Chapter 61-Compromised
Pale fingers scraped against tough bark as Tanui struggled to pull himself up, screaming in pain as his entire skull thrummed in agony with every heartbeat. Ever since the prolonged vision he had experienced, his mind had seemed to shatter and each step brought nothing but misery and suffering. Allowing himself to drop from a branch he had grabbed hold of, he fell onto the forest floor, rolling over on his back so he could clutch at his head. He dug his fingernails into his scalp, letting the trickles of blood ooze down his face as he forced himself to sit up. Pressing his back against rigid tree bark, he bit back a scream as his vision swam, prompting him to squeeze his eyes shut and try to block out everything.
The low cackle of his Master pricked at the base of his skull and he snarled, digging further into his flesh as he started shaking, exhaustion tearing away at him the longer he remained conscious. He was afraid of sleeping, for his dreams would be nightmares, but also afraid of being awake, for he could no longer trust his senses or his mind. Despite his strict, yet slipping, control over himself, he had no choice as he began to fade into unconsciousness, his hands falling to the grassy ground as a thick blackness settled over him . . .
Raoul was joined by Finca as he lingered at the main stairwell for the Compound, fuming over his father's acceptance of Nethial even after everything that had happened between the two of them. Pacing the floor, he grumbled curses under his breath as the familiar mental presence of the dragoness he associated with Tamli touched his thoughts.
Peace, Raoul. Give them time to see what you see, Finca cautioned as she lay over in one of the room's many corners, her yellow irises fixated on him as her snout rested on her forelegs.
"Why would I do that? I just know he's going to break her heart again. It's only a matter of time before history repeats itself . . ."
Not all cases have the events of the past mirror those in the present, child. Your father is wiser than he was back then and will not make the same mistake . . .
Raoul spun around, glaring at her as Finca realized how her words had sounded to him. "What mistake was that? Are you referring to when they gave life to me during their nightly interactions?"
No, I was not implying that. What I meant was that he was reckless in his youth and, as a result, paid a dear price for it.
Calming down slightly, he sighed and dropped his gaze, studying the floor under him. "Fine, you have a point. Mother never let me do anything because she was afraid of me turning to Corruption, only to have her embrace it and nearly kill me instead."
Finca snorted in amusement before she raised her head, glancing down towards the stairs that led to the lower levels. Raoul hesitated then followed her gaze to watch as Dhran ascended the steps, cradling a small bundle in his arms.
Is Aurelia unharmed? Finca growled softly as Airu stopped, shifting the wrappings to let them see a tiny baby nestled in the white fabric as a single strand of fine black hair crested over the top of its skull.
"She's fine but exhausted so I decided to bring him up here to let you see for yourselves. Finca, Raoul, I present Nathaniel Zura Ricata," Airu announced proudly as his son stirred slightly, blinking open its green eyes for a moment before yawning and going back to sleep.
Is has been many a moon since the birth of a human child down here. Dhran, you and Aurelia should be proud of this little one and I trust you to raise him well. A quiet hum filled the air as Finca lifted her head, gently placing the tip of her snout on Nathaniel's forehead. And you, little Nathaniel, will grow to be a great protector of peace in a time when even the bravest of dragons shall remember the deeds done by your most-blessed parents.
Having spoken, Finca withdrew her snout and returned to her position, twitching the end of her tail as her gaze flickered to Raoul. She hoped he knew that it was customary for those seeing a child for the first time to present a blessing to it in hopes of shaping its future.
"I wish you luck, Dhran, in raising this bundle of joy. It will be a challenge but I feel, in the short time I've known you, that you are most capable of being a great parent to this infant." Raoul sighed before his attention was directed to the entrance to the Compound, only to find his father entering with something in his arms.
"Dhran, would you prepare the same cell used to house Arxa please? This is of the upmost importance . . ."
Tamli slowed once he realized Dhran was talking with Finca and Raoul, revealing the limp body in his arms to be that of his clone as Nethial trailed silently after him. A questioning growl from his dragon caught him off-guard and he hissed, gripping down on Tanui's arm before he figured out what had happened and relaxed his hand.
Where did you find Tanui? Finca asked as she stood up and walked over to him, blocking Dhran from his sight.
He was just outside of our territory, Tamli replied softly as he met the fierce gaze of his dragon. I sensed him before we entered and by the time Nethial and I got there, he was already unconscious. I find it odd that he was heading in our direction . . .
Tanui snarled in his sleep, raising a hand to cushion his skull as Finca growled, wanting Tamli to more closely examine the words he had just said. She suspected the reasoning of the clone was to make another kill, one close to the hybrid. It made perfect sense to her the more she thought on it yet she glanced at Raoul, nodding her head to instruct him to carry out his father's wishes as she told him what cell was specifically needed.
We shall restrain him as you wish but I believe you know why he was coming towards our location. There's something you're not telling me, isn't there? What is there to hide, love?
Walking past her, Tamli refused to answer her question and followed after Raoul towards the holding chamber, keeping silent even as Finca tried to press the issue. Growling in restrained anger, she waited patiently as Nethial came up beside her and Dhran left to return to Aurelia's side with Nathaniel held comfortably in his arms.
It has been many years, Nethial, Finca remarked as the former rider glanced at her from the corner of her eye.
"Indeed, Finca, and my heart warms at seeing you still alive. You are correct in your assumption that Tanui was planning on killing another close to Tamli though. I could sense it from his recent actions that he was close to figuring out another target . . ."
What is it, Nethial? Finca questioned as the former rider fell silent, glancing away and gripping the hilt of her blade. Do you know who this target would have been?
"It's you," Nethial whispered a moment later, avoiding eye contact. "He would go after the ones that were the closest to the hybrid . . . Make Tamli feel his pain . . . I can't believe I didn't realize it sooner. I could have stopped him if I knew . . . Tyst and Malie wouldn't be scarred for life then . . ."
Tamli watched as Raoul strapped down Tanui, attaching the thick black chains that had once held Narssia onto the multiple layers of silver links already wrapped around the clone's body. Surprisingly, the delusional hybrid had not stirred during the process and seemed to be completely still, save for the shallow rise and fall of its chest. Lingering just outside the door, he made sure the clone wasn't going anywhere before calling out to his son to go ahead and start pumping in the same power-reducing chemical that had affected Arxa months before.
Slipping out of the cell before he breathed in any of the weakening agent, Tamli gazed at the identical being held captive in the room as Raoul placed a hand on his shoulder in comfort after locking the massive steel door. They had Tanui suspended by the weight of the massive chains, the smaller links keeping his arms pined to his side as a reddish vapor misted through the jailed area.
"This will work, father," Raoul assured him as Tamli blinked, glancing down at his own hands as a sense of guilt racked him. "From the tests Amia did to me, I know nothing blood-related works to reverse the decay. Each clone is different and every single one of them has a breaking point. We have to find his . . . somehow."
"Treating him like a monster is no different then what Misery did to me," Tamli confessed as he stared through the thick glass in the door to see his copy, barely able to sense its presence but enough to let him know Tanui was still alive. "While I find myself torn over how best to end his life, I feel distanced from him as I watch the consequences of Amia's choices ravish him both physically and mentally. I wonder what thoughts ran through the mind of their creator when he made each one of them . . ."
"Why does it concern you? This is for the best, we both know that. You said it yourself that he's a threat and, now, it's under control."
Tamli chuckled, gently pushing away his son's hand. "Under control? Tanui will kill all of us if given the chance, Raoul. He will stop at nothing to destroy those close to me until I crumble, unless I kill him before he gets that chance. It is only my sense of mercy that is preventing me from walking in there and slaughtering him right now. When we fight, which there will be another conflict between us, I want him to be at his best. Only the strongest is worthy of being known as the first true human-dragon hybrid to exist."
Raoul sighed before walking behind his father, pausing at the entrance to the large corridor where the cells were carefully guarded to look back. "He will get out, father; it's only a matter of time before this nightmare starts again."
Ignoring the comment, Tamli stayed where he was as Raoul left him by himself, his gaze still transfixed on the identical figure behind the glass as a single strand of black hair fell into the clone's face. He knew the words were true but he wanted to hold onto the moment for as long as he could, to protect those he cared about. Tanui wouldn't hesitate to go after Finca now, he knew that for certain as he thought back to their fight on the beach and how brutal the combat had been between them.
"You will regret taking every life you have, clone," Tamli spat as he turned around, unwilling to bring himself to look upon such a similar form any longer. "No harm will come to Finca while I live so don't even think about attacking her . . . not that you can do much right now anyway."
Walking over to the entryway into the much larger walkway that now housed Tanui, Tamli paused for a moment to consider what he had just said. Glancing back at the grey steel that protected the dragons of the Compound from their worst nightmare, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, feeling drained from all that had happened during the day.
"We start at dawn trying to break you. I hope you make this interesting, otherwise it will be a wasted effort on my part. It's been a long time since I gave myself permission to enter without restraint into someone's mind so you might want to ready yourself for a day of misery. Amia's torture won't compare to the agony I shall put you through, now will it?"
Early the next morning, Tamli had returned to standing before the cell holding Tanui, a plan slowly forming in his mind on how best to torture the clone for all the damage it had done. He was surprised when Finca came up beside him, having not sensed her presence until she softly growled, fixing a single iris on him. Letting his gaze drop to the floor, he gathered his hands in front of him, unwilling to talking to her about what he wanted to do to the delusional hybrid.
I am not here to argue with you, Tamli, Finca admitted as the silence between them became uncomfortable. Raoul told me what happened once he left you and I kept my silence during the night, mediating on how best to take the information. You feel so strongly about this that I can do nothing but leave the decision in your hands, love. Amia broke the laws of nature when he created the clones and I trust you to correct the imbalance by whatever means necessary.
Tamli took a step back, surprised at the response he had gotten from his own dragon. He had expected Finca to be mad but her encouragement of him warmed his heart. Patting her shoulder, he gave her a soft smile before focusing on the task at hand as his attention returned to the figure hanging limply inside the steel-clad room.
Thank you, he whispered as he heard Raoul's footsteps from down the corridor heading towards them. I won't kill him right now but I want information. Nethial told me all she knew about the clones when we talked yet I want to hear from him directly about his decline, if he will speak to me.
I have no doubt in your abilities, Finca hummed as she turned to walk away, but be careful in how you approach him. Tanui isn't stable and will find a reason to go after you if he feels escape is possible.
Tamli hesitated for a minute, glancing at the thick glass that separated him from the copy. Does it remind you of Szara? He asked as he turned his head to see her from the corner of his eye.
Yes, unfortunately. Being a prisoner of your own mind isn't something I would wish on anyone . . . yet there is one that deserves to make peace with its past actions.
"I assume you're referring to Arxa, correct?" Raoul questioned as he entered, wearing a light grey robe that fitted over his shoulders and covered up the rest of his outfit, although Tamli could see something he had on was black. "Having no knowledge of her prior existence, I cannot speak on what is right or wrong . . . yet each individual should be allowed to accept their flaws and learn from their mistakes."
Nodding to Finca to take her leave, Tamli waited until she had left before he turned to face his son. Raoul quickly shed his cloak to reveal a grey tunic and black pants, an empty sheath hanging from his waist. Raising an eyebrow at the notion of his own child carrying a weapon, Tamli reached for his own only to remember it was still broke as his fingers met open air where the hilt usually was located.
"Ready to start?" Tamli asked as Raoul walked up to him, placing a hand on his arm as he noticed his son seemed distracted by something.
"How are we going to wake him up without being affected by the power-reducing substance as well?"
A quiet chuckle rose from Tamli's throat before he replied, "Let me handle that much. I am worried the restraints won't hold very well for what I have in mind though . . ."
"You want him to use electricity? That would short-circuit his metal leg, not to mention what all the metal wrapped around his body would do . . ."
"Exactly, my son," Tamli commented as he glanced at the limp body hanging inside the steel cell. "I want him to feel true aguish and beg for mercy. He has killed so many innocents that I cannot attempt to seek vengeance for all of them but I shall try . . ."
Taking a step back, Tamli closed his eyes and carefully extended his consciousness towards Tanui. He gently prodded at the hybrid's mind, being cautious not to go too deep into the insane clone's thoughts as he stirred it from sleep. A defiant snarl echoed from within the cell and he smiled, blinking open his eyes as the faintest flicker of lightning danced over the copy's hands. Seconds later, a low, painful growl rippled from Tanui and Tamli realized the electricity had stopped far sooner than he had expected.
"He wants to protect his leg," Raoul suggested as they exchanged glances before Tamli's focus returned to his clone as Tanui stared intently at him through dimmed irises. "It didn't take him long to figure out that it would just come back onto him if he tried to use lightning. Despite that madness dulling him, the clone is pretty smart, father."
"I'm aware of that," Tamli snapped back immediately before realizing the harshness of his tone. "Sorry, Raoul. This is a passionate subject for me, namely because of who Tanui has killed during the last few days."
"Your dragonic firstborn, I understand."
Pushing aside the thoughts that crept into his mind at the mention of Rados, Tamli turned to prodding at Tanui's mind again. Of the memories he did find, most were fractured and broken in places, leading to him questioning just how much sanity the clone had anymore. He wondered how Ladetis had dealt with the mental connection to a man so deep into psychosis but then he realized this was the price the copies had paid for their unlawful creation. Their very existence was unnatural and this decay was nature's way of slowly destroying each one of them.
You think this will hold me?
Hearing his own mental voice so closely reflected in the hybrid's tone concerned him and Tamli found that Tanui's attention was, again, fixated solely on him. Sighing, he asked Raoul to cut off the power-repressing solution so he could confront the clone face-to-face. Although he sensed his son's unease at doing what he wanted, the air soon cleared within the cell and Tamli unlocked the steel door, walking inside as he let it slam shut behind him.
"You couldn't resist insulting me to my face, could you?" Tanui whispered as Tamli unbuckled his empty sheath and let it fall to the floor, wanting to show the clone that he was not going to kill it and only wished to talk.
"Why did you choose Rados?"
A sudden laugh from Tanui startled Tamli and his hand rose, a stream of his aura rising up to fit inside his palm. "Misery." The clone paused, giving Tamli enough time to approach and stop right before the delusional hybrid as he was confident the chains would last as long as they simply talked. "Those that are unfamiliar with cloning call it barbaric and perhaps, rightfully, it is . . ."
"Amia knew the ancient laws, understood that creating an unnatural being was punishable by the highest order, yet he acted solely for his own benefit. Nethial told me all she knew concerning the clones . . . yet I see now there is little reasoning to be had between us." Tamli turned around, collecting his hands in front of him.
"Little reasoning? You think this is my choice? I never wanted to be created! Master didn't care if we lived or died, he just wanted a perfect replica of the hybrid who had done him so much damage over the years to fulfill his revenge."
Whirling back around, Tamli lifted a hand in anger and listened as Tanui hissed out the last few words of his attempt at being pitiful. Mentally choking the hybrid, he watched as it struggled against his powerful grip and lightning flickered along pale fingers in protest. Taking a step back out of precaution, he lightly chuckled as the clone's body grew rigid and its weak murmuring turned to frantic attempts at screaming.
"Nothing you do will matter. There is no escape from this place, not while I'm in charge. You would have been better off wandering the forest then to find yourself at my mercy . . ."
Tanui narrowed his eyes, lightning crackling along his arms before a stray jolt escaped and hit the ground right next to Tamli. Furious at the obvious resentment of his control, the hybrid responded with an instinctual surge of aura that shook the chains wrapped around the delusional clone as it collapsed into unconsciousness from a combination of recent events. Still angry at the defiance he had been shown, Tamli failed to hear the door to the cell being opened until Raoul gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Let it go, father. I will ensure the necessary precautions are made to confirm that he will not escape from this imprisonment. Unless the end of the world is upon us, the delusional clone won't get out, I promise you that." Raoul waited a few seconds before gently grasping his father's arm. "We can try again in a few hours to get information from him but until then, you need to get your mind off of all of this."
Allowing himself to be lead out by his son, Tamli ignored the faint whispers in the back of his mind that wondered whether he would have the courage needed to punish the clone for all the wrong it had done. Violence never solved anything but, instead, only made the problem worse, especially with how frail the copied hybrid was concerning the amount of psychosis he had witnessed during their fight. He briefly thought about how Ladetis must have felt prior to the separation but quickly cast the thoughts aside as Raoul guided him up the stairs and as far away from the cell as possible to put his mind at ease.