are you okay Ulk Duke?' Lilac blinked at him, as he began clutching at his chest. 'The air around you looks…'

'The Teen tried to get you under his control, didn't he?' Jo cut her off. 'That's why you…'

'The Teen does have me under his control Jo,' Duke fought against the rising amount of pain he was feeling. 'That's why this is hurting me so much,' he half collapsed to his knees, only able to remain standing by gripping onto a nearby hall table.

'If he had you totally under his control you wouldn't be able to fight it like this.'

'I'm not fighting it,' he glared at her, 'I'm only telling you this to keep you in one spot.'

'What?'

'I'm sorry Jo,' slowly the pain began to ease off, 'but this was the only thing I could think of.'

'You're not serious.'

'I am.'

'Ulk Duke, please don't…' Lilac took half a step towards him, 'I won't let you let anything happen to Jo. I know you don't really want this.'

'Of course I don't really want this, but I don't have a choice,' he could feel everything in him dividing into two. 'But you do.'

'Ly, go get our parents,' Jo shot her a look.

'No,' she shook her head, 'if I leave you on your own then…'

'I'll be fine,' she calmly met Duke's gaze, 'he can't do anything to me and I'm more than ready to deal with the Teen.'

'But Jo…'

'Go Ly, now.'

Reluctantly the younger girl did as she was told, leaving Duke and Jo to stare each other down.

'You're stronger than him,' Jo remained calm, 'you can't fight this.'

'No,' he shook his head, 'no I'm not. No I can't. I can't fight him. That's why he picked me.'

'You are stronger than you think.'

'No I'm not; I'm the weakest member of our group and you know it. That's why Crovell has so much power over me. And why it was so easy for him, especially after…'

'Crovell is different to the Teen.'

'Not anymore he isn't.'

'I will get my father back.'

'You can't.'

'Of course I can.'

'No,' he shook his head, as he spotted the Teen approaching Jo from behind, 'you can't. There's nothing you can do. You are his.'

'What do you mean I am his?'

'He means this,' the Teen's voice made her half jump out of her skin.

'I'm sorry Jo,' Duke lowered his gaze, 'but there's no escape for you, just like there was no escape for Crovell.'

'You can't be happy with this,' Jo stared at him.

'Of course I'm not, but there's nothing I can do.'

'You can stop him Duke.'

'No. I can't,' he took hold of Jo's arms and pinned her into a position facing the Teen.

'Don't do this Duke,' her voice strained with panic, 'don't do this to me and my baby.'

'I'm sorry Jo,' he lowered his head, 'I'm so sorry.'

He had no idea how False had managed to lure him out of his room, but it appeared the guy had an easier time explaining the concept of Blue Ice with the two of them constantly moving around. It was clear the whole subject made False uncomfortable for some reason, although Arados wasn't totally sure why. Still, he had been glad the complexities of the subject matter made the extended leave from his room pass easily. So easily Arados could almost have believed his agoraphobia had left just as unpredictably as it had begun.

Suddenly shouting from the corridor ahead of them caught their attention. Quickly the pair of them darted forward, nearly stopping in their tracks when they spotted Jo being held by Duke, as the Teen…

'Don't you dare take her Order,' Arados half screamed, as he threw his fist heavily against the guy, making him fly backwards, 'and how dare you work for him,' his eyes turned darkly towards Duke.

'I have no choice.' Duke's voice was low and dull.

'I'm sure.'

'Its true Ara,' Jo's voice edged with fear, 'he really…'

'Shut the hell up Jo,' Arados cut her off, 'no one cares what you have to say.'

'But what about what I have to say?' The Teen slowly climbed back to his feet, his gaze set on someone behind Arados.

Glancing back to make sure the only person it could be was False, he couldn't help but wonder for a moment if he'd been betrayed. Somewhat hesitantly False reached his left arm out to the side of him.

'That's right,' the Teen taunted, 'summon one of his weapons.'

'What?' False hesitated, his hand remaining empty in its frozen outstretched position.

'Don't you know?'

'Know what?'

'That weapon you attacked me with before was one of his.'

'One of whose?'

'Ni's.'

'What?' Arados and False cried in unison.

'Normally when he recruits you brats he at most gives you basic demon level weapons. But with you little boy, with you he actually gave you one of his own,' the Teen taunted, 'I thought it was because you were one of his main bounty hunters, but when he assured me that you weren't, there was only one explanation for it… Hateling.'

'No,' False shook his head, lowering his hand and backing slowly away as he did. 'No, I'm a Vii Sen, my father...'

'He's baiting you False,' Arados interrupted him, turning on the Teen, 'but if he knew what was good for him he'd be taking his little minion and running right about now.'

'Good idea,' the Teen smirked, 'come on slave, let's go.'