"I'll be fine by myself, but if you all insist...fine..." I answered "Just remember your manners."
"Right. Because you know we WANNA be paralyzed like that again...right?" RaXi answered rolling her eyes. "Come on Triskix...fool me once, u know?"
We laughed slightly, but I couldn't help but feel a pain from it. The scars the Leader had branded me with were starting to burn for some reason....and it wasn't a good burn either....
"What do you mean paralyzed?" Nyx asked.
She wasn't there to see what he had done..... I thought to myself. None of them should have seen that....
RaXi put on somewhat of a fake smile and rubbed the back of her head. I felt the extreme need to roll my eyes and play it off, but I knew neither RaXi nor Lexian would play it off.....
"Yeah...see...Lex and I kinda got snippy with the boss...and....he totally paralyzed us...couldn't speak at all. So...careful what you say alright?"
IF that was the extent of his power I would have never chose to serve him.... I thought to myself.
"How could he?! He's supposed to be our Leader..." Nyx asked interrupting my thoughts.
"Yeah well...any trash you gotta say...do it BEHIND his back alright." RaXi joked back.
"Even that won't work..." I mumbled.....In truth the Leader could see everything I could....he could rip though my memories if he chose...he could even listen in on conversations where I was present....
As we reached the central tower and started ascending it's steps, a table came flying at me. I sighed and destroyed it. I felt the Leader's rage run though my head and sighed. Akane.....
"Figures it was her." I mumbled. "She needs to learn how to control that temper of hers...this is why I say she's not a proper Nobody..."
But really.....she wasn't ever going to be a proper nobody...and that was what irritated me the most...
"But wait Triskix..." RaXi asked "How is it that she speaks with the Leader? I mean...we're supposed to be banned from the Central Tower...so why is she speaking with him so casually?"
I gave RaXi a sideways glance and glared at the wall behind her. What was Akane doing in the Central tower? That dam woman...She was going to be the first of the Leader's kills if this kept up....
"She thinks she matters more than others," I answered, "But the truth is....none of us matter because right now...we don't exist......."
"Triskix I think we've already had this discussion," RaXi answered.
I rolled my eyes, but a voice cut me off.
"Triskix. Why have you brought them here?" the Leader's sharp voice said coldly.
"They asked, and if I didn't I have a feeling my order would be threatened," I answered stepping forwards.
The Leader's outline was easy to see in the large white chair. His hood was up as always. I sighed and felt the burning rage running though my very being. He was irritated as it was but Akane's outburst, and I had only served to make it worse. I sighed and waited for it to be over.
Lexian, Nyx, and Lexian gave me a pained look, but I tried to make it seem that it was merely a minor pain. When the feeling subsided I relaxed.
"So then," the Leader started with a calmer frame of mind, "Lets see what is of interest...."
I felt the sudden push into my mind. He was trying to nearly rip every thought straight out of my head. I grabbed the wall to keep me upright. It was exhausting having someone in my head, and as always I felt the need to recoil and set the entire place on fire....but I didn't....I relaxed and started closing the doors in my mind. I locked RaXi's secret away as best I could, but I felt him ripping at the door.
"Why are you hiding something from me Triskix?" the Leader asked sharply out loud.
"Maybe he doesn't want yo give you every single blasting detail!" Lexian shot back, "You have no right to his mind anyways!"
"Triskix is mine," the Leader answered, "Every memory is mine. Every side though...Every last bit of information he ever would even bring into his consciousness is mine."
"Triskix is no one's!" RaXi shot back.
"You are hurting him stop it!" Nyx yelled, "It was my fault! I was the one who ran off! Don't let you anger off on the wrong nobody!"
"It is not out for discussion and debate and if three don't stay quiet I will simply have my lesser nobodies escort you out," the Leader answered.
A silence ran through the room. I didn't directly see, but the tension in the air screamed that they were ready to attack him......
"I'm fine," I answered, "Sorry Leader those are some dead memories that someone else has hid away....if you calm down and look at this you will understand." I pushed a picture of Marlex in front of the door. It seemed to subdue him, and he left my mind.
"So they are back," the Leader said sharply, "That is all I needed. Fine. You three" he motioned to Nyx, RaXi, and Lexian, "Don't think that coming here is a privilege now. Under these circumstances I will acquiesce, but never again...Triskix if you see Akane any time soon tell her that if she ever talks to me so childishly again that I will have you turn her to ash and dust and throw her to the wind. I have taken this childless long enough."
"Fine," I answered my hand moved up to my shoulder where one of the scars was irritating me.
I grabbed all three by the shoulder and pushed them straight out of the tower and down the steps. They were all in protest, but I had to get them away. This was what I had feared would happen, and I wanted the away as quickly as possible. When we reached the bottom of the staris, I continued to push them into the main hall. Once there, we were safe. I sighed....suddenly my stomach growled.
Nyx, Lexian, and RaXi looked at me. I laughed.
"Looks like all the excitement has run into my stomach heh," I said.
There was an awkward silence after that.
"Anyways I'm going to go get something to eat and then take a nap. Do what you wish just don't break anything or mess with my order," I said as happily as I could.
I turned and opened a portal into the kitchen. No one was in there except Xyris who seemed to be cooking quite a large amout of food as always. She gave me a terrified look, but I walked in and grabbed a plate from the rack. I put a stack of flap jacks that had been sitting out on my plate.
"Oh those were for brea-" Xyris started.
"And they were left out and not put away. Not very orderly. Would you like to head a lecture or would you like to let me eat and act like you never saw me?" I asked.
Xyris became quiet and I took the plate out of the kitchen and upstairs to my room.
"The Leader....has a nasty habit of getting in my head," Triskix answered me, "But I will try....." I could tell he sincerely meant that. I felt slightly bad for asking him something like that now. I hadn't realized the extent of which the Leader extorted from Triskix. It sickened me.
"Triskix what did you promise to him exactly?" I asked, unable to keep silent on the matter.
"I promised that I would serve him as long as I exist and that as long as I was under his servitude all my being belonged to him. I am his weapon......my scythe is his to chose who it kills....." Was his response.
"Triskix why would...." I began.
"I already said my reason a while ago....I did it for the sake of power," He answered quickly.
"And I already know that's a lie." I spoke quietly. "Triskix..." I mumbled...not sure if I should reveal just WHAT I was thinking. "I'll protect you...I've decided now...those I choose to name my friends...I won't let you be controlled...." I was sure he didn't hear me though...I said it so quietly...it was more to myself.
Nyx tried to claim the blame for herself. I knew I should take part of the blame as well. I mean...I did act on that note without hesitation....Triskix wouldn't allow it. I smiled...he was thinking like me...he wanted to protect everyone. It only renewed my desire to free him...no matter what cost I had to pay. I dreamed of the day the Castle belonged to us. With Triskix as it's Lord...none would be able to disturb or challenge our order.
I guess I floated on this thought for a bit as they all argued about who would face the wrath of the Leader.
"Don't forget me." I added. If they were all going...I wasn't going to flee from him like a coward. "I'm not afraid of that guy."
Triskix smirked at me...at all of us. Probably thinking how foolish we were for WANTING to endure the pain with him. Idiot...it only showed we cared about his Pyro lunatic butt... X3
"I'll be fine by myself, but if you all insist...fine..." He answered. Trying to act like the bigshot cool guy. "Just remember your manners." He warned.
"Oh right. Because you know we WANNA be paralyzed like that again...right?" I stated. Lexian closed his eyes...I knew he recalled the incident...no need for a repeat. "Come on Triskix...fool me once, u know?"
We laughed slightly. Then Nyx...who was out of the loop finally asked. "What do you mean paralyzed?"
I rubbed the back of my head nervously. "Yeah...see...Lex and I kinda got snippy with the boss...and....he totally paralyzed us...couldn't speak at all. So...careful what you say alright?"
Nyx looked stunned. "How could he?! He's supposed to be our Leader..."
"Yeah well...any trash you gotta say...do it BEHIND his back alright." I joked.
"Even that won't work..." Triskix mumbled. He would know.
We made our way there, the slow moving group we were. Yet suddenly out of nowhere a table came flying and nearly hit Triskix. He incinerated it in a second...good thing...if he had dodged...I probably would've been hit. o___o We looked for the irresponsible nobody who'd caused the ruckus. It was Akane...she had just left the Leader's chambers and seemed upset. Nyx wanted to go after her...but we had bigger fish to fry.
"Figures it was her." Triskix mumbles. "She needs to learn how to control that temper of hers...this is why I say she's not a proper Nobody..."
"But wait Triskix..." I pondered. "How is it that she speaks with the Leader? I mean...we're supposed to be banned from the Central Tower...so why is she speaking with him so casually?"
Triskix looked at me with what could only be described as a look of fed-up frustration and anger. ^_^' She'd given him that much drama huh?...I was almost afraid of his response....not when it seemed she'd somehow disturbed his 'order'...and you knew how Tris was with his precious 'order'....
~RaXi
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Meeting w/the Leader is all yours Soji! ^^
Even though I'd wanted to be alone, Rexikat had somehow managed to find me. She cheered me up a bit...but then passed out outta nowhere. I wasn't exactly sure what to do...so I carried her to her bedroom. At least this time I got the room right. I'd even walked to the room assignment board to be sure. Kicking her door open, I set her on the bed. Suddenly I felt a familiar presence rushing towards me...a presence that already began to make my blood boil. Akane busted in and already began to make a scene...she had no consideration for those who were sleeping...
"Hey Spikey!" She shouted. "How about a rematch!"
I looked back at Rexikat...I could've sworn I felt her watching us just now. How could she sleep with this shrill girl yelling anyway?
"Fine." I answered quietly. I knew she would come for more punishment...I just didn't count on it being so soon. Bad time for her to confront me though...I REALLY wasn't in the mood. Suddenly I saw another memory from the past.
It was at the god's tournament. "Gods and Godesses, please welcome Hade's daughter, the Godess champion of the tournement, Xenus!" The girl waved at the crowd's happily.
"This year's challenger is none other than the mighty Thor's son. Please welcome the one and only Magni!" The announcer stated again. I stepped forward to combat her with nothing but my bare hands.
I remember how that had ended as well...
if my father hadn't intervened...
how her blood stained my hands....
how angry I'd been...
Suddenly there was a sharp pain on the back of my neck and I fell forward...shoved down by Rexikat. I snapped back into the present and she lectured us about fighting in her territory. Akane got rude with her...and several comments were exchanged concerning me. I was both shocked...and slightly...I couldn't describe the feeling. I'd never had anyone care for my well-being Once as a Nobody. Yet Kyxsha had treated me, and stayed by my side, and now Rexikat was defending me so very fiercely. As things were about to escalate, I stopped Rexikat.
"I can take care of myself." I said quietly as I stood up rubbing the back of my neck. I stood between Rexikat and Akane. "I know how to fight. I can take her on. After all," I started then turned to Akane, "I've already beaten you once." She scowled at me harshly.
Rexikat withdrew...retreating to her window seat she curled up. I smiled slightly as she gave me "permission" to go on with my match. "My job is to protect. Right now I'm protecting you. Now go." Had been her words.
"I appreciate the protection." I acknowledged quietly. "Let me return the favor one day....alright?" Not giving her enough time to answer...I left.
We went to the arena to fight. I hadn't even brought my sword.
"What's up with you?! Where's your weapon?" She shouted.
"I don't need it for you. Not anymore." I explained. "Haven't you figured out...using my weapon is a handicap for my opponents. It gives me a chance to actually 'fight'. Or don't you remember the result of that battle...all those years ago?"
She was quiet. So I answered it for her.
"We nearly killed each other. I was about to finish you off once and for all...but my father stopped me." I concluded. "Not only did he want to spare me from bloodying my hands...but he was disappointed with the pairing in the first place. A Nobody...against a GOD! That's not a match...it's a massacre..." I discarded. "What? Did your own father want you dead? Or was it those precious villians of yours that set you up to meet your demise? Bet they didn't count on my father's honor to intervene..."
Her eyes went wide thinking about a conspiracy. Why did everyone want her dead? I'm sure she was thinking that herself.
I was prepared to fight her...to blow off some steam...but it didn't feel right. Using my incredible speed, I appeared beside her. Leaning to speak into her ear I whispered, "Xenus...Akane...whatever you deem worthy to dub yourself...know this and heed me well...for I will only say it once." I lowered my voice even moreso. "I am Magni, son of Thor, when you fought me before...I was merely Ximh-the Nobody without memories...but now, your chance to defeat me has passed. Regaining my powers along with my memories...I have far surpassed you...and being the man I am...am not one to slaughter the weak...I've lost interest in you as an opponent."
I pulled away and started to walk from the arena. "Don't ever come to me seeking a battle again. Unless you'd like me to grant that death-wish of yours." Before she could speak I portaled to my room. I'd left her standing in the arena with her thoughts of conspiracy.
Ximh
So my first duty here is to rescue the fools who jumped into action without thinking, eh? I thought to myself in disgust. What I was hoping to do was to get more familiar with the layout of Castle Oblivion so as to avoid unnecessary trouble, but their damn leader had to spoil my plans.
Speaking of that leader…when I first confronted him I thought I held the advantage. Looking back on it I can see that I was clearly missing something that, sometime in the near future, could mean the difference between life and death. Whatever it is, I better find out about it as soon as possible; the last thing I need is a puppeteer who has a never ending supply of string.
While we were in the realm of Betwixt and Between one of my new cohorts—whose name I have not yet learned—summoned Cerberus to help us out. It’s been a while since I came across that adorable hell-hound so I was rather excited to see him again, but I still can’t fathom as to how Hades—ahh…now it comes to me. It’s not that Hades didn’t let him: it’s that Hades isn’t in the position to protest otherwise right now. As this revelation came over me I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself, which caused a few awkward glances shot in my direction. As usual, their stares didn’t faze me at all.
Fortunately my talents weren’t required much for the mission: the only thing I was asked to do was help maintain the passageway. The events surrounding this motley cast of characters—as I previously anticipated—got interesting for a while due to some events and references from their past rearing their ugly heads. Normally I would have just stayed back and let the fun continue, but such a luxury doesn’t exist within the walls of Citadel Abyss, especially with its conniving natives wandering around everywhere. And it was for that very reason that I walked right past the quarrelling lovebirds. Even though he wasn’t anywhere near us I could tell by the dancing of the shadows on the wall adjacent to us that he was watching our every movement.
That idiot… What does he want now? I didn’t want to involve the fools around me in this: the matter was solely my own to deal with, and I’d be damned to let anyone else interfere.
I waited for the others to recover the one they call Nyx. I watched them have their version of a reunion (hehe…amusing…) and held on to the passage back to Castle Oblivion open for them. The moment we returned to Betwixt and Between I split off from them to enter a different section of that world—one in which only masters of the shadows can enter.
As I predicted, it didn’t take long for my annoyingly humble host to arrive.
“Lady Xakiah, so you did understand my subtle message to you.”
“Of course I did…anyone with eyes would have been able to see it.” Well…anyone with eyes that can see past illusions could, that is, I thought immediately afterwards.
“Lady Xakiah, now is not the time to be acting that way with me.” he said in a rather frustrated tone. I said what I did with full knowledge that it would upset him; you could call it…my way of making certain that my target is paying attention. “Now give me a straight answer when I ask you this: why are you siding with the enemy?”
The seriousness of his question, combined with the fact that he honestly expected a straight answer from me, made me explode in a loud and obnoxious guffaw. This in turn, made him ask in dismay, “What is so funny about this?”
“I’m so sorry, Sir Etxel, but I can’t help but wonder why you would ask such a question from me?”
“Why? Is it not obvious: they go against everything you stand for! They are oblivious to our grand plans and intentions—“
My laughter cut him off. “What ‘intentions?’ Bringing back the original thirteen has-beens so as to better rule the universe or something?”
“You dare call them has-beens?!”
“Why of course! Why wouldn’t I?”
“I thought you worshipped them?”
“Of course I didn’t, you idiot! Why would I waste my time glorifying the names of thirteen Nobodies who were just screaming for attention and whatever else they couldn’t have?”
His body became rigid. “You insult the name of every Nobody with a comment like that, Lady Xakiah. Including your own.”
“And I should care…why?” I’ve always found Etxel both a fun individual to converse with, as well as one of the greatest thorns in my side. This conversation was only reflecting that more and more as we dove deeper into the conversation.
“Because, Lady Xakiah,” he began, “it is only natural for us to go after what has been denied to us.”
My turn to be philosophical. “Hmm…do you say that because you honestly believe that, or do you say that because you’ve yet to accept yourself as what you are?”
His voice became softer with his next response. “You know what I mean.”
Unfortunately, I did. Moaning heavily, my smile vanished as I asked him, “So you’re still holding on to that, even after all this time?”
“Are you telling me that you have let it go?”
“Yes, you idiot.”
Shaking his head, Etxel demanded, “How can you be so crass?! There was a time when—“
“If you finish that statement Etxel, I SWEAR that it’ll be your last!!!” I knew what he had on his mind. I also knew what he was trying to do with that bit of information. There was no way I was going to let him have his way.
An intense silence befell upon the both of us as we locked each other into a stare-down. I obviously didn’t know what he was thinking, but I could tell by looking into his emerald eyes that he figured himself “holier-than-thou,” which was usually the case with him. I can’t even begin to describe how much I despise those kinds of looks, and I didn’t bother to hold myself from expressing it through my own pair of eyes.
Etxel was the first to break the silence. “You hate me, don’t you?”
Typical; A small incident between the two of us and he immediately links it to petty emotions. Despite this thought, I resumed my usual composure—complete with grin—anyway. “Oh? What makes…you think that?”
He didn’t give me an answer. Instead he slowly shook his head and let out a defeated sigh.
I pressed him further. “Going back to an earlier comment…you said that the Organization goes against everything I stand for. Tell me…why would you say something like that?”
Looking up at me he said, “Because they are out to conquer the worlds.” I was about to interrupt him again by stating that the organization he’s in was basically doing the same thing when he made a hand notion not to. “I know what you are thinking, but we have separate intentions altogether. We want to restore the ones that are lost, but they…they are out for their own personal gains.”
This talk of morals was getting on my nerves, and I really wanted to get that last comment out of my mind. “Really? And…the organization you’re in isn’t?”
“We have noble intentions in mind.”
That last comment was just too much for me to handle; as soon as those words escaped his lips I had to hold onto my gut from the pain of my own cackling. “Is that what they told you to say, or is that what you truly believe in?”
“It’s the truth!”
“It’s hypocritical nonsense! You and everyone else—especially Xerebus—fails to see the irony in what you do. hehehe…you even fail to see the irony of this conversation.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“‘What do I mean by that?’ You ask ‘what do I mean by that?’ You idiot, you and I are of completely separate mindsets. Whilst you waste your time with ‘what was’ I look forward into ‘what will.’ You are also gullible enough to believe that what you’re doing void of error and sin (which, by hte way, is totally lacking in originality). As for my intentions…well…I’ll leave that to your limited sense of perception, though I seriously doubt you’d understand.”
“With the way you talk,” he snarled, “one would think that you thought yourself to be a god…”
“Hah! You mean you only now realize that? Tsk…tsk…tsk…how juvenile of you…”
Even though his continence carried the song of rage his eyes sang a melody of despair that I found quite unnerving. As I’ve learned in my time as an assassin, people with those types of eyes generally become unpredictable, becoming a hazard to both them and yourself. “That may be so, but that does not exclude the fact that you have been running away from my question.”
“Why are you so interested in knowing why I left?”
“Because I do not relish the thought of becoming your enemy.”
That idiot…how did such a simpleton like him become a knight anyway? “Etxel…you are not becoming my enemy.”
“What? So does that mean—“
“No. I won’t be doing anything for your side anymore. In fact, the next time we see each other, it won’t be for a ‘heart to heart’ chat either (if you catch my drift). The only reason why you’re not becoming my enemy is because you aren’t standing in my way of obtaining what I want.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, there are certain people back at Castle Oblivion that are asking to get antagonized by yours truly.”
I was just about to be on my way when Etxel stopped me by shouting this last response, “Lady Xakiah! Do not be led to think that matters between us are resolved; by the time this is over you WILL have your memories back, rather you like it or not!”
“Etxel, how many times do I have to tell you—“
“Camelot! Think back to the days of Camelot, after Mordred ransacked it!”
By the time he finished saying it, my mind began to work into overdrive processing this unwarranted information. In ten years not once had I had any major flashbacks and preferred it that way, but thanks to this king of idiots it looks like my existence is going to become more complicated…
~Xakiah
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Sorry this is in so late...my laptop has been acting sckrewy at school lately...
Other than that, I hope you enjoyed this little segment! ^_^
