"Triskix!" a voice yelled....sounded like.....RaXi's....I turned my head. "Tanex, what is going on? How is...when did you-" RaXi continued.
"RaXi...this Castle...it's..." I started. I wanted to finish the sentence...with the word that was just at the end of my tongue...home.....
Suddenly I felt more blood rush out of me. I was getting excited and just managing to force more blood onto the floor. RaXi grabbed me immediately. I wanted to say I was ok, but RaXi cut me off. I just sighed.
"We're here again are we? You Idiot! What are you doing fighting...no....WALKING much less?! After what Tamex just did for you...and you just open up all your wounds?!" RaXi roared.
"I know but...wait..." I started. "How did you know that RaXi?"
I waited for the answer, but Tanex seemed to be having one of his impatient moments.
"Ugh! Enough with all this right now! I want to know what you think of my Castle Triskix!" Tanex suddenly cut in waving his hands around at the walls as though to highlight the surroundings. "Plus...you've got one foot in the grave already...seeing as you're a shinigami...but please, no fading on my watch alright? Let's get you fixed up..."
I sighed at Tanex for a moment and let Tanex take care of the bleeding. It turned out the stitching Tamex had done on the outer layer of my skin was all but ripped out again, but everything else was fine.
"Well you always did have a flare for trying to see how close you could step towards death's ledge without falling over the edge," Tanex laughed. "You and Lexian always trying to push things just a little too far."
I rolled my eyes and for a second caught RaXi's eye. She was staring at me and at the same time not.
"So what is this place exactly," I said knowing that Tanex would answer.
"Why....it's Home isn't it?" Tanex answered back wryly.
"It looks like the original Castle Oblivion if that is what you mean," I answered.
Tanex sighed. "Well in truth it was the best I could make on such short notice," he answered lightly.
I tried to stifle a laugh, and my face returned to normal.
"So what have you been up to pryo?" Tanex smiled. "Digging your own grave again?"
"If that i what this is about I don't want to hear it from you Tanex," I answered. "I'm doing what I think is best."
"Pyro Pyro Pyro," Tanex answered shaking his head. He leaned his head down as if to finish tying on a bandage and started murmuring. "I know what you did to yourself. And I know about Xerebus and Xraktos. And I know a way to get the XIII back......"
I felt myself straighten a bit and one of my lateral muscles twitches.
"Look at all these scratches and scars," Tanex said almost too loudly. "Do any of these scars.....split occasionally? You know I think I might just have a cure to them."
I didn't move. Tanex did know already.....and much more than I was willing to admit. I took a breath in. Blood was running down my shoulder. A scar had split. Tanex looked at it lightly.
"Ah see now?" Tanex continued. "You need to get them to stop splitting....."
Suddenly I felt an explosion run through my entire being. It started in my head and I clutched both sides of my head trying not to scream. I closed my eyes and my fingers ripped through my hair. I heard RaXi move fowards, but by then the pain was gone. And I was left with a feeling of numbness.
"Sorry Tris," Tanex smiled. "But I won't have Xraktos listening in, in my castle."
"A....a void through the mind???" I strated.
"Yep," Tanex smiled happily. "Like I said, I won't have Xraktos listening in through you. The void will last as long as you are here. Xraktos won't be able to access your mind while you are here no will he be able to access any information about here through your mind. It is my 'Security'....but I can't say that I can stop him from tearing you apart."
I cocked my head to one side a popped my neck.
"Fine," I answered. "And I take it you have plans of your own."
"Oh yes," Tanex answered. "Many plans. Many plans. When your feeling up to par, you can start looking through the castle ^_^."
With that, Tanex walked away and through a portal. I remained silent.
