"I ask only that you both try to get to Minx...should I fail...and subdue her. As soon as the defensive shield is down...return to Oblivion at once. Understood? There will be no meeting up...just pull out." ordered RaXi.
“Don’t say that RaXi! No one will ‘fail’; we will all meet each other at Minx. Each one of us will be there no one will fail or disappear! I refuse to leave unless I know that both of you are okay and that is that!” She resumed wearing that warm smile she reserved for everybody and faced our countenances head on. Not much for self-conviction…but she certainly knows how to make a pep talk. Hehe…she’s just like him. …How refreshingly annoying.
RaXi sighed and gave one of those looks that said that she should’ve known better. “Okay…then for now we stick together.” Nyx seemed rather happy with this bit of news.
“Perfect…then I know the first place we can go. Come with me.” As I began to lead them downstairs the two of them halted. Without turning around to see whatever it was they were doing I threatened them, “If you two still have doubts as to the integrity of my navigational skills—“
“Nah,” interrupted Raxi with a touch of humor in her tone, “Nyx and I are just wondering what nut-job is responsible for making a castle were you have to go down to go up.”
~*~
“So, umm, how DOES being in this dreary place help us?” asked Nyx rather nervously. Not that I blamed her for feeling that way; the catacombs of Citadel Abyss were dark, damp, and littered with rubble, rusted-over torture devices, and the skeletons of the poor, unfortunate dead who found their way into this place. Ah…the good old days when castles just weren’t complete without them. Of course, the two things this place needs to REALLY feel like the good old days are some live, starving prisoners and some blood oozing off the walls. Good times…
“Because this place is so wide, and because it’s underground, this is the only sector of Citadel Abyss that won’t throw the two of you as far off course during the shifting stage…in the event that the group finally does separate.”
“Seriously?!” shouted Nyx with excitement.
“Hmm-mmm. This is also the place where the source of the shifting charm comes from…and the place where my reason for joining you is.” Grinning with excitement for what lay ahead my eyes began to slant in response to thinking about whom I was going to “visit.”
“Say, Xakiah…what made you assist Organization Zero in the first place?” asked RaXi. I stopped to look over at her and noted that Nyx seemed rather interested with the answer to this question herself. “As far as I know you don’t have any direct connection to the original thirteen, so I can’t help but wonder why you went through with it?”
I debated on whether or not I should answer her question or not. Truthfully, revealing that bit of information wouldn’t do any harm on my end, but the fact that she was asking that question within the walls of Citadel Abyss made the situation unstable. The last thing we needed was Xerebus or one of his sheep to hear of this and make our situation—or a future infiltration of this compound—worse than it already was.
Well…when in doubt, “Sorry ladies, but I’m afraid that story will have to be left…for another time.” I turned back around to continue leading them to our destination and left the conversation at that. Fortunately neither one of them bothered to protest or ask me any further questions from there.
Passing through multiple dungeons and moving past the obstacles that were laid out by the castle’s defenses, we finally came across the section of the catacombs were the walls were at its thickest.
“Let me guess: we’re getting close?” There was a tinge of intensity to her tone as she said this. Probably because of how close our “enemies” are to us.
“Quite right RaXi. Although…I’m afraid here is where we will have to part ways.” I answered coolly.
Nyx shouted, “Are you crazy?! There’s NO WAY we’re going to leave you here to fight off these guys by yourself!”
“Your concern is…flattering…but unwarranted. Isn’t that right, ‘o great and noble heathen?’”
“You are as shrewd as ever, Lady Xakiah.” Taking his time to step forth from the shadows he disbursed the illusion that had fooled my cohorts and said, “Though why you still call me that after all this time I will never know.”
Ignoring the looks they wore upon meeting this character I took a step forward and whispered to them in haste, “Past the corner behind him is another corridor. Take it and enter the room directly to your left. There should be a giant machine inside with numerous levers of different colors. Pull these exact levers in sequence, one after the other: pink, white, pink, black, orange. That will both stop the shifting sequence and open a staircase that leads directly to the North Tower, were Minx resides. But go fast, for the shifting sequence will resume its normal schedule after ten minutes. If you fail to make it in time you’ll end up exactly where I took you upon coming here (the South Wing, if you don’t remember). If you two have any questions I suggest you ask them now.”
“Yeah: did you know this was going to happen? And if you did, how?” asked RaXi.
“No, not really, but…it was safe to assume that.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because this man you see in front of you…is the prison guard here.”
Nyx jumped in and asked, “Who exactly is this man, and how do you know him?”
“His name is Etxel. As for how I know him…that will have to wait for another day.”
“Are you maidens done talking amongst yourselves yet? A man can grow old waiting for you three to finish babbling…”
Going back into a normal volume, Nyx asked with concern, “Are you sure you want to handle this one alone?”
Grinning with anticipation for what was about to happen I responded, “Absolutely. Now go.”
~Xakiah
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RaXi and/or Nyx, all yours! X3 (But…please leave the fight between Etxel and Xakiah to me.)
