By the Red Moon Part 69
Dekim Barton froze in complete shock as he stood before none other than Prince Duo.
The boy had been the sorcerer's most coveted of prizes. He had gone through endless, painstaking means to capture the braided youth, lost countless soldiers and land in the process. And now suddenly here they were, standing on the balcony of the Sanq kingdom's castle.
What was even more spectacular was that the prince had flown right into his clutches.
Instantly, the surprise washed away and Dekim quickly raised his hand to cast three dark bolts at his guest. Each band wrapped tightly around Duo's torso, securing his arms against his sides. Keeping his glaring eyes on both the old man and the sorceress at his side, the teenager put up no resistance and he did not struggle when he was bound.
His hand still raised, the old man grunted in effort as sweat grew on his brow. Maxwell never moved even as he felt his gift fighting off the spell that was being sent into him to diminish his ability. In the end, both the light and dark sides of his power were no match for the string of magic sent after them.
With a loud grunt, Dekim reeled back as though he had been kicked in the chest. Panting heavily, his gray eyes blinked as he fought the pain in his mind. Slowly, he reached up to wipe at his nose to find blood on his fingers. Staring back at his captive, he whispered, "Amazing. I have never felt such a force before."
To at long last have a real grasp of what was flowing through the boy's veins, that craving to have it only surged all the more in the dark sorcerer.
After a long and tense moment, Dorothy finally blinked her widened eyes and stepped forward to scan their prisoner from head-to-toe as she walked around him. "There is no question that you are Prince Duo even with that display," she commented quietly. Lightly touching her prey's shoulders to travel along his body as she continued to measure him up, she giggled when she felt his shudder.
A dark smirk curling the corner of her mouth when she faced the violet eyes once more, she said, "I have seen you before through your lover's memories."
Swallowing roughly at the mention of Heero, Maxwell fought his urge to rip through the castle. He needed to see Heero himself, to have an understanding of the spell used on him so that he would know how to get through to him. He was not about to risk taking out everyone and everything that he could without being certain that the Commander would survive it.
What was more, Duo had seen the masses spread throughout the land. Though he would certainly make an impressive dent, what he knew he was capable of would not be near enough to take out every soldier. Impressive as his gift was, he was only one person and by no means almighty. Every success before did not come about by his means alone.
Their numbers would need to be considerably cut down first. That was where the Alliance was needed. It was the combination of the prince's gift and the army's strength that they had the real chance of defeating the sorcerer and his minion.
Still, Duo reasoned that there was no reason that he could not have a little fun. Taking a deep breath, he smirked at his captors and sent his gift forth to melt away the bolts that bound him as though they were nothing. Dekim's jaw fell open and he sputtered. Dorothy raised an eyebrow with an impressed expression on her face.
Quickly glancing behind him, the braided prince let out a quiet sigh at the visual confirmation that Scythe and Wing had escaped the area safely by catching the last glimpse of black and white streaks in the clouded sky. As relieving as it was to know that they were away, it was also a little more than unnerving that his only line of defense beyond himself was no longer with him.
Now he was truly on his own.
"I've come to reclaim what is rightfully mine," Duo declared in a growl as he returned his focus on the pair before him. "And by that, I don't only mean Heero, but my homeland. You can either accept defeat now, or be sent back to the Keeper in pieces."
Their eyes widening again, the dark gifted shared a look before their heads fell back with loud laughter. "Oh, you have no idea what you are up against now that you are in our presence, boy," Dekim replied as he shook his head in amusement.
And those words were all the warning that Maxwell had before an intense, hot pain shot through his mind, causing the whole world to go black.
Letting the teenager fall lifelessly to the ground, the sorcerer turned to his mistress and smirked, "We have much work to do to prepare to bleed out his gift."
* * * * * *
It had been a very long trek through the lands of steep hills, treacherous mountain ledges and thin walkways over grand lakes. But the Alliance was closing in to the end of their week-long journey. Completely hidden from any enemy eyes, the troops picked up the pace to close the distance between them and the Sanq.
* * * * * *
Catherine had warned him of spells that could render him helpless momentarily. It would only take a second for any gifted to sneak in and catch him by surprise just as Dekim had accomplished. That was the first thought that Duo had when he slowly came to some time later. Groaning deeply as he pushed himself through the wave of nausea that came with clearing his head his violet eyes blinked open.
For a moment, he almost thought that he did not managed to get his eyelids to work, the space around him was so dark. But it only took his vision another moment to adjust to the dim light peering through the bars of a closed door to his room.
A cell. One of the last places that he'd really wanted to end up.
Getting himself to sit up, Duo sighed and rubbed his temples. "Catherine will have my hide if she ever found out that I let Dekim get the drop on me like that," he muttered to himself. Leaning his back against the wall, he sighed deeply. At least the spell that had been used against him was now picked up on by his gift so that it could be blocked should another attempt be made.
The next couple of days were going to be an interesting few sparring rounds between his gift and his captors'. All the better to help stall for the time that the Alliance needed. It was not going to be much longer before the army reached the outer regions of Sanq. They would need all of the leeway that they could get.
In the meantime, Duo could only hope that he may have a moment to see Heero. If he was able to get close enough to his lover, he could feel out the magic used against him and work a way to reverse it. There had to be a way around what Dorothy had cast. Every spell had a counter.
Finally past the discomfort from waking after the shot that he had been given, the prince shifted and silently considered his options when he heard something besides the dripping of runoff water in the corridor beyond his cell. Sitting up, he trained his ears to be certain that he had not imaged the sound.
But there it was, the sound of footsteps approaching.
Taking a deep breath to prepare himself, Duo waited to see whether the person making their purposeful way was Dekim or Dorothy. Whoever it was, they were about to have a very nasty surprise when they opened his door.
Of course, whatever he was planning would not be enough to kill them now that they knew what he was capable of. Still, he would be content with the satisfaction of at least it would repay them for their greeting.
As the footsteps reached his prison, the braided teenager watched his door closely. Using the torch light in the hallway, he expected to see his visitor appear. But then, the sounds of those steps continued on past... without the person making them.
Blinking his widened violet eyes, Duo frowned in confusion. The steps stopped only a few feet past his own cell before they walked back the way they came. Holding out his hand to create a glowing sphere to help his vision, he had a clear sight past the door.
Once again, the footsteps walked past without an owner.
It was a spell, there was no doubt. But why Dekim would bother to use his gift in such a way was puzzling. There was nothing intimidating about hearing footsteps come and go as far as the prince was concerned.
Then he heard a quiet sob echo off of the walls.
Sitting upright, the prince scrambled to his feet and hurried to the door. The guards standing by paid no mind to him as he gripped the bars and turned his head so that he could confirm what he had heard. When a round of several sobs broke through the damp air, he gasped sharply as his eyes widened.
Quickly reaching deep within himself, Duo called forth a spell that he had been working on with Catherine ever since he had volunteered to go to Dekim. Slowly opening his eyes when he felt the warmth of his gift spreading through him, he pressed his hand against the bolted latch and melted it down to nothing.
Opening the door, he stepped out into the corridor as the ogres standing guard continued to stare forward, the braided youth closed his cell behind him. Not so much as shifting their red eyes, the guards remained still at their posts as their braided prisoner walked right past them to follow the soft crying two cells away.
Duo puffed out a deep sigh of relief that his little trick had worked. While he had tested it successfully on his friends, there was really no way of knowing that the spell would work as well on the Keeper's demons until he tried. Since there really was not a backup plan if it had failed, that was one potential hazard out of the way.
When he reached the only other closed cell from which the sobs broke momentarily for a timid voice to whimper, "Please just come to end it. I cannot take this any longer."
Frowning deeply, the prince rested his hand over the latch to the door and melted it away to push the bars open. At the same time, he held his opened free hand up as he sparked another glowing sphere of fire over it. In its glow that filled the holding cell, he found a form curled up in the furthest corner from him.
Covered by the disheveled, grungy orange material of a dress and a shawl that must have once been white, the woman shielded her head by an arm draped over it as she shook with her sobs. "Please, just kill me," she whispered in a desperate plea.
The long, brown hair that fell along the floor was the first clue to Maxwell as to who the prisoner may have been. Gasping, his violet eyes widened with realization. "Midi?" he breathed.
Instantly, the captive's trembling stopped with a gasp and froze stiffly. Hesitating, their arm pulled away from their head so that it could lift slowly from the ground. A breathtakingly beautiful, tear-streaked face appeared. Her jaw falling open, the woman's reddened brown eyes widened in disbelief as she stared up at her visitor.
"Dear Creator," Midi whispered. "I-it cannot be... This must be some sort of game..." Shaking her head, she fought another round of tears when a sharp whimper broke from her chest. Her body shaking again, she pulled the shawl tightly around her shoulders against a chill that did not exist.
After days and nights of little sleep and food, Midi's mind was on the verge of complete collapse. Seeing the boy before her, she was more than certain that she had already fallen into the realm of insanity. But then something struck her and she tilted her head, asking quietly, "How do you know my name?"
His lips spreading in a wide smile at now knowing that he had found the missing queen, Duo stepped to her side and knelt down so that she could have a better look at his eyes in the light of the flames in his hand. Since she had known of the prophesy involving him, there was one detail that she would be certain to recognize.
That theory proved right when Midi's own eyes widened as far as they could when they saw the violet shade of his own. "Prince Duo," she whispered, her vision watering over. Tentatively, she pushed herself to sit up and reached a trembling hand out to rest it against the side of his face. When he did not disappear, the young woman let out a sharp cry and threw her arms tightly around his neck.
Caught by surprise, the braided prince lost the sphere so that he could hold the crying royal. Swallowing past a lump in his throat, he took in her profound relief when she had been so sure that she was going to die in her hell. It was a true testament to what a strong person she was to have survived as long as she had.
Pulling back when she was finally able to collect herself, Midi wiped at her face. Gulping a sharp breath, she gripped Duo's shoulders. Careful to keep her voice down, she asked urgently, "What of Treize and Noventa? Are they...?" The words stopped short.
"They're both fine and with Sylvia right now," he smiled in response. "As it turns out, your daughter is every bit like her father and has been a big asset to the Alliance."
Stunned, the queen's jaw fell again. "Sylvia is safe as well?" she repeated softly. Wrapping her arms around her waist, she sighed deeply, "Oh, thank the Creator. I have been worried sick about them all."
Biting his lip, Duo peered over his shoulder and suggested, "Well, I hate to cut this meeting short, but it's about time you got the hell out of this place."
Confused, the young woman frowned and blinked. "I am actually one of Dekim's prisoners as well," he explained. Smirking, he shrugged, "Somewhat. I kind of came willingly to give them a hard time."
"You have come for Heero as well, then?" Midi inquired. Her rescuer's back stiffened at the name just as the puzzle pieces in her head connected. Swallowing roughly, she informed, "He was stationed by my door for days. It was not long before you came here that he was called upon by Dorothy to stay by her. I imagine that she is not about to let you anywhere near him."
That was what Maxwell had expected would happen. Well, if he had to tear the castle apart to find Heero, then so be it. However, for the time being, he had to worry about the one that he could help at that moment.
Nodding, he stated, "I'll take care of that later. Right now, I'm more concerned with you getting away." Before the queen could react, he took hold of one of her hands and passed his spell onto her. Surrounded by warmth that came and went in a blink, she looked down at her hand when it was released.
His smile returning, Duo wiped his hands together and nodded firmly, "There. You're free to go."
Midi laughed, "I am free to go? Are you suggesting that I just walk out of this forsaken place, then?"
"Yep," the prince smirked, "That spell that I just gave you is as good as your not even existing anymore. No one else will be able to hear, smell or see you. Anything you move or do will also go unnoticed. Once you're safely away from Sanq, the magic will pass and your escorts will take you back to the Alliance and your family."
Beside herself with that thought, the young woman's eyes filled with tears of joy. "What about you?" she frowned.
Shrugging, Duo answered, "I need to keep Dekim and Dorothy busy for a while to give the army more time. They'll be in Sanq shortly so I have to work on the inside." He chuckled, "By the way, about your escorts, don't worry about my dragon, Scythe. She might be a black dragon, but she really is harmless to friends. Just head for the mountain ranges in the south where she and Wing are waiting."
Only catching a bit about the mention of the magic used on her and the black dragon, Midi was still going through a good deal of shock over everything that was transpiring. Nodding her head, she swallowed and looked to her opened cell door and her heart raced.
"I... I am scared," she admitted in a breath.
A sad grin tugging his lips, Duo reached out and took her hand as he replied softly, "Just trust me." Taking a deep breath, the queen met his violet eyes in the dim light and nodded firmly. Together, they rose to their feet and her braided companion took the lead for the entrance.
Hesitantly following the prince out into the hallway, Midi blinked in wonder as the guards standing about conversed amongst themselves without paying any mind to the fact that their prisoners were standing amongst them. The sight of them still played on her nerves, but she was slowly gaining confidence when she noticed that there was an uninterested ogre right behind them.
For the first time since her capture so long ago, a real smile lit the queen's face. At long last, she was going to have the nightmare that she had endured for years behind her.
Seeing that she was ready to leave, Duo raised a finger before his face to catch her attention and reminded, "Now head for the mountain ranges in the south. If you hurry, you'll make it there before night. Good luck and give Sylvia a hug for me when you see her."
That was all Midi needed to hear and she released their joined hands. Taking a few steps forward, she giggled when the soldiers around continued on their business without catching a glimpse or whiff of her.
Her steps became much more sure and quick as she made her way down the hall and she was well on her way for the end of the corridor when she froze and cried, "Wait!"
Duo paused in the doorway of the queen's cell to peer back and see her running for him. Nearly knocking him over when she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, Midi kissed his cheek as more tears ran down her face. "Thank you," she whispered in his ear before she pulled away. Cupping his cheek, she told him sincerely, "You truly are a remarkable young man, Prince Duo Maxwell."
With his cheeks burning, the teenager grinned and waved his hand. "Naw," he chuckled out of embarrassment. "I'm just a kid trying to get by like everyone else. And please just call me Duo."
Midi's face glowed all the more brilliantly with a warm smile as she nodded, "Duo." Leaning in, she kissed his other blushing cheek and said, "May the Creator keep you and Heero safe. All the luck that we are finally able to end this war." Not able to trust his voice at the moment, the prince winked and waved her off.
Bowing at the waist, the young woman turned to hurry back down the hallway as the prince watched her go. Driven by her need to see Treize and Sylvia, she ran as quickly as her feet could carry her. Not even her hunger or fatigue could slow her.
On her way to the ground level, Midi weaved her way around soldiers and other obstacles with ease until she finally reached the opened main doors of the castle. Pausing a bit then, she took her time stepping out into the world that she had been locked away from.
The fact that there were soldiers all around did not phase her when she felt the warm breeze and smelled the fresh air.
While there was still a treacherous journey through the encampment ahead, she would manage with a smile on her face. In spite of the fact that she still could not see the sun, this was without question the happiest day of her life as more joyous tears fell from her eyes.
It was the very day that she had dreamed of. This was the same day that she had feared would never come.
At long, long last... she was free.
* * * * * *
Dorothy whispered the words of the Keeper that flooded her mind. Kneeling on the floor of the dark room that had been designated the space where Prince Duo would be bled out, she created glowing symbols of multiple hues and shapes.
In the center if the room stood two thick metal hooks that faced each other and joined at their hanging tips, draped with chains.
Standing in the doorway with Heero at his side, Dekim was unable to contain his sadistic smile. The arranging of the room to be ready for the draining of his rival's gift was going to be a very long process, but it needed to be done correctly if he wished to be successful. And no one was better suited for the task than the sorceress lost in her trance.
Neither of them would have ever guessed the prince literally falling into their laps as he had. Were they able to, of course the proper arrangements would have been prepared for some time. But now that they had him, there was no need to rush now...
...Especially when they had the one thing that Duo loved more than anything in their clutches.
Chuckling, Dekim peered over to the Commander and said, "You are going to prove your worth to us very soon, lad. And I have no doubt that you are going to be perfectly brilliant."
Heero turned his head so that his glowing eyes would lock with the sorcerer's. "I only wish to please you, master," he replied in a voice stripped of any emotion.
"All in due time, my boy," the sorcerer smirked. "All in due time."
TBC...
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