The Power Inside

[DragonSpirit009]

As Bastian followed he looked over his shoulder making sure that the soldier behind him wasn’t going to do something stupid. Just because he can’t summon Areo in this narrow space doesn’t mean he is completely useless.

 

Once the reached the top both of them waited patiently as the guard went inside. Arthur gave him a look which Bastian could only nod reassuring him that Ceil would be able to find Diana and get out, hopefully.

 

~~

 

When Imari saw that Khaine and the others had caught up she quickly headed in the direction that Ceil told them to. Moving through the crowd she suddenly felt an odd feeling. Turning around she looked into the crowd noticing a few military folk but all ways busy with their own tasks. Shaking her head she looked at Khaine and then to the house she stopped in front of.

 

“I guess this is the place.” Imari spoke looking at the house in front of her. She tried to remember Ceil’s words on how the house looked like before she looked again at Khaine.

[TotallyDrow]

Khaine shrugged his shoulders and waited for Imari to enter. He had nothing to say, the emotions within him caused by the news of his home town being buried and the sight of so many people whose lives and homes have been destroyed was more then enough to render him speechless.

[Fortune86]

Ceil walked with Diana, Zacht and the guards up to the staircase and then began to tread up them. He wished Diana wasn't walking behind him. He'd much rather be able to keep an eye on her.

 

On the stairs they passed a woman furiously mopping the stone with a cloth. She was muttering under her breath about dirty soldiers and their inability to wipe their feet dry. Ceil carefully ignored her and continued onwards and upwards.

 

Eventually they were led up to Jyeh's office door, where Arthur and Bastain were waiting. The lone guard that stood with them looked highly relieved to see reinforcements.

 

Arthur glanced at Ceil and saw that his was favouring his shoulder a little. Had he been injured again? Before any questions could be asked the door opened the the guard from before appeared. He looked over at Zacht with his prisoners and then stepped aside.

 

"Get in. All of you."

 

~~~

 

Odara was just about to turn away and attend to her guests when she saw a familar face in the crowd outside. That girl was one of Ceil's students wasn't she? She raced towards her front door and threw it open.

 

"Inside, quickly."

[Chicogal]

Diana held her head up high, focusing on trying to push her wrists together, trying to enable herself to summon. Such an action was not obvious, and could only really be seen on really close observation. It should only look as if she was a bit uncomfortable - or do she hoped. Glaring at the soldier speaking to them just because she could, she walked through the door.

[DragonSpirit009]

Imari looked at the woman who appeared from behind the door. Nodding she took Khaine by the wrist and guided him inside along with her.

 

“We were sent to come here.” Imari spoke not wanting to say any name in case someone was close enough to catch what they were saying.

 

~~

 

Bastian turned around and a cold sting ran down his spine when he saw Ceil and Diana entering the room. He slightly gritted his teeth knowing they weren’t really in a good position. When he heard someone called them to enter Bastian only turned around and entered.

[Fortune86]

When the guard stepped aside to let them past Artur strode on ahead into the office. Jyeh was sitting at his desk, his elbows on the surface and his fingers entwined just a few inches below his chin. Arthur didn't meet his gaze, but stared at a spot slightly above his uncle's head.

 

Ceil followed in after him and stood so that the three teenages were lined up before him. This meant he could keep and eye on all of them. Unlike Arthur, he glowed at Jyeh with cotempt.

 

Jyeh looked at the four prisoners before him and then over at one of the guards as they took up position behind the four Summoners.

 

"I thought there were more of them?"

 

"These four were all we could find my Lord."

 

Jyeh sat back and stared at his prisoners.

 

"Oh well. It doesn't matter in the long run. If this young girl is anything to go by they didn't know much anyway."

 

"What exactly are you up to Jyeh?" demanded Ceil. "What did you do to all those Summoners?"

Jyeh smirked and gestured to Diana.

 

"Why don't you explain?"

 

~~~

 

"I guessed so" said Odara shutting the door. "Where is Ceil? Where is my son?"

Edited July 2, 2013 by Fortune86

[Chicogal]

(( Giving me the long explaining job to me, eh? Cool. ))

 

Diana's bright eyes were cast downward. Her heart was heavy. She felt completely and utterly wretched. Head bowed slightly, hair swept forward, her hands tightened into fists at the terrible man's suggestion. "They're controlling the Titans," she said bitterly, head turning slightly to one side so she could see Ceil partly. "The Titans... They used to be Fiends, Ceil. They've taken Summoners and-" She took a slightly rattling breath. Her voice was beginning to break, the story was so terrible. "And they've mutated their Fiends, made them able to travel however far they want. And the machine they built to do it was from shattered crystals." She turned her head back to the front, slowly looking up at Jyeh with hate, such hate. Perhaps she should tell Ceil about Ephron. But it would destroy him, if he had really been so close to the former teacher.

[Fortune86]

Ceil stared in horror at Diana. It couldn't be true. It just couldn't be. She had to be wrong.

 

He looked over at Jyeh for confirmation of her mistake, but all Ceil saw was his smug expression.

 

"You sick b..."

 

Ceil tried to move forward but a crossbow was thrust under the side of his neck in warning. Ceil had no choice but to stand where he was and clench his fists with rage.

 

"Oh but she hasn't told you the best part" chuckled Jyeh. "Go on Diana. Tell him the rest."

[Chicogal]

Diana kept eye contact with Jyeh for a couple more moments before glancing to the side again. He wanted her to tell Ceil about Ephron, didn't he? Well, there was still more to his plan that she hadn't said. Perhaps he wanted that instead. She hoped. "They were the ones who made the Titans attack. He wants to kill off all the monsters using them, and then release what's left of the human race. And he's going to kill all of us Summoners as well." She stared back at Jyeh, arms tensed. She wanted to unleash all of her fury on him. Claw, scratch, bite, maim. He was the man indirectly responsible for her parents' death. Of course she was going to absolutely loathe him with this added.

[Fortune86]

Ceil listened to Diana shakingly told him more of Jyeh's twisted plan. He stood glaring at the pale haired man behind the desk, unable to keep his utter hatred for the man from displaying on his face.

"Go on Diana" said Jyeh. He gestured to her to keep talking. "That's not all, is it?"

 

Ceil glanced over at Diana. He could tell by Jyeh's voice there was something in particular he wanted him to hear. But what could possibly be worse this?

[Chicogal]

Diana stared at Jyeh for longer still. Of course he wanted her to tell Ceil about Ephron. She raised her head, stood erect, and raised her eyebrows. "No. I can't remember anything more, Jyeh," she said scathingly, spitting out his name as if it gave her a bad taste in the mouth just to say it. She wasn't going to mutter the truth like this, back turned to Ceil, in the midst of their worst enemy. The black-haired student didn't want to be the one to make her brave teacher break down.

[Fortune86]

"You're a terrible liar little girl."

 

Jyeh turned his attention to Ceil, who was staring at him with hatred and confusion.

 

"What your pupil doesn't want to tell you, is that your dear teacher Ephron is a part of our little project. Quite a large part actually. His Fiend Fuslam is the King."

 

Ceil's eyes went wide with shock and horror. He felt like he had been punched in the gut. He felt his legs go weak and give way underneath him, sending him to the floor with a soft thump. He stared unseeing in front of him, unable to fully comprehend what he had just heard.

Jyeh watched the top of Ceil's head from across his desk.

 

"We would have liked you to be apart of the the project too, but when you left the school you vanished into the wilderness. All those bit jobs you did all over the place made it very hard to track you down. Seth would have made an invaluable contribution to our cause, but regretably we had to make do with another."

[Chicogal]

Diana froze in place as she heard the soft thump. She didn't have to look to know that Ceil had collapsed. Her brave teacher, killed inside after all. Entire body revved, tended, she considered her options. If she moved quickly, she could get in a quick body slam, hurt him in some way. But then again... What if someone else, not a part of their little group, managed to take down Jyeh? Then her death would be for nothing. "I'm sorry, Ceil," she whispered softly, glancing down and to the side once more.

[DragonSpirit009]

Bastian clenched his fists as he heard what Jyeh said. He could feel the air in the room getting thicker as tension grew but he didn’t move. He only stared at the man before him waiting for a moment to make him pay for what he has done.

 

~~

 

Imari looked away from Odara to a window, watching people hurry by. She didn’t know what to tell her but she knew she had to tell the truth.

 

“He isn’t doing all to well.” She finally spoke still not looking at Odara. “He and two others went to rescue one of the students that got kidnapped. I don’t know if they got in safely or not, he didn’t want to involve us.”

[Fortune86]

Odara nodded in understanding. That sounded like Ceil.

 

One of Odara's guests approached his hostess and with a brief glance at Khaine and Imari began to speak to her.

 

"One of the boys has just come back with a worrying report. Six of the Titans have been seen nearby. We're not sure what they are up to, but we can't rule out an assault on Tehgrimm Suda."

 

"What?!" exclaimed Odara. "But all the survivors from the other settlements are coming here. If they attack here too there will be no where left to hide."

 

"Which is why we don't have much choice. If the Titans come here we will have no option but to go out and meet them in battle. We're Summoners. It is our duty to protect everyone."

 

~~~

 

Arthur had remained silent so far, but with Ceil having fallen to the ground he took a step forward.

 

"So you admit your crimes?"

 

Jyeh looked up at his nephew.

 

"Crimes? No. This is the key to our survival. The Titans will be able to purge the world free of the monster plague, and then we may build anew."

 

"Kidnapping, murder, theft, torture. These are all crimes, regardless of the purpose for which they are done. You have broken the law and abused your position."

 

Jyeh snorted. "And what do you intend to do about it?"

 

"I intend to stop you" said Arthur as though it was the simplest thing in the world. "Stop you and bring you to justice."

"Oh really? And how are you going to do that?"

 

It might not have been the reply Jyeh was expecting, but it answered his question sure enough. His office door exploded open, a huge chunk of ice bursting through it. Zacht and two of the guards were thrown to the floor by the force of it. One of the other guards turned to face the door to fire off his crossbow and was rewarded for his efforts by a Hima to the face. As he fell to the floor screaming Arthur lunged over the desk for his uncle, but Jyeh was just a little too far out of reach. The leader of Tehgrimm Suda leapt out of his chair and dived for a drape hanging on the wall. He vanished behind it and as Arthur gave chase he heard the sound of a lock clicking. The ice Summoner grabbed the drape and pulled it off the wall. There was a thick oak door blocking his path.

 

((Hima will have killed the guard he attacked, but there are another three guards and Zacht to play with.))

[Chicogal]

Diana jumped out of the way of the ice coming her way. She watched the goings-on with an expression of complete astonishment. Well. Wow. That was the something she had been waiting for. Realising they might need more help than just one Fiend, she looked quickly around the room. "Someone untie me!" she cried. Rain could fit in here; the office of the leader wasn't exactly minuscule. She only nerred someone to slice through her bonds and she would be good to go.

[Fortune86]

Seeing how he couldn't go after his uncle Arthur turned back to the room behind him. Diana cried out for someone to untie her, so he approached her to help. It didn't take long for him to undo the rope that bound her hands.

 

Ceil had looked up when the ice had exploded into the room. The first thing he saw was Zacht climbing to his feet tapping his chest. A moment later his silver lion Fiend appeared and leapt onto his desk. The fire Fiend began to prepare a fire attack at the ice wolf rolling on the floor with one of the soldiers.

 

"Like hell you will."

 

Ceil leapt off to his feet and lunged at Zacht. He knocked the fire Summoner off his feet and began to hit him in the face as hard as he could.

 

((Someone please stop Zacht's Fiend before it blasts Hima.))

[Chicogal]

Diana didn't even have the time to relish in her arms having freedom. Her aching arms clicked as she swung a hand to her chest and summoned Rain. "Vann." The blue unicorn took place from the mist that drifted out from her. Before she was even properly solidified, her Summoner had to tell her what to do. There was no time for a water attack; it would take too long. So the unicorn went for a physical attack that would be quicker. She shot into a gallop, one stride before she took off near the desk. Her neck was arched, horn primed directly toward the lion's head.

[Fortune86]

The blow from Rain connected with the silver lion's head just as it released a ball of fire from it's jaws. The attack just managed to knock the spell off course, so the fireball whizzed past Hima by a mere inch. Hima looked round as the fireball hit the far wall and then went back to mauling the soldier at his paws.

 

With his Summoner unable to give it commands the silver lion was on its own. It roared in fury at Rain and swiped at them with one giant paw.

[Chicogal]

Rain landed with a twist, four hooves landing easily. Diana and she had had plenty of practice with jumping; now it was coming to use. She squealed as the claws connected with her chest, red lines clear against the blue. But she already had water swirling around her horn. She shot a sharp water whip toward the beast, barely managing a rear in the small space. Hopefully that got her out of a swipe or two. Diana gasped as scratches appeared on her chest, blood starting to soak through her shirt. But they were only shallow. Spotting one of the soldiers beginning to aim at Hima, she crept up behind him in the chaos and lunged for his legs. He was taken off balance, and fell to the floor with her.

[Fortune86]

Before the silver lion could follow up on its first attack it was forced to retreat as Rain whipped around with a jet of water. It roared in fury as it turned and leapt off the desk, but kicked it out backwards after landing. It's hind feet caught Jyeh's desk and sent it flying straight towards the water unicorn.

 

Ceil and Zacht continued to tumble across the floor, with Zacth trying very hard to press his thumb into Ceil's remaining eye. Ceil jerked backwards to avoid it and then brough his head down and to the side to bit Zacht's flailing hand.

[Chicogal]

Rain snorted as she came back down to all four hooves. Her attack hadn't landed. Damn. As the desk came flying toward her, she leapt to the side. But it hit her hindquarters, and she stumbled. She could feel blood trickling down one of her legs. But it wasn't broken. She suddenly galloped forward, head turned down again to attempt to gore the lion. And if not, squash him against the wall.

 

Diana could feel a wound open along her left leg as she attempted to grab the soldier's crossbow. And she succeeded. She took the weapon and flung it as hard as she could at a wall, and it broke into pieces with the impact. Her actions were not without consequence. A sharp punch to her stomach from the soldier who had managed to roll over slightly made her gasp, winded. But she gave him a good couple of hard slaps and punches, trying to prevent him from getting to his feet again. Eventually she got hold of his hair with one hand. And pulled. Hard.

[Fortune86]

The lion stepped to one side as Rain charged, making the unicorn go running past. He turned to snap at her hindlegs, but missed. Roaring the lion spat fire on the ground, setting fire to the carpet.

 

As Hima tore at the soldier he had pinned down Arthur gently picked up the crossbow the man had dropped. He inspected it carefully, never having held one before and then turned around to look at Diana and the soldier she was struggling with.

 

Arthur stepped daintly towards them, pressed the tip of the bolt against the soldier's ear and pulled the trigger.

[Chicogal]

Unfortunately, Rain's horn got stuck in the wall. She forcefully yanked it out before turning around, ears flattening against her head as she saw the terrible sight. Fire. It was lucky that she was a water Fiend. Water came down from her horn, spraying the carpet so that the fire went out. She hoped the hosing of water would discourage the lion from attacking her in this slightly vulnerable state.

 

Diana looked up as a crossbow came toward her, quite ready to grab it and hit whoever was aiming it if they were a soldier. But it was Arthur, and the crossbow went to the Soldier's head. Quite suddenly, there was an arrow shooting into his head, and the man screamed before lying still. Dead. "Thanks," she gasped, scrambling up. This room was beginning to get quite bloody.

[DragonSpirit009]

Bastian knew already what would come and ducked, rolling to the side as Hima’s ice blasted through the door. With one hand he pushed himself up and with the other he pulled out his sword. He raced towards one of the fallen soldiers and pierced the blade into his back, twisting it to make sure he was dead. At that point Zacht had summoned his fiend and so did Diana but with even the room so big it was still too small for two fiends fighting.

 

Standing one side, near the wall, Bastian lifted his hand to his chest and whispered his word. A dark shadow filled the room as the wings of a red dragon covered the tower he clinged to the building. Suddenly one of the windows burst open sending shards of glass flying to the floor. A red claw forced it way inside the building breaking more of the wall along with it. From a different window a yellow eye peered through watching as its claw went for his target.

 

Bastian still stood in silence watching as Areo grabbed hold of the silver lion. Digging his claws into the chest of the fire fiend Areo dragged out the lion. It scratched Areo’s claws and tried to burn it with it fire attacks but the dragon didn’t let go and was unfazed by the fire.

Areo looked at the attempts of the smaller fiend as he clutched him in his claws waiting for his summoners order. Bastian closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

 

“Kill it.” He spoke softly. With those words Areo tore of the lions head with one swift bite.

 

~~

 

Imari over listened to what the man had said to Orada and fear ran down her spine once again. If they came, then all will be lost, they will need to help if their survival counted on it.

“We can help. We’re summoners as well.” Imari stated as she looked at the two people in front of her.