Kris: Hm... This looks familiar...
Pete: It should. You typed it. Names have been changed thought...
Kris: *blank* Right...
Just&Pete: *smack foreheads in exasperation*
"Rashi Koherea to see you, M’Lady" a guard stood in a deep darkness
before a hidden figure.
"Send him in." A pale white hand motioned for the guard to retrieve
Rashi. Moments later, Rashi was before the figure, down on one knee.
"M’Lady…I have been traveling far in this accursed realm and request
your humble favor." he did not look up, to show respect, and
fear; yet, he felt neither for her.
"Hmm.." she paused for a moment before continuing. "Rashi Koherea…you
have been traveling around destroying the good in this realm. For
that I am thankful. But what would make u feel you have a right to
ask me, Iya Corantie of the Darkened Royal Family for a favor?" she
laughed as she finished. Rashi didn’t move. He knew what was next. She walked out of the shadows hiding her and towards him, revealing her
form. She was pale white all over with glowing silver hair. Her gown
flowed a lavender lightness as she stepped gracefully light. She
smiled a smile of such beauty and hatred that, had Rashi been looking
at it, would make him shudder.
"Complete one task and I shall grant any favor you ask of me." Her
smile grew more evil as Rashi raised his head slightly to ask:
"what is this task." he knew the basics of what it may be, but wanted
to hear her say it.
"Kill Xantus Magnus" She stepped away and returned moments later with
a large sword. "This is the Sword of Darkness Embodied in Light.
Sodel for short." she handed it to him as he rose from the
ground. "This is the only weapon forged that can kill him and spare
your life. Take it and complete my task and I will......" she walked
away slowly and softly as Rashi stood there in awe at the
sword."...send…you...home........" she vanished as Rashi smiled. She
had known the while time what his favor was.
He sheathed the sword and turned around to leave.
"Rashi." Rashi stopped dead in his tracks. "Rashi, you must kill the
girl, as well." Rashi sighed and turned toward the voice.
An old man stood there before him, in rags.
"Why do you say that, old man?"
"She has grown fond of Xantus...she will try to save him. You MUST
kill her first." He reached in his coat and pulled something out.
"This will help you bind her. She will feel no pain." He handed Rashi
a small parcel and vanished. Rashi put it in his bag and walked out. To find Xantus.
Iñaki stared at the parcel lying on the ground. She carefully picked
it up and unwrapped it, only to scream and drop it.
"What the hell kinda' sick joke is this?!" Xantus watched as the
unicorn's horn rolled away. He cringed inwardly, but only shook his
head.
"Don't worry. It will protect you, as I'm sure it was intended to."
"I am NOT touching a unicorn's horn! Rashi, what the hell are you
thinking? Are you *trying* to curse yourself?!" She sighed in
exasperation as Xantus picked it up and dropped it into a satchel. Iñaki regarded Xantus timidly, but looked away before he could notice.
'Was that just me? Or did he see it too? Gods, I don't want my
clairvoyance to come back...' Her thoughts moved back to the dream,
and she shuddered inwardly. 'But everything had been so crisp, so
clear... Unless I can read memories now, he had to have seen the same
thing. Maybe it only happens like that if we touch... I mean, it
*was* cold last night... as if this isn't just as dark... But...'
"Iñaki?" Iñaki jumped at the sudden intrusion on her
thoughts. "Something on your mind?"
"Me? Nah. Just...thinking is all... Thinking and..."
"...And remembering?" She looked up at Xantus, but he couldn't read
her expression.
"No. I still don't remember anything...except Rashi." She sighed
again. "And he's gone completely BONKERS!! Why the hell is goin'
around killing UNICORNS?! GODS!! And people say *I* have no common
sense!" She began stalking off, Xantus right behind her. "Hey, Xantus?" He raised an eyebrow at her suddenly calmer nature.
"Yes?"
"Um... Do you mind if I wander around a little? Alone? I won't go
far, I swear!" Xantus smiled slightly.
"I will wait for you hear. If you are gone too long, I will search
for you."
"Thanks," Iñaki answered, relief shining in her eyes as she turned
and walked a ways off...
Xantus waited until Iñaki was out of sight before he sighed. He took
on his true form, leaving the human form for his more familiar one.
He was shaped like a human, yet not human at all. He resembled a
large shadow, standing alone in a field. His huge black wings
stretched straight up into the black sky, before he folded them
gently behind himself. He bent down to retrieve something from the
pocket of his coat, which he had left on the ground. He pulled out a
silver disk, about the size of a compact, which he held in his
outstretched hand. The familiar form of Izzy appeared.
"Yes, agent 6, what can I do for you?" the hologram asked.
"Izzy, I am home. How did this happen?" Xantus asked the hologram.
"Yes, agent 6, it appears so. Are the targets still with you?"
"Not both. I have the girl, but we came here to follow the boy."
Izzy nodded. "It is as we feared. The Darkened Royal Family has
called him, and he is killing off all the good that is left, ever
since you passed on the torch to your brother."
Xan nodded. "Ah, and what would the Family want with him?"
Izzy solemnly looked at Xantus, "You know why."
Xan nodded sadly, "It is an ironic turn of events, no? How shall we
keep the destruction from happening?"
Izzy disappeared, replaced by a single gold armband. "You know what
this is, and you know what it means. . ."
Xantus closed his eyes and nodded his head as the armband disappeared
completely. The question that bugged him was how. . .