Chapter 41: Devil You (Don't) Know
"This way, Triton!" called Tip.
"Dat's King Triton to you, mon!" shouted Sebastian, clinging to one of Triton's fins by a claw. He flapped about in the water like a flag as Triton followed the penguin above the dim streets of Atlantica. The homes of the merfolk were almost completely dark at this hour save the windows of a few night owls and the glowshell lanterns of the guards patrolling the streets.
Triton was on the verge of sleep when the too often boastful yet pusillanimous penguin barged into his quarters, shouting that Triton needed to follow him. The noise roused Sebastian from his own dreams the room over. It took a full minute to get Tip to slow down enough for them to understand him, but once they did and Tip told them of the injured mermaid, Triton was wide awake and swimming fast. This was the first real lead they had on the Master and his underlings in over six months. He would trade as many months of sleep for it as needed.
Tip suddenly came to a stop, spinning around in the water as he searched frantically. "Come on, Dash! Where are you?"
"My thoughts exactly! Where are they, Tip?" asked Triton as he swam up beside the penguin, scanning over his dimly lit kingdom.
"Dash was right behind me!" answered Tip. "He's got to be here somewhere!"
"And how was he supposed to find you if he isn't sure where you went?" asked Sebastian.
Tip opened his beak to answer but then paused. "I…ah…we didn't plan that far."
Sebastian sighed, pressing a claw to his forehead. "Following a literal bird-brain through de night to find a walrus and who-knows-what. What could possibly go wrong with dis?"
"Tip! Hey, Tip! Down here!"
The trio looked down to see Dash waving his flippers at them from the middle of a street. He put his flippers to his mouth and let loose a shrill, loud whistle. The sound woke more than a few sleeping residents if the lights appearing in windows were any indication. The increasing light revealed a cloaked figure lying on the ground beside Dash. A mermaid, if the outline of fins and a slim figure was to be believed.
"Told you he followed me!" said Tip smugly as he swam down.
"Hmph…lucky guess," muttered Sebastian, clinging to Triton again as he swam after Tip.
"How's she holding up, Dash?" asked Tip as he reached is companion. Merfolk were now leaving their homes to see what caused the disturbance. The commotion and the presence of their king was beginning to draw guards in as well.
"Make way!" commanded the guards as they kept the growing crowd from swarming Triton. "Make way for the king!"
"She's the same as before," said Dash. "In rough shape!"
"Move aside, both of you!" ordered Triton as he approached. "Let me see her!"
"Wait, sire!" blurted Sebastian. "It could be a trap! Or some kind of trick!"
"It's not a trick!" assured Dash as he moved back. "She really needs help!"
Sebastian narrowed his eyes at the walrus. "And you know dis how?"
"We…" Dash was cut off when Tip shot him a look behind Triton's back, shaking his head. "We just know."
Triton paused a moment, casting a glance at Tip and Dash. Raising seven daughters taught him to know when someone was hiding something from him, and these two were definitely hiding something. There was something they were not saying, though for what reason he had no clue.
The mermaid under the cloak groaned and stirred, turning Triton's thoughts away from Tip and Dash. Whatever they knew, it could wait till this mermaid was safe. He reached down and pulled back the cloak.
He immediately recoiled in horror. Tip and Dash flinched visibly, still unsettled by the sight. Sebastian let out a noise between a yell and a scream, fleeing behind Triton. The gathering merfolk retreated amidst terrified gasps and screams like a film of oil fleeing the first drop of soap in the water, the guards immediately raising their spears and swords.
The mermaid had the form of one, but it was an unnatural form. More than half her body had been "replaced" with machinery. Her right arm was a twisted construct of dark skeletal metal from the shoulder down. Her fingers ended in sharp points. Tubes and hinges replaced joints and vessels. Blades were visible inside her forearm. Her right eye was gone, a smooth yellow crystal in its place with metal plating bolted straight to her face. The only remnants of her once beautiful fins were a thin rim of sapphire blue scales around her hips. In their place was a black mechanical one like the skeleton of a fish, bony and rattling as she tried to move it. Her skin bore the marks of the process that so cruelly transformed her – riddled with scars, her lips pale and cracked. Her blonde hair was cut short and ragged, as though done with a chipped knife.
The mermaid reached out to Triton with her mechanical hand. "Help…me…"
"What sorcery is this?!" demanded Triton, leveling the trident straight at the mermaid. Her eyes widened in confusion and fear as the forks came alive with light and magic.
Tip went three shades paler seeing the mythical weapon being pointed at the mermaid. "Whoa! Watch where you're aiming that thing!"
"You two!" yelled Triton, pointing an angry finger at Tip and Dash. "You brought this thing into Atlantica?! Have you taken complete leave of your senses!"
It was faint, but a fiery light appeared in Dash's right eye. "She is not a thing, Triton!" he shouted loudly. "Her name is Nerida! She swam a literal ocean of pain and terror to escape the enemy, and she needs your help!"
Triton froze in place. That was not Dash speaking. That tone and diction did not belong to him. Nor was the way Dash glared at him at all in keeping with his character. And yet it was disturbingly familiar. It all stirred something deep and distant in Triton's memories. But of what he could not remember. It was like trying to read through heavily smeared glass, the words visible but unreadable.
Tip backed away slightly from his friend, unnerved by the change in him. "Dash? You, uh…you feeling okay, buddy?"
The walrus continued to stare angrily at Triton for a second. Then his expression quickly softened. "I, uh…I mean, I don't think she's a…a trap. I mean, she would've tried something already since…we're here and–."
Suddenly Nerida screamed, her back arching as her tail thrashed about. Triton backed away immediately, lightning arcing across the trident as he brought it to the threshold of firing. The onlookers withdrew further from Nerida as lights began to turn on in earnest, the mermaid's anguish waking anyone within earshot. Then a glow filled Nerida's artificial eye as her other one rolled back into her head. A shimmer appeared in the water above her, and then an image began to appear in the distortion. It was humanoid in shape, with clearly visible arms and legs as it came further into focus.
Triton stiffened when the image finally resolved. It was a human woman. She wore a robe of inky blue and a white smiling mask over her face. Her blonde hair was tied in a braid that fell down to just above her boots, and she clutched a scythe in her right hand.
"Greetings, King Triton!" said Nerida. "Or should I say, soon to be dead King Triton!"
"You! I know you!" Triton shouted. He rushed at the woman, drawing the trident back as the golden forks crackled with electricity. He thrust it forward with all his might, spearing the woman through her chest. To everyone's surprise, the trident and then Triton passed straight through the woman. Triton quickly spun around, shock and confusion plastered across his face.
"Let me guess," said Nerida. "You just tried to zap or shish-kabob me with your magic fork, right?"
Triton scowled and raised the trident. "Sho–!"
"And before you go shooting any sparks, let me save you the embarrassment," continued Nerida. "You can't hurt me, Triton. And the reason you can't is because I'm not here!"
"What do you mean you're not here?" asked Triton. "I see you before me clear as day!"
"And you just said, 'I see you clear as day' or something stupid like that," said Nerida in a mocking mimicry of Triton. "You really are as predictable as the Master said."
Triton stiffened. It was just a name, but hearing it again brought back vivid memories of the black hooded figure that incapacitated him in the deep ocean. He remembered the feeling of helplessness, his utter terrifying vulnerability as the Master stood over him, ready to impale him on his own weapon. The only reason he was not dead was because of the dark sorcerer's whimsy.
"This is a recording," said Nerida. "Think of as a written message, only better. I'm using this wench's voice in place of my own. And before you bother looking, I'm not skulking in the shadows waiting to take you by surprise. I have bigger and better fish to fry than a shriveled-up has-been like you."
Triton approached the woman again. He extended his hand out to touch her, only to have his fingers pass through her. He felt nothing but the water.
"An illusion," muttered Sebastian.
"Now for introductions…" The woman swept an arm across as she bowed low. "I am Remora, vice commander of the armies of Maelstrom, and right hand of the Master. We've never met, but you and your fish friends are very familiar with my work. Does Abyssum ring a bell? Or Eel Ectric City?"
Triton ground his teeth as he heard the crowd gasp and whisper, his hold on the trident tightening. "All too well."
"And in case you're wondering," continued Remora through Nerida. "I didn't massacre your city like I did your prison. Your precious people are still alive."
An excited buzz went up through the crowd.
"But don't get your scaly hopes up!" sneered Remora. "Most of them are alive! They work in our Factory, creating the very weapons that will be your end! As long as they can work, I keep them alive! If they can't…well, the sharkanians and beasts have to eat something! And they were well fed this past winter!"
Remora chuckled, giving her scythe a playful spin. Triton's knuckles popped as he gripped the trident hard, not deaf to the horrified cries and nauseated retches of some of the onlookers. "You monster!"
"And don't think we haven't noticed you searching for us," said Remora. "A good effort, but you're pathetically far off! But the Master and I have been feeling generous, so we've given you something for the effort."
Remora looked down at Nerida. "This little wretch was–or is, if she's still alive when you get this–named Nerida. She's one of your missing subjects."
Triton's eyes widened as he looked down at the mermaid. "No…"
"She could have shut her mouth and gone with the rest of the slaves," continued Remora. "But unlike them, she actually showed some backbone. So I pulled it out of her!"
Remora leaned back and laughed. It sent a chill up Triton's spine to hear such a laugh coming out of Nerida's mouth. It was not like Morgana or Ursula's malevolent chuckling or guffaw. There was a tangible insanity and sadism in that laugh. He could tell she took real, genuine pleasure in hurting this poor mermaid and who knew how many others.
"Don't be too shocked!" said Remora. "Save some for when you see what I've done with the others! There's far more and worse to come! She probably thinks she escaped us, but she's fooling herself. The only reason you're seeing this is because I allowed it! I let her escape! And assuming she's made it to you alive, don't bother asking her where we are. Unlike those sea witches, I'm not dumb enough to leave you a trail. As soon as this message ends, the curse I planted will activate. It'll wipe all memory of what happened between her escape and now out of her mind. But please do ask her about me and the rest of us. And be sure to tell everyone every word she says. We want you all to know what's coming for you!"
The image of Remora started to fade. "Of course, you could always just sit on your tails and wait. It won't be long now!"
Remora laughed loudly as her image disappeared. Then electricity began to arc over Nerida, causing her to scream. She clutched her head, thrashing about on the ground as she floated in the water. She seized up, her back arching so violently Triton was worried it would break. Then she went slack and fell into the sand.
The silence that fell over the street was deafening. You could hear a bubble pop it was so quiet. Everyone was watching Nerida for any signs of life. For a long tense few seconds it seemed she had expired. Then her chest swelled as she took a breath.
Triton cautiously approached, watching her intensely for any movement. He gave her a gentle prod with the trident's staff, but she did not move. He knelt beside her, carefully propping her head up with one giant hand. "Nerida? Can you hear me?"
Nerida slowly opened her eyes, her remaining one looking up at him. "King…Triton?" She looked about, confused by her surroundings. "Where am I?"
"You're in Atlantica, Nerida," said Triton. "No one is going to hurt you anymore."
Nerida looked at Triton for a moment, and then at the faces around her. Then she started to cry. She threw an arm across her eyes as her tears blended with the surrounding seawater.
Triton looked back over his shoulder. "Sebastian!"
The crab poked his head out from behind Triton's hair. "Sire?"
"Fetch a doctor, fast as you can! Tell them it's an emergency! Then dispatch messengers to the Alliance immediately! Tell them what's happened! Then I want every guard roused posthaste! Search the city top to bottom!"
"For what, sire?" asked Sebastian.
"Something! Anything!" shouted Triton. "Any sign of that witch! Leave no stone unturned! Now go!"
Sebastian let out a startled "eep!" and then swam off fast as his claws could take him. Triton returned his attention to Nerida, holding the trident above her. A blue glow emitted from the trident, bathing Nerida in its light. "You can rest easy now. You're safe."
Nerida shook her head. "No…no, I'm not. None of us are!"
"Yes, you are," assured Triton. "I swear as your king, they will never lay a hand on you or our people ever again. I will protect you, and everyone else."
Nerida lowered her arm, her remaining natural eye red from crying. "You can't! Not from them! Not from her! They're…they're monsters!"
"Halt in the name of King–AAAAAHHHH!"
The hallway was filled with the flashes and crackles of a storm as Remora's lightning made quick work of the Glowerhaven guards. She strode past their smoldering remains without breaking stride, the acrid stench of burnt flesh filling the air. Another guard rounded the corner and caught sight of Remora. His eyes widened as he reached for his sabre, panic making him fumble. Remora pounced on him like a lion for a gazelle, her hand seizing the man's neck. She pulled him close to her, arms encircling his neck and head before giving a violent twist and jerk. She pushed his lifeless body aside and continued down the hall, the sound of her boots a warning to all who would dare cross paths with her.
Remora ground her teeth together as she clenched and unclenched her hands, the light from the bracers on her arm matching the glow in her left eye. Much as she was enjoying the first-person view the "clockman" provided of Lara scampering for her life, the encounter with the raven had soured her mood considerably, and not just because he freed her mask. The sorcerer recognized her. He definitely knew her face. How he knew her she had no idea, but what angered her far more was that she had no means of cutting him down. That thing she broke was nothing but an avatar–a puppet through which the sorcerer accosted her. Turning it to dust would have no effect on him, and being unable to exact vengeance for exposing her was immensely irksome.
"Rotten lump of soot!" she hissed. "You better hope we never meet, wizard, because I swear I'll mount what's left of you on the wall once I'm finished tearing your limbs off!"
She turned to face a door. She roughly kicked it open and barged into another study. It lacked the grandeur of King Ben's personal room, but the décor, tall bookcase, and mahogany desk were befitting of royalty. She closed the door behind her as a knife manifested in her hand. She stabbed the knife into the keyhole. Electricity ran down her arm and into the metal, heating it red hot. The wood of the door began to blacken and char as the lock warped and twisted, sealing it shut.
"That'll keep the buggers out," she said as she pulled the knife free and stepped back. The blade collapsed into dust, joining the glowing bracer on her left arm. She marched over to a chair by the wall and sat, the glow in her left eye brightening as she returned her attention to the ballroom on the other side of the castle.
She started to lean back. "Now to kick back and enjoy the…"
She bolted upright, arcs of lightning flying off her and scorching holes into the walls, ceiling, and floor as she screamed, "Why is no one dead!?"
The clockman thrust at Lara's face, forcing her to twist aside. The sword abruptly retracted into its arm and erupted forth again, narrowly missing Lara's face as she jerked her head away. She quickly brought her own sword up as the blade was retracted again, only to dodge when it tried to spear her shoulder. The clockman began withdrawing and firing its sword like a frenzied woodpecker. Lara frantically parried and blocked but could not avoid grazes from the razor-sharp tip. It was better than being run through, but the cuts still hurt.
A hard thrust for Lara's head gave her an opening. She dodged aside and began pouring magic into her sword. The blade became superheated and then burst into flames. She pushed her magic into the blade, driving the temperature as high as she dared. The flames on the sword disappeared as the metal became white hot, the air around it shimmering like water.
"Claymore, cut!" Lara shouted as she swung hard into the clockman's middle, magic surging into the edge to render it as sharp and hot as possible.
To Lara's shock and disappointment, the strike only succeeded in knocking the clockman backwards with a shower of sparks. A glowing shallow defect was visible in its left side where the blade struck. The clockman staggered for a moment, and then it leapt back at Lara.
Lara quickly recalled the magic from her own sword as she moved to intercept the clockman. Sparks flew as she deflected one strike after another, teeth grit hard as she concentrated on defending herself. All that strength and heat and she barely put a ding in it. This thing was either magically enhanced or was built with metals specifically mixed to withstand sorcery and heat–probably both. The more she battled it, the more she felt it was designed specifically to fight her.
Great for the enemy. Bad for everyone else.
"Lara, watch out!"
Lara darted back as the clockman rushed her, spearing empty air instead of her stomach. The clockman used the chance to raise its gun, forcing Lara to run for cover. She leapt as the bullets started firing, feeling a volley of them blast through the ends of her hair and skim her shoulders before she found safety behind one of the pillars.
"Ariel!?" Lara glanced towards the stairs, spotting the familiar red hair of the queen as she ushered the last party guests past her. "What are you still doing here!? Get out!"
"I can't just leave these people!" said Ariel. "Come on, this way! Fast as you can! Hurry, everyone!"
"What part of 'get out' wasn't clear!?" shouted Lara. "Go find Mel and Eric! It's too dangerous to stay–!"
PANG! KRING!
Lara withdrew and covered her head as she was sprayed with chips of stone and plaster. The shrill cries of ricocheting bullets filled the room. The clockman's bullets abruptly stopped, and she could hear the rotation of the barrels tapering off. She had a small window to go on the offensive, and she needed to make it count. Lara stepped out the other side of the pillar, her sword coming alive with fire as she raised it overhead. The flames grew in size and then covered her hands. "Try this one! Claymore, fi–!"
She quickly bit back her words as she remembered where she was, halting her swing. She could not unleash a fire blast of such magnitude inside the ballroom. Even if this was a stone castle, the foundations were still timber–old, dry, and highly flammable timber. It was one thing when she set the clockman on fire the first time. She only used a lower tier spell because she thought the fake Ariel was flesh and blood. A full-force fire blast from the claymore was several orders of magnitude greater. It would blow the clockman away, but it would destroy a good portion of the walls and anyone else in the room. She could try to melt it down, but at the temperatures required to melt it fast enough to be of any practical use she would ignite the entire room.
Lara cursed inwardly as she retreated behind the pillar again, avoiding another swath of bullets. She swung the sword down, extinguishing the flames. She was running out of options. This was not the sort of opponent she could wear down in a battle of attrition. She needed serious firepower to stop this thing, but in here she was not going to be able to use it without massive collateral damage and risk to human lives. She also needed to keep the clockman from going after anyone else–not that she believed it would be a problem since it seemed focused on killing her. She could try using that, but…
Lara discarded the thought. Absolutely not. She refused to do it. That brought nothing but destruction and grief to her and everyone that saw it. She was not so desperate yet that she would break her oath. She swore by blood that she would never use it again. She would find another way, just as she had since leaving the east and her old life.
She glanced to the stairs. There were only a handful of guests left to be evacuated, filing past Ariel, the guards, and the decorative armor suits flanking the doors. Hopefully Melody, Eric, and Ben were outside by now. She looked to the other side of the room. The long table of food had been upended in the commotion. The kitchen's best fares now lay splattered and trampled across the floor like so many plates and glasses. Lara actually felt sad for a moment, even as the clockman launched another volley of bullets at the pillar. For that much delicious, nutritious food to go to waste like that was just…
An idea blossomed in Lara's head. She looked back at the armors flanking the stairs, and then to the ruined food. She had another option. Not one she frequented, but still an option. It had been so long since she used it back east that she honestly forgot about it. If she could not beat this machine with a sword, then what about her weapon's other form?
The clockman's bullets stopped, followed by a loud clicking sound. Lara peered around the pillar and saw the clockman down on one knee, the protective metal patella flipped up to reveal the dark opening of a large round tube. Electricity crackled around its hip as the leg began to vibrate.
Lara had enough sense and experience to recognize a big gun when she saw one, and that was a very big gun pointing at her. She cursed loudly and dove aside as the clockman fired. There was a loud and resonant "pop," and then the pillar Lara was hiding behind exploded in the middle, sending stone shards everywhere. Lara tucked and rolled as she hit the ground, and then leapt for cover behind the table. She looked back to the pillar she hid behind and saw it collapse into a pile of rubble, a deformed copper rod sticking out of the wall behind it.
"You gotta be kidding me!" she shouted. "A railgun, too!? What does this thing not have!?"
There was another clicking sound and crackle of electricity, giving Lara just enough time to scramble for another column before the clockman's railgun fired again. The round split and then blasted the table apart, showering splinters like rain as the projectile punched a new hole in the wall and flew out across the gardens and into the perimeter wall.
Lara sank low, placing herself behind the densest part of the column for what little protection it could offer. Bullets were one thing, but that railgun was something else. Those metal rods were being launched with far more wallop in them than the usual lead cannonballs and gunpowder. Even a graze from one of those could take a limb off! A direct hit and there would not be enough left of her to put in a bucket! She needed to act fast before the clockman could get a bead on her again.
She pointed her sword at the remains of the table and party food and shouted, "Ardo!" as she took off running around the perimeter of the ballroom. A jet of sparks shot forth from the sword's tip, igniting the spilled food and the table instantly. The flames spread out over the ballroom floor, devouring anything flammable in their path. There was another pop as the railgun went off again, tearing out a chunk of pillar and smashing a window in front of Lara. She shielded her eyes against flying debris as she ran to avoid the next deadly projectile.
"Davoro!" she yelled as she ran. The flames quickly ate through the food and table then swarmed towards her like rivers reaching the sea. They twined together near her mouth and she inhaled as she ran, consuming the condensed fire as fast as she could. The clockman continued to shoot, its gun punching holes through anything and everything caught in its path. Lara was almost to the other side of the room when the booming shots turned to empty dull pops. The automaton had run out of ammo.
Lara saw her chance. She ran straight for the machine, still eating the fire as she charged. The clockman stood and started to take another knee, but then swung its sword up at Lara. She ducked the strike and then lunged at the clockman, tackling it around the middle. They went rolling over the floor, stopping with Lara atop it. The clockman used the opportunity to aim its gun at her head. Lara responded by grabbing the feeder belt to the gun, planting a foot on the clockman's chest as she yanked and kicked simultaneously. She thought it would take all her strength to break the feeder belt loose, but to her surprise it popped free with ease. The gun started to fire, the bullets flying harmlessly into the ceiling, and then quickly stopped as it used up the rounds left in its belt. The feeder belt flapped loosely, spilling several shiny brass rounds onto the floor. A metal panel shut over the opened slot in its chest, preventing the loss of any additional ammunition.
The clockman swung its sword at Lara's head. She deflected the sword away with her own and then locked blades with it. Satisfying as it was to take the gun out of the equation, she did not like the feel when she pulled off that feeder belt. That felt like a part purposely coming free rather than being torn off. She would bet her right eye it was designed to do just that, and the clockman would reconnect it if given the chance. On top of that, those cartridge rounds and the magic railgun were enormous technological leaps from the ramrods and lead balls the pirates used at the wharf. Assuming the enemy only learned to produce those in the six months since the pirates and seaclops, whoever built this thing was as resourceful and intelligent as they were sadistic and evil.
Who knew what other technological and magical terrors they had at their disposal?
"Hurry!" urged Ariel as she held the ballroom door open. "Quickly now!"
She glanced to the ballroom floor in time to see the clockman smack Lara in the head with its gun. Lara rolled aside and into a crouch, a few drops of blood trickling from above her left ear as she brought her sword into a guard.
"Ariel! How many left!?" Lara asked as she attacked the clockman.
"Just a few more!" replied Ariel as the machine blocked Lara's sword.
Lara yelled as she swung her sword at the clockman's leg. The blade turned white hot just before she struck, but it struggled to bite even a fraction of an inch into the metal, leaving only a superficial heated scratch in the metal thigh.
"Oh, come on!" spat Lara. "What're you gonna do next, sprout claws!?"
The clockman's gun hand suddenly popped back into place, long sharp claws sprouting from its fingertips. Claws that looked very familiar to Ariel and Lara.
"Me and my big mouth…whoa!" The clockman screamed and leapt at Lara, knocking her to the ground. Lara grabbed hold of its sword arm while her own sword kept the clawed hand at bay.
"Lara!" shouted Ariel in concern.
"I've got it!" Lara grunted, struggling to keep herself from being sliced open by the claws or impaled by the sword. "Just some…déjà…vu!"
Lara pulled her legs in and then snaked them up around the clockman's neck and gun arm, placing it in a triangle lock. She used her new position to lever the clawed hand away from her just long enough to get one of her knives. She quickly took it and jammed it between the barrels of the crank gun, and with a sharp jerk she snapped the blade off inside the rotors.
The clockman responded by lifting Lara off the floor and then driving one of its knees into her back. Ariel cringed as Lara screamed, releasing the clockman and falling to the ground. The clockman retracted its claws and sword as it quickly reattached the feeder belt to its chest. It pointed its gun at Lara, but all that came forth was a horrendous metal grinding noise. The broken knife bent as the barrels tried to rotate but did not break, rendering the gun useless for the time being. Lara used the chance to sweep the clockman's legs out from under it, sending it crashing to the floor. She quickly rolled to her feet and dashed across the room, heading straight for Ariel.
"That's everyone!" shouted Ariel as the last guests ran by her.
The clockman rose from the floor, its eyes never leaving Lara. Its claws reappeared as it ran after her. Lara cleared the stairs in two bounds, skidding to a stop in front of a suit of armor as the guards began closing the ballroom doors.
"Your majesty, this way!" said one of the guards. "Hurry!"
"Ariel, now would be a great time to leave!" said Lara.
"Not without you!" said Ariel as she backed towards the door.
"Not till this thing is stopped!" shouted Lara. "Now go!"
The clockman's scream drew Ariel's attention. It was already at the base of the stairs and coming fast. She thought it would come running up the steps, but instead it crouched and then took a flying leap. The clockman soared through the air as it ascended towards them, drawing its sword back as it screamed again. It did not take more than a moment for Ariel to figure out where its focus had shifted to.
It was going for her.
"Ariel, move!" shouted Lara.
Ariel wanted to move, but her legs had suddenly frozen. Staring into the unblinking, glowing eyes of the machine, she felt as though she were staring Death in the face. Panic swept through her mind, robbing her of the ability to decide or act. All she could think of was the paralytic fear of inevitable death at the end of a sword.
Time slowed to a crawl for Lara. She saw the clockman flying towards Ariel, its sword ready to cleave her in half. She saw the fear in Ariel's eyes, lips parted in a terrified gasp as she saw her impending death. A look Lara had not seen since…
Lara was about to leave when she heard it. The unmistakable shrill whistle of a mortar shell heading towards them. And it was getting louder by the second. But if it was getting louder, then that meant it was coming right for…!
She spun on her heels. "Yumino! Get away from the window!"
Yumino heard the sound a split second later. She glanced out the window, seeing something that made her eyes widen and drop the book she was holding. She bolted away from the window towards Lara, both reaching out to–
There was a dazzling flash as the shell hit the castle wall, detonating with the force of ten cannon rounds as the chemical explosives inside the head were catalyzed into a fireball.
Lara was in motion before she realized what she was doing. Strength surged into her legs, giving her a burst of speed as she dashed over to Ariel. She skidded to a stop in front of her, putting herself between the queen and the murderous machine. Her pendant glowed bright as magic coursed into her sword. The weapon responded in kind, audibly humming as it resonated with its owner's magic and will. White flames burst from Lara's sword and engulfed her right arm as the clockman struck down.
"Look out!" shouted one of the guards as he saw the impending and debilitating collision between Lara's arm and the clockman's blade.
CLANG!
The sound of metal-on-metal echoed through the room as clear as bells from a belfry. The sword was caught on Lara's arm, unable to cut through. The clockman looked at Lara for a moment, and then drew its sword back and swung for her neck. Lara blocked with her burning arm again, the ring of clashing metal pealing out once more. The clockman stepped back, looking at its sword and then Lara's still burning arm.
A glow came to Lara's eyes as she scowled at the clockman. "Your fight's with me!"
The clockman drew its sword arm back. Lara pulled her burning arm back, clenched her fist tight, and then punched straight for the clockman's chest. A loud "HA!" tore from her throat as her fist connected hard and true with the machine's chest and…
Remora smirked under her mask as she watched Lara's punch approach the clockman through the machine's eyes. Hardened skin or not, Lara had to be desperate to resort to her bare fists. Just what did she think one measly punch could do to a metal–?
BOOM!
The sound was like twin cannons going off in synch. A blast erupted from Lara's fist like a literal wall of air, blowing Ariel off her feet and the two guards through the ballroom doors, slamming them shut behind them. The clockman went flying down the stairs as though shot from a rifle. It hit the floor hard, cracking the marble. It bounced across the ballroom to the other side where it hit the foot of one of the columns, splitting the pillar straight up its center. The windows vibrated as the air washed through the room, several of them cracking.
Remora bolted to her feet, electrified nails scratching charred gouges into the chair. "What!? What!?"
She could feel just how strong the punch was thanks to the magic linking her and the clockman. That was not just raw physical strength Lara used, though there was a tremendous amount of it. There was magic behind it, and potent magic at that. Not like what she demonstrated before.
"What's that brat done now!?" she hollered, as confused as she was angry.
Melody and Eric were running with the crowd when the distant booming sound reached their ears. They stopped and looked back, searching for something to explain the noise. They saw only a sea of panicked and fearful faces following them.
"What was that?" asked Melody.
"If I had to make a guess…" said Eric as he started running again, pulling Melody along. "That was Lara!"
"Do you think she's okay?" asked Melody. "And mom?"
"If there's noise, it means she's still alive!"
"Your father is correct, Princess."
Melody tripped at the sound of the raven's voice in her head. Eric quickly pulled her upright before the crowd could trample her.
"Stay on your feet, Melody!" said Eric as they started down a flight of stairs. "We're almost out!"
"Did you hear that?" asked Melody.
"Hear what?" asked Eric.
"Say nothing," said the raven as Melody started to speak. "He must not know of my existence."
"It, uh…it was nothing," said Melody. "I thought I heard something!"
One of the fleeing guests roughly shoved past them, almost knocking Eric and Melody over. "We have to keep moving!" said Eric. "We'll get trampled if we stop! Come on!"
Melody followed after her father, sparing one more glance behind her. "Lara, mom…please be careful!"
One of the torches on the garden wall flared to life and then went out, a thick cloud of smoke rising into the night air. It reached the top of the battlement and coalesced into the form of the raven. The black bird came alive with firelight, and then it moved as the raven's conscience entered his avatar. He ruffled his feathers, dislodging a trio of sparks.
"Lara will be fine, Princess Melody," said the raven. "As will your mother. Concern yourself with your own welfare."
The raven looked through the windows of the ballroom, seeing Lara at the top of the staircase with her arm burning white. "Now then, Lara…will you do as needed? Or are you still a prisoner of your past?"
Ariel rubbed the back of her bruised head as she sat up. "What was that, Lara?"
The sound of metal on rock caused her to look across the room. The clockman lay sprawled at the base of one of the columns. It had not tried to rise yet, the light in its eyes flickering erratically. Whatever Lara's punch had done to it, the clockman would not be shrugging it off so easily.
Lara reached behind her with her burning arm, keeping her gaze fixed on the clockman. Tendrils of white flame leapt off her arm for the twin armors flanking the door, immediately coating them in the pale flames. "Claymore…pugilis."
The flames on Lara's arm spread over her entirely, transforming her into a figure of white fire. The flames on the armors began pulling them apart piece by piece, bringing the fragments to Lara. Ariel heard metal popping and groaning as the magic twisted and molded the armors into a new form on her. Dust and slag fell around Lara as the refuse was discarded, her magic taking only the hardest and strongest elements within the metal.
Ariel pushed herself onto her hands and knees, eyes wide with awe and confusion as she gazed upon the burning form of her daughter's guardian. "L-Lara? What's happening to you?"
Lara glanced back over her shoulder and then returned her gaze to the clockman. "You know, Ariel, I like you as much as I like Melody–which, for the record, is a lot. I like Eric. I like your family, fins and all. I like Gramps too, even if he is a total stiff."
The clockman's flickering lights suddenly stabilized and its tremors subsided. Then it popped to its feet and ran at Lara, dragging the tip of its sword across the floor with an ear-splitting screech.
"You've all got good hearts," Lara said, watching the clockman run at her. "But sometimes they're too good. Yours especially. I swear you'd jump off a cliff if it meant helping someone. You gotta worry about yourself sometimes. Still, not a terrible problem to have."
The clockman took the stairs five at a time, and midway up it leapt at Lara. It twisted over in midair, bringing one of its legs around in an axe kick for her head.
"Watch out!" shouted Ariel, reaching out to Lara.
The clockman let out a screech as it struck, only to have Lara nimbly step back and avoid the blow. Its foot smashed deep into the floor. It then thrust forward with its sword, but Lara deflected the sword away with her arm and seized its wrist. The clockman raised its knee towards her, the kneecap flipping up to reveal the railgun in its other leg. Lara quickly drove her own knee into the inside of the automaton's thigh, forcing its aim well away from her. Ariel covered her head at the sound of the railgun firing. The round missed her and punched deep into the wall, leaving a large hole in it.
Then Lara took hold of the clockman's gun arm, fingers wrapping tight around the metal. "My problem…"
Ariel looked up as the flames on Lara's body abruptly abated and then vanished. Her once vulnerable hands, arms, feet, and legs were now fitted with gleaming armor. The metal shone like polished sterling silver, covering her from shoulder to fingertip and hip to toe. Etchings of orange light scrawled down it, burning ancient magical marks into the surface.
Lara's right foot slid back as she tightened her grip on the clockman. "Is this!"
Lara suddenly gave a loud yell and twisted around, yanking the automaton off its feet as she swung it over her head and back into the ground. The entire floor shuddered as cracks went racing through the stone, causing Ariel to let out a startled yelp. Lara continued to yell as she brought her left fist up and then punched straight down on the clockman's leg. Another cannon-like sound went off as Lara's fist dented the leg's metal plating inward. Then she spun the opposite direction and flung the automaton back down the stairway. It hit the steps and skidded down to the bottom.
"I'm strong," said Lara as she started walking down the stairs. "Stronger than every normal person I've met. Heck, stronger than every abnormal person I've met. It's a good trait for protecting people and beating up bad guys, but there's a drawback no one ever considers."
The automaton raised its head, yellow eyes locking onto Lara. Its eyes were fixed on her, alive with light–and maybe Ariel was imagining things, but hatred as well.
"When you're this strong, people like you, Melody, Jenni, and everyone else are delicate and fragile by comparison," continued Lara, moving with purposeful slowness down the steps. "It's like living in a glass world. If I'm not careful I'd break something or someone without meaning to. Wasn't an issue back east since most everyone wanted to hurt or kill me, but that's not the case here. So how do I keep from accidentally hurting people, you ask?"
The clockman adjusted its knee to aim at Lara's head. The firing mechanism went off, but instead of a flying spike nothing came out but a dull "clunk." It tried to fire again and again, but the sound continued. It grabbed at the dent Lara's punch put its leg, but the metal refused to budge.
"I restrain myself. I hold back every second of every day in everything I do, magically and physically. Even when I'm fighting. The tournament, Richard, when Alana pissed me off, the pirates, the skinner, Melody, and even now. The only time I didn't hold back was with that seaclops. The rest of them couldn't take all of what I can dish out and walk away."
Lara stopped in the middle of the staircase. "But this one's different. It's not flesh and bone. It's solid metal. It doesn't bleed or break. It doesn't feel fear or pain. It can't be negotiated with. It won't surrender. And since my sword was barely able to scratch it, I'm betting it was built specifically to fight me."
Lara set her feet wide, knees bent sturdily. "I promised Eric that I wouldn't let anything happen to you or Melody. That I would protect you all from any threat Morgana and Ursula sent. And if I'm gonna keep that promise…"
The clockman rose to its feet and charged at Lara again. An orange aura appeared around her as she crossed her forearms in front of her. Her hair began to wave about, as though gravity had lost its hold on her. The veins on her shoulders, neck, and spine swelled as heat began radiating off her.
"I can't afford to hold back!" she shouted loudly.
A hot wind began to flow off Lara. It was subtle at first, only strong enough to disturb Ariel's hair. But then it rapidly built into a gale that forced Ariel to shield her face. The clockman's advance was suddenly stopped as the air rushed towards it, preventing it from approaching any further.
The raven narrowed his eyes as he watched Lara. He could sense the magic spreading through her body in waves, each one spreading through her like a ripple over a pond. It was as clear to him as the magic and anger of Remora in a room on the opposite side of the castle, connected to her vile creation through cursed witchcraft. She was fortunate he could not form his avatars any stronger, or risk revealing his demonic form to her. If he could, he would have taken her life just for the atrocity she created, not including the countless other barbarisms she had committed.
He could also sense someone else close by. Someone of immense magical power, yet able to hide it with great efficacy. Someone not human.
The raven glanced back at the shadow cast by one of the battlements. "Come forth. You cannot hide from me."
The Hive Queen rose from the shadow like it was water, a smirk on her lips. She had abandoned her child form for that of the slender mature woman, her hair white as the moon and extending down to the ground. She wore a dress of flowing white that seemed to blend with her alabaster skin. Yet her pale form seemed to absorb the light rather than reflect it. She moved without a sound to the raven's side, leaning on the wall next to him.
"Was that a guess, or did you really know I was there?" she asked.
The raven stared at the Hive Queen a moment longer, and then returned his attention to Lara.
"No, I suppose you wouldn't." The Hive Queen looked into the ballroom as Lara continued to glow and yell. "So, she's using this trick again? The last time she tried it was against me. Lot of good it did her."
The raven said nothing, continuing to watch in silence.
"Humans are weak," said the Hive Queen. "They don't have biology or magic on their side. Not like we do. They're born into this world screaming, flailing, and utterly helpless. They spend their first breath declaring their outrage at being born in such an impotent state. The only strength they have is what their lineage sees fit to give them and what they can acquire during their brief lifespans. Their tissues tire and break, and in response their bodies hypertrophy muscles, bones, and heart to acclimate to the burden. On and on it goes, cycling through destruction and reconstruction to increase their strength by infinitesimally small amounts. And if they lax for even a fortnight that strength begins to wane. If they want to keep their meager gains they must commit to a life of rigor. Even then, they can never escape the inevitable rot the march of time brings."
The glow around Lara increased further, a blast of air erupting off her and knocking Ariel and the clockman backwards. Both the raven and nyctophile could hear the windows rattling as the wind inside buffeted them, cracks spreading across the panes.
"Lara merely found a way to speed up the process," continued the Hive Queen, moving a strand of hair behind her ear.
"It is more than that," said the raven. "What you say of humans is true. They are not gifted with the fitness or longevity you and I enjoy. If humans do not make efforts to maintain their strength, it will inevitably slip away. That, however, will never happen to Lara. Her strength will never wane. She will never be any weaker than she is in this moment, physically or magically. She will only grow stronger with every effort she makes."
The Hive Queen smirked and shook her head. "Shame she continues this façade. It's pathetic when you really think about it. Like a child playing make-believe."
The raven glanced at the Hive Queen. "Careful, Empress. You are in danger of stepping into hypocrisy. The queen and her sisters are not human, yet they live as such. Your own children survive by taking and mimicking human lives. Even now you choose a human form. Are your lives no less a mockery than their own?"
"Don't twist my words," said the Hive Queen, a twinge of anger in her voice. "Or lecture me on hypocrisy. You know what I mean. If Lara used her actual strength, this would have been over in a matter of seconds. Every foe she's faced on this side of the desert would have easily fallen to her. Instead she drags things out just to keep her delusions alive."
"Her method is sufficient for this foe," said the raven. "Would you use a cannon to kill a snake?"
"And what if that snake is made of metal and can shrug off enchanted swords?" asked the Hive Queen. "Or large enough to sink fleets of ships? Or can rain fire and iron down from miles away? Will this 'method' be enough when those snakes come forth? I don't like the idea of my future entertainment being squashed before she's fully matured."
"She will cross those foes when the time comes," said the raven. "I have faith in her abilities and judgement."
The Hive Queen snorted. "If I were you, I wouldn't worry about her abilities or judgement. It's her conviction that's going to get her killed."
Lara yelled as another wave of exertion swept through her body. It was half from the effort needed to magically strengthen her body, and half from the strain the process was placing on her. She forgot how much this technique hurt. Her entire body was wracked by a deep fiery burn as magic repeatedly pushed her to the point of exhaustion and then amplified her healing to keep pace with the cycles. Her vessels bulged as muscles pulsated and strained under her skin. She could feel her heart racing inside her chest, hammering erratically against her ribcage as her lungs and tissues screamed for oxygen.
"Almost…there!" grunted Lara through clenched teeth. The aura around her was glowing even brighter now, her hair waving about as the wind tousled it.
The clockman had given up trying to advance on her. Its attention was now on its crippled gun. Its sword retracted as its hand swung back into place, grabbing at the knife jammed between the barrels. It began to pull, working the blade free bit by bit.
Another swell of exertion swept through Lara, but this time it was followed by a rapid feeling of relief. She felt energy flow back into her, endowing newfound strength into her body. A strip of her once brown hair began to change into a radiant orange color, as though it had been dipped in heated metal. Her muscles suddenly collapsed back to their normal size as the aura and wind vanished. Her transformation was complete.
"Lara!"
Lara looked back over her shoulder, seeing Ariel standing in the doorway to the ballroom. "Why are you still here!? Go!"
"I will, but you come back alive!" replied Ariel. "You hear me!? Rule number four!"
"Stay alive! I got it! Now do rule number one and run!" Lara shouted back.
Ariel watched for one lingering moment, clearly struggling with her innate urge to try and help Lara and the undeniable fact there was nothing she could do to help. Then, with hands clenched tight, she turned and ran out the door, shutting it closed behind her.
"Finally!" said Lara as she returned her attention to the automaton. "Just you and me now!"
A/N: "Re-Education (Through Labor)" by Rise Against
The clockman finally worked the broken knife free, pulling it out and throwing it aside. Lara pulled her goggles over her eyes, fingers splayed wide as she went on all fours, bracing her heels against the step behind her.
"Claymore…" The clockman gave the gun barrels a test spin as it aimed at Lara, its sword sliding back into position. "Blast!"
A blast erupted from Lara's feet as she pushed off. The staircase collapsed in the middle as Lara went rocketing through the air straight for the clockman. She twisted in midair as she approached the clockman, aiming her knee straight for the clockman's face. The automaton dodged quickly, but not fast enough to avoid Lara's knee grazing the side of its head. It went stumbling sideways as Lara hit the floor, spinning around as she skidded to a stop. She extended a hand behind her, fist clenched tight.
BOOM! A blast of air erupted out of Lara's fist, sending her towards the clockman faster than it could react. She threw a spinning round kick at its head. The clockman spun and moved to block with its hand and sword, but it was not prepared for the new explosive strength Lara struck with. First her strength drove it back, and then a concussive force exploded forth from her leg. The kick drove its hand and sword back into its head and then flung the clockman across the room and into the wall.
Lara extended both her hands behind her. Explosive blasts of air erupted from her fists, sending her flying at the clockman. She closed on it before it could respond and delivered a heavy punch straight into its chest, causing the stones behind it to crack. Another sound like a cannon went off as the clockman was driven even further into the stones. The reverberation shook the entire wall and shattered the windows flanking them, raining down transparent knives. If Lara felt the cuts from the glass, she paid them no heed.
The automaton's clawed hand disappeared as it swung the gun down at Lara like a club. Lara grabbed the automaton's neck and she spun, ripping it out of the wall and throwing it straight up in the air. It flew into the floor of the balcony above and bounced down. Lara leapt into the air and spun, whipping her leg around in a spinning side kick that drove her heel into the clockman's face. Even then the clockman fought, its clawed hand swinging out and slashing at her thigh. The metal plating protected Lara, sparks flying as magic steels grated against each other.
Another cannon blast erupted from Lara's heel, sending the automaton rocketing across the ballroom and smacking into one of the pillars. The entire pillar cracked through, unable to withstand the force of impact. The automaton caught itself before it hit the floor, setting its feet wide as it leveled its gun at Lara, the barrels already in motion.
Lara quickly bolted right, using her magic to launch herself out of the way as the first bullets flew. Her feet touched the wall and she leapt off, landing on the inside of one of the pillars. She repeated the motion as fast as she could, using the circular shape of the room and her now unrestrained strength and speed to her advantage. She literally leapt along the walls, taking a lap around the room as the bullets chased after her. The clockman turned in place to keep up with her, but Lara was too fast.
She suddenly halted herself on the sill of one of the windows, causing the clockman's aim to swing past her. Air erupted under Lara's feet as she pushed off, shooting straight for the clockman and shattering the window. It narrowly missed training its gun on her when her hand seized its face. She yelled as she spun in midair, taking the clockman with her as she flew towards the other side of the room. She twisted over and planted both her feet on the clockman's chest and then kicked hard as they landed on one of the pillars, sending it crashing through the pillar and into the wall. They both tumbled to the floor and quickly rose to their feet. The clockman raised its gun at her, sporting a pair of boot impressions on its chest.
"No you don't!" Lara shouted. She reached out and grabbed the spinning gun barrels with her bare hands, bringing them to a dead halt. The clockman swung its sword at her, but Lara blocked with her arm and then flung the sword away from her. She then seized the belt feeding the gun and ripped it free, this time tearing it off completely. The clockman then tried to stab her head, but she dodged aside well in advance. She caught the blunt side of the blade with her right hand at the apex of its thrust, holding it in place as she pulled her left fist back. Her hand then lashed out like a snake, landing a snapping punch at the base of the sword.
PANG! The sword snapped off completely at the hilt. Lara tossed the broken blade aside and then punched the clockman straight in the face. Its head whipped back as it tried to kick the inside of Lara's thigh, but her other hand snapped down and batted it away. She seized the clockman with both hands and flung it against the back of one of the columns, cracking the stone. The clockman's clawed hand appeared again, but before it could slash her, she punched it straight in the chest. Another boom went off, rattling the clockman and cracking the pillar further. The machine recovered quickly and slashed at her face. Lara ducked under the strike, her hand reaching up and pinning the clockman's clawed hand against its chest. Then she spun in place and swung her shin as hard as she could into the clockman. The machine barely got its other arm in front of itself in time to guard, but the hit and concussive magic was so strong it still shattered the column and blew the clockman straight through it. The claws on its hand snapped off like twigs, clattering to the ground. The clockman rolled out into the middle of the ballroom as the column collapsed in a cloud of dust.
"Something else you should know about me!" Lara said as she walked out of the dust cloud towards the clockman. "I'm neither a slouch nor a natural when it comes to swords! My father spent as much time drilling swordsmanship into me as he did magic! All the time I spent back east only added to that!"
The automaton lifted its head, bits of rock sliding off it as it rose. The remains of its sword retracted as it ejected the fractured tips of its claws.
"But for every hour of every day I trained with a sword, I spent three training with my fists!" Lara clenched her hands tight and punched her armored knuckles together, the clashing metal ringing loudly. "These are my real weapons! These are why I was called Cannon Fist! So, if I can't burn or cut you, then I'll just smash the soul right outta you!"
"No!" screamed Remora, thrashing and stomping about the room as she watched Lara pummel her clockman. "No! No! No! No!"
This was not supposed to happen! This was supposed to be her moment of triumph over that stinking brat! Lara was supposed to be lying bloody, broken, and riddled with holes at the feet of her machine just waiting to be hauled off! Not hammering away at it like a punching bag! She modified that clockman specifically to fight her. She used the hardest metals to render it invulnerable to swords and fire. She broke one of the Factory forges just melting down the ore. She added the crank gun and railguns to give it long-range ability, and the blades for when things got up close and personal. Everything about it was designed solely for killing the brat, right down to the thick chest plate covering its core and the detachable feeder belt.
She had a fair idea exactly what trick Lara was using. At the peak of impact her armor released a concussive magic blast, amplifying the damage her fist created. She used the same method to enhance her agility. On top of that, Lara's screaming bout had not been for show. Her physical strength had increased markedly and was now being enhanced further by her magic. The combined effect of magic, muscle, and armor spoke for itself. The clockman was taking actual damage now, and the curse that imprisoned the soul within was starting to weaken. Already Remora could feel it trying to break free with what scraps remained of its will.
She stopped her tantrum, breathing heavily as she straightened up. She brushed a few loose strands of hair back and licked her lips as she began to calm. She had not lost this battle yet. Lara was stronger, but Remora had plenty more cards to play.
She rolled up her sleeves and pushed the hood off her head. "If you want something done right…!"
She flung her hands wide. Metal dust flew off Remora to the four walls, collecting and interlocking into twisted, grotesque semblances of flowers. Lightning suddenly arced off the flowers to Remora's hands and feet. She levitated off the ground, metal growing over her legs as she hovered in the middle of the room.
"You do it yourself!" She clapped her hands together as her other eye filled with yellow light. "Command: override! Manual control!"
Lara yelled as she stepped in and smashed her right fist into the automaton's chest. The solid metal chest piece dented inward but did not break. The clockman swung a fist at her face, but Lara blocked it with her arm. The metal scratched against her armor, failing to reach the skin below.
"Not so easy without your weapons, is it!?" said Lara as she threw a kick into the side of the clockman's knee. The clockman started to fall, only to be righted when Lara smashed an uppercut into its jaw. She spun and drove her elbow into the machine's middle, unleashing a blast that sent it shooting away from her. She could hear it tumbling away and then right itself, its toes scratching against the floor.
Lara turn and ran at the clockman, drawing her arm back as she closed in. She lunged and punched for its –.
WHAM!
Lara's world spun as she flipped through the air, the left side of her face numb. She felt her entire body seize up and then go slack. She hit the floor and rolled to a stop flat on her back, staring dazed at the ceiling. A shadow extended over her blurry vision, and a moment later she realized it was the clockman's leg. She rolled aside as it struck down in an axe kick, splitting the marble underneath in half. Lara quickly got back to her feet, only to see the clockman front-flip at her for another axe kick. She immediately darted back, the metal heel almost grazing her face. She took a large leap back to gain distance, her face aching and confidence shaken.
The clockman was upright and looking straight at her. It lifted its foot out of the hole its strike created in the floor. The yellow markings on its armor were glowing brighter, small arcs of electricity jumping over its form.
Lara felt something wet on her lip. She wiped the back of her hand over her mouth, seeing a red smear on her armor. "Lucky shot…" she muttered.
She charged at the automaton again, lashing out with her fist. The automaton parried her fist away, and then blocked the kick she threw for its middle. It pulled one of its legs up and thrust for Lara's middle, but she parried the leg aside with her arm. It swung for her head, so Lara used her arm to deflect the blow upwards.
It was what the clockman wanted. It swung its leg into Lara's middle before she could get her own leg up to block. The leg connected hard with her midsection, driving air out of her. Then she felt her body seize and go limp again. Her hands fell against her will, giving the clockman the opportunity it needed to punch her in the gut. The force caused her to bend over, only to receive a knee in her nose. Lara arced backwards, landing hard on the ground. She quickly rolled backwards into a crouch, tasting blood in her mouth. The clockman watched her for a moment, and then it started bouncing on its feet, raising its fists into a guard as Lara got to her feet.
Lara blew her nose, feeling blood leaking down across her face. "Okay…not luck."
The clockman lunged for Lara, jabbing rapidly with its hands. Lara parried and blocked the strikes, waiting for an opening and then countering with a kick for its knee. The clockman lifted its leg, using its shin to block Lara's strike. The concussive blast erupted, but the clockman set its standing leg firm. The strike still sent it back from Lara, but it skidded away rather than being flung off balance. Lara charged in and threw a hard punch, striking the clockman square in the jaw. Instead of allowing itself to be thrown the clockman spun and smacked the back of its fist into Lara's own jaw, jarring her brain. For a brief moment Lara's world went black, and then she woke up to feel a fist connect with her ribs, cracking two of them. She regained full alertness in time to see a metal fist coming straight for her face. Lara tried to dodge, throwing her own punch at the clockman's middle, but it still managed to nail her in the side of the face. Both mortal and machine went reeling backwards, finding their footing rather than risk falling to the ground.
Lara shook her head, loosening the cobwebs from her brain. The clockman had been fighting her evenly before she changed into her armor, after which she had been trouncing it handily. This was different though. Something had changed. It was moving and reacting completely differently than before. Before now its fighting was methodical, as though following a built-in sequence. It was very mechanical. Exactly what she expected from a machine. But now it fought intelligently, reading her moves and planning its strikes in advance. It was as if…
Lara's eyes widened, her guard faltering. "So that's it..." She settled back into her guard. "Thought you'd take your creation for a spin, did you?"
The clockman tilted its head to the side and clapped, the clang of metal carrying through the ballroom. Then it raised an open hand towards Lara and made a "come here" motion.
Lara scowled. "Gladly!"
She dashed at the clockman and it responded in kind. The two closed on each other, their voices loud and furious as they threw their punches at the same time.
Ariel ran fast as she could through the halls. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears clear as her feet against the carpeted floor. The sound of Lara's battle echoed through the castle, fear of the foe the young sorceress was trading fists with driving Ariel on. Her breathing was deep and fast. Her legs and lungs were burning, her human body unused to the exertion running placed on it. The confinement and weight of her dress and corset did not help.
She suddenly trod on the hem of her dress and pitched forward. Ariel let out a yelp as she caught herself on her hands, the carpet giving her a mild rug burn.
"Curse this stupid dress!" she said out loud, hissing as she looked at the red marks on her palms. She gathered her dress up in fistfuls, holding tight so she did not slip again. "I'm starting to understand why Lara hates these!"
She rounded a corner, greeted by yet another empty hallway. The absence of people was becoming increasingly worrying. It was as though the castle was completely empty. She did not even hear the sounds of people. How so many had disappeared was beyond her. For a moment her mind brought forth a memory of black hooded figures with masks of white and gleaming red eyes, and the white-haired "girl" who ruled over them. But Ariel discarded such a thought. Lara said the nyctophiles were not ones to interfere in human affairs, nor were their intentions inherently evil. No one had breathed a word of their existence to anyone since the night of the skinner, so she doubted they had a reason to lash out. Vanishing an entire castle would not fit their behaviors.
The main doors to the castle came into view as Ariel rounded a corner. She ignored the steps and perched herself on the railing, sliding down smoothly. The heels of her shoes snapped off as she landed, almost tripping her. She quickly found her balance and dashed for the door. She pushed hard on the oaken timbers, but the door refused to budge. She could hear voices on the other side. No doubt they blocked the door behind them to keep the malevolent machine from following them
"Hello!" she shouted, pounding on the door with her fists. "Open up! Please! There's still someone in here!"
"Who goes there?" came a voice from the other side. "Identify yourself!"
"I'm Ariel! Queen of Seahaven!" she responded, loud as she could.
"Did she just say Azrael, cleanest seal maven?" asked the voice.
"I heard Muriel, dreams of heads shaven," said another voice.
Ariel rolled her eyes. "Oh, for the love of…Ar-i-el, Queen of Sea-Haven!"
"…Angel, quarantine till we've bath-en?"
"Clean the wax from your ears!" said a booming voice. "That's Ariel, Queen of Seahaven! Now stand aside!"
Ariel stepped back as the doors shuddered and then swung outward. She found herself standing before what could only be described as a bearded giant. She barely came up to the man's waist. Arms as thick as full-grown men strained as he opened doors that normally took three men each to move. Twinkling green eyes peered out from a dishwater blonde beard, muscle bulging underneath a tunic of emerald.
"Gerrod!" shouted Ariel in joyous relief.
The giant smiled down at her through his thick beard. "A pleasure to see you again, Queen Ariel, circumstances aside! Come quickly! Your family is with us!"
Ariel slipped past Gerrod without hesitation. The Vorhaven king grunted as he pushed on the doors, closing them once more with a heavy thud.
"Was there anyone else with you?" asked Gerrod as he lifted a thick crossbeam into place, sealing the doors closed.
"There were a pair of guards with me," said Ariel. "But we got separated."
"That must be these two," said Gerrod, nodding towards a pair of guards beside the door. "They came through not a few minutes before you did. For shame they did not stay with you!"
"Something came up. You said my family is out here. Where are they?" asked Ariel. "Are they safe?"
"They are!" said Gerrod. "Come! I will take you to them."
As Ariel followed Gerrod down the steps of the keep, she took full stock of the chaos the metal intruder had caused. The castle bailey was filled with guests, servants, and guards clamoring to find each other amidst the jumble. Some huddled fearfully together while others raced through the sea of voices and bodies, calling out for those they became separated from. Mothers and fathers called to their children as guards worked their best to reunite them while remaining alert for further enemies. Carriages were backed up clear to the gates as the guests tried to leave, some passengers yelling with futile anger but understandable frustration at the crawl the traffic was moving at.
"Make way! Make way!" declared Gerrod as he cleared a path for Ariel. "Move aside, please! Make way!"
"Mom!? Mom!"
"Melody!" shouted Ariel, recognizing her daughter's voice. "Melody, where are you!?"
"I see them now!" said Gerrod, pointing straight ahead of him. "Eric! Ben!"
"Gerrod, did you find my wife?" called Eric.
"I will do you one better, Eric! She is with me!" Gerrod said, pointing down to Ariel.
"Everyone! Please move aside!" called out King Ben's voice. "Clear a path for Queen Ariel!"
The people before Gerrod and Ariel turned, recognizing both the king and queen. Within seconds they had parted, creating a clear path to Melody, Eric, and a rather winded-looking Ben.
"Here they are, your majesty," said Gerrod, urging Ariel forward with a gentle push.
Ariel smiled up at Gerrod. "Thank you." She ran to her family as they ran to her, all but throwing herself into Eric's arms. Melody joined a moment later, embracing both her parents.
"Ariel!" Eric held her tight. "You're safe!"
"I was so worried!" said Melody. "We thought something happened to you!"
"I'm all right!" assured Ariel. "Really!"
"Thank the gods you are safe," said Ben.
"Thank Lara instead!" said Ariel.
Melody abruptly released her mother. "Mom, where is she? Where's Lara?"
"She stayed behind," said Ariel. "She gave me the chance to escape!"
Melody's eyes snapped wide. "What!? Why?"
"It's that…I don't know what it is!" said Ariel. "But last I saw Lara was holding it off!"
"But how?" asked Ben. "She couldn't hurt it with her sword or magic! What hope does she have of stopping it!?"
"Turns out those aren't her only weapons," said Ariel.
"What do you mean?" asked Melody.
Ariel clasped Melody's shoulders, offering a nervous but sincere smile. "Trust her, Melody! Lara is going to be fine! She promised you she'd come back, and she promised me, too! And has she broken a promise to us yet?"
Melody gave a small smile in return, shaking her head. "No, she hasn–."
A distant booming reached their ears. Everyone turned in the direction of the sound and found themselves looking towards the ballroom. They could not see anything, but the noises continued to echo. Other people began turning as well as they noticed the sound.
"Am I to assume it's Lara causing that?" asked Ben.
Another loud boom issued forth, followed by a faint but audible, "That all you got!?" over the breaking of glass.
Melody, Ariel, and Eric sighed, their shoulders dropping as they relaxed. "Yeah, that's Lara," they said in unison.
"How is she doing that?" asked Gerrod as a pair of very loud booms carried over the bailey.
"She turned her sword into some kind of magic armor," said Ariel. "And she's gotten stronger. Much stronger!"
"So as long as we keep hearing those, that means she's still alive," said Melody. "But…what if they stop?"
"Either it means she's won, or…" Eric did not bother finishing the rest of the sentence. They were all aware of the alternative, and none of them wanted to consider it even remotely possible.
Melody stepped past her mom, eyes looking towards the ballroom. "Come on, Lara…!"
"Eric, you failed to mention that Anclagon is a witch! I mean, sorceress!" said Gerrod, correcting himself after the withering look Ariel gave him over her shoulder. "Why did you not tell us? Are we not friends as well as allies?"
"It wasn't for me to tell," said Eric. "Lara came from a land where magic users are hunted and killed. She hid her magic from us because she feared we would do the same to her. After she revealed the truth, we assured her we would not allow anyone to persecute her for it, or tell anyone about her magic without her permission."
"But do you think this wise?" asked Gerrod. "Entrusting the safety of your daughter to one woman?"
"Don't underestimate her," said Melody. "Lara's way stronger than she appears!"
"And she's risked her life for us multiple times," said Ariel. "I'll gladly trust her with mine."
"And mine as well," said Eric.
Ben puffed out his chest as he adjusted his belt. "Well, magic or not, she will not fight this foe alone! This is our kingdom, and we won't stand idly by while it's attacked!" He raised his arm to call the guards, but Gerrod stayed him.
"You saw that demon clear as I did," said Gerrod. "If a sorceress is having difficulty with such a foe, what good will spears and swords do against it?"
"Gerrod's right," said Ariel. "If you send your guards in now, you'll just get in Lara's way and put your people in danger."
Ariel suddenly looked around, her eyes scanning over the sea of faces. The sudden change in bearing did not go unnoticed by Eric. "Ariel, what's wrong?"
She looked across the crowd one more time before turning to face Eric. "Where's King Willard?"
Lara charged at the clockman. It swung its fist for her head, but Lara ducked back and fell to her knees, sliding underneath the punch. She dropped onto her back, pulled her legs in, and then kicked up hard into the clockman's groin–devastating to a mortal man, but not to a machine. The concussive blast that followed, however, sent the clockman shooting into the air. Lara quickly righted herself and leapt after it, the blasts from her feet making her rise like a rocket. She went for a punch, but the clockman parried her aside and clawed at her exposed back. Lara grunted as the sharp fingertips raked her side, but she kept rising upwards. She flipped over before reaching the ceiling, planting her feet against it as her eyes locked onto the clockman in midair.
"Got you!" she shouted. She kicked off the ceiling, cracking it as she dove headfirst for the clockman. The machine spun around to face her and punched as she came within reach, but its fist only grazed her chin. Lara's own fist connected hard and true with the clockman's face, and with a mighty yell she sent her magic surging into her armor.
BA-DOOM! The blast that erupted from Lara's fist shot the clockman straight down into the floor. Multiple windows shattered from the blast, and the entire ballroom shuddered as the clockman hit the ground. The floor caved in, throwing up a cloud of dust towards Lara, who hung suspended in midair for a moment by the force of her punch before starting her own descent. She landed and rolled to dissipate the–.
BANG!
A searing pain tore into Lara's left side, causing her to tumble to the ground. She clapped a hand to her middle and felt warm wetness coat her fingers.
BANG! A hot pain pierced Lara's shoulder. She rolled onto her feet and looked down. There was blood leaking from the holes that had been punched through her side and shoulder. She had been shot, the bullets passing cleanly through her.
The dust cleared away as the clockman walked out. Its jaw hung at an awkward angle, and its right eye was cracked. A sizeable dent now graced the right side of its face. Wisps of smoke rose from two of its gun barrels as it rotated to another one. The sound of a pair of brass casings bouncing against the floor echoed through the ballroom.
Lara grit her teeth as she stood, pressing hard on the wound in her side. "Crap…so you did have a few shots left."
The clockman continued to stare, keeping its gun trained on her.
Lara quickly dove right as the clockman's gun fired again, the bullet nicking her left ear. She rolled upright and launched at the clockman, but the pain in her side and shoulder made her stumble. The clockman flung itself at Lara, twisting over in midair to whip its leg around into her shoulder. Lara brought her good arm over in time to keep her collarbone from being broken, but not fast enough to avoid a glancing foot to her head. The clockman fell and grabbed her foot, twisting hard to try and break her ankle. Lara responded by turning with it and kicking the clockman square in the chest. The clockman skidded away from her and quickly got back to its feet.
"Make that three," said Lara, grimacing as she was reminded of the hole in her gut. "I forgot…how much bullets hurt."
She focused her magic through the pain, directing it towards the damaged tissues. She felt a pins-and-needles sensation as her healing was focused there. Organs, muscle, nerves, bone, and skin rapidly stitched themselves back together. In a matter of seconds her wounds had closed, leaving only bloody streaks and a red handprint over her skin.
"But if you wanna kill me, go for my head!" Lara leapt up and ran at the clockman, the machine doing the same. They drew their fists back as they approached and punched at the same time. Their fists connected, both of them reeling back as the blows bounced off each other. They struck at each other again, and then again, their fists colliding each time. Then their punches slipped past and struck each other's jaws. They staggered back a step, and then threw round kicks at each other's heads. Their legs met midway, shins clashing violently as electrified steel met enchanted armor. Lara pulled her leg back and prepared to kick again, but the clockman beat her to it. She swung for its legs and it leapt, avoiding her strike and whipping its own electrified leg out into Lara's shoulder.
The hit broke her rhythm and pushed Lara back. The clockman used the moment to sweep Lara's feet when it landed. She caught herself with one hand, only to receive a metal foot in her stomach, sending Lara sliding across the floor. She spun over and got to her feet as the clockman charged at her. She rushed to meet it and they locked hands halfway, pushing against each other in earnest. Electricity raced up the clockman's arms and jumped into Lara, making her entire body seize. Lara grit her teeth as she sent her magic back against the invisible attack, driving it out of her body.
"Die!" shouted the clockman in its mechanical voice, its eyes flashing with light.
"You first!" snarled Lara. She pulled a foot up and kicked hard into the automaton's chest as she jerked on its arms, trying to rip one free. She made a notable dent in the clockman's chest, but its arms remained attached. She spun in place and pulled the clockman off its feet, flinging it towards an intact pillar. The clockman righted itself in midair and landed on the column, pouncing back at her a split moment later. It caught Lara by surprise, ramming its head into her chest. Lara was bowled backwards, her head smacking hard against the floor. Stars flashed across her vision, and she was fairly sure her sternum was cracked, but she got back to her feet quick as she could.
She wiped the back of her hand over her mouth as she watched the automaton advance on her. This fistfight was entertaining, but it was getting her nowhere. She was wailing on the clockman as hard as she could, but all she had accomplished were dents–big dents, but dents nonetheless. She could outpace it with her speed and strength, but there was no getting around the fact this thing was literally tough as steel and being piloted by someone who really knew how to fight. She needed to find a weak spot and put a crippling dent in it. But where? The core was a good start, but it was heavily shielded by metal. The head was another start, but there was no guarantee that would stop it.
Lara clenched her fists. On top of her opponent's toughness, she was starting to lose steam. Fighting like this taxed her body heavily, like sustained anaerobic exercise. Her joints were starting to ache, and that familiar lactic burn was creeping back into her muscles. Magic could compensate for some of the strain, but not indefinitely. She probably had enough left to keep her pace up for another three minutes, but after that she would start slowing down. If she did not finish this soon, she was going to be out of options. When that happened, she may have to resort to using that.
The thought of using that magic again made her grit her teeth and growl. What good was making one promise if she had to break another to keep it? She refused to use that magic. Yet the fact remained she was running out of time. If this dragged on long enough, she may not have a choice anymore. And that made her angry–not at the clockman, but at herself. She hated the idea of being so weak she had to depend on that terrible enchantment just to survive.
She smiled weakly, blood leaking out her mouth as she reached up to cup Lara's face. "Promise me, Lara. Promise me…you'll keep…on living…"
Lara straightened up. She hated that memory more than all others, but the anger it drew from her gave her new strength. It pushed fresh energy into her muscles. Her senses felt sharpened, acutely aware of her body and the motions of her foe. She tightened her hands and then relaxed them, her arms hanging loose at her sides.
"Right then," she said, walking towards the clockman. "Time to wrap this up."
The clockman approached Lara with the same steady pace, and then it leapt at her. It punched for her head. Lara swatted its arm aside and then backfisted its face with the same hand. She tempered her magic so it only struck with a quarter of its destructive force. Instead of flying across the room the clockman was sent reeling backwards, its balance thrown off. It steadied itself and came at her again, this time kicking for her groin and then feinting for her head. Lara blocked its kick and threw a snapping punch into the clockman's hip and then neck, repelling it again.
Lara could not see it, but her eyes and the marks on her armor were starting to glow. The orange color in her hair was starting to spread as well.
The clockman shook its head and screamed at Lara, charging at her. It kicked for her knees, but Lara blocked its blow with her foot. The clockman then swung twice with its fists, but Lara blocked both easily. She pulled her leg up and kicked the clockman away from her, and then she darted in and punched for its face. The clockman dodged her punch, but Lara suddenly spun around and drove her knee into its chest with all her strength. A large dent formed in its chest plate as her magic detonated, flinging the clockman backwards. It landed on its back and immediately rolled onto its feet, but Lara was already in motion. She rushed it and tackled it around the middle, lifting if off the ground. The clockman raised its fists overhead and slammed them down on her lower back, but Lara did not stop. The burning anger inside her would not allow her to stop. She kept running with the clockman through another body blow before throwing it and herself out a window.
Down they fell in a shower of glass, crashing into the stairs with a dull "whump!" They rolled down the steps, entangled in each other as they continued to fight. They reached the bottom as Lara landed a heavy elbow blow on the machine's head, adding a new dent atop its cranium. The clockman responded by driving a knee into her side and then swinging a fist at her face. The knuckles tickled her nose as she jerked away from it, backflipping onto her feet. Her toes barely touched the ground before she shot forward.
"Claymore…!" She closed on the clockman and threw both her fists into its chest. "Blast!"
The shockwave that hit the clockman sent a visible wall of air washing over the garden, knocking leaves and flowers loose. The clockman went flipping up and away, sailing over the garden and into the perimeter wall. It struggled to stand up, but Lara was on it before it could mount an attack of its own. She hammered her shoulder into it like a battering ram, driving it back against the wall. She called on her magic, drawing out even more than before and sending it into her muscles, heart, and lungs to draw as much strength out of them as possible.
"RRRRRAAAAAHHHHH!" Lara roared as she began laying into the clockman with as much ferocity as she could. The clockman matched her fists and kicks with its own, striking her body hard and sharp. Lara stopped noticing the blows or the pain as she continued her onslaught. Her limbs became a blur as she struck the clockman as hard and fast as she could. Her strikes began to outpace the clockman's own until she overwhelmed it, pounding away at the machine for all she was worth.
"Why!? Why is this happening!?" Remora screamed in frustration, unable to do anything but watch as Lara literally pounded her creation into the wall. Where Lara drew that sudden surge of strength from she had no idea, but it was allowing her to wail on the clockman faster than Remora could maneuver it. She had found the clockman's limits and gone past them.
Remora withdrew her magic, dropping back to the floor as the metal flowers returned to her as dust. She marched to the door and punched it hard, electricity surging into it and detonating the door like a powder keg. Remora stormed through the debris, electric arcs jumping off her to the walls.
"It's not over, Lara!" she shouted. "If I can't beat you with a machine, I'll just do it with my own hands!"
The sound of Lara's blows echoed through the garden and beyond. The clockman had lost the ability to fight back, the magical marks on its body dimmer than before. Its armor was a dented mess, barely standing up to the barrage Lara was unleashing.
Lara had no idea how long she had been wailing on the clockman for. Seconds, minutes, even hours could have passed. She had no clue. Her arms and legs were burning with exertion, but she did not let up for an instant. She just kept attacking the clockman with a desperate primal fury. All she could think of was how this thing wanted to kill Melody and Ariel and Eric, and how she struggled to keep it from doing that. It wanted to kill her and anyone else it could. She had to destroy it completely before she burned out. She had to win here and now, or she would need to use that to finish things.
Her eyes began to glow, smoke rising from her body. The clockman's gun was caught by one of her punches and bent into a useless angle. Another punch connected with the clockman's chest plate, tearing a hole into it. Through that hole Lara saw the glow of the clockman's core, the golden light pulsating like a heartbeat inside the crystal. Wires and metal rings encircled it, arcs of electricity flowing down them. That had to be where the soul was! If she broke that, this fight would be over!
Lara drew her right fist back. "This!"
The armor over Lara's right arm popped free as the tattoos on her forearm began to glow brightly. At the same time her skin began to smoke profusely.
"Ends!"
The orange in her hair spread out, banishing all traces of brunette from her as her piercings glowed with the same brilliance as her tattoos.
"Now!"
Her right arm suddenly burst into flame, bathing the garden in light. Lara drove her fist as hard as she could into the clockman's chest. The metal caved and then gave as her fist drove straight through it. The crystal heart shattered into countless shards as her fist erupted out the back of the clockman and pierced into the stones behind it. A wave of flame burst forth, consuming the clockman and licking at the stone wall as the rocks cracked under the heat and force. The clockman seized up, mouth open wide in a silent scream. Then it slumped forward, the spell that brought its terrible life into existence broken. Lara withdrew her arm, the flames extinguishing as pieces of charcoal fell off her skin. The clockman collapsed to the ground, the last light disappearing from its eyes.
Lara panted hard, her heart pounding wildly in her chest as she backed away and then fell to her knees. She grasped her right wrist with her hand. Matte black material coated her arm, as though it were covered in creosote. She clenched and unclenched her hand, causing the material to flake off her skin. She scratched at it vigorously, the coating falling away and crumbling into dust. She continued till there was not even a speck on her. She held her arm in front of her, making sure she had not missed some small fragment.
That was too close. Far too close. It was not complete, but in that last strike she started to use that. She remembered the feel of its power all too well. She looked down at the clockman, seeing the hole she created in its smoking chest. Before then she had only been able to put dents in its metal body. In just one moment, and with only a small part of that magic formed, she was able to tear through it with ease. It was a somber reminder of the power that magic possessed–and the destruction it could cause.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to use that on you. I wanted to end this another way but…too late for that now." Lara stood up and walked away, picking up the armor for her right arm as she went. "I don't know who you were, but you didn't deserve this. I just hope there's enough of you left to find peace in the Otherworld."
"Thank…you…"
Lara stopped, looking back at the clockman. Was she imagining things, or was there the silhouette of a merman-looking person hovering in the air, a grateful smile on its face? She blinked and the figure disappeared. All she saw now was the lifeless form of the automaton, smoke rising off it.
"Well, that's irritating."
Lara spun around. She raised her fists up, stepping away from the wrecked automaton as she slipped the armor back onto her right arm. Someone else was in the garden with her, and she had a feeling they were not friendly.
"I thought that'd be enough to do you in," came a female voice. Lara's ears quickly tracked it to a large willow tree. "But you? You just keep pulling out one nasty surprise after the other."
"Who're you?" Lara asked.
"Still, that's why it's called a prototype," continued the woman. "If you were fighting a final product, I doubt it would be…"
The hairs on Lara's neck stood up as she heard a crackling sound behind the tree. That and the distinct smell of ozone the fiercest electrical storms left in their wake. She had not encountered much of it, but she knew lightning magic when she heard it.
"So easy!" yelled the woman.
Lara leapt aside as a lightning bolt pierced the trunk of the tree, passing through where she stood not a split second before. The bolt carried out and struck the clockman and then the wall with a deafening boom. Both wall and machine glowed white hot and then exploded, sending shrapnel flying everywhere.
Ariel and Melody were not the only ones who saw the flash of light from the direction of the gardens. Then a sharp crack reached their ears, followed by an explosion.
Melody took her father's hand, holding it tightly. "Dad, what was that?"
"I don't know," said Eric. "But it sounded like…I don't know what!"
"I do," said Ariel, swallowing nervously. "That sounded like lightning!"
Lara rolled to her feet, hands up in defense. She felt sharp pains across her left side and looked down to see fragments of metal embedded in her. The shards had not penetrated far through her skin, but they still hurt. Already the shards were being pushed out of her as she healed. The tree, however, had not fared so well. Its trunk was blackened and smoking, already dead from the countless volts that coursed through it. Many of its drooping branches were burning or charred, the leaves falling from it like mournful snow.
"Good instincts," said the woman. "But my lightning strikes twice."
There was more crackling and then another lightning bolt burst through the tree, igniting its leaves all at once. This time Lara stood her ground, crossing her arms and letting the bolt strike her bracers. The armor vibrated ferociously as the metal and magic deflected the jagged stream of electricity away from her, sending it around her with the smell of ozone. Her feet dug furrows in the lawn as the bolt pushed her backwards. Fingers of lightning raked out over the garden, carving burning black marks into earth and stone. Then it ended, causing Lara to step forward as the oppressing force vanished. The tree toppled over with a crash, the burned trunk unable to support its weight any longer. Lara caught a brief glimpse of her attacker before she slipped behind the tangle of smoldering branches. Definitely a woman. And if she was using magic, that made her a witch. An electromancer, to be precise. Very dangerous.
"That all you got?" asked Lara, her bracers glowing as they cooled off.
"Hardly!" said the woman. "There's a lot more where that came from."
"Big words for someone hiding behind a tree," said Lara. "What, afraid to face me after I clipped your puppet's strings?"
"Watch it, you arrogant git!" snapped the woman. "Don't mistake my patience for cowardice! I've waited a long time for this! I can wait a few seconds more!"
"I take it you're the one who made that thing?" asked Lara.
The woman laughed. "Guilty as charged! Yes, I made that machine! I call it a clockman! All the skill of a soldier, but none of its weakness. I'd hoped for a different ending, thought. One with you bleeding on the ground, to be precise. And if that's the best you can do, then I'd say I had more fun making it than piloting it against you."
"Fun?" Lara's jaw and hands clenched tight. "Fun!? That was someone's soul in there! You can't stick souls into anything without rejection! Not unless you ravage them to the point of obliteration!"
"Your point?"
"You had to destroy everything that made that person who they were!" shouted back Lara. "Everything about them was gone! There was nothing left except their pain! They wanted me to kill them! They begged me to before you took over!"
"Oh, I left something in there," The woman started walking towards the top of the tree, Lara following with cautious sidesteps. "Obedience, for starters. It's really a fascinating process. You can tell what parts are being stripped off by the change in their screams. Especially fear. Once that's gone, the screaming stops."
A twisting revulsion swept Lara's insides. "You sound like you enjoyed it."
The woman laughed again. "Oh, immensely! But that won't compare to the ecstasy I'll get from killing you…Lara…Ri…Faldras."
Lara tensed up. That surname was hers, but it was from a very, very long time ago. It belonged to her mother. Lara had not used it since her mother was killed. She had not told it to anyone either. Not Melody, Ariel, Eric, Sarah, Jenni, John, Isaac–no one.
"How do you know my name?" Lara asked.
"What, you haven't figured it out yet?" said the woman. "You don't recognize my voice? My magic?"
"No."
"Don't lie to me!" yelled the woman, flashes of electric light slipping through the tree.
Lara took a half step back, pushing magic back into her body. "I've never met you! And if I did, I wouldn't try to remember a sick murderer like you!"
"Seems you did more than try!" said the woman. "All this time and you've forgotten me so easily? That's just insulting! I haven't forgotten you for one second, Lara! Or what you did to my crew and I!"
An uneasiness sprouted in Lara's stomach. "Your crew?"
The woman stopped at the edge of the canopy. "Looks like I need to jog your memory. Let's see if you remember this…"
Lara tensed, expecting the woman to attack again. Instead, the woman started singing. It was a haunting, sweet voice that came forth, but the words she sang sent a bolt of fear through every fiber of Lara's being.
"What do we do with a drunken sailor,
What do we do with a drunken sailor,
What do we do with a drunken sailor…"
Lara froze. That song…she knew that song, and it filled her with dread. It had been many long years since she last heard it, but in a moment it rose from the deepest parts of memory to the forefront of her mind. Her lips moved on their own, silently mouthing that last, horrid verse. She became acutely aware of the scars over her spine and her eye, her mind drawing forth the memory of the night she received them. And the one who inflicted them.
"Come on," said the woman. "You know the words. What do we do with a drunken sailor…?"
"Early in the morning," finished Lara.
The woman chuckled. "So, you do remember…brat."
Chills ran across Lara as the woman stepped out from behind the tree. She had a scythe resting across her shoulders, arms draped over its shaft. A long blonde braid spilled out of the hood covering her head. Arcs of white and gold electricity jumped across her form. She slowly turned to Lara, keeping her face hidden in in the shadow of her hood.
"No…" whispered Lara. "It can't be…"
"Let's see if you remember my name," said the woman as she lifted her head, allowing the light of the moon to illuminate her white smiling mask.
"No…no…" Lara said, slowly shaking her head. "Not you…it can't be you!"
The woman reached up, grasping the mask and pulling it halfway down her face.
Lara paled, dread coursing through her veins as she stepped back. Memories long buried rose from the darkest corners of her mind. Memories of a ship that sailed the waters, inflicting terror, pain, and death on all who saw it. A ship crewed by the most vicious, bloodthirsty pirates to ever sail the ocean. A ship whose captain Lara suddenly remembered in vivid detail. Not a man, but a woman. Not just any woman, but a witch. A witch who controlled the forces of lightning. A witch who laughed and smiled as she committed the most heinous acts imaginable. A witch so bloodthirsty it was said she traded her very soul for Death's own scythe. A witch so evil the Pit itself feared the day she would join their foul ranks. A witch with eyes of two blues – one deep as sapphire and the other pale as ice.
Eyes just like ones staring at Lara.
"Say it," said the woman. "Say my name."
Lara could not stop herself from shaking as she uttered a name she hoped to never say again. "Captain…Sable…!"
The raven grimaced as he watched Lara and Remora. "So, it is her…"
The Hive Queen gave a low whistle. "Well, well! I didn't see that coming!"
The raven shifted anxiously. "This is bad."
The Hive Queen smirked. "Why? Because Lara's boogeyman has come back to haunt her?"
"No. It's what always comes after fear."
The Hive Queen's smirk broadened into a smile. "Really?" She leaned forward on the wall. "Sounds like this could get interesting!"
"Yes…that was my name," said Remora as she fitted her mask back in place. "Captain Sable of the Charybdis. But Captain Sable is dead. She died decades ago because of your meddling. Now it's Remora, vice commander and second seat of Maelstrom."
Lara's shaking visibly worsened, her hands lowering as shock robbed her of strength. "You…you can't be alive! You can't!"
"Funny, I said the same thing when I saw you fight in the tournament," said Remora.
"You died!" shouted Lara, trying not to believe what her senses were telling her. "You went down with the Charybdis!"
"And I shredded your spine to chum!" spat Remora. "Yet here we both are, alive and kicking. But I'll fix that soon enough!" She gave her scythe a swing, the blade audibly cutting the air. Then she raised her right hand, revealing five functional fingers. Even in the low light, Lara could see the scars at the base of the index and little fingers. "Just like I fixed your mother!"
Lara's horror and shock magnified as the memories came back. This woman was a monster! Literal thousands died at the hands of her and her crew, and that was just while Lara was aboard their ship! She tortured her! She savaged her! Her crew abused and violated her! She killed countless others right in front of Lara's eyes! She killed her mother! She dragged her mother to the railing! She riddled her with bullets and threw her overboard! She made Lara watch as she sunk into the dark waters! She made her watch the whole thing!
Sable killed her mother.
Sable murdered her mother.
And that made Lara very, very angry.
Remora was not prepared for it.
Scorching air blasted of Lara in an explosive wall as she screamed, knocking Remora backwards. Her arms waved wildly as she fought for balance against the hot hurricane-force wind coming off Lara. The young woman was coated in a dazzling orange aura that was rapidly turning red. Lara's face twisted into an expression of pure rage, her eyes filling with orange light as she continued to scream. Her armor began to melt, pooling on the ground as her tattoos and piercings started to glow.
Remora shielded her face against the heat. "Now what!?"
The Hive Queen's smile faltered as the wind from Lara blew her hair back. She straightened up and walked away.
The raven turned to her. "Not interesting enough for you anymore?"
"No," said the Hive Queen. "I just expected better than this light show. This isn't even close to it. Let me know when she actually gets angry."
The raven watched as the Hive Queen stepped into a shadow and vanished. He frowned as he looked back to Lara, the pendant around her neck glowing with the light of a star. "Be careful, Lara."
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Lara screamed, her hair glowing the same as her piercings and tattoos. The light in her eyes flared red as her tattoos and then her skin ignited. A second later Lara was consumed in fire, the red of her eyes glaring out from the blaze as she drew a hand across her body.
Remora called forth her metal, forming a wall of shields three deep in front of her. She sent her magic deep into the earth, anchoring herself to the iron far below her. She had a feeling she was about to need it.
There was no one outside the castle who was not looking towards the garden. The growing light and fierce wind coming from behind its walls drew the attention of most, but it was the yelling that had Melody's interest and concern.
"That's Lara! She's in trouble!" She turned to her parents. "We have to help her!"
"Melody, we have to stay here!" said Eric. "There's no telling what–!"
There was a brilliant flash of light from the garden, and then a thunderous crack and boom. Melody spun around to see pieces of wall go flying out over the ocean before a mushroom cloud of fire and smoke rose up into the night sky. Glass came raining down from the keep as the wooden beam across the main door was split in half, showering splinters onto the guards keeping watch.
Melody had just enough time to feel confusion and alarm before the shockwave hit, washing over the crowd like a tsunami. People were blown to the ground by it. Windows shattered and bricks cracked as the shockwave swept through the entire town, extinguishing every flame in its path. The town of Glowerhaven was plunged into darkness.
Melody quickly got to her feet, her ears ringing loudly. The castle wall before them was still standing, but there was the unmistakable flicker of firelight reflected in the tower of smoke rising from the garden.
"Lara…" she mouthed to herself.
Melody took off running for the castle, ignoring Eric calling her back and Ariel's footsteps chasing after her. She leapt over and dodged around the people starting to stand up, slipping past the disoriented guards and back through the castle doors. She had no idea what she was going to do, but she needed to do something. She had a terrible feeling Lara had gotten in over her head.
Remora scampered to her feet, smacking at the tongues of flame eating what was left of her cloak. The smoking remains of the metal shields she called forth crumbled into the scorched earth. Her scythe had turned to metal dust, its form sacrificed as she fought to maintain her defenses. Her mask was signed with black marks. A section of the castle wall behind her was blown away, as though a giant burning hand had knocked it over. The stones still standing were blackened and broken. The garden was destroyed, the plants charred and smoking as they crumbled into ash. The pond had evaporated, steam rising from the barren rocks. Every window in the ballroom was broken or melted, the room itself filled with smoke and scattered small fires. In the distance she could hear the town bells sounding out the alarm.
"What!? Was!? That!?" Remora yelled, calling her blackened metal back to reform her scythe.
"Aaaauuugh!"
Remora looked up to see Lara down on one knee, clutching at her head as smoke billowed off her body. Flames clung to her, burning fiercely as they fought to stay alive. Her pendant flared and flickered around her neck. Patches of smoldering charcoal coated her skin, her hair flashing wildly as her body trembled.
"No!" she yelled through clenched teeth as she violently scratched the charcoal off herself. "Not again! Never again!"
Remora swatted out the last smoldering fire on her arm before giving her attention and fury back to Lara. "You! What was that!? What did you just do!?"
Lara was in no state to answer. She struggled to stand on both feet, falling back to her knees. Smoke and sparks poured from her mouth as she screamed again. A wave of fire swept down her arms, more of the black coating forming in the flames' wake.
Remora snarled, advancing on Lara with a crackle of electricity. "You're dead, brat! Dead! First I'll cut you! Then I'll dismember you! Then I'll eviscerate you! Then I'll put you back together and start all over again!"
Lara started to stand when she gave a cry. Fire sprouted over her left half, drenching her with flames. The pooled remains of her armor became molten hot and then swirled into her burning hand, reforming her sword. A large tongue of flame grew from her back, sweeping out to her side. The red light returned to her eyes as her face twisted into a bestial snarl, the sword re-igniting.
"Not before I kill you!" she shouted, her voice echoing and darker than before as she drew her sword back. Pieces of molten metal flew to her face and ears, reforming her piercings. The fire began to crawl over her mouth. "Die, Sable!"
Lara swung her sword at Remora, unleashing a torrent of fire straight at her. Remora drew her scythe back, the blade crackling with electricity as she prepared to counter.
"ENOUGH!"
Remora was suddenly seized by the neck and flung aside. Her momentary shock was overtaken by her reflexes as she righted herself in midair, catching sight of the one who threw her.
"Master!?"
The Master extended a hand towards Lara, darkness filling his palm. The fire raced towards him and then collapsed into his hand as water spirals down a drain. In seconds every flame was consumed into the Master's hand, negating Lara's attack completely.
"Seems Gin wasn't lying," said the Master. "You are a handful."
Lara glared at the Master. She was about to draw her sword back when the Master flicked his wrist. A ray of black shot forth from his sleeve, enveloping Lara head to toe. She disappeared within the darkness for a few seconds, and then she was violently ejected from it. She went flying backwards, rolling through the ash and cinders before striking the blackened remains of a tree and dropping her sword.
"That's enough of that," said the Master.
The flames on Lara extinguished as she tried to rise, but then she doubled over and fell to her knees. The light disappeared from her eyes as she coughed and gagged. The glow disappeared from her hair as the orange strands reverted to brunette. She tried to stand but fell down again, mouth agape as she drew rapid, gasping breaths.
Remora stood up, lightning bristling over her scythe. "Master, what are you do–!?"
The Master extended his hand towards Remora. The masked witch was suddenly pulled to him till her neck was in his grasp. His fingers clamped down on her, choking her brutally. Her scythe fell into dust as she grabbed his wrist, trying to loosen his grip. She felt her strength slipping away from her, drawn into the same void that consumed Lara's fire.
"I'll deal with you in a minute," growled the Master, shadows licking over his form. A portal of darkness formed beside him and he crudely threw Remora into it, the black closing on itself behind her.
He walked patiently over to Lara, hands clasped behind his back. It was more than physical force his darkness struck her with. It drained her, magically, physically, and emotionally. She managed to get herself into a kneeling position, but she was in no condition to fight him, much less anyone. She was pale and coated with sweat, ash, and dirt. She gave a wet, hoarse cough and lifted her face to him.
"Who…are you?" she asked.
The Master looked down at her. "I am the Master, commander of Maelstrom, and the one Remora, Morgana, and Ursula answer to. The more pertinent question is who are you, Lara Anclagon?" He reached into his robe, withdrawing a piece of paper that he unfurled with a flick of his wrist. "Or should I say, Kaida Blackjaw?"
Lara's eyes widened in shock and horror as she looked at the paper, forgetting about Remora entirely. "Where…did you…get that?"
"I always wondered how you crossed the Sand Ocean and lived to tell of it," said the Master. He snapped his fingers and the paper folded up and then flew into his hood. "It was a source of great mystery, how you survived those endless horizons of burning emptiness. Till now, that is."
"Where did you get it?" repeated Lara.
"Now I understand," continued the Master. "How you came here. Why you came here. Why you chose this life. Why you've become so attached to this land and its people. So attached to the princess. You've hidden your past well. But you cannot hide or run from your sins. Cross as many deserts and continents as you wish. They will always find you."
"Where did you get that!?" Lara yelled, staggering to her feet. "Tell me!"
The Master stared at Lara for a moment. Then he smiled. "You know where."
Lara scowled at the Master. Then she gave a sharp whistle, calling the sword back to her hands. There was a clatter in the ballroom as her broken knife blade came flying for the Master's head. She gripped the sword tight and lunged at him, swinging to chop his neck.
"Melody, wait!" called Ariel as she chased her daughter up the steps towards the ballroom. "It's too dangerous! You can't!"
"Lara's in trouble!" said Melody. "We have to do something!"
Melody was almost to the top when her toe caught on a step and she tripped. The stumble gave Ariel enough time to catch up, seizing hold of Melody's wrist. "If you go back there, you'll be putting yourself in danger, and in Lara's way! We have to go ba–!"
A terrible pressure suddenly descended on Melody and Ariel. It smothered them like a suffocating black tar, pressing down with the crushing pressures of the deep ocean. They sunk to their knees, their legs abruptly losing their strength. Melody felt she could not breathe, or speak, or move. She could barely even think. All she felt was fear. A horrible, clawing fear like the hands of a hundred worst nightmares scratching at her very soul, drawing away all joy and light within. She felt it trying to crush her completely, as if it wanted to push her down clear to the heart of the world. She made choking sounds as she felt her throat close up.
"Be at ease, princess."
A flare of warmth blossomed in Melody's heart, and then it rapidly spread to the rest of her. The fear and pressure were smothered instantly, leaving Melody free of their oppression.
"It's you!" Melody mouthed out loud. "Are you here?"
"Yes, but save your wonderment for later," said the raven's voice. "Your mother requires attention."
Melody looked to Ariel. She was on all fours staring at the floor, her face pale and eyes wide. Her mouth opened and closed as she struggled to stay conscious, taking small panicked breaths. Sweat dotted her brow as her body trembled. No doubt she was feeling something similar to what Melody just experienced.
"Mom!" Melody grabbed Ariel's shoulders and shook her, but it produced no change. "Mom, it's me! Snap out of it!"
"Touch your fingers to her brow."
Melody felt a warmth in the fingers of her right hand. She looked down and saw a glow coming from her fingertips. It was red at first, but then it turned a vibrant blue color.
"Are you doing that?" Melody asked with amazement.
"This is not the time for questions. Quickly now."
Melody touched her fingers to Ariel's forehead. A wave of blue light swept over Ariel from head to toe. Her whole body suddenly relaxed, and she fell forward into Melody as she started breathing normally.
"Mom! Are you okay?" asked Melody.
Ariel took a few gasping breaths before nodding. "I…I think so." She swallowed and stood up, using Melody to support her shaky legs.
"What was that?" asked Melody. "Some sort of spell? A curse?"
"I…have no idea," said Ariel as she wiped the perspiration off her face.
"No," replied the raven's voice. "What you both experienced was the magic presence of a magus. An extremely powerful and vile one at that."
"Lara…oh no!" Melody took off up the stairs again.
Ariel gave an exasperated groan and then started after Melody. "Somebody's…gotta nail… that girl's feet… to the floor!"
Lara panted as the magic pressure finally let up on her, sweat rolling down her dirt-streaked skin. The sword slipped from her shaking hands as she dropped back to her knees. The Master held her knife blade between two fingers. He caught it as easily as a floating feather.
"You have spirit," said the Master, dropping the knife in front of her. "I commend your courage in the face of certain defeat. But still an ultimately futile effort. You are no match for me. You are beaten."
Lara looked up at the Master. If there was one thing she could not deny, it was that she was terrible at sensing magic. She had no talent for it whatsoever. She could be standing right next to a mage and a normal person, and she would not be able to tell which was which. Even with the rigorous training her father put her through, her ability was little better than marginal. The only magics she could detect were those of incredibly high caliber. She not only felt this mage's magic clearly. She was crippled by it. Just his presence made her feel like she was being crushed to death. If this warlock was powerful enough to disable her with that alone, he was leagues stronger than herself. Lara had not felt a presence this strong since her father, or when she tangled with the Hive Queen back east. She could not defeat him.
And that terrified her.
The Master bent towards Lara, causing her to flinch. "Jumpy, are we?"
Lara clenched her hands, scowling at him. The Master gave an amused chuckle. "Save your strength for later, Blackjaw. You will need it."
"I don't go by that name anymore!" hissed Lara.
"Yet it is still yours. You rejected it, just like you reject your past and your true self," said the Master. "I knew you were different. Thanks to Gin, I now know how different you truly are. He would have been surprised to see how you've changed since last you spoke. How weak you've become. Hard to believe you're the same person he described."
Lara stiffened. "What did you do to Gin?"
"I gave him what he wanted," said the Master plainly. "He told me everything he knew about you, and in return I reunited him with his sons."
"His sons are dead."
The Master reached into his robe and pulled out a blue and white checkered bandana. "So is Gin."
Lara screamed, leaping at the Master as she punched for his face. The Master merely stepped aside and allowed Lara to go past him. A thin tendril of shadow crept out from his form and swept her ankles from behind, laying Lara out flat in the dirt. She started to get up, but then a tremendous force pressed down on Lara, pinning her against the ground. Her body felt horrendously heavy, as though great boulders had been placed on top of her.
"Tell me, Blackjaw," said the Master as he leaned over her. "What do you think Princess Melody would say if she knew who you were before coming here? What would Queen Ariel or King Eric say? How would they look at you if they knew what you were? What you still are? Or what you did?"
"Don't you dare!" Lara yelled, struggling against whatever was keeping her restrained.
The Master chuckled, stowing the bandana in his sleeve. "Your body and magic are strong, Blackjaw. No one can deny that. But they are your only strengths. Your heart? Your courage? Your honesty? They are as deceptive and fraudulent as they are fragile."
Lara growled in her throat. "Let me up and I'll show you how 'fragile' I really am!"
"I'm sure you would," said the Master. "But I've no interest in playing with children afraid of their own reflection."
"So, what now?" said Lara. "You blackmail me to do your dirty work? Or do you just off me right here?"
"You've much more to fear from me than spilling your secrets or your blood," said the Master. "But I've no interest in making you a traitor or a corpse. Not yet, at least. For now, I merely enjoy making you squirm."
A black portal formed in the air behind the Master. He straightened up, slowly backing away from Lara. "We will meet again, Blackjaw. Next time will be on my terms. I suggest you use the interval to enlighten your 'friends' to who you really are."
"And if I don't?" asked Lara.
"I will do it for you," said the Master. "I will lay your truth and sins bare before all of Seahaven. Then we will both discover how they truly see you."
With that the Master stepped into the portal, the dark void consuming his form and then collapsing on itself. Lara stared at the spot for what felt like an eternity, fully expecting a sneak attack to come at any moment. But after an agonizingly long minute she realized the warlock was indeed gone, and she sat up. She felt nauseous, like her insides had become a twisting vat of eels. Whether that was from the Master's attack or his words she was not certain. She was not sure it mattered, either.
"Lara! Mom, I found Lara!"
Lara turned her head to see Melody running down the blackened steps to the garden as fast as she could, smearing soot and ash all over her dress as Ariel followed close behind.
"Mel- *cough* Melody?" said Lara as she started to rise. She used her sword to push herself up on both feet, but then fell back to one knee. "What are you doing here?"
"Never mind that! What happened to you?" asked Melody as hooked Lara's arm around her shoulders. "I saw the light, and that explosion!"
Lara leaned on Melody and her sword as she stood up. "I beat the automaton."
Ariel quickly maneuvered herself under Lara's other arm, helping Melody carry Lara towards the stairs. "Is that what happened here?"
Lara shook her head. "No. The thing's maker showed up. A witch *cough* in a mask. And then her boss."
Ariel's eyes widened. "A mask? Was it a smiling mask?"
Lara nodded. Her face screwed up as Ariel adjusted her hold on Lara. "Easy, Ariel! I know Ben said I'm strong as iron, but I'm not made of it!"
"You're sure she had a mask?" asked Ariel. "Are you absolutely sure that's who you saw?"
Lara nodded again and coughed. "Clear as I'm seeing you."
Melody looked across Lara to her mother. "Mom?"
"It was a witch in a mask that attacked Abyssum!" said Ariel, earning a surprised gasp from Melody.
"She's the one," said Lara. "I'm sure of it."
"How?" asked Melody.
Lara glanced at Melody, then back to where Remora disappeared. She could see her boot prints in the black soot. "Because that's the kind of monster Sable is."
"I gave you an order!"
A pillar of darkness fell from the ceiling of the Master's lair, smashing Remora against the platform. It lifted off and then fell again, but Remora was able to roll aside. The pillar struck bare stone, but then a tendril of darkness sprouted off it and seized her legs, lifting her up and then smacking her into the ground hard enough to crack the rock.
"I commanded you to stay put!" roared the Master, his form swathed in the black and purple shadows of his aura. "You were to take no action against them! None! Yet no sooner do I return to the Factory, and what does Ursula come crawling to inform me of!? What have you done behind my back!?
Remora was subjected to the flagellation three more times and then flung out over the water. She flipped about wildly before slamming into a column, glancing off it and then striking another one. She barely started sinking in the water when she was seized yet again, drawn to the Master at blistering speed. He held his arm out as she was pulled into it, clotheslining her so hard she flipped in midair and then tumbled to the far edge of the platform and into the water. Her mask came loose, floating on the surface.
"You sneak your contraption and yourself into Glowerhaven!" yelled the Master as Remora pulled herself back onto the platform, coughing and gasping. "You disguise it with the queen's own face and turn it loose on the ball! You reveal it to the entire Alliance, then pit it against Anclagon! And then you reveal yourself to her in person!"
The Master thrust his hand at Remora, grasping as though taking hold of some invisible thing. A blistering pain seized Remora's mind and body. She screamed, collapsing to her knees as she clutched her head, writhing about with the desperate thrashings of a fish on a hook.
"You disobeyed me!" the Master yelled over her screams. "You disobeyed me! Insubordination I expect from Ursula! From Morgana! From Richard! I would even expect it from Riptide should his hunger go unsated too long! But you, my right hand!? My vice-commander!? My most powerful and longest-serving subordinate!? I expected far, far better from you! Did you think your years of service had earned you some unwritten right to disobedience!? That I would show leniency because of your prior competence!? Well!?"
The Master clenched his hand tighter. Remora's screams renewed with increased agony.
"You have forgotten your place!" said the Master. "I have no hold on you as I do Ursula, Morgana, and Richard! But neither are you free to disobey me! Your life for your loyalty! That is our covenant! That was the price you paid! Were it not for me, you would not even be dust right now! Something you clearly need to be reminded of!"
The Master unclenched his hand, freeing Remora from her torment. She lay panting on the platform, spittle leaking from her mouth as she pieced her tortured mind back together amidst the receding pain.
The Master walked to his chair of bones, settling slowly into it. "If ending Anclagon's life is worth more to you than your loyalty, then her life will be your punishment for this transgression! As of this moment, she is no longer any concern of yours!"
Remora's eyes widened. "What!? You can't!"
The Master's eyes flashed. "Silence!"
Remora collapsed as an invisible force drove her face first into the floor. She rolled aside, clutching at her face as blood leaked between her fingers.
"When the day of our invasion comes, we will take the Alliance!" shouted the Master. "We will turn the seas red and the earth crimson with their blood! We will topple their castles and put their homes and fields to the torch! But you, Remora, will not be there to see it! You will remain here as we lay waste to their kingdoms! Your blades will not taste blood till long after the battle is over! And you will watch as another, not you, wrings the life out of Anclagon!"
The Master swung his hand towards Remora. An invisible force struck her, tossing her into the air. He swung again and she was struck from above, sending her into the platform's pool with a loud splash.
"Back to your chambers!" said the Master as the pool turned black. "Consider yourself lucky I still have use for your talents. But do not mistake this for mercy, for you know better than any I have none. And know that if you ever attempt such insubordination again, I will not be so lenient. You are valuable, Remora. But you are not irreplaceable."
Remora sunk into the black pool, the magic whisking her back to her quarters. Shadows peeled off the Master and slithered into the pool after her, sent to ensure she did not disobey him a second time.
The Master sighed, leaning back in his chair. Had Ursula not discovered her absence, he may not have learned of Remora's insolence till long after the fact. Her outburst before he departed should have been a clear indication of her wavering obedience to him. He simply thought her smart enough to know better. Clearly, he overestimated her discipline. The hatred Remora bore for Lara ran much deeper and stronger than he realized. He doubted this punishment would quash it even minutely. If anything, it would only grow. But his goal was not to temper it. He wanted that hatred to burn strong in her. Rage and loathing gave her strength. She simply needed to be reminded who dictated where and when she used that strength.
The Master called forth a ball of darkness into his hand. "Ursula."
"Master!" came Ursula's startled voice through the ball. "T-to what do I owe the pleasure, sir?"
"Save your empty toadying for another time," growled the Master. "I am not in the mood."
He could hear Ursula gulp in fear. "As you wish, Master."
"Are your mutants ready for battle?" asked the Master.
"Well, uh…that depends," said Ursula nervously. "How many would you need?"
"How many are available?"
"At this moment?"
A warning growl emanated from the Master.
"Five thousand!" said Ursula hastily. "And many more are underway!"
"Good. I will only need a fraction of them. What of Remora's clockmen? Was her creation a fluke?"
"No, sir. The first ones came off the line barely three hours ago. I haven't heard of any problems yet." There was a pause. "What about Remora? Did you find her?"
"That is not your concern," said the Master sharply. "All you need to know is she's been dealt with. Focus on your work, or I will give you a taste of her punishment."
"A-apologies, sir," said Ursula. "That won't be necessary."
"What of our spies in Atlantica?" asked the Master. "Have we heard anything?"
"Which ones would that be?"
"You know who."
There was silence on the other end for a moment. And then, "Oh, that one! Yes, yes, very much so! It seems Remora's prisoner made it back as planned! Triton is dispatching messengers to rest of the Alliance as we speak!"
"Tell them to stay attentive," said the Master. "I want to know the moment the Alliance makes a move. They will likely call for a meeting because of this. We'll use that time to strike."
"Strike? Sir, do you mean…?"
"Begin preparations on the gunships," said the Master. "Morgana and Riptide are to ready themselves, and then do the same yourself. I want you all prepared when I give the order."
"As you wish, Master!" exclaimed Ursula, a clear tone of glee in her voice.
"One more thing," said the Master. "You should expect Undertow at your chambers by dawn. It's time for him to be…improved."
"Improved how, exactly?"
"Use your imagination," said the Master. "Just have him fit for battle."
The orb faded from the Master's hand. He reached into his robe and brought forth the paper he took from Gin. He held it before his face, his eyes tracing the ink across the weathered parchment.
"You're weak, Blackjaw," he said out loud. "You were far stronger in the east than you are now. You may be able to withstand physical pain, but you cannot bear the sting of rejection. Nor the weight of solitude. You enslave yourself to these humans' approval, wearing this mask you've crafted to forget the blood on your own face. You wear it gladly so long as they acknowledge you as one of them. Beneath that toughened hide is a frightened, crying child riddled with cracks of guilt and insecurity. Such people fall easily. All it takes is the right pressure, and you will shatter."
The Master released the parchment. It floated into the air in front of him. He extended his hand to it, and shadow slithered off his finger to the paper. It consumed the page, folding on itself repeatedly. The shadow then retreated to its wielder, revealing a folded envelope. Across the front were the words, "To King Eric of Seahaven, From King Willard of Strihaven – Urgent."
"I know your truth, Blackjaw," said the Master as he took the envelope. "And now, I will use it to break you."
A/N: Lara emerges victorious from her battle, but the war has taken a perilous turn. Lara's anonymity has been shattered, her past and power laid bare before the Master. Maelstrom prepares to move in earnest, sending Atlantica and Glowerhaven a small taste of the weapons in its arsenal. Will the season of spring bring life or death to the shores of the Alliance? What devious plans does the Master have for them? Does Lara have what it takes to protect her friends? Or will she become the one who needs saving?
Until next time everyone!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own "The Little Mermaid," Disney, or any of its associated characters and intellectual property. I do not own the listed song(s). Everything else, however, is mine =)
