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::Ken sighed as the power flowed into him, healing the wounds left by the daemon's claws. The skin itched as the cells reformed almost instantly, leaving nothing but health pink skin. At least they weren't poisoned... Aya's head rested in his hands, his violet eyes achingly exhausted. It was tiresome waiting for death, knowing that when it came, it was only a matter of time before it happened again...and again... He smiled ruefully. He didn't think people realized that one could get tired of dying...especially when the memory of death was ingrained into your very soul. "What's so funny?" Ken had a pretty good idea what Aya had been thinking. Their connection made it hard to hide anything from each other, thoughts or feelings. Still, it was nice to ask, and to have human conversation instead of the intimate mental contact. Aya's humor faded. "This is it. Our last lifetime. Next will be the Summoning. " Ken understood his companion's sadness. "We will all be together again. Just like Youji promised." Aya sighed. "Hai. Together again...":: It wasn't a slow fight to regain consciousness. It was a startling wake up call. Ken nearly fell from the barstool as he threw himself from the memory, crying out in pain as his head reeled from the truth that now flooded it. He remembered. Every lifetime came back with crystal clarity, every death he had gone through, every lover he had shared...the magic, the power needed to stop Yuki...it was his again. Images of his teammates flashed through his mind's eye: Aya as he faced down an army of daemons with the shattered katana that had been his father's...Omi smiling as he and Youji exchanged vows just before their last night on Earth...Youji sobbing with loss as his companions were taken one by one, leaving him to face Yuki's daemons alone...Nagi sacrificing himself so that the others could destroy the dark coven's terrible plans A thousand years worth of life...of memories. His again. The others' voices sounded far away as the memories abated, leaving Ken drained and at the same time, more powerful than he had ever been before. His entire body fairly hummed with invisible power. Ancient spells filled his mind, the words so old that they were lost to Man. The terrible fear that had been nagging at the back of his mind clarified. Even though his memories had been dampened, his body still tried to warn him. The Summoning. The Key of Night. Standing quickly, he tripped over the stool. Aya was at his side, holding him upright as he fought to control his shivering. His skin burned as he became conscious of the other assassin's presence, Aya's long dormant power meshing tightly with Ken's own aura. Ken hissed and pulled away, his senses still raw from the awakening. It was an instinctive move, make himself more powerful by joining with his coven...but it would be wrong to do so until the others had recovered their own memories. Ken looked with hard eyes at the bartender, silently willing him to open the secret door. The man did as he was bid, his eyes blank and his movements wooden. There was no time to notice the change that had come over their teammate and the other three assassins could only follow in shock as their dark haired companion disappeared into the dark tunnel beyond. Youji closed the door firmly behind them, catching Omi's look of apprehension just before the black surrounded them. They heard Ken whisper something and suddenly they were in the center of a small globe of reddish illumination. It appeared as a small circle of flame that floated at eye level. The other three gaped in shock, but Ken did not offer an explanation as he went forward, leaving his team to catch up. Even Youji was having trouble keeping pace. Omi had lagged behind and his breathing was short. Still, they couldn't have much further to go. Even Youji could sense that. His mind swirled with hundreds of questions, many centered on the globe of light that dashed in front of Ken. Things had gone straight to Hell in a relatively short period of time. First, Ken should be a walking zombie now, drugged to the gills, not running as if his life depended on it. Second, why were these events so eerily familiar to him? Lost in his thoughts, Youji nearly knocked Omi over as they came to the end of the tunnel. A solid metal door crusted black with rust sat slightly ajar, as if whoever had gone through didn't expect to be followed. Or isn't afraid to be followed. Youji heard a rustle of leather as Aya drew Ken's bugnuks from beneath his long coat. To their surprise, the dark haired boy didn't even look at the proffered weapons, his eyes locked on the door. Youji gave Omi a weak smile as the youngest assassin drew three darts. ::It begins again...:: The tall assassin winced slightly and touched Omi's shoulder as he caught the same flash of pain in his eyes. Omi had just heard the same voice; the blonde was sure of it. He was also sure that Aya had had the same words echo through his head as well, even though he gave no outward sign. What the hell is going on? The time for questions had gone. Ken was through the door in a heartbeat and his team couldn't help but follow. §*§*§*§*§ Crawford glanced in the rearview mirror, meeting Schuldich's glaring blue eyes. Nagi's head rested in his lap, dark hair spilling across his cream slacks. He moaned slightly, as if plagued by a dream. ::What are you seeing?:: ::I was unable to see Yuki.:: Schuldich could feel the anger and guilt radiating from the American. His powers had been blocked; he hadn't seen the danger to Schuldich or his team. It disturbed him when his powers failed, even when it obviously wasn't his fault. Schuldich snorted audibly. ::That wasn't what I asked.:: Crawford sighed mentally, hard eyes turning back to the road. ::Nagi.:: The German did not hide his surprise. ::Nagi? Why in Hell would you see Nagi?:: The American's answer was cold. ::Watch him.:: Schuldich could get no more from the stoic man, resigned instead to waking Nagi with not-so gentle mental nudges. The boy stirred and opened his dark eyes slowly, face creased in confusion. He sat up and stared out the window, trying to make sense of what had happened. Schuldich filled him in telepathically, concealing Crawford's vision. The American hadn't given details; Schuldich wasn't going to draw conclusions. The car drew to a stop just in front of a warehouse, the windows boarded or broken. Schuldich automatically scanned for life, grimacing as he came against the dark wall of Yuki's powerful psyche. "They are here. So is Weiß." Crawford's reply was terse. "I know. Get out." ::Asshole.:: Crawford's mind was closed as usual and the German's venom was wasted. Instead he prodded the small Schwarz into standing somewhat unsteadily outside the car. It was nearing midnight and the October winds were bitingly cold. The moon was brilliant against the dark sky, drowning out the stars about it. Schuldich's mind filled with old faerie tales of the dark magics that took place on nights such as these. Not just legends anymore... Without a word, Schuldich disappeared into the darkened building before them, his speed allowing him to scout undetected. Nagi watched after him, eyes haunted. Leaning back against the hood
of the car, Crawford narrowed his eyes at the dark haired youth.
Nagi ignored the look, keeping his mind on the confrontation
at hand. The American would either keep his knowledge to himself,
as he always did, or he would share with the rest of them when
the time came. He also believed that Aste had no idea what they were stepping into. Nagi had touched Yuki's evil at the Clavicula Nox. Her darkness was more than Aste could imagine. He had only had a taste of what she could do...and she was more powerful than any other member of Aste or Rosenkreuz and more deadly than anyone suspected. §*§*§*§*§ The warehouse was almost too dark to navigate and Weiß found it hard to find their way through the twists of empty crates and strewn rubble. Ken had extinguished his curious light so their position would not be given away. The crates gave way to a circle of candlelight, the staging area for Yuki's sacrifice. In the center of the area was a stone altar crusted with old blood and an unconscious figure lay on it, his shirt torn open to expose his pale chest. The waifish girl Wrash, her incredibly thin form buried within her dark robe, held a glittering object out to Yuki, who took it with maniacal glee. The witches stood in waiting as Yuki raised the sacrificial knife with an inarticulate cry. In a deadly sweep, she brought the blade down and into the boy's heart. Ken bit back his cry of horror and looked back at his teammates. Aya's eyes had become shards of amethyst and his hand flexed around the hilt of his drawn katana. Youji and Omi were equally stunned, the youngest assassin looking ill. Without speaking, Ken gestured to Omi and Youji, then to the balcony on either side of the open area. They nodded and melted back into the darkness. Aya looked at Ken questioningly as his companion stepped from cover to the nearest edge of the circle. The red head fell back deeper into the shadows, trusting Ken's actions but waiting silently for his chance to grab the dark haired boy and run from this chamber of horror. A huge pentagram had been drawn on the hard concrete floor. Just before it, Ken sensed another preventative ward that would keep unwanted warlocks from interfering with the ceremony. Ken lowered his head, turning away from the carnage before him. They were too late to save the young victim; the gurgling cries still echoed throughout the warehouse. The head witch began chanting, her words hard and painful to hear. His own magic flared in response, a shocking blue aura shielding his body from the draining spell that was being cast to consume the life energy of the dead boy. "Dark horizons come close to me and magic will be my key!" The words were low and guttural, nearly lost beneath the terrible crackling lances of blue magic that flared between the pale figures of the coven. Ken could see a black tear forming just above the desecrated body. A door to Hell. A few more moments and Yuki would be able to pull the Key through the void Yuki continued the spell. "I will travel trough the gate to be the finder of my fate!" Ken stepped forward just enough for his magic to trigger the ward around the sacrificial circle. The spell was interrupted and
the witch hissed as she sensed Ken's form. "Hidaka!"
The other witches began to talk excitedly, turning to each other
in wonder. Aya's violet eyes narrowed, his mind still trying
frantically to find a way to save Ken from the dark coven. Weiß could not afford to give themselves away just yet. They still had to rescue Ken and escape from this nightmare in one piece. Ken stepped forward again, fighting the force of the ward. Yuki smiled as she realized that it was Ken alone who confronted her. "I did not realize my drug would awaken your memories so quickly." A quick shock through the ward made Ken fall to one knee. "No matter. You are alone in this life, Weiß, and you are not enough to stop me." Ken cringed as she continued the spell, cursing his inability to break the ward without causing himself serious injury. His interruption hadn't been long enough. Yuki would complete the spell at the witching hour and he would be unable to stop her. "Nox, the night and key." Yuki's voice rose as a wind tore through the warehouse, drawn into the unnatural void that had been rent in the fabric of the universe. "I will open your old mystery... "Key of Night! Open up!" With these words the unnatural tear surged with white energy. Yuki raised the object in her hand, metal glinting in the unholy light. She would trap the Key of Night within the object, hers to use to her own terrible ends. Midnight came with a palpable presence and the world dissolved into white. ***** Schuldich stood hidden just behind Omi's careful position, too shocked to even take advantage of his opportunity and take care of the youth while he had the chance. The victim's dying screams still echoed in the German's head, thoughts that had invaded his shields with their force. Seeing someone's death was one thing but suffering it as they suffered it...Early experience at Rosenkreuz had taught Schuldich not to be in someone's mind when they died. The desperation to cling to life was strong enough to overpower even the most experienced telepath. ::Crawford. Yuki has begun her spell.:: The response was thoughtful. ::What is Weiß doing?:: ::Nothing right now. Wait...:: Schuldich watched in fascination as Ken Hidaka stepped into the circle of candlelight, grabbing Yuki's attention from her spell. He couldn't hear the exchange but sensed the surge of power that followed. He wasn't even conscious as he was hurled backwards and through the remains of a large glass window, falling almost gracefully to the street below. §*§*§*§*§ The rift above the altar had phased from black to intense white. Time was gone. Ken had only once choice left. Ken screamed and ran against
the ward until he broke the outer edge of the massive pentagram.
It was like stepping into a wall of electricity. His body convulsed
as wave after wave of intense pain flooded through his body,
his limbs snapping back unnaturally. His mouth was frozen in
a silent scream, his eyes wide with shock. "Ken!" Aya screamed the name as he felt
an echo of the agony that ripped through Ken's body. His hands
convulsed and his katana fell to the floor. Dimly, he could sense
Youji and Omi suffering the same pain, their bodies doubled with
pain. He couldn't see Ken in the white light that had surged
from the lines of the pentagram. §*§*§*§*§ This is the white of death. Endlessly clear white... Ken couldn't form a coherent thought as his body was ravaged by the protective magic of the pentagram. He could smell burned flesh and hair, even as he fought his way forward. His legs threatened to spasm from beneath him and every step was torture. He was surprised as he came into contact with soft human flesh. The cry of dismay that followed identified Yuki as she attempted to thrust the Key's vessel into the light of the rift. Ken wrapped his strong hands around the object, wincing as his palms were singed by the power. Angered into madness, Yuki tore at his grip, pushing him away with surprising strength. Unable to stop himself, Ken fell back...and into the white Void. §*§*§*§*§ Aya screamed with Ken's agony. The connection was abruptly severed with what Aya hoped was merely Ken's unconsciousness. He dashed from his hiding place, watching as Youji and Omi dropped from the balcony to the center of the circle. The terrible light had vanished after the last feeling of pain from Ken and Yuki was now standing over the dark haired assassin's still body, kicking it with rage. "Shine!" was Aya's cry as he charged at the witch with his blade. She jumped backwards with surprising grace...and was instantly buried as the roof and part of the balcony came crashing to the floor with a resounding scream of wood and twisted metal. Wrash screamed with misery as her mistress was buried only to be caught herself beneath more of the warehouse as it continued its slow collapse. The entire building echoed with the groaning of the structures as it fought to resist the effects of the magic. It succumbed and soon the roof was raining down on the coven and assassins alike. The red headed boy didn't hesitate as he slung Ken over his shoulder, running for the nearest exit; a large ground level window with most of the panes broken. Youji was ahead of him, diving through with his shoulder first. Omi and Aya followed just as the entire building collapsed behind them with enough force to throw them to the ground. Youji stood first, dusting his leather jacket in disgust. They were all covered with at least an inch of dust and looked like they'd just run gauntlet through a war zone. The blonde sighed dramatically and swept his hair back with a dusty hand. "I need a new job."
::yuki's spell is actually lyrics from 'clavicula nox' by therion. thanks to tschubi-chan for sending them to me!:: |
