Chapter 30 / 37
Written by Jessi Maxwell - send C&C to Megami_no_Remon@hotmail.com
Zechs and Duo got their camp set up in a small clearing that contained three trees and two rather large rocks. Duo strung up their makeshift tent and spread out the furry blankets they'd brought with them. While he busied himself with that, Zechs gathered some fallen branches from the surrounding trees and attempted to get a fire going, although he wasn't sure how effective it would be. The ground was covered with god only knew HOW many feet of snow, but when it started melting from the heat, the fire wouldn't survive.
Duo peeked out of the tent and the nest of furs he had made. "Oh Zechsy..."
Zechs arched one elegant eyebrow and turned to regard Duo, the purr in the braided teen's voice drawing his attention immediately.
"Not so sure that fire thing is gonna cut it, but I'm willing to bet I could find some ways to keep you warm tonight." Here Duo tossed Zechs a saucy grin and a wink.
Zechs didn't need to be told twice and made a beeline for the tent.
It is fairly safe to say neither of them was cold that night.
~ * ^ * ~
Duo whimpered in denial when the sun abruptly came back up and started shining right in his eyes. He attempted to bury his face against Zechs. "Nnnn..."
"And one would think, given your exuberance for life, you would love mornings..." Zechs purred, leaning over to kiss the top of his lover's head.
"I would like 'em more if they didn't happen so early," Duo muttered.
"Well, I'm afraid you'll have to suffer this one. Much as I enjoy cuddling you, I'd rather do it in a warm bed than in the middle of a fur-covered snowdrift. We should get moving. We should be able to get there tonight if we travel at a good pace.
Duo moaned loudly before he reluctantly disentangled himself from Zechs. He stretched and couldn't help but grin. He was a little sore and it had nothing to do with sleeping on the ground. // Mm, it was SO worth it. That man's an absolute animal. I love it. //
Eventually they were packed up and resumed their trek. After a couple hours they saw two specks in the distance - one far to the northwest and one far to the northeast. After a brief discussion, they elected to head northeast.
Duo began to regret that decision as they got slowly closer. The castle loomed ever closer as they carried on. It took another few hours before they started getting close. The structure seemed dark and mysterious, foreboding somehow. Duo was half expecting perpetual black clouds, lightning, and ominous thunder to be hovering about the building, but was disappointed on that count.
Both Zechs and Duo stopped dead when they hit the edge of the castle grounds. Duo's violet eyes widened in horror. "Oh, shit..."
The land before them was painted red with blood and littered with crow-pecked corpses. Flocks of the black birds hovered about, dining on the frozen flesh and only occasionally giving up their prey to other scavengers. There were at least a hundred bodies, although some looked like they'd been there longer than others. There were still more bones and random body parts showing through various places in the snowy terrain where something had dug for a meal before this latest massacre.
Zechs frowned uneasily, wondering what had happened at this small castle and whether or not the occupants were still alive. Duo swallowed thickly and began threading his way through the blood-splattered snow towards the castle's gates.
The moment they reached the doorway, both froze in place at the sound of a deep male voice. "Halt!"
Duo yanked the knife from his belt and Zechs took up a defensive pose, both whirling to face the unexpected newcomer.
The braided teen was shocked to realize just how close the man was when he turned. There was a dangerous air about him, something feral and predatory and downright frightening, though Duo couldn't put his finger on what it was. The man was ravishingly good looking - he had pale skin, a thick black ponytail that hung to the middle of his back, elegant high-boned features and intense blue-violet eyes flecked with gold. He wore form-fitting black pants and high black leather hunter's boots. A white silk shirt with flared sleeves and a long black cloak completed the picture.
"Who goes there?" he demanded, eyes narrowing.
Duo suddenly knew with a sick sense of dread and an unshakable certainty that he was about to die. The man had drawn no weapon, but Duo felt the danger all the same. He growled in response and squared his stance, lifting his knife in determination. // I'll make him bleed before I let him kill me. // "I'm the God of Death. You want a piece of me, try and take it!"
The man blinked, and then stood straighter. The air of danger and threat seemed to vanish and he flashed Duo a grin. Duo blinked - his eyes were a shining sapphire blue. // I could swear they were different a minute ago... // "God of Death, you say..." he chuckled softly in his rich, deep tone. "Do come inside. It's quite cold out, and I would speak to you."
Zechs frowned and slid protectively between Duo and the man, icy eyes narrowing. "Who are you and why should we trust you?"
The man bowed formally. "I am Prince Darian Kireashae Dei'Khisanth, former Godspeaker to Ashiryae Saris, current lord and master of Crienna Castle. However, you may call me Rook. I do not ask your trust...but since you came to my home and are obviously not with them..." Here he gestured to the battlefield behind them. "So I am assuming you wished to see me. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"
Duo blinked and slowly put the knife back in his belt. "That's a hell of an introduction...er...I'm Duo Maxwell. From...ah...L2 originally, I guess. Pilot of Deathscythe, and God of Death. Rook, huh? Like the chess piece?"
"More like the bird, young master Maxwell. And you are?" Rook inclined one eyebrow at Zechs.
"...Zechs Merquise."
Rook nodded politely. "Do come with me. Oh, one more thing, master Maxwell...you would do well to not give yourself such a title as a god." Rook's smile faded and he gave Duo a long and serious look. "If the wrong people heard you say that, you would be hunted and killed for heresy. Besides..." His eyes suddenly sparkled and he grinned conspiratorially. "I know Death personally." With that, he strode into the castle.
Duo and Zechs exchanged a long look before shrugging and following him in.
~ * ^ * ~
Quatre had spent the better part of the last two days sitting next to Chad and chatting, as well as practicing controlling his suddenly heightened empathy. It was much, much stronger than ever before in his recollection. He found that physical contact seemed to heighten its power exponentially. He also learned, from experimenting and using Chad as his guinea-pig of sorts, that he could project emotions as well, something that was entirely foreign to him.
Ayrchad apparently was something of an artist, and he shyly had revealed a thick book of parchment containing hundreds of drawings, covering almost every spare bit of blank space. He was quite good, and Quatre happily told him so.
Chad blushed. "Drawing is...not much of a talent for a dragon."
"I think it's perfectly wonderful. Just because it's something most dragons don't do...well, most of them probably CAN'T. It's special and you have a gift."
Chad's blushed deepened and he gave Quatre a shy smile. "Thank you."
Quatre's aquamarine eyes had widened and he eyed Ayrchad, stunned by the sudden flare of true, deep gratitude radiating from the dragon-boy. His heart gave a sudden unexpected twist, his empathy pulsing again.
Quatre leaned forward and kissed him, his empathy exploding into a crescendo of wild and powerful emotions.
~ * ^ * ~
Wufei blinked fuzzily at the computer screen. It was late and he was tired, despite several cups of tea that Treize had slid his way. His search hadn't provided much information, save that Epyon had indeed sent out a signal, destination unknown. He was able to isolate the part of the system that had sent the signal, too, though he had no idea how or why it worked.
"It looks like some kind of locating signal. But what the hell would Epyon be trying to locate? Why? I don't understand." Wufei scowled before sipping at the latest cup of tea. His scowl only deepened - it was long cold.
"I do not understand either. But we know that the first time, it brought over a dragon. I do not know if that was the intent or why Epyon would be chasing dragons."
"Hn. Must be a design flaw it shares with its creator."
Treize blinked, and then laughed out loud. "You believe me to be chasing you, my dear dragon?"
"Well, what would you call it?" Wufei mumbled, a bit defensively. "You've been...been..."
"I've done nothing. It's all been in your mind. Do you...want me to chase you?"
"No!" Wufei blinked in panic as Treize suddenly stood and leaned over his chair.
"I think...you may not be telling me the truth. I have given you more than ample opportunity to flee the entire day you've been here. I have held any advances I may have wished to make, but you knew they were there all the same."
Wufei swallowed, onyx eyes wide, and tried to find a way to escape the chair. However, with one of Treize's hands on either of the chair arms and the man leaning forward, there was no real way out.
"So I believe...you are not so opposed to the idea, despite your outward displays."
"Ludicrous...you give yourself too much credit..." Wufei gulped, his voice dropping to almost a whisper as Treize leaned forward. There was nowhere left for Wufei to go. His heart hammered in his chest so loudly he was surprised it didn't draw guards from down the hall.
Treize paused a scant couple inches from him, his voice a low murmur. "Tell me you want me to kiss you," he purred.
Wufei almost let out an undignified squeak, an involuntary shiver running down his spine. "N...never..."
Treize's hand snaked behind him and threaded through Wufei's hair, cupping the back of his head. His other hand carefully plucked Wufei's reading glasses off and set them on the desk. His tone was still soft, but carried an air of command. "Say it."
"I...I..." The last of Wufei's confused, wobbly defenses toppled over in a wrecked heap. "I want you to...kiss me."
With a wide grin, Treize did.