Standing on the edge of the void, the man observed David's startled awakening in Jamie's bed, a mirthful grin about his lips. It was really too bad that he wasn't 'ready' to confront the former tyrant in the flesh. Giving a causal shrug, he turned away from the view out into the 'other'.
The large, sightless hound crouched in the swirling cosmic clouds, tail swishing them into tattered ribbons about his paws. No longer able to see his master, his ears stood at attention, awaiting his future commands.
As he passed the beast, the master gave an absent pat to the creature's head.
"We have waited for two years, Vindicta. What's a little while longer? Every day has been an exquisite gift while we uncovered the perfect details to construct my ultimate form. I've bided my time, knowing the day will come when I will finally be able to come face to face with that arrogant turncoat."
His expression softened somewhat as he looked up into the dark expanse above his small piece of the cosmos.
"I never dreamed I'd get the opportunity for punishment. He was said to have died twice and each time was mere rumor. All the better for me. It's as if the universe even smiles in my favor."
A large hand flexed in tight, black leather gloves, the creaking of the material causing Vindicta's ears to perk up. The man turned his icy gaze upon his clenched fists.
"Yes, our excavation of Drakkon's mind has revealed lovely gems of inspiration. Far too long did I listen to reports of his grandiosity and debauchery during his reign. All for naught as I was unable to transcend worlds. Locked away, seething, aching for vengeance, the chance to repay him in kind for the pain he caused me."
An icy laugh reverberated the room. Vindicta lifted his muzzle, displaying sharp, deadly teeth in solidarity with his master.
"Drakkon imagined himself a God amongst men, too powerful and dangerous to challenge. But even Rome eventually fell, did it not? The mighty ruler flew too close to the sun."
Heavy footsteps echoed eerily in the hushed stillness beyond the stars as he walked back to the edge of everything. A normal man would have found it unbearably cold. The cloak enveloped figure was not a 'normal man', however. This environment was actually in his favor, his body in its natural state a roiling mass of molten lava and fire.
"How easy it was to find the perfect method of striking at his heart! Drakkon assumed it was withered and dead, never looking past the end of his nose. Becoming too entangled with that precious pet of his own creation was the beginning of his complacence."
The man scoffed as he paced in the inky blackness, punctuated by ethereal blue lights. They swirled and twisted beside his head, following him lovingly.
"Keeping that little Ranger alive from the very beginning was a tie to an albatross. So besotted with a weak, conquered rival, a captive, a filthy beast. Drakkon became bewitched by his little pet, consumed with possessing him, always thinking about the next tryst. Its no wonder really that his decisions were flawed leading to the end of his rule."
Shaking his head, thick wavy hair tumbled about his cheeks; it was a new sensation, the next addition to his physical form. He grinned happily, gloved fingers twirling the unfamiliar strands playfully. The little blue orbs scattered and regrouped around Vindicta's sightless face.
"Love is a grand thing, to be sure. Not so much if you desire uncontested power. It amuses me to watch Drakkon pine for his precious Vulpecula. Such a sad state of events, is it not, Vindicta?"
His blue eyes stared into the void, remembering the ache in his very essence the day he received the devastating news.
His beloved daughter was dead.
Betrayed.
Murdered.
Mocked in her death.
He'd nearly torn himself apart in his wretched sorrow, burned for retribution against the traitorous snake who'd coldly impaled her with his dagger. Unable to cross worlds, this entity, Dark Spector, could only watch, enraged as Drakkon attained soaring heights of power. Cavorting about the galaxy, bullying the vast expanse of warlords, traipsing through the stars with his 'canine'.
"It was a work of the fates, Vindicta, that I was unable to immediately strike the viper down. I risked losing him to others but both times he was again presented to me. Looking back, killing him where he stood would have been little solace."
Holding up a palm before his eyes, he gave a low whistle.
The dancing blue orbs darted over each other to nestle in his palm, a squirming mass of tiny creatures. Dark Spector cooed at them through his full, humanized lips.
"Little sanguisuga, I owe you much. How fortunate for you to find him drifting in space as you chased your celestial hosts! You found your way to the most rotten, delicious parts of his brain, devouring the juiciest secrets and shame! Because of your abilities, I will be able to avenge my darling daughter, but in a much more fitting manner than I previously thought. And in this body, I will be able to cross over myself!"
Releasing the parasitic creatures, Dark Spector, approached the blind Vindicta, red plastic eyes scratched and marred during his battle with the Vulpecula.
"I believe you are one of my favorite discoveries, you mangy mongrel. A sweet sight it was to observe a small Tommy Oliver, alone and cowering, his only companion this pitiful stand-in."
Reaching into the long cloak, he pulled forth a small, aged stuff dog; both shiny eyes now gone and missing most of its fur, the little animal lay in a misshapen ball on the monster's palm. Lifting a dismissive brow at the child's toy, he casually tossed it down to his own pet. Vindicta sniffed this new item in front of his muzzle before snagging it in his deadly jaws.
Shaking his powerful head, stuffing floated in the air, the hound chewed and ripped his newest gift.
"I sense your frustration in not being allowed to deliver the killing blow to the beautiful fox, but he is mine to make an example out of. Drakkon can watch while someone he loves is brutally taken from him, also ran through with a sharp blade. He can live the rest of his pitiful life with the image seared in his brain."
Dark Spector tilted his head, considering the plethora of information the leeches had gleaned during their feast.
"Unlike his execution of my Rita, I will allow him to keep a souvenir of his beloved. I do believe the fairy tales mention removing the heart of a victim and placing it within a trinket box. It's rather poetic as that's the only way Drakkon will receive his Vulpecula's heart."
Now, the vengeful man ran the black gloved hand over his face, feeling the odd human features that had formed. Nose, cheekbones, lips, whispery, long lashes.
"Too bad you can no longer see, Vindicta. I rather expect that Lord Drakkon will appreciate my new image. It's coming along rather nicely."
Almost vibrating with anticipation, Dark Spector again looked down at where the assembled group laid their heads. It mattered not who attempted to get in his way. Mere annoyances but no challenge to his enhanced power.
The Black Dragon coin was powerful but not good enough. Drakkon was not worthy enough for one of those beasts' gems, not like the little fox. The new Ranger was rather intriguing in the manner in which he'd survived under such nightmarish conditions, splintering into three individuals.
Humans were peculiar creatures.
No matter. Drakkon could spend these last few days growing more emotionally ensnared with Vulpecula. That would only make his death all the more agonizing to witness.