"That was interesting," Qilby said after stepping through his Zaap while carrying a struggling Alys with him, the portal closing for good behind him with an ominous sound. He bent the elongated artificial arm to force the female Eliatrope to look at him before he tilted his head to the side and said," I didn't expect you to drum up such a large gathering so soon after our little talk. Did you honestly think you could persuade them to stop me? How adorable."
Alys quivered in Qilby's grasp, emotions overflowing and having her in tears. Her mind was in disarray... She didn't even notice how thick the air was wherever he had taken her, the sky overhead a dark hue of orange and red. "You lied to everyone," she said harshly while baring her teeth at him in boiling anger, her cheeks wet with tears as she stretched her neck to not get pinched by the sharp claws clasped around her throat," you took the children! You want to destroy this world! You-you hurt Joris, maybe killed him! You won't get away with this! I won't allow it!"
"That hooded freak had it long coming," Qilby snorted with a smirk, seeming rather pleased about himself and how he had taken down the famed Master of Bonta in a single blow. "He was nosy and asked too many questions about the most trivial things. He may have thought I didn't notice but I knew full well he was watching me and waiting for me to make a single mistake. His sense of justice was admirable but he was nothing but a nuisance. Good riddance, I would say." He chuckled when Alys' struggle flared up again and she once again thrashed in his hold, his insults enraging her. He softly tutted before he began to walk and carried her, saying collected," you do best to calm down a little, sweet Alys. You wouldn't want to rile up the inhabitants of this dimension, trust me. I did bring you here for a purpose."
She refused to listen. She kicked and struggled, squirmed and twisted in an attempt to escape from the glowing arm the Eliacube had granted Qilby after he merged with the artifact, anger and grief numbing her sense of reasoning. There was a break in her thrashing however, a moment of hesitation. Glowing and watching eyes amidst the barren scenery made her realize she was no longer in Sadida and perhaps no longer the World of Twelve. Another dimension... Alys took a moment to try and figure out where Qilby had brought her while he crossed the dry soil upon bare feet, still shaking and tugging at her different bindings to not let up on the desire to escape. She couldn't recognize the landscape, experience limited. She had only been in Sadida and the pictures and maps she gazed upon in the library didn't look remotely like what she was gazing at. "Where did you take me?"
Qilby smirked while his elongated arm bent so he could look at Alys and asked with a raising of his eyebrows," do you like it?" Her silent but striking glare was a satisfying answer to him. He motioned with his free hand towards the abyss he walked along the edge of, a castle with twisting spires and pointy towers visible in the distance. It stood out from the tall rocks and cliffs, rivers of lava streaming through wide cracks which ran along the barren landscape. "Not to fret, my dear. I have no intention of making this our new home… or a travel destination. We are merely in a different dimension. The world of the Shushus, Shukrute. Heard of it?"
She did hear of it. "You… you and Adamaï tried to reach it to save Yugo and the others," she said a little baffled, wondering why Qilby had come here and took her with him. This dimension was filled with demons… It was no place for an Eliatrope or anything else that was remotely close to being human.
"Indeed."
Alys pulled her legs a little bit up after noticing a few small black shapes trailing after Qilby, the tall Eliatrope continuing on his merry way as if the creatures didn't bother him or wasn't aware of them. They were hideous, like living tar with a core of lava, their eyes and the depths of their fanged or empty mouths glowing different bright hues of orange and yellow. Some creatures had claws, others bony spikes, several eyes or multiple arms. There were many and their number kept on growing the closer the dark structure came. Were these Shushus?
"This place fascinated me then and now it plays a crucial part in my plan."
His plan. Alys struggled once more after getting past her wonder about the many small demons and heard Qilby bring up what he was plotting, saying through gritted teeth while she tried to get free with all she the strength she had left," whatever you are planning, Qilby, it isn't going to happen."
"And who is going to stop me, Alys? You?" Qilby laughed and brought her closer to shove his face close to hers, their noses almost touching while he grinned," how many times are you going to try and fail before you get it? We both may not like the use of violence, but I still outmatch you in wits and strength." He hooked a finger behind one of the bandages wrapped around her chest and firmly tugged at it, causing a wince to escape her as the pieces of linen tightened across her healing wound. "Your memory loss and weak state prevent you from surpassing me, so you do best to retake the role of the obedient, silent but caring little accessory you were in Sadida before I change my mind and give you to them," he smirked and nodded towards the line of demons following him before he suddenly buckled forward and almost dropped Alys from his grasp, clutching for his stomach.
He gasped for air after Alys drove both her heels into his gut by taking advantage from the little distance between them, the look on her face foul and spiteful. She didn't feel a sense of victory for the blow she managed to deliver his pride, the grudge she held for him too deeply rooted within.
Qilby coughed while rubbing his stomach before hearing the crowd behind him laugh and cackle, the sound of mockery causing his head to nearly snap around to glare at the demons with a leering scowl and bared fangs. An uncertain silence fell over the Shushus, a few backing up while Qilby's glare lessened. "That's what I thought," he grumbled before straightening himself up to compose himself and narrowed his eyes at Alys while keeping her at a safe distance. She remained suspended in the air with the Eliacube empowered arm coiled around her, her head tilted back with the glowing claw that was like a bear trap collar around her neck which could clamp shut at any given moment. She was being a nuisance, more so than he had been hoping for. Qilby continued his march towards the castle after all amusement he felt ebbed away, saying with held back detest," you are making it very tempting to toss you aside like a dirty rag."
"I am too valuable to you," she said in retaliation and witnessed his displeased scowl turn into a smirk, the shift in his expression proving she was right with her words. Though the question of how long she would remain valuable remained. He did say he brought her here for a purpose, but he didn't go into detail about what exactly she was needed for. She had a feeling she was going to discover the meaning of her purpose very soon, the long dark shadow the castle cast across the wastelands falling over her and Qilby with a dark undertone which made her shudder.
The gates of the castle towered over them when Qilby made his way through like he was an invited guest, not seeming to hesitate or rethink his actions. Large eyes with slit pupils were scattered across the black and rocky walls of the castle's interior, blinking and following the black and white Eliatrope with intrigued and inspecting glances. Small deformed Shushus, smaller than the ones that were close behind Qilby and entered the castle, crawled along the walls and the floor while they exclaimed with excitement," he's back, he's back!"
"Pretty little thing."
"Can we have it? Can we?"
Qilby rose Alys a little higher from the ground when a few of the smaller Shushus tried to grab for the female Eliatrope's ankles, not giving them a worthy glance while he continued to make his way towards the open courtyard. "Mmh, tell your wretched master I have returned so he can stop his bellyaching." He watched a few of the Shushus hurry to get ahead of him, all eager to bring the news to their lord and master, their king. He couldn't care less who the messenger would be or when the king of the Shushu would be informed; he had his own agenda to follow. "Now Alys…" he sweetly cooed as he swung her around to have her face him and dangle before him like a fish from a hook," I know you are going to make a ruckus in the presence of Rushu, no matter if I were to ask you nicely to be silent and still. However, here is my friendly advice…. behave, or else it will be the end for both of us."
"Rushu...? You struck a deal with Rushu?" Alys asked, her eyes growing wide in shock after she connected the dots," Qilby, have you gone mad? You can't possibl-!" The sharp claw around her throat shot upwards and clasped over Alys' mouth to silence her, the sharp ends digging into her cheeks. Whatever she tried to say or shout, it was all but an inaudible muffle and it was music to Qilby's ears. Her struggling against the bindings continued until someone became aware of their approach and caused the air to shake with a thunderous noise.
"Little flower!" the loud voice boomed, the foundation and grounds of the courtyard quaking by the sheer volume. Qilby stepped forth like a pale ghost amidst the clutter of pitch black and bright orange, the gathered Shushus stumbling and falling over each other to see the visitor that promised them carnage. Upon his massive throne sat Rushu, a horned giant which looked like he was carved out of molten lava, still hot at the core while the outer layers had hardened into thick skin and armor. He gazed down upon Qilby with an arched brow, a clawed hand stroking his full beard while he thoughtfully said," you took your time. Not planning on dropping out of our agreement, are you?"
"Not at all, despised king," Qilby said humble while laying his pale hand against his bare chest and stepped forward to the middle of the courtyard," I merely had to fetch a crucial component to make our plan successful." He set himself off from the ground to float upwards and bring himself closer towards the lord of the Shushus, before he presented his captive to him. The pulsing cyan arm bent and moved to no longer hide Alys behind Qilby's lean frame, steadily but quickly bringing her closer so that the enormous demon could get a good look of her if he so desired.
The giant rose his eyebrows in surprise before he guffawed at the sight of the bound and gagged Eliatrope, the strength of his laughter rumbling like a strong gust of wind. "Tell me, little flower," he said as his glowing eyes with the chipped lower eyelids turned to look at Qilby," couldn't you handle her without her being gagged?" He laughed some more and stomped with his clawed feet on the steps of his throne, the castle shaking with his laughter while all his subjects joined in with mad cackling.
Qibly chuckled in mild amusement while ignoring how Alys leaned as far back as possible in his grasp, her eyes large in fright while she gazed upon Rushu and the black nail he pointed at her like he was about to puncture her with it. "We are like a married couple, Rushu. If you know evil, and I am certain you do, you know how argumentative a wife can get. We are both better off with her not talking at all. However, since we are on the subject, I will need a cage for my little sweet to keep her in while I continue the preparations for your little invasion. A strong cage."
"I like how you handle your women, little flower. You've got a style I can find myself behind. Anathar!" Rushu bellowed after he showed an approving grin, settling down a little. He drummed his claws impatiently onto the armrest of his throne, however, waiting for his chief commander to come to his beck and calling while he pressed the tip of his sharp and massive nail under Alys' chin to have a better look," still… I don't see how she is a crucial element to your plan. She looks more frail than you do."
"Don't underestimate the Eliatrope people, your rotting eminence; we may just surprise you," Qilby said while he allowed Rushu to inspect Alys on his leisure, before the Shushu chief commander with his golden mask came rushing towards the throne to answer his master's call. The jackal-like giant of a Shushu seemed nervous in the presence of his master, especially when he bowed forward and his golden snout almost touched the very floor he stood upon.
"You rang, oh vilest of the vile?" he asked before raising his head to look at Rushu and noticed the small appearances of Qilby and his guest hovering before the lord of the Shushus. He brought himself up to stand straight, not pleased to see the male Eliatrope even though he brought him a little present to play with earlier this day, a young dragon. He couldn't wait to possess the small but powerful creature and he knew soon was the time. The only issue present was trusting the pale Eliatrope with his generous offers.
"Take this little ray of sunshine to the other cretins and lock her up," Rushu said a little amused and pushed the nail a little firmer underneath Alys' chin to make her squirm in pain, her eyes clenched shut while she breathed heavily through her nose as her mouth remained clamped shut by the claw of Qilby's artificial arm," we need her later, so don't feed her to anyone hungry."
"As you command, my loathsome master," Anathar obediently said and stepped forward on his long crooked legs to snatch the female Eliatrope from the air with one of his massive claws, forcing Qilby to finally release her. Her hands were still bound by the vines she was forced to wear during the trial, but it was Anathar's crushing grip which made her gasp for air and grimace in pain after a second of freedom, unable to put up a fight against one of the strongest Shushus Shukrute held in its sulfur filled depths. He carried her away from the courtyard and Qilby's side into the darkness of the castle were endless amounts of eyes watched her, black oozing tendrils reaching forth to inspect whomever wandered the corridors while the walls and floor of the castle's interior seemed alive.
Alys did not dare to speak, unable to as she struggled to breathe in the black vice which was Anathar's claw. There hadn't been a sliver of a chance to escape and even if there was, how were she to escape from a disconnected dimension? Without the Eliacube, she wouldn't be able to make a portal into a different layer of the Krosmoz, let alone find the way back to the World of Twelve. She was at Qilby's mercy if the Shushus wouldn't get to her first. She cringed when Anathar sniffed her, his deep inhales tugging at her veil and hair before he bared his teeth in disdain, the rows of fangs gleaming in the dim light of the corridors. "All this innocence," he grumbled in disgust while going down a few flights of stairs, journeying into the belly of the castle.
The temperature began to rise the further down he took her and soon he made his way through a wide and high hallway, the air rippling from the heat that came from beyond the stone archway he was heading towards. What he walked into was a massive furnace, a stone plateau surrounded by boiling lava. Scattered throughout the underground cave with its lava river were many cages in different sizes and shapes, hanging with thick chains from the stalactites which hung from the ceiling. Most of the cages were empty to Alys' relief, and dismay. At the very end of the plateau was a large stone slab shaped like an altar, the size of it colossal; Alys didn't dare to think of the purpose behind it.
"Open," Anathar demanded after he stomped over to what was a cage which stood uneven against one of the pillars which wasn't corroded by the surrounding lava. The eye on the top of the cage opened, the pupil spinning around until it focused on the approaching Anathar and rose its bars quickly to not keep the lean but hulking commander waiting. With a careless chuck, Anathar tossed Alys into the Shushu possessed cage, its bars slamming shut the moment she crashed into the back with a pained yelp. He leaned forth to peer into the locked cage, saying with his shark like grin and his golden mask shining in the lava's glow," any commotion and I will come down to eat you myself, maybe after I've possessed you and torn you apart on the inside. Whatever I'll decide on, it will be enjoyable… for me." He snickered as he rose to a standing and saw the female Eliatrope try to make herself small in the corner of the cage, before he he turned around to make his way back to the courtyard. A dragon was waiting for him and he had been looking forward to it.
Alys watched from through the bars with frightful eyes and a rapid beating heart, sweating as the heat from the surrounding lava began to cling to her. She waited with a certain impatience for the jackal looking Shushu to be gone from sight before inspecting the cage she was in, trying to remain focused. It was small in size, made out of metal and some other material that looked like living tissue. It was worn from extensive use, claw marks carved deep into the walls and floor of the cage. She was out of luck with her prison being possessed by a Shushu... No matter if she were able to bend a bar, the Shushu would shape it right back in place… She sighed while biting back the stinging tears as she gazed upon the wooden bindings she wore, a sense of hopelessness overwhelming her with the stiffness and aching of her wrists and hands. There had to be a way to get these off. Only a portal could get her out of this small prison and she needed her hands to be completely free to accomplish such. She shifted on her knees to try and stabilize herself in the small space before she rose both her arms to bash with the vine shackles against the bars, the clang echoing while neither bars or shackle budged.
"Oi, stop that!" the Shushu confined to the cage's husk snarled before several spikes sprung up from the cage's bottom like a warning for Alys to not smack the bars again.
She gasped and nearly fell over while clumsily trying to dodge the spikes by standing up in the confined space, frantically pressing herself up against the walls and the ceiling. She panted, frightened and paranoid while she stared down at the spikes with large eyes, expecting them to grow or to sprout from the walls. She felt her knees give away after her nerves couldn't longer take it, slumping down the moment the sharp spikes withdrew and gave her some respite. She took a deep breath to try and calm herself after she slid down the wall and ended up sitting on the heated floor, knowing she had to find a different way. She was so very tired however, drained from her struggles and emotionally a mess from what had happened. She closed her eyes to try and come up with a solution while resting her head against the cell's wall, but all she could think about were the people she left behind in Sadida; Alibert and Chibi. Joris... Goddess, whatever became of him?
"Well well, another unfortunate visitor. So what is your story, beautiful?"
The sudden voice drew her from her sorrowful thoughts and kept her from giving into grief before she leaned forward to get on her knees and shuffle forward in response and curiosity. The voice sounded different from the talkative Shushus; no hissing, lisping or growling, just normal. Alys brought herself closer to the bars to find where the voice came from before seeing a masked man sitting against the side of the massive altar. He didn't look like he belonged in this place… in fact, he looked human. Another prisoner?
"What is it, cheri? Bow meow got your tongue?" he asked with a smug-sounding chuckle, the tone of his question causing Alys to lose the will to answer. She was done dealing with people who thought highly of themselves and acted smug, not to mention that she felt sore from such a long day. All she wanted was to be left alone in peace and rest while she could while mourning the loss of someone she deeply respected and looked up to in more ways than one.
"Very funny, Remy," a disgruntled voice sounded from above, indicating there were more people present. Alys could just see it from through the bars of her cell; the head of a displeased looking bow meow sticking through the opening of a shoddy wooden cage which hung from a rusty chain somewhat above the masked stranger. At first she was surprised to see a talking bow meow, but it was the name which rung a bell and had her not linger on trying to figure out if the feline had truly spoken.
"Remy...?" Alys asked while pressing herself against the bars to be able to see both the bow meow and the man after her interest was piqued, their heads cocking in unison after she repeated the name the bow meow said out loud," Remy, as in Remington?"
Both man and bow meow looked at each other in surprise and then suspicion when they glanced towards the woman in the Shushu cage, their eyes narrowing while inspecting her inquisitively. "Why make that guess?" the masked man asked as he pulled a leg up to let an arm rest over his knee, trying to make out the face that looked at him from behind the bars.
"Adamaï told me about you. You were the one who was trapped here with Yugo and Sadlygrove Percedal," she said, remembering the story Adamaï told her when he and Qilby returned from saving Yugo and his friends from Shukrute. Adamaï had been excited to tell her and Alibert about his brother's adventure in the dimension of Rushu, but she knew he exaggerated on a few parts. Apparently the part about the rogue with his feline companion was true. "You stayed behind to save your brother, didn't you?" she asked, seeing both of them grimace.
"Yeah, look where that got us," the bow meow said resentfully, pulling a face while his ears flattened and folded back. He obviously had gotten the short end of the stick during the rescue operation.
Alys slowly blinked and was about to ask about the bow meow when Remington cut her off and beat her to it by answering her unspoken question," it seems tales of my heroism are spreading. It is true, cheri, I couldn't leave my brother behind." He nodded upwards to the cage which held the feline prisoner," he is Grany, my younger brother. Don't mind the whiskers and fur, he obviously comes in travel size; very convenient." He snickered when he heard Grany hiss at him before he looked back to Alys," though this time it hasn't exactly worked in our advantage. Who knew the lord of the Shushu didn't like cuteness…" He gave a shrug, overly nonchalant to hide his frustration with the situation and put on his most charming smile as he gazed to the new prisoner," now don't consider me ungrateful for having more enjoyable and pleasing company in this place, but it isn't often someone knows our name before we know theirs."
The Eliatrope remained seated against the bars, silent at first while Remington waited for an introduction without asking for one before she said loud enough to be heard," Alys." She didn't wish to share her name at first, but she had to face the facts. She was in the same boat as the two brothers and for all she knew, they could be her only allies in this world.
"Alys," Remington repeated as if to taste the name before he he smirked," I'll take it you came along with that Qilby fellow, how else would one like you've gotten here?" The silence which followed his question was answer enough to the rogue and he shrugged, saying while waving with a hand," I suggest you get comfortable in there, cheri. The Shushus tend to forget about us until their king requires entertainment."
Entertainment.
Alys grimaced as she shuffled in the cage to sit against the wall, the wonder about her purpose in this place rising once more. She brought her gaze up when something formed in the ceiling of her prison, bubbling and shifting till an eye came through and intently looked at her like a crazed watchdog. The Shushu possessing the cage was not going to cut her any slack, the fear for punishment or worse the only motivation needed to do its job. Both eye and Eliatrope stared at each other until Alys was the first to avert her gaze, huddling up against the wall. The only option she had was to wait for the time she would be fetched, be it by Qilby, Anathar or anyone else. Now was the time to rest and try to replenish herself, though tormenting thoughts haunted her after she gave into the feeling of sorrowful solitude. The end of the World of Twelve, the fate of the children, the loss of friends... She couldn't forget or ignore the worries, the frustration that she hadn't been able to put a stop to it all eating away at her.
Rest would be hard to find.
To be continued