'...' thoughts
/.../ telepathy
Daystar's Prophecy Part 21
Slowly, as if clawing his way through a fog, Duo pulled himself back to consciousness. The first thing he noticed as his mind finally cleared was the dull ache radiating from his right arm, remnants of the magic attack that had hit him. The next thing he noticed was the sense of exhaustion that seemed to pull him back toward sleep, even though he had just awoken. Opening his violet eyes carefully, he let them roam over the immediate vicinity, taking in the fact that it was still dark although the light from a fire directly behind him lit the trees at the edge of the clearing he was lying in. It was not the clearing he and the others had settled in that evening though, that he was sure of. Then as he moved to check the damage to his arm, he finally noticed the ropes wound around his wrists, binding them together, as well as the nearly three-foot length that was tied to a pin that had been driven into the ground by his head.
Fighting down his growing panic, he moving his hands closer, mindful of his injured arm, and thoroughly examined the knots as he twisted his wrists back and forth, quickly realizing he would not be able to simply unknot them since they had been tied using magic. However, knowing that magic such as this would not be able to stand up against his own, he called a fire spell to his right palm, using all his concentration to keep it at a level that would easily burn through the ropes, but not harm his skin in the process. Just as he completed the spell though, a sharp pain ripped through his body and he had to bite his lip to keep the scream from leaving his throat. Once the pain subsided a few moments later, he felt a fear like he had never know grip his heart; such pain could only be cause by one thing.
"No need to be frightened precious." A smooth, deep voice said from behind him, causing him to jerk around only to find Gaison sitting by a small fire about five feet away, watching him intently.
"What have you done to me?" Duo demanded, even though he already had an idea of what the mage's answer would be.
"I've bound your magic of course." The dark mage stated, confirming the fairy's suspicions and sending a stab of blind terror through him. "And I've drained a small portion of them as well. I always knew you'd feel amazing."
"No." the violet-eyed fairy whispered as he shook his head in denial while at the same time, he began pulling almost frantically at the ropes, anything to be away from the man who was looking at him with a cold hunger that make his stomach twist.
"Don't worry; I have no intention of draining them all." Gaison smiled, enjoying the feel of power he had over the boy. "With the spell I placed on you, your magic will replace itself, although at a slower rate than normal. Why my forbearers didn't think of keeping their little pets alive like this I'll never understand."
Then, standing from the fire, the mage approached the fairy, who tried scooting away from him, but his weakened state and injured arm kept him from going very far. It was a simple act for Gaison to grab the boy's ankle, dragging him back toward the fire and causing his arms to stretch out over his head as the rope attached to the pin pulled taunt.
"Now," the man said as he easily flipped Duo over onto his back then straddled the helpless fairy's thighs. "I think we have some unfinished business."
"Get off me, you sick bastard." Duo yelled as he tried to buck the man off while continuing to pull ineffectively at his bonds.
"Such language, should I gag you as well?" Gaison tisked. "I have no doubt that it comes from that elf-brother of yours. I should never have left you in his care for this long."
At both the specific threat of a gag and the implied one against Solo, Duo's struggles instantly stilled and he gazed helplessly up at his captor; his small body trembling visibly as tears gathered in his expressive eyes. "Please." he whispered. "Let me go."
"You know I can't do that." the mage said with a soft smile, trailing the fingers of his right hand down the fairy's pale cheek. "You are so beautiful and I've waited so long to have you all to myself."
Then, just as suddenly as the kindness came, it was gone as the mage's face twisted in fury and the hand that had been caressing so gently drew back and slapped Duo hard, snapping his head to the side and causing him to cry out sharply.
"But you're not all mine, are you, you little slut?" Gaison exclaimed, grabbing the longhaired fairy's chin and turning his face back so he could look into those wide, violet eyes. "You gave yourself to that human boy, gave away what was mine. Do you know how long I fantasized about taking you for the first time? To feel that tight ass of yours gripping my cock as you rode me; your wings spread and hair loose, head thrown back in passion. And you went and gave it to that boy. It was mine."
As he spoke, Gaison's voice grew husky and his ice-blue eyes darkened with his escalating desire while at the same time the fingers that gripped Duo's chin had tightened to the point the nails were cutting into the fairy's skin. Yet again, Duo began to struggle, jerking at the ropes, and trying to pull his face out of the mage's hand, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not escape.
"But now," the man continued as he finally released the boy's chin and swiftly untied the sash that held the longhaired fairy's shirt closed, pushing the fabric off his smooth chest. "now you're mine and while you might be soiled, I can make you clean again. I'll still hear you cry out in pleasure, just for me."
"No." Duo whispered, his eyes tightly shut against the tears that were trying to escape. "Not for you, never for you."
Viciously twisting the boy's nipples between his fingers and thumbs, Gaison smirked as Duo cried out in pain once again and this time, the boy was not able to stop the tears from streaming down his face even as he fought to contain the sobs that accompanied them.
"My beautiful precious, why do you choose to torment me when you know I'll have to punish you?" the mage whispered, using his thumbs to soothe the bruised nubs and wringing a soft moan from Duo's throat. "Just give in to me, I have no desire to cause you pain."
"No." the fairy said softly with a firm shake on his head, earning him yet another sharp slap.
"Very well." Gaison sighed, reaching for the wing section closest to his knee. "You leave me no other choice."
At the feel of the mage's hand on his wing, Duo's eyes snapped open and he found himself watching in horror as the man called forth a small fire spell to his palm. Shaking his head frantically as seeing the hand slowly move toward the fragile wing, the fairy tried to beg for the mage to stop but only managed a panicked whimper until the spell finally made contact. Then, as the spell raced along the wing section, Duo's scream rent the stillness of the clearing and surrounding forest as the pain threatened to send him back into unconsciousness.
"Of course," the mage said heavily after releasing the wing to fall to the ground and turning his attention back to the boy's chest as he ghosted his fingers over the bruised nipples and along his ribs and stomach before coming to rest at the fastenings for Duo's pants. "I could heal it, but then you wouldn't learn anything. I know the pain must be quite intense, so I'll only leave it for two days this time, that way you'll clearly remember the punishment for disobedience."
Then, with nimble fingers and unhurried movement, the man began loosening the ties that held Duo pants together.
********************
Moving swiftly through the forest, Heero and the others quickly searched the area surrounding their campsite for any sign of the violet-eyed fairy as they headed toward the source of the magic the elves had sensed. Within a few moments, they found a large rock that Jess informed them contained residue from the magic as well as a small bloodstain on the far side, but still no sign of the longhaired boy. Therefore, since it was impossible for anyone to have gone the way they had just come from without them seeing or at least sensing them, they decided to split up in order to search the small forest better with Quatre and Trowa moving toward the right, Wufei and Jess going to the left, and Heero and Solo continuing straight ahead. As fortune would have it, the elves and humans had only just set out when a piercing and pain-filled scream echoed through the forest, disturbing the sleeping birds and chilling the hearts of those within its range.
"Duo!" Heero cried, the sound of his lover's voice instantly sending him crashing through the trees with no mind to the scrapes and cuts he was receiving from their limbs. Solo and the others also reacted to the scream as they followed close on the blue-eyed boy's heels and a few minutes later, they broke through the trees into yet another small clearing, all six stopping dead at the sight that confronted them.
By this time, the dark-haired mage had Duo's pants down to his knees and he had just paused to remove the fairy's boots so he could finish pulling them from the boy's long legs when he heard an enraged growl from the far side of the clearing. Immediately after the noise registered in his brain, it was followed by a solid form slamming into him, sending him and it rolling violently away from the violet-eyed fairy. When they finally stopped only a short distance from the tree line, he was flat on his back with the human boy who had laid claim to his fairy straddling his chest. Quickly gathering himself, he tried to cast a spell to repel the boy and quite possibly kill him at the same time, but before he could complete it, he found incredibly strong hands wrapped around his throat and his breath was instantly shut completely off.
In the meantime, seeing that the mage was in quite capable hands, Solo turning his attention to his little brother, rushing to the boy's side where he quickly pulled the pants back up before cutting the ropes that bound the boy's delicate wrists. Then wrapping his arms around him, he pulled Duo's trembling frame into his arms, holding him close even as the fairy fought to break the hold; his pain and terror keeping him from recognizing the elf.
"Shh, little bit, shh." Solo cooed as he gently rocked his fragile burden while running a reassuring hand over the small boy's tangled hair, an act that never failed to calm him. "It's alright now, you're safe."
"So… Solo?" Duo whispered hoarsely after a few seconds, the tears, and more than likely the scream, causing the boy's throat some damage. "Yeah, it's me. We're all here, you're safe now." the elf replied softly, shifting the boy into a more comfortable position and finally noticing the blackened wing section as it lay limply on the ground behind the boy. "Oh my gods, what'd he do?"
"Please Solo." Duo begged, his hands twisting tightly in the elf's tunic; the movement having jarred the wing and brought the pain to an even higher level. "It hurts so much."
"Shh Duo, shh." Solo coaxed softly once again before he began the chant for the only healing spell he knew. Once it was finished, he placed his palm gently against the wing section, allowed the magic to flow into it and hoping it would provide the fairy some relief. A second later though, a low snarl drew his attention away from Duo and toward where Heero still had the mage in a viselike grip.
"You son-of-a-bitch, you had no right to touch him." Heero growled, his hands squeezing even tighter around the mage's neck. As it was, Gaison's eyes were already starting to bulge out of his head as he continued to claw at Heero's hands and arms trying futilely to break the boy's hold. Fortunately for him though, Heero's outburst also drew Duo's attention and when the fairy saw what was happening, he tried to move toward the blue-eyed boy but Solo would not let him go.
"Heero." the violet-eyed fairy called as he reached toward his lover, his voice cracking and just barely above a whisper. Swallowing a few times to moisten his throat, he tried again, this time managing to call a bit louder and causing Heero's head to snap in his direction. "Please, Heero, please; no more killing."
Taken aback momentarily by the boy's request, Heero seriously considered ignoring it but the pleading in those beautiful eyes had him loosening his hold before he even realized what he was doing. It was the sudden intake of breath from beneath him that brought his attention back to the mage and he immediately drew his right arm back then slammed his fist into the man's jaw, knocking him unconscious. Moving off the mage then, he sent a look to Trowa and Quatre, who were standing to his left, before heading toward where Duo and Solo were still huddled. Finally dropping to his knees beside the violet-eyed boy who somehow managed to capture his heart, he felt it skip a beat as Duo literally threw himself into his arms; sobs shaking his small frame.
"Shh, it's alright." Heero whispered into the chestnut hair on the top of the boy's head, breathing in deeply of the smell he could never tire of before lifting his eyes to give the elf across from them a questioning look. Solo however could only shake his head before lowering his own eyes back to the small fairy cradled safely in the human boy's arms.
"I don't know the full extent of his injuries, but I do know that he needs a healer for the wing, and soon." the elf explained.
"Can't you heal it?" Heero asked hopefully.
"My healing skills are weak at best and since I'm pretty sure the bastard used earth magic to burn him, I'm even less able to do anything." Solo stated.
"Only a fairy can heal that type of damage." Jess interjected from just behind the blonde elf. She and Wufei had finished going through Gaison's belongings before moving to watch over the three.
"I should've killed the son-of-a-bitch." Heero growled but Duo immediately began shaking his head.
"My magic." the fairy whispered. "He bound my magic."
"What?" Solo whispered in horror, the sound in his voice causing Heero to look up at him, his own fear growing at seeing the entirely too pale color the elf had taken on.
"What does that mean?" he demanded even as his arms tightened on the boy in his arms. v"Mages bind a fairy's magic before they drain them." Solo explained. "It's the only way to keep the fairy from escaping."
"He said he drained some but that they'd come back slowly because of the spell he put me under." Duo said, the small healing spell Solo had cast managing to reduce the pain enough for him to think somewhat clearer. "He's the only one who can remove it so you can't kill him."
Glancing toward where Quatre and Trowa were standing guard over the mage who they had tied up quite soundly, Heero could not help the growl that bubbled up in his throat.
"We'll have to deal with the binding spell later." Solo stated as he shook himself. "Right now, the burn needs dealt with but I'm not comfortable sending him to a fairy that might alert the council to where he is."
"Then he must be taken to Lissia." Josadia's voice suddenly boomed above them and, having forgotten about the dragon, the others in the clearing jumped.
"Dammit dragon, don't scare people like that!" Solo exclaimed, his face turned toward the sky, trying to make out the beast's form.
"If you had not let down your guard, you would not have been surprised; either by my presence or Duo's disappearance." The dragon stated, his voice holding contempt and censure for their inability to protect the longhaired fairy.
"Yeah, whatever." The green-eyed elf waved it off even though the truth of the dragon's words weighed heavily on his heart. "Anyways, Lissia's in the Attilion Plains. It would take days to get there and I don't think he'll be able to withstand the pain long enough."
"Then I will carry him and his human to her." the dragon stated from where he still circled above the treetops.
"What about the rest of us?" Wufei asked, not liking the idea of their splitting up again.
"Josadia can't carry more than two. The rest of you go back to Howard's and take that," Heero stated with a pointed look toward Gaison "with you. We'll deal with him once Duo's well again."
"Are you sure Heero?" Quatre asked softly.
"Yes, it's the only way." the dark-haired boy said with a nod of his head before turning his attention back to the fairy in his arms who by then had slipped into unconsciousness from exhaustion and pain.
"This stand of trees does not go much further." Josadia stated. "There is a cliff not far from where it ends. Bring him there; I will meet." Then there was a sudden breeze that passed through the treetops above them and the dragon's presence that they were now attuned to, moved off toward the west.
Steeling himself for the journey ahead, Heero stood, lifting the small boy up in his arms before turning to give the others a serious look. "We'll return as soon as we can, be careful, all of you." Then with another nod, he spun on his heels and walked into the trees, following the direction the dragon had gone.
Once he disappeared, Solo stalked over to the unconscious mage and knelt down beside him. Calling forth the sleep spell he had used on Duo numerous times, he used it to place Gaison into a deep sleep, insuring they would not have any trouble on their way back to Howard's stronghold. Finally throwing the man over his shoulder, he started back through the woods toward their campsite and an unsuccessful night's sleep; he knew there would be many more like it before this was all said and done.
********************
Just as Heero was once again mounting himself and Duo onto Josadia's back for the long flight to the Attilion Plains, the elven council was holding an emergency meeting in their chambers in the Shantari palace. Having all arrive only a few minutes prior, they were still talking quietly among themselves when the council head came striding in the open door, an elven warrior following at his heels with a sack thrown over his shoulder. Continuing to his raised seat, the elf turned back to direct the warrior to drop his burden in the center of the room before instructing him to leave and close the door behind him. The other members of the council watched this closely, but once the elf warrior was gone, one stood from his seat and turned to address their leader.
"Well, Hallion, it would appear that your great plan to have Duo returned to us has failed." he sneered, his voice practically dripping with contempt.
"And I guess you could've done better Malatic?" the council head sneered back. "Besides, it was only a trivial plan at best, we knew that. Now however, we have the perfect weapon and we cannot fail, can we my dear Jeric?"
In the center of the room, the burlap sack covering the stable hand suddenly disappeared, revealing the young elf to the other members of the council. Laying as he was on his sides, they could see that his hands and feet were bound and a cloth gag was stuffed in his mouth, allowing only soft whimpers to pass his lips. Several bruises covered what skin was visible and at least one of his eyes was blackened. At that moment, he had his eyes squeezed shut tightly so he did not see Hallion rise from his seat and approach him. Even through his fear though, his only thought was that he could hold out against them long enough to give Duo and the others time to prepare. Just as it crossed his mind though, the sharp pain from the control stone that had been placed in the back of his neck drove all thought from his mind as his body writhed under the assault.
With a malicious smile set firmly on his face, the council head stood over the convulsing elf, knowing it would only be a short time before he broke and told them everything he knew. Then Duo would belong to him again and once the remaining weapons were found, no one would be able to stand in his way. At the thought of the total power he would soon control, the elf's smile grew larger and the dark presence in his mind rose sharply to the surface again. However, instead of fighting it as he had done in the past, he embraced the sense of strength it gave him as a deep voice whispered teasingly in his ear, "Soon, Hallion, it will all be yours, everything that should've been yours from the start." it said, the voice almost a caress in his mind. "Once the little Seeker is found, his mind must be broken so that he never attempts to escape again. Only in his life will the full power be revealed."
"Yes." Hallion hissed to himself, not noticing the startled looks the other members were giving him. "By the time I'm through with him, Duo will pray for a death that I will never allow him to have."
The elf's rich laughter then rang throughout the chamber as Jeric continued to twist in agony at his feet.
TBC...
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