I heard the light and gentle sound of water dripping from somewhere. Slowly I began to open my eyes...someone was gazing down at me..."Vin...cent..." I mumbled...my hand automatically moving to caress his cheek. Yet I hesitated...a single thought returning to me... "Except... I am no longer Vincent. My new name is Verex, Number XIII." Slightly enraged I instead grabbed him by the throat and slammed him to the ground. He didn't resist at all...just laid there beneath me solemnly as I slowly choked the life from him. I loosened my grip...I didn't want to kill him.
As he breathed, a dense fog escaped his lips. Only then did I realize the entire room was covered in ice...my ice... And from where he'd been...I had been resting in his lap. O_O
"Just as defensive as ever RaXi..." He spoke quietly. "As soon as I grabbed you...you froze over this entire room before you went unconscious. Yet...even though you were unconscious...it didn't fade away." He smiled. "You've become very strong."
"Shut up...you don't know anything about me...so quit acting like you do." I muttered threateningly. He laughed at me. I tightened my grip.
"Relax." He stuttered. "It's just been so long since I heard you talk that way..."
"Like I said...you don't know me...VEREX." I stated firmly. "Tell me, Number THIRTEEN, where is Nyx? And why did you take her?" With a dagger in my hand, I placed it next to his throat with my other hand. "I'd better like your answer."
"RaXi...I'm not going to attack you. While I'm not Vincent anymore...I remember the time he spent with you. I carry ALL of his memories...all of his....feelings and emotions..." Verex stated completely composed...even under the pressure of my blade. The way his eyes were gazing in mine...it felt odd...making me uneasy. I pulled away, standing up. Yet I didn't drop my guard for a minute.
"You say 'feelings' so casually. As though you carry a heart." I chuckled. "You're nobody now...just like me...and we don't exist."
He looked at me fiercely. A sharp look in his eyes as they pierced me. "What did I tell you before? You DO exist RaXi!"
My mouth dropped as the recollection of this scene played out before me again. "SHUT UP! YOU AREN'T VINCENT SO JUST SHUT-UP!"
"We don't have Nyx." He said suddenly. "She walked into the portal of her own free-will. But it didn't lead her here."
"What?!" I stammered....That's why I couldn't sense her... "So the note...you were luring me here?!"
"I knew you would come RaXi...I just didn't think you'd bring so many...friends with you." He mumbled looking to the side.
"They aren't my friends." I dismissed. "Passing acquaintances... comrades in arms...but not friends..."
He seemed to wear a sad-looking smile...as though he felt sorry for me. My eyes narrowed as I examined that look. He wanted to say something...but was keeping quiet. Vincent had been like that.
"I feel bad. They're all in danger now...your comrades. It's my fault...my selfish desires...." Verex announced looking away. "It's all because I couldn't come to you."
"Humph...yet you attacked our castle easily enough." I rejected coldly.
"Yes...but that was an order. I had to comply."
"Wait...an order?" I repeated. He sounded like Triskix. Like he couldn't disobey his master's orders... "Verex are you..." Suddenly there was a loud crash.
"Domix..." Verex muttered.
"Domix?"
"Ximh's brother." Verex answered me. "They are battling now. As for the others...Kyxsha has been able to evade being spotted and has hidden in various positions...Lexian is also moving very quickly, though he must know Nyx isn't here by now as well. And...another search party has just come for you, RaXi. It would seem Triskix worries about you after all..."
"He does not. All he cares about is keeping his precious order." I stated solemnly... "He probably only came on his dear master's orders..." Why did I want that to be a lie? Was it that...I actually wanted Triskix to have come for us of his own free will? But why?
"Hmm...it doesn't matter." He stated moving towards me. He moved to grab my shoulders. I backed away...but he still ended up succeeding. "They want you RaXi. You and Triskix, Lexian and Nyx. And now you've all come to them. The others will be dispatched...that's why...why you have to get out of here!"
"Why are you helping me? If you're my enemy...like you should be...then attack me!" I yelled throwing him away and forming my sword. I swung at him fiercely. His weapon appeared in his hand. A spear...bright red with golden detailing...the tip shaped like a flame. He merely blocked my swing in defense. Knocking my sword away from me, he too dropped his spear and shook his head from side to side.
"I can't fight you RaXi...you know that..." He acknowledged in a soothing tone. "My whole being rejects the very idea..."
I heard the sound of chains rattling. There were cuffs on his wrists...and for a moment I saw one around his neck. But it was gone the second I blinked. I tried to understand...but nothing made sense to me! I buried my face in my hands.
"Why do you do this to me? You make me feel...that in itself is wrong...isn't it?!" I rambled. "What do you expect me to do? Play on these false emotions...these mimicked actions of which we only remember from the time we were alive? Pretend I have what I clearly lack?"
"I don't expect anything from you...I just have to get you out of this RaXi...since I put you in this whole mess..." Verex stated sincerely. "Come with me...we'll get them out of here...together." Extending his hand...he waited for me to take it.
I didn't...turning away...I couldn't look at him anymore.
"Hurry. Before the new party gets too far inside." Verex stated. He'd opened a portal. "If we travel by my portal...they won't know. Since I am a resident here. An unwilling one..."
I hadn't heard the last part...but deciding it was more important to pull out...I went with him. First, we found Kyxsha. She was crouched near a wall when we appeared. Before she could speak it was my turn to cover her mouth. I signaled her to follow me and Verex took us to Lexian. He gazed at Verex questionably...but deciding to trust in me...came without a fuss. Then Ximh, he was unconscious on the floor of a dark room. Lexian and Kyxsha gathered him up...he'd been in quite a fierce match from the look of him. Without Verex's help...I'm sure we would've been lost in this place forever.
"Quit moving around....darn it...." He mumbled.
"What is it?" Lexian asked.
"I'm having a hard time pinpointing your friends..." He answered.
"They aren't friends..."Lexian began.
"Ugh...comrades...whatever." Verex corrected irritably. "Ah! There." The portal opened before the rescue party. They appeared like they were getting ready to split up. Verex stepped through and burst into flames. My eyes went wide...but he simply shook it off.
"Another flame wielder I see..." Triskix stated. "You won't survive this one though..."
"WAIT!" I shouted and stood protectively between Verex and Triskix. "Triskix...now is not the time. Nyx isn't here. We have to withdraw."
"Withdraw?!" Akane shouted angrily from behind. Everyone glared at her as she slapped her hands over her mouth.
"Just do it!" I repeated. "Form a portal and have everyone return now!"
Triskix looked at me sideways. "RaXi...if anyone other than you ever spoke to me in such a tone...."
Verex stepped before me. He glared at Triskix. "You should go now. She's only warning you before it's too late. You haven't much time to escape unnoticed...everyone knows you're here. Summoning a creature from the Underworld was a dead giveaway...the first party destroying the scouts was enough...but Cerberus...that was careless Triskix."
Triskix glared at Akane for some reason. She looked nervous and rubbed the back of her head.
"Fine. Withdraw." Triskix ordered. "Everyone form a portal and return now!" Sensing the seriousness of his tone they all did as told...everyone left except for Xakiah, myself and Triskix. Lexian and Kyxsha had to get Ximh back quickly...so they didn't hesitate.
"Verex...are you a traitor?" Xakiah asked menacingly.
"I could ask the same of you Xakiah. You were aiding them, no?" Verex retorted. She was silent.
Suddenly A portal appeared at one of the dead end staircases before us. A man with long silver hair stepped through. "Triskix. Second-in-Command of Castle Oblivion. You weren't leaving before greeting the Lord of the Citadel...were you? How rude." He commented.
"Shall I resolve that?" Triskix stated in an equally intimidating tone. He drew his reaper out.
Verex stood between them defensively. His back to Triskix and I...he stood against his Master. "A nobody just appeared in the world between...go now RaXi...it may be Nyx." He muttered to us.
"We can't just leave..." I began. Verex looked at Triskix. Triskix sighed and his reaper vanished. He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me towards a portal. For some reason...Xakiah went with us. Perhaps we would serve as entertainment to her...I tried to get Triskix to release me...but his grip was firm. As the portal closed...I saw Verex look back at me...and smile.
----------------------------------------------------
After it was shut, Xerebus looked down at Verex harshly. He waved his hand and brought Verex to his knees in pain.
"I'm very disappointed in you Verex..." He condemned him. "Don't do it again." On that harsh tone, he left the room...Verex on the floor writhing in pain.
*********************************************************
Kira: Sorry it's so long guys....^.^; Sometimes I just really get in the zone...and....keep going......hope it wasn't too bad....
