Forging harmony.

CHAPTER 25 DARK PRICE, DARK PATH.


Dekim looked insanely at the broken pack. It had looked so easy as they went down one by one, now only four remained and he had only lost one so he still had the numbers to make him feel safe, if only just enough to give him the upper hand. Assessing how best to break Zechs. The annoying prince had not shed one tear at his lover’s fiery passing. Maybe rumor was true that he had other arrangements to warm his bed at night. He ordered his fire and light to fall back to his side for further protection. Dekim would happily sacrifice each of his own pack one by one; there would always be more fools he could enslave.

“Air I want that seeing now.” His voice a scream of hysteria in the killing ground he had selected. Mentally he linked the water back at the city to the air even though each did not have the life energy in them to complete the ritual. Their master demanded and they had no choice but to obey for now. Dekim was determined to torment the long silver blond price. “Zechs I have slain your lover and now I defile your home, see.”

The air between the two opposing packs shimmered and an image of Mercures sprang to life. Silently four sets of eyes watched as the city was first attacked as the dark army swarmed towards the place they were all coming to call home.

“Stupid slave I want now.” Spit flew as Dekim cursed his slave, getting more worked up, so that veins stood out in his neck. Slowly the scene changed. A scream erupted from the mad man and all his slaves dropped to the floor in agony as he wildly threw about pain. Again eyes watched in shock.

The zombies were contained throughout the city and those few left alive were being dealt with. Fires consumed them turning their bones to instant dust. Most shocking was how the stone moved; hindering its enemy and aiding the people it viewed as children.

“What!” It was a bellow.

“That Dekim is true power in motion and it is beautiful. Would you not agree Lady Une?” Zechs gave a saddened smile at the old looking blood. Dekim’s use of her had put years on the face of the woman who had help Howard raise the walls of his beloved city.

Dekim enraged lashed out again, his air collapsing under the latest assault, her life spent. The small boy that was a light element fell to his knees begging as pain spasms ran through him bending his spine with knotted muscles. Then nothing, no more pain ran through them.

Wolf felt the pain her hated enemy used like a leach to drag his slaves further along his mad quest. With a sigh she put a stop to his assault. She as well as Treize, Quatre and Trowa stood watching from their hidden advantage point behind the attacking pack that faced half their own pack. She was still holding Quatre’s hand from when the guard they had made look like him had died. Treize still had them sealed in a silence bubble to aid the hiding process until they could safely reveal their presence. The plan had worked like a charm; Dekim had fallen so completely for it, only seeing his own victory.

Now Zechs had revealed he knew the lost Lady Une they could work on the last phase. All three parties would need to act as one, Zechs would hold Dekim’s attention as if nothing had happened and continue to fight. The rebelling pack would stop attacking and withhold their power or use it against their evil master if strong enough. Last of all Treize’s half would take Dekim down with surprise and hopefully over load him.

It worked more or less. With screams like a banshee dark elemental magic took away the soul of the power mad man. Darks manipulated destruction and decay, and so control was lost as the rotting corps before them all spoke more than any words or long lecture. Soft sighs, moans and whimpers dotted the battle field.

Tired eyes now shone with hope. “Did we win? “ It was barely a whisper in the bent ear of the light boy.

Taking the cracked and dried up husk of her hand, “Yes.”

“Then I am free.” Tears welled in his eyes.

“No, we have new masters now as is the law.” His voice broke as a hand gently touched his shoulder. He did not want to look up into those cool blue eyes of the light prince he was now a slave to. So he looked at the old blood instead by his left side.

Like a shadow, in silence dripping blood from her work Wolf appeared. “What is your name air?” Her deep growl holding too many emotions as she knelt by the dying ex-whore’s feet.

“We don’t remember.” The young boy replied to save his pack mate from struggling.

“I would have liked one night of freedom in my life.” Her voice so faint that had Treize not boosted it with his own element power it would have been lost. Her eyes shut already and her body looked like a shadow on the ground.

“You are free then air but you must first take our thanks from my dark…” Zechs steady voice wavered as he handed the doomed woman’s hand to Wolf. Zechs stepped back taking the young boy with him, his arms around him guarding and comforting, it was only a couple of steps to give space.

Those who had fought before with Wolf expected her to raise her blade for the quick end she was famous for. “He will keep you safe, she will keep you warm and into the night you go.” Her voice a painful melody as she brushed her hands over the now dead element. Looking up to the suddenly clear night sky a single star fell.

Wolf had chosen the gentlest form of death. She took the air’s pain into herself, while linking up with Duo at the same time to give the woman a dream happiness and freedom. Long loose black hair was brushed aside as Duo slipped his arms about the grieving dark as she paid the price and feel all the poor woman had endured in Dekim’s service. He kissed her ear. It looked like both Zechs and Heero had a positive influence over her after all.

“It’s time to go home.” The summer rain voice of Treize was welcomed by all the people there. Duo knew he most of all would be glad to see the city once again. He was glad they could now take a direct route home even if it was at a slower speed. They had persuaded the rider-less battle cats to carry the three remaining from Dekim’s pack.