A/N: We apologize for the delay on updating. We have been pretty busy and
the story sort of fell to the side. Back up and fully operational, we now
return you to your scheduled programming.
Chapter 19
We Discordians must learn to stick apart.
Kid looked at Serge as they sat in the boat. The adults as always were tense and quarreling. Finally Serge muttered to Kid," Think they'll grow up yet?"
"Nah, they got at least a year until they reach kindergarten," Kid retorted as they both chuckled. Serge looked at Kid and quickly looked away as his eyes met cerulean eyes.
Miguel looked at Serge and chuckled as he saw the young man blush. "Just like you're father," Miguel muttered to himself.
Serge and Kid continued to steal glances at each other while they waited for Irenes to find Paul.
"Wake up?" Streaker said dumbly. Paul looked around him. His head hurt a lot, but he had a revelation, he was destined by the true Fate to save the world. Streaker grabbed Paul and hugged him so tight Paul couldn't breath.
"Oh good, you're up this time!" Norris said happily getting up to greet Paul. "Grobyc is off looking for some person you kept saying in your sleep." Paul looked oddly at Norris.
"Who's name?" Paul asked.
"Steena. We hope you can enlighten us." Norris said taking a seat.
"Yeah." Streaker added dumbly. Paul took a deep breath.
"She's my girlfriend." Streaker smiled.
"Is she the pretty one with the white hair?" Paul grinned nodding. Norris got up with his hand rubbing his chin.
"Well, we might as well press on. A strange old hag in an overcoat told us about this weird battle that will take place soon, and that we should watch your back until then. More details on the way to viper manor." Paul nodded dumbly and grabbed his stuff.
"When do we leave?" He asked yawning.
"Now is as good as any time." Norris replied yawning himself.
"L-l-l-ook what you made me do." Streaker said yawning loudly.
Patrick sighed as he rested against the side of the boat. Finally he spoke up for the first time in hours, "Listen, I have something relevant to say."
"And what's that?" Steena said snorting.
"It's getting dark, if we're going to be searching for a body, or even Paul. We need light, it's that simple. We should turn in somewhere indoors also. With all this time spent on the ocean, we'll be wet and probably should be indoors so we don't catch something," He said seriously.
"I hate to say it Steena, but he's right," Shaun said softly. She looked at him and nodded.
"Where should we go mate?" Kid asked quietly.
"I think our gracious host could get us what we need," Patrick said clapping his hands together.
"Viper?" Steena asked.
"Yeah, our vacation was cut short, figure we have a couple more days and we can spend them at the manor training and such," Patrick said clasping his hands behind his head as he leaned back.
"Isn't that freeloading?" Serge asked.
"Not if he promised us the time. Trust me, I know the difference," Patrick said calmly.
"Alright then lets head back," Diss said pulling the rope once. Irenes quickly came to the surface.
"Find anything?" Steena asked hopefully. Irenese shook her head.
"No, nothing at all. It's as if he was never there." Irenes said in her accent.
Eric sat back on the throne of his manor pondering deeply. He had no luck getting the location of the room, so he'd have to tear the place apart to find it. He motioned for a dragoon to come to him. The dragoon moved quickly in fear.
"Y-y-yes s-s-sir?" The dragoon asked in fear.
"I want you to grab every dragoon, tear this place apart leave no stone unturned until you find Belthazar's room. Bring me everything from that room and I don't care how long it takes! You will not rest until it is found!" Eric roared standing up. The man cowered in fear before he ran away to grab his fellow men.
Patrick stepped onto the grounds. It seemed unnaturally quiet. Not the sounds of training and milling of the various dragoons. "I got a-"He began before he was cut off.
"Bad feeling about this," His counterpart finished for him. Both looked at each other and nodded. Samantha shivered from the oppressive silence, as if it would consume them all.
"What's going on where are the dragoons?" Steena asked.
"A very good question coming from a mouse, it seems I always seem to have a pest control problem. You pests should be exterminated!" A cold voice rang out. Eric jumped and landed before them swiftly. Patrick immediately put his hand on Diss' shoulder stopping him from rushing him. Diss gave him a funny look.
"He's mine, I need this," Patrick said softly. Diss nodded and backed off.
"As always acting the consummate fool Patrick," Eric spat.
"As always being the annoying pest Eric," Patrick countered. Both men stretched out their hands and formed dragon staffs. A quiet murmur rushed through the group upon seeing identical weapons in opposing hands.
"Like the staff? It'll be the last thing you see before you die!" Eric shouted as he rushed Patrick. Both men met staffs and began the vicious battle neither holding back as one used his prowess to try and defeat the other.
"I've heard some corny phrases, but that one takes the cake!" Patrick spat as he kicked hard sending Eric sliding through the double doors to the manor. Eric looked up at him in disbelief as Patrick stormed after him the group watching in awe. Eric tried to slash at Patrick vertically only to find Patrick dance lazily around the swing and slash his blade across Eric's back. Eric cried out in aguish as they finally locked up again.
"You will die at my hands!" Eric roared.
"There's these things called breathe mints, try one sometime!" Patrick shouted back elbowing Eric causing him to hunch. He then rolled over Eric's back and drove a hard knee up into his face sending him sprawling. Eric wiped the blood that was freely flowing from his nose as he rolled backward and kicked open the double doors leading into the throne room of Viper Manor. Patrick followed after him swinging his staff in such a way as to keep himself distanced from Eric.
The group that had followed Patrick quickly moved to follow them as they fought around the throne room. None of them entered the room but instead listened and watched the battle rage. Soon jets of flame could be seen shooting around the room.
"It's useless Eric, stop now and I won't kill you!" Patrick shouted from somewhere.
"Surrender to a pathetic person like you? You could have been something! Now you're just another victim!" Eric retorted from another part of the throne room. The sound of gears working could be heard as the throne started going up to the top floor.
Patrick muttered a curse as he watched Eric leave through the door behind the throne. He quickly hit the switch behind the second to last pillar on the left and waited for his chance to follow. The group went into the room and Samantha quickly went to him.
"It's a trap!" She said softly looking him in the eyes.
"I know it is, but I'm not about to let him escape. He said quickly ending the conversation by walking over to the throne and activating the button on the arm rest. He crossed his arms waiting for it to rise up.
"That idiot is going to get himself killed!" Samantha muttered under her breath. She waited for him to exit through the door before hitting the button he had hit earlier.
Patrick carefully entered the doorway and waited for the attack. He was surprised when he saw Eric standing at the top of the stairs to his right standing tall and proud, or as tall and proud as he could be with a bloody nose.
"You know we have a destiny," Eric said softly. He nodded his head approvingly.
"Two must become one if we're both to survive," Patrick said.
"Then you've heard the voice in your dreams too?" Eric replied dropping to a defensive stance after kicking the door behind him.
"You can say I'm familiar with it," Patrick replied carefully climbing the stairs. A couple of feints happened before both men just stood up looking at the other.
"This hallway is too crowded, let's exit through here, plenty of room," Eric said stepping back bowing gracefully as he did so.
"I was about the say that myself," Patrick responded walking out. Both men stood on opposite ends of the pool before bowing and taking stances. Eric moved forward slowly, and Patrick watched him warily.
Samantha carefully followed the men down the hall listening to their conversation. When they went outside she went through the door and motioned to others up. They warily went up and through the door before seeing the two men at it again. Patrick and Eric seemed to be testing each other looking for weaknesses before they would go on the attack and try to breeze through the other's defenses.
The two men finally locked up and looked across at each other. Eric was rasping heavily, and Patrick was breaking into a sweat. Both eyed the other with looks of hatred, yet respect. For both knew the other had considerable talent. Eric slowly started giving up room moving towards the edge of the rooftop. Patrick took up the slack and was about to kick Eric over when he felt Eric give a sharp tug and throw Patrick over the roof top to the ground below. Instinctively Patrick stuck his staff into the side of the manor and ignited it with flame sliding down the side before gradually slowing himself and stopping. Pulling the ancient weapon out of the wall he took a crouching position and gestured for Eric to come down. Eric laughed as he jumped down in the same manner stopping about five feet from hitting the bottom and firing a jet of pure white flame at Patrick. Instinctively Patrick put up a shield of fire that absorbed the flames, but the mistake was already made. Eric took advantage of him and leapt off the wall shoving the blade of his dragon staff deeply into the gut of Patrick. Patrick stopped his eyes going wide as he looked into Eric's eyes.
"The two shall become one, and the destinies unite," Eric said savagely kicking Patrick off his staff. Patrick fell to his knees, then to his hands as he felt ripples of pain go through his body.
Samantha watched what happened below and immediately gasped as Eric shoved the staff into his counterpart. She immediately looked around and jumped for the nearby tower barely making it. Finally inside the tower she slid down the ladder quickly hoping she would make it in time. As the others watched in horror as Eric raised his staff.
Eric raised his staff above his head slowly, and held it up high before speaking, "You never could win you know. I am a part of you, and even if you win the external battle, the internal battle would have surely finished you off."
"Shows how much you know about me," Patrick muttered grabbing for his staff. Eric dropped his staff's height quickly swinging it like a golf club hitting Patrick's staff far from where he could reach it.
"I know you intimately. You are me; I know your thoughts, your tendencies, and your weaknesses. You always block elemental attacks, and that is your greatest weakness. You never absorb an attack from another fire innate you merely block it," Eric said haughtily as he swung his staff up high and began to bring it down on Patrick's neck.
As the staff reached halfway he saw the flash of metal and instinctively parried the sword thrust. Samantha followed up with a kick that sent Eric sprawling. "No one touches my boyfriend without my permission, not even himself!" She spat taking an offensive position.
"Meddlesome girl, why couldn't you stay dead, this is the second time you have interrupted fate!" Eric spat.
"Because it's stupid to think everything is predetermined! Fate is nothing but a convenient excuse!" Samantha countered slashing hard at Eric. He blocked the blow before bringing his staff around and sweeping her off her feet. As he was about to bring his staff down on her she rolled forward and shoved the sword up to the hilt in his stomach. Eric looked into her cold eyes with a look of shock before dropping the staff and clutching the sword. "Get off my sword!" Samantha spat as she kicked him hard sliding him off the crimson blade. He stumbled hard and leaned back against the wall overlooking the bluffs.
"Impressive," Eric breathed. He then called his staff back to himself and wiped the trickle of blood from his mouth. "You can't beat me! I'm Eric, destined to be the end of the entity Patrick Eric Dissinger!"
"Complain to someone who cares!" Samantha said rushing him. She batted his staff away and checked him hard over the wall. Eric screamed as he fell and hit the ocean. A plume of steam immediately erupted from the water and slowly went out to sea. She then went and checked on Patrick. As she helped him up he shrugged off her help and immediately fell again.
"I was doing fine; I didn't need your help!" Patrick spat glaring at Samantha.
"Liar, he was about to finish you off!" Samantha retorted gesturing to where Eric was.
"I had everything under control! You shouldn't have done a thing!" Patrick replied looking up at her.
"Then stand up!" Samantha yelled back at him. Patrick tried feebly to get up and immediately fell again. "Just as I thought you need help and now."
"I DON'T NEED ANYONES HELP!" Patrick roared.
"Then stay on the ground. Until you're man enough to ask for help you can get inside on your own. No one help this stupid bastard!" Samantha said loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Oy mate, this has been a long day hasn't it, huh?" Kid asked stretching her arms and yawning. "Patrick nearly killed his bloody self and the freak is still missing. I'm starting to believe that he really is gone, mate." Kid arched her back and small pops went off up and down her spine.
"We can't think like that, Paul isn't the type to let a little water stand in his way." Serge said annoyed, as if Kid was jinxing the situation.
"Look mate, a little bleak truth won't hurt anything. Paul can't swim; he was in the middle of an ocean on a sinking ship. Do you honestly think that even HE could survive all those odds?" Kid asked impatiently tapping her foot waiting for an answer.
"I think he can." Serge muttered softly. "Besides," Serge said loudly. "He does have a knack for fighting all odds. You know full well he would rather go into a battle with unfair odds than sit in front of a diplomatic committee. He's a born fighter, and a fighter is a survivor. I think Paul will pull a rabbit out of his hat." Serge finished sitting on a bed. Kid sighed sitting next to Serge putting her head on his shoulder.
"Maybe you are right, mate." Kid sighed. "The guy is a bloody freak." Serge just nodded taking off his shoes. He put his head to a pillow and felt the weight of Kid's head fall on Serge's chest. Serge didn't bother to fight with her as he closed his eyes falling asleep almost instantly.
Patrick lay on the ground leaving a trail of blood as he dragged himself up the first step to Viper's door. The dragoons watched half in awe half in sympathy as he pulled himself up them. He made no sound other than the grunts of exhaustion as he crawled into the manor. The others had long since freed Viper and the Devas, much to their surprise. He heard footsteps and a voice.
"Oh my god! Let me help you..." Karsh's harsh voice rang out. He felt a hand on his arm before he heard Samantha shout,
"Don't help him; he has to learn a lesson."
"Lady he's bleeding out his gut how is he supposed to learn when he's barely conscious?" Karsh retorted.
"She's right," Patrick grunted out.
Samantha walked over to him and crouched gently lifting his chin, "You know how much this hurts me. You also know what I'm waiting for; just say the word and it'll be over."
He looked into her eyes before he spoke again, "No, I won't say it. I know how much it's hurting you, but I'm still too thick to allow that word out of me like this."
"Alright, our room is on the left I would appreciate it if you could at least stand up when you get in," Samantha whispered softly.
"Any other special requests?" Patrick asked calmly.
"Don't bleed on the floor, attracts bugs..." Samantha teased before kissing him lightly on the lips. She walked back to the gate and closed it.
As Patrick watched her go something in him clicked, "Those gates open up and down?" He asked Karsh.
"Yeah, gotta be careful, had an unfortunate dragoon dragged by his heels to the ceiling when his foot got caught in the grate," Karsh said warily. Patrick crawled over to the gate and held on tightly.
"Open it," He said simply. Karsh gave him a funny look but did as asked. Patrick immediately was hauled to his feet, where he let go and leaned against the wall for support. "Thanks," Patrick replied as he walked down the hall to the smiling Samantha.
"You brat," She chided him before smiling and opening the door.
"You know you love it," Patrick responded entering the room and making it to the couch before he tied his flannel around his wounds. "Now if you could get a medic to clean and bandage these wounds I would appreciate it."
Chapter 19
We Discordians must learn to stick apart.
Kid looked at Serge as they sat in the boat. The adults as always were tense and quarreling. Finally Serge muttered to Kid," Think they'll grow up yet?"
"Nah, they got at least a year until they reach kindergarten," Kid retorted as they both chuckled. Serge looked at Kid and quickly looked away as his eyes met cerulean eyes.
Miguel looked at Serge and chuckled as he saw the young man blush. "Just like you're father," Miguel muttered to himself.
Serge and Kid continued to steal glances at each other while they waited for Irenes to find Paul.
"Wake up?" Streaker said dumbly. Paul looked around him. His head hurt a lot, but he had a revelation, he was destined by the true Fate to save the world. Streaker grabbed Paul and hugged him so tight Paul couldn't breath.
"Oh good, you're up this time!" Norris said happily getting up to greet Paul. "Grobyc is off looking for some person you kept saying in your sleep." Paul looked oddly at Norris.
"Who's name?" Paul asked.
"Steena. We hope you can enlighten us." Norris said taking a seat.
"Yeah." Streaker added dumbly. Paul took a deep breath.
"She's my girlfriend." Streaker smiled.
"Is she the pretty one with the white hair?" Paul grinned nodding. Norris got up with his hand rubbing his chin.
"Well, we might as well press on. A strange old hag in an overcoat told us about this weird battle that will take place soon, and that we should watch your back until then. More details on the way to viper manor." Paul nodded dumbly and grabbed his stuff.
"When do we leave?" He asked yawning.
"Now is as good as any time." Norris replied yawning himself.
"L-l-l-ook what you made me do." Streaker said yawning loudly.
Patrick sighed as he rested against the side of the boat. Finally he spoke up for the first time in hours, "Listen, I have something relevant to say."
"And what's that?" Steena said snorting.
"It's getting dark, if we're going to be searching for a body, or even Paul. We need light, it's that simple. We should turn in somewhere indoors also. With all this time spent on the ocean, we'll be wet and probably should be indoors so we don't catch something," He said seriously.
"I hate to say it Steena, but he's right," Shaun said softly. She looked at him and nodded.
"Where should we go mate?" Kid asked quietly.
"I think our gracious host could get us what we need," Patrick said clapping his hands together.
"Viper?" Steena asked.
"Yeah, our vacation was cut short, figure we have a couple more days and we can spend them at the manor training and such," Patrick said clasping his hands behind his head as he leaned back.
"Isn't that freeloading?" Serge asked.
"Not if he promised us the time. Trust me, I know the difference," Patrick said calmly.
"Alright then lets head back," Diss said pulling the rope once. Irenes quickly came to the surface.
"Find anything?" Steena asked hopefully. Irenese shook her head.
"No, nothing at all. It's as if he was never there." Irenes said in her accent.
Eric sat back on the throne of his manor pondering deeply. He had no luck getting the location of the room, so he'd have to tear the place apart to find it. He motioned for a dragoon to come to him. The dragoon moved quickly in fear.
"Y-y-yes s-s-sir?" The dragoon asked in fear.
"I want you to grab every dragoon, tear this place apart leave no stone unturned until you find Belthazar's room. Bring me everything from that room and I don't care how long it takes! You will not rest until it is found!" Eric roared standing up. The man cowered in fear before he ran away to grab his fellow men.
Patrick stepped onto the grounds. It seemed unnaturally quiet. Not the sounds of training and milling of the various dragoons. "I got a-"He began before he was cut off.
"Bad feeling about this," His counterpart finished for him. Both looked at each other and nodded. Samantha shivered from the oppressive silence, as if it would consume them all.
"What's going on where are the dragoons?" Steena asked.
"A very good question coming from a mouse, it seems I always seem to have a pest control problem. You pests should be exterminated!" A cold voice rang out. Eric jumped and landed before them swiftly. Patrick immediately put his hand on Diss' shoulder stopping him from rushing him. Diss gave him a funny look.
"He's mine, I need this," Patrick said softly. Diss nodded and backed off.
"As always acting the consummate fool Patrick," Eric spat.
"As always being the annoying pest Eric," Patrick countered. Both men stretched out their hands and formed dragon staffs. A quiet murmur rushed through the group upon seeing identical weapons in opposing hands.
"Like the staff? It'll be the last thing you see before you die!" Eric shouted as he rushed Patrick. Both men met staffs and began the vicious battle neither holding back as one used his prowess to try and defeat the other.
"I've heard some corny phrases, but that one takes the cake!" Patrick spat as he kicked hard sending Eric sliding through the double doors to the manor. Eric looked up at him in disbelief as Patrick stormed after him the group watching in awe. Eric tried to slash at Patrick vertically only to find Patrick dance lazily around the swing and slash his blade across Eric's back. Eric cried out in aguish as they finally locked up again.
"You will die at my hands!" Eric roared.
"There's these things called breathe mints, try one sometime!" Patrick shouted back elbowing Eric causing him to hunch. He then rolled over Eric's back and drove a hard knee up into his face sending him sprawling. Eric wiped the blood that was freely flowing from his nose as he rolled backward and kicked open the double doors leading into the throne room of Viper Manor. Patrick followed after him swinging his staff in such a way as to keep himself distanced from Eric.
The group that had followed Patrick quickly moved to follow them as they fought around the throne room. None of them entered the room but instead listened and watched the battle rage. Soon jets of flame could be seen shooting around the room.
"It's useless Eric, stop now and I won't kill you!" Patrick shouted from somewhere.
"Surrender to a pathetic person like you? You could have been something! Now you're just another victim!" Eric retorted from another part of the throne room. The sound of gears working could be heard as the throne started going up to the top floor.
Patrick muttered a curse as he watched Eric leave through the door behind the throne. He quickly hit the switch behind the second to last pillar on the left and waited for his chance to follow. The group went into the room and Samantha quickly went to him.
"It's a trap!" She said softly looking him in the eyes.
"I know it is, but I'm not about to let him escape. He said quickly ending the conversation by walking over to the throne and activating the button on the arm rest. He crossed his arms waiting for it to rise up.
"That idiot is going to get himself killed!" Samantha muttered under her breath. She waited for him to exit through the door before hitting the button he had hit earlier.
Patrick carefully entered the doorway and waited for the attack. He was surprised when he saw Eric standing at the top of the stairs to his right standing tall and proud, or as tall and proud as he could be with a bloody nose.
"You know we have a destiny," Eric said softly. He nodded his head approvingly.
"Two must become one if we're both to survive," Patrick said.
"Then you've heard the voice in your dreams too?" Eric replied dropping to a defensive stance after kicking the door behind him.
"You can say I'm familiar with it," Patrick replied carefully climbing the stairs. A couple of feints happened before both men just stood up looking at the other.
"This hallway is too crowded, let's exit through here, plenty of room," Eric said stepping back bowing gracefully as he did so.
"I was about the say that myself," Patrick responded walking out. Both men stood on opposite ends of the pool before bowing and taking stances. Eric moved forward slowly, and Patrick watched him warily.
Samantha carefully followed the men down the hall listening to their conversation. When they went outside she went through the door and motioned to others up. They warily went up and through the door before seeing the two men at it again. Patrick and Eric seemed to be testing each other looking for weaknesses before they would go on the attack and try to breeze through the other's defenses.
The two men finally locked up and looked across at each other. Eric was rasping heavily, and Patrick was breaking into a sweat. Both eyed the other with looks of hatred, yet respect. For both knew the other had considerable talent. Eric slowly started giving up room moving towards the edge of the rooftop. Patrick took up the slack and was about to kick Eric over when he felt Eric give a sharp tug and throw Patrick over the roof top to the ground below. Instinctively Patrick stuck his staff into the side of the manor and ignited it with flame sliding down the side before gradually slowing himself and stopping. Pulling the ancient weapon out of the wall he took a crouching position and gestured for Eric to come down. Eric laughed as he jumped down in the same manner stopping about five feet from hitting the bottom and firing a jet of pure white flame at Patrick. Instinctively Patrick put up a shield of fire that absorbed the flames, but the mistake was already made. Eric took advantage of him and leapt off the wall shoving the blade of his dragon staff deeply into the gut of Patrick. Patrick stopped his eyes going wide as he looked into Eric's eyes.
"The two shall become one, and the destinies unite," Eric said savagely kicking Patrick off his staff. Patrick fell to his knees, then to his hands as he felt ripples of pain go through his body.
Samantha watched what happened below and immediately gasped as Eric shoved the staff into his counterpart. She immediately looked around and jumped for the nearby tower barely making it. Finally inside the tower she slid down the ladder quickly hoping she would make it in time. As the others watched in horror as Eric raised his staff.
Eric raised his staff above his head slowly, and held it up high before speaking, "You never could win you know. I am a part of you, and even if you win the external battle, the internal battle would have surely finished you off."
"Shows how much you know about me," Patrick muttered grabbing for his staff. Eric dropped his staff's height quickly swinging it like a golf club hitting Patrick's staff far from where he could reach it.
"I know you intimately. You are me; I know your thoughts, your tendencies, and your weaknesses. You always block elemental attacks, and that is your greatest weakness. You never absorb an attack from another fire innate you merely block it," Eric said haughtily as he swung his staff up high and began to bring it down on Patrick's neck.
As the staff reached halfway he saw the flash of metal and instinctively parried the sword thrust. Samantha followed up with a kick that sent Eric sprawling. "No one touches my boyfriend without my permission, not even himself!" She spat taking an offensive position.
"Meddlesome girl, why couldn't you stay dead, this is the second time you have interrupted fate!" Eric spat.
"Because it's stupid to think everything is predetermined! Fate is nothing but a convenient excuse!" Samantha countered slashing hard at Eric. He blocked the blow before bringing his staff around and sweeping her off her feet. As he was about to bring his staff down on her she rolled forward and shoved the sword up to the hilt in his stomach. Eric looked into her cold eyes with a look of shock before dropping the staff and clutching the sword. "Get off my sword!" Samantha spat as she kicked him hard sliding him off the crimson blade. He stumbled hard and leaned back against the wall overlooking the bluffs.
"Impressive," Eric breathed. He then called his staff back to himself and wiped the trickle of blood from his mouth. "You can't beat me! I'm Eric, destined to be the end of the entity Patrick Eric Dissinger!"
"Complain to someone who cares!" Samantha said rushing him. She batted his staff away and checked him hard over the wall. Eric screamed as he fell and hit the ocean. A plume of steam immediately erupted from the water and slowly went out to sea. She then went and checked on Patrick. As she helped him up he shrugged off her help and immediately fell again.
"I was doing fine; I didn't need your help!" Patrick spat glaring at Samantha.
"Liar, he was about to finish you off!" Samantha retorted gesturing to where Eric was.
"I had everything under control! You shouldn't have done a thing!" Patrick replied looking up at her.
"Then stand up!" Samantha yelled back at him. Patrick tried feebly to get up and immediately fell again. "Just as I thought you need help and now."
"I DON'T NEED ANYONES HELP!" Patrick roared.
"Then stay on the ground. Until you're man enough to ask for help you can get inside on your own. No one help this stupid bastard!" Samantha said loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Oy mate, this has been a long day hasn't it, huh?" Kid asked stretching her arms and yawning. "Patrick nearly killed his bloody self and the freak is still missing. I'm starting to believe that he really is gone, mate." Kid arched her back and small pops went off up and down her spine.
"We can't think like that, Paul isn't the type to let a little water stand in his way." Serge said annoyed, as if Kid was jinxing the situation.
"Look mate, a little bleak truth won't hurt anything. Paul can't swim; he was in the middle of an ocean on a sinking ship. Do you honestly think that even HE could survive all those odds?" Kid asked impatiently tapping her foot waiting for an answer.
"I think he can." Serge muttered softly. "Besides," Serge said loudly. "He does have a knack for fighting all odds. You know full well he would rather go into a battle with unfair odds than sit in front of a diplomatic committee. He's a born fighter, and a fighter is a survivor. I think Paul will pull a rabbit out of his hat." Serge finished sitting on a bed. Kid sighed sitting next to Serge putting her head on his shoulder.
"Maybe you are right, mate." Kid sighed. "The guy is a bloody freak." Serge just nodded taking off his shoes. He put his head to a pillow and felt the weight of Kid's head fall on Serge's chest. Serge didn't bother to fight with her as he closed his eyes falling asleep almost instantly.
Patrick lay on the ground leaving a trail of blood as he dragged himself up the first step to Viper's door. The dragoons watched half in awe half in sympathy as he pulled himself up them. He made no sound other than the grunts of exhaustion as he crawled into the manor. The others had long since freed Viper and the Devas, much to their surprise. He heard footsteps and a voice.
"Oh my god! Let me help you..." Karsh's harsh voice rang out. He felt a hand on his arm before he heard Samantha shout,
"Don't help him; he has to learn a lesson."
"Lady he's bleeding out his gut how is he supposed to learn when he's barely conscious?" Karsh retorted.
"She's right," Patrick grunted out.
Samantha walked over to him and crouched gently lifting his chin, "You know how much this hurts me. You also know what I'm waiting for; just say the word and it'll be over."
He looked into her eyes before he spoke again, "No, I won't say it. I know how much it's hurting you, but I'm still too thick to allow that word out of me like this."
"Alright, our room is on the left I would appreciate it if you could at least stand up when you get in," Samantha whispered softly.
"Any other special requests?" Patrick asked calmly.
"Don't bleed on the floor, attracts bugs..." Samantha teased before kissing him lightly on the lips. She walked back to the gate and closed it.
As Patrick watched her go something in him clicked, "Those gates open up and down?" He asked Karsh.
"Yeah, gotta be careful, had an unfortunate dragoon dragged by his heels to the ceiling when his foot got caught in the grate," Karsh said warily. Patrick crawled over to the gate and held on tightly.
"Open it," He said simply. Karsh gave him a funny look but did as asked. Patrick immediately was hauled to his feet, where he let go and leaned against the wall for support. "Thanks," Patrick replied as he walked down the hall to the smiling Samantha.
"You brat," She chided him before smiling and opening the door.
"You know you love it," Patrick responded entering the room and making it to the couch before he tied his flannel around his wounds. "Now if you could get a medic to clean and bandage these wounds I would appreciate it."