I stumbled through the portal and was half-dragged into a room. I wrenched myself out of his grip, hissing, "For your own sake, Pashnirix, you do that to me again, and I swear I will murder you."
He waved his hand at me, dismissing my threat. "Yes, yes. We're only here for a moment. I need to pick up something, and then we'll be on our way."
I looked around, and realized we were back at his room in Citadel Abyss. He shuffled through a couple drawers, some of which were filled with gold and gemstones.
"On our way...where?" I questioned.
Pashnirix paused and looked at me. "To fulfill your part of the deal. I watched the fight, RaXi was returned safely to you, yes? And," he stated smugly, "I even kept that Marlex from returning to finish your little friends off."
My eyes widened marginally. "You...after Xemmsur threw him through that portal..."
"I was waiting in the Corridors, and easily subdued him," he affirmed. He sighed. "Such a chivalrous act deserves compensation, don't you think?"
"Of course. I should have known and expected as much from a dragon," I muttered. "But Pashnirix, I can't leave with you now," I said louder.
"Oh? And why is that?" He crossed his arms.
I fidgeted, wondering how much trouble I would get in if I told him exactly why I couldn't go with him.
"You have my trust, Tigress," he murmured. "You know I won't tell anything unless you wish me to. I respect you too much to betray you like that."
"If you were to betray me, it'd be more upfront, right?" I retorted, only half-jokingly.
Pashnirix's response was serious, though. "Of course. I'd at least give you fair warning. Now, why can't you leave with me now. Two days is all I ask."
I wanted to bang my head against a brick wall for what I was about to do. "Organization Oblivion is planning an attack on Citadel Abyss. I won't go into detail, and you cannot tell anyone else. If I were to disappear right before that attack, and you as well..."
"It'd look extremely suspicious," he finished. "I see."
Not to mention I have to get that message to RaXi... "So, why don't I just go back to Castle Oblivion, and you can--"
"I will kidnap you," he said suddenly and decisively. "When your organization attacks, you and I will fight, you will lose, and I will hold you hostage."
I shook my head, disbelieving. "What? No, no, no. I am not deliberately losing a fight, Dragon. You must be--"
"Technically, you wouldn't be losing, since it'd be a staged fight from the beginning," he said calmly. "And if it really bothers you that much, we could always have a rematch."
I gritted my teeth and glowered. Much as I didn't want to admit it, his plan was nearly flawless. We'd fight, I'd lose, and he could claim me as the spoils of his victory. A shiver ran down my spine.
"Okay," I said lowly. "Fine. We'll do this your way."
"Very well," agreed Pashnirix. "I trust you can find your way back to the Castle without my help?"
"Yeah," I grumbled, opening a portal and stepping through. I arrived back at my room, letting my head fall against the door before portalling back down to the Dining Hall.
-------------------------------
KitKat: 'The spoils of his victory,' huh? ^_^
Rexikat: Shut. Up.
KitKat: But you really do owe him, don't you? Man, your life sucks. Or does it...? ^o^
Rexikat: ... >_< I hate you.
