Part F: Palace Life
The next day when they met for breakfast, only Wufei appeared at all rested. Both Duo and Quatre looked rather pale, while Heero and Trowa looked like neither had slept. Wufei shook his head. Ugh.
After breakfast they went to the palace to talk to Jerhyn. He was standing on the front steps, waiting and was guarded by two burly guards who's arms were as big around as their waists.
"We, ah, have an appointment," Duo said, addressing the guards. Jerhyn stepped down from the steps.
"I am glad to see you all, though the circumstances are not at all pleasing," Jerhyn said somberly. "Not long ago, I allowed the terrified Harem Guilds to stay in the palace, assigning my own guards to their safety. One evening we heard horrific screaming and my guards found the rent and torn bodies of the former Harem guilds. What had attacked them could only be described as horrific demons. My guards fought them, but more and more came. They had come through some kind of rift. My guards tried to push them back, but were mostly unsuccessful. Please, help us before these demons invade the city."
Heero nodded. "We will do what we can," he promised. The guards parted, allowing them to pass into the palace. The first floor seemed peaceful enough, though on the floor beneath it there were several desiccated bodies of harem girls and guards.
"Wonderful," Quatre said through the hand over his mouth. Trowa put a gentle hand on his shoulder, and one of the spirit wolves nuzzled Quatre's other hand. Quatre shrugged them both off and walked down the stairs.
The palace cellar was huge. Quatre could see it was made of beautiful white granite. The beauty was marred by the scent of blood that lingered in the air and the heavy menace surrounding him. Continuing forward, Quatre opened several doors, looking around. As he opened one door, he was struck suddenly and was stunned. All he could see what white and all he could hear was heavy breathing.
When he could see again, he saw a very large, very dead body in front of him and a rather angry Trowa.
"Quatre, don't do that," Trowa began. Quatre just gingerly touched his head. Trowa's expression relaxed.
Duo, Heero and Wufei appeared at the door.
"Is he okay?" Duo asked. Trowa nodded. They moved on, finding more of the huge creatures, along with more undead and other strange, demonic beasts. They headed down to the second basement, finding more brutality and more creatures.
As they moved through the second basement, they saw more and more dead guards, some impaled on pikes and javelins, some simply dead, without visible injury and a few looked to have been trapped under steel grating doors.
Trowa noticed Quatre looking awfully green, but now was worried about comforting him. Is he afraid to show weakness? This makes us all sick.
Quatre for his own part was fighting with memories of his past.
*begin flashback*
"How many times have I told you--"
*snap*
Screaming. No pain. Why? Father... what happened.
"You little freak, you lit me on--"
"Father, what are you doing to him?!"
"Iria, get out of here, he's dangerous!"
LashoutlashoutlashoutkilldiehurtthreatLEAVEMEALONE!!!
He'd blacked out. When he awoke, his father was dead. Or, he thought it was his father. He was too burnt to tell. His sister was against a wall, partly impaled by a smashed wooden chair.
"Iria... I'm so sorry," he managed. She coughed and shifted.
"Quatre, it's not your fault. Father never understood that you--" the rest was lost in a fit of coughing, spraying blood and saliva everywhere.
"Please Iria, let me bring you to a healer," he'd begged.
"No time. You are a sorcerer, and a powerful one too. Diablo is coming back, even though Father doesn't believe it. Train, little brother, because your powers will save the world..."
"Iria, no!" But she was gone. And it was all his fault. What use were powers when they couldn't save the ones you love?
*end flashback*
Quatre shook his head. I have a job to do.
They continued down to the third basement. There seemed to be creatures around every corner, though when they reached what seemed to be the centre, things were strangely calm.
"Can you feel that?" Heero muttered. Duo, who was close to him, shook his head.
"Not really, why?" Duo asked, hand on the door.
"I don't know what it is but--" Duo opened the door. "Duo, no!"
Duo came eye to eye with a large, green Invader. Invaders were multi-limbed creature they had encountered before. However, this one seemed to be different from the standard tan ones. Of course, this meant very little to Duo. Because he was scared out of his mind.
"Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!" Duo screamed, hastily casting Bone Spear, which exploded at point blank range in the Invader's chest. The Invader grunted and staggered back. Duo fell back from the recoil into Heero, who also fell down.
Wufei leapt over them both nimbly and kicked the green Invader back, hard... into a large group ordinary invaders. Wufei was pressed upon by all sides, fighting as best he could.
"A little help?" he yelled, staggering under a blow. A trio of fireballs took out an Invader, giving Wufei the chance to break free. He noted Quatre and Trowa, standing side by side. Quatre was calling forward hydras and Trowa summoned small tornadoes, sending into the grouped Invaders. Wufei closed his eyes, summoning his will. His shadow stood up, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. Wufei opened his eyes and nodded to his shadow. His shadow nodded back and they both began attacking the Invaders.
Back in the doorway, Duo was scrambling off Heero's stomach, face bright red. Heero worked at getting his wind back. His eyes widened and Duo turned to see the green Invader lurking over them. Duo pulled Heero up and hastily began casting bone spear. Heero took a position to Duo's left, distracting the Invader with his attacks.
Wufei, his shadow, Quatre and Trowa finished killing the Invader minions and turned to watch Duo and Heero. Quatre raised his arms, casting a hydra next to the Invader. It grunted balefully and turned to attack the hydra. As one, Duo cast a final bone spear and Heero hit it one final time. It collapsed into a pile of spasming limbs.
"I think I need a hug," Duo said shakily. To his surprise, Heero sheathed his sword and gave Duo a hug. Wufei's shadow saluted them and disappeared. Quatre smiled slightly, then turned away. His eyes widened.
"Look! It's a portal! This must be how we get to the Arcane Sanctuary!" Quatre said. Everyone looked at him. He pointed. They all looked where he was pointing.
"I knew it... that's what I was feeling," Heero muttered.
The portal consisted simply of two pieces of metal the shape of claws which rose from the floor, crossing each other. Quatre placed a hand on the portal and it blazed to life.
"Here we go..." Quatre said, and walked through the portal.
To Be Continued... *insert demonic laughter here*