Author: Seraph of Enigma
Challenger: AviarTheAssassin

I Love You, I'll Kill You

Morning had yet to dawn. The hour was early and the sky still a blanket of darkness. Stars twinkled peacefully in the indigo expanse as the moon sank lower towards the horizon in preparation for the sun's arrival.
Skylander Academy slumbered still. The dorms were full of students that had yet to rise and the professors, trainers and various other officials had yet to start the day themselves. It was calm, peaceful and silent throughout the building's stone halls and multi-tiered garden that made up the front lawn.
Water gurgled in the stream that fell off the edge of the island and twisted into a suspended tentacle of fluid that snaked and turned back on itself before it reached the pool that served as a sea training course for students and Skylanders alike. The land course was nearby and the aerial one was nearly indiscernible from open sky if not for the floating flags that marked its boundaries.

There were no lights on in windows, only the lamps in the garden gave off artificial light to break up the blanket of night. An owl called somewhere and trees rustled in the breeze but otherwise the Academy was a silent sentinel floating in the sky near the Isle of Light even though the Core of Light no longer cast it's protective glow over either landmass.
In the night details were hard to see, most were lost to the shadows or simply overlooked if they didn't stand out. Still it was hard to miss the black glistening smear that marred the flagstones near the remnants of the housing that at one time held the Core of Light.

Footsteps sounded carefully on the stone walkway and a shadow fell over the shiny black trail. The feet paused for a moment then continued on. While the figure tried to move stealthily it simply wasn't possible. Trolls weren't known for their ability to remain undetected no matter how much more intelligent than the rest of the lot they were. Glumshanks was no exception. As he followed the spatters, smears and pools his worry grew. The mess was enormous; whatever was at the end of it wouldn't be enjoyable. Glumshanks was no fool; the smell gave it away as blood even if the night's lighting didn't.
He had thought to go rouse someone else at first but the troll decided it was best to see what had happened first so that he could better explain the situation to whoever he alerted. Though the direction the troll was going didn't bode well. If his suspicions were right the mess was going to lead him directly to the Rift Landing, an area set aside specifically for the departure and return of Superchargers.

Material in the form of leather caught Glumshanks's eye. He stooped to look at it but without touching it he couldn't be sure just what it was or what it might have come from. It was soaked in the glistening fluid he was following anyway. The troll rose to his feet and continued his slow, cautious walk alongside the gore that made him shudder if he looked too closely at it.
Down the stairs Glumshanks descended. He could hear the soft rumbling from the boiler on the huge ship that gave the Academy it's mobility. The ship wasn't currently towing the Academy but it was in an idle mode to keep it from falling out of the sky. The noise was deafening in the still of the night and it sent a chill down the lanky figure's spine. Anything could be ready to surprise him and he might never hear it over that steady purr.

Sure enough the trail lead to the Rift Landing. The platform was in place and provided solid ground for the land vehicle parked there. A lone figure moved around but thanks to the shadows of the night Glumshanks couldn't be sure who it was or make out the design of the Supercharger vehicle. He felt so exposed suddenly and threw himself to the ground before he army-crawled towards the landing. Glumshanks wasn't especially brave but something told him he needed to push forward. Glumshanks hesitated as he neared the brightly colored clusters of ferns that populated the Landing and thrived so near to the undulating limb of water that defied the laws of gravity by maintaining form when there was no contain to hold it.

The troll narrowed his eyes, he could see a small figure walking about the vehicle and they were apparently conversing with someone as the figure's arms kept moving about and making all sorts of gestures. The troll knew those hand movements instantly. "Lord Kaos?" he questioned himself softly. That sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach threatened to make him fall right through the sturdy rock of the island under Glumshanks. "Oh, this is bad. This is terrible," he said as he stood up and began to shuffle towards Kaos.

"I didn't want to do it, not at all," Kaos was saying as Glumshanks approached. He clasped his hands behind his back and raised his chin up to look down his nose. "But you left me little choice. What did you expect me to do?" he asked before he turned suddenly and looked at the driver's side of the vehicle. "It was an affront to my sensibilities. A slap in the face. I have lost my powers. I am forced to simper at the feet of Skylanders and let Eon determine my worth," he snarled before he looked away and took to pacing back and forth on the driver's side. "And then you, you have to add insult to injury!" he nearly shouted. "Had I been nothing but cordial? Nothing but respectful?"

It was odd that whoever Kaos was speaking to never replied and Glumshanks was starting to deny the thoughts that were swirling around in his head and telling him to run and find help right then. As he always did though he returned to Kaos no matter what his conscience wanted him to do.
"Lord Kaos, sir," Glumshanks cleared his throat to get rid of the tremble in it, "is something the matter?" he called out.
"Glumshanks," Kaos snapped as he turned fast and jerked his hovering foot down to the ground so he could stand as tall as possible. "Good, you've finally decided to show up. I require your assistance. Strap that net to the back of the vehicle," he pointed to a dark mass that Glumshanks hadn't seen before.

"Um, don't you think you should ask Roller Brawl first before you, uh, commandeer her Tomb Buggy?"
Kaos scoffed, "You dare question me? Just do as you're told, Glumshanks." The short, impotent Portal Master climbed up on the runner that provided a step to enter the vehicle before he leaned through the open window and murmured softly.
"Yes sir, of course. Sir," Glumshanks stammered before he hustled to the cargo Kaos wanted him to load. It was large and looked very heavy, Whatever it was had been wrapped up in a tarp and then placed in the net to keep it confined to the current shape. Glumshanks didn't really know how to go about lifting it so he took it by one end and dragged it closer to the vehicle before he stooped to lift it. It felt wrong. It was warm and loose. Something in the bundle shifted and the whole thing fell off the troll's shoulders to hit the ground.

Glumshanks whipped his head around expecting to see Kaos storm around the back of the Tomb Buggy to berate him but nothing ever happened. When Glumshanks turned back to try again with the bundle he realized the tarp had shifted and something had leaked out. It looked suspiciously like the same dark, shimmering fluid that had led Glumshanks to the Rift Landing. The troll's stomach turned as he forced himself to kneel down next to the bundle and reach towards the trailing edge. Glumshanks shook the whole time, his nerves just couldn't handle it. Finally he furrowed his brow, grabbed the tarp and yanked it as best he could with the net trying to keep the whole thing together.

A hand slipped out and as the Tomb Buggy was turned on the tail lights provided enough illumination for the troll to see green scaly skin with sturdy claws tipping the fingers. Frantically Glumshanks tore at the net and tarp. His nails weren't as good as claws but he had a fair amount of strength in his hands and he was at least able to loosen the bonds enough to further unwrap the bundle.
It was a body. Curled up into a fetal position and stripped completely naked. Wounds covered the figure and it was obvious the one to the back of the head had probably been the killing blow. Glumshanks stared in horror at Dino-Rang. A Skylander was dead at his feet. The troll gasped and fell backwards before he scuttled away on his hands.
"What is taking so long?" Kaos hissed as he stomped around to the back of the vehicle. He started at the uncovered corpse then snapped his head towards Glumshanks before he thrust his lower jaw out in disapproval. "Did I tell you to unwrap it? No, I did not," Kaos hissed. "I'll do it myself," he growled before he stooped to stuff the dead Skylander back into his plastic prison.
Glumshanks was on his feet the next moment and he bolted for the driver's side door of the Tomb Buggy. He grabbed the handle and threw the door open. Slumped in the driver's seat and dressed in full uniform sat Roller Brawl. The undead Skylander's head leaned towards the interior of the vehicle and her arms were slack at her sides with the palms turned up. Her jaw hung loose and while her head was angled away her eyes could be seen partially. They were milky and fogged. "Roller Brawl?" Glumshanks whispered as he reached out to touch the vampire. Her skin was cold to the touch, no surprise being that she was undead. It was surprising how firm her arm was. It didn't give under the troll's touch. Glumshanks swallowed hard and tried to lift her arm. It didn't want to move, the elbow wouldn't bend nor would the wrist or shoulder. She was stiff as a board. "Dead," Glumshanks gasped.
"Must you touch everything?" Kaos snarled as he pulled Glumshanks back by his vest. The ugly little man scowled at the troll before he stepped up on the runner and leaned into the cab to brush Roller Brawl's brilliant pink braid behind her shoulder. "There. Perfect," he said softly, gently. He stroked the vampire's cheek. Her skin didn't move at all like it should if it were supple. When the magic that animated the undead fled it left them rigid with a nearly instantaneous onset of rigor mortis.

"What, what have you done?" Glumshanks asked in shock. His shoulders slumped, his arms hung limp at his sides and his ears drooped.
While still leaning into the cab of the vehicle Kaos began to speak. "They say 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'," the powerless lord began. "But I say they haven't taken me into account," he replied smugly. He turned back expecting to see understanding on the face of his subordinate. The dumb look Glumshanks gave him enraged him. Kaos jumped off the rail and swelled up in anger before he pointed furiously to Dino-Rang's bundled corpse where it hung off the back of the vehicle. "She rejected my affections for his. That filthy lizard, that dirt bandit!"
"But sir, you... you killed them both!"
Kaos drew up tall and proud before he thumped his chest with a fist. "If I couldn't have her, no one could!" he spun quickly and put the Tomb Buggy into gear before a rift opened. Kaos stepped back down to the platform then dropped a stone Glumshanks hadn't seen in his hands on the accelerator. The vehicle took off into the glowing rift with the squeal of tires. The net and tarp that held Dino-Rang bounced and dragged on the ground as it was towed along. It was over in an instant and the vehicle's departure left silence in it's wake. "Farewell, my love," Kaos said sadly once the rift had winked out. "May you rot with that sorry excuse for a handbag and boots."

The sky had begun to pearl with the predawn light as Glumshanks ran back up the stairs he had come down not long ago. The Academy doors seemed so far away. He didn't know who to find or what to say. All the troll knew was he needed to tell someone, anyone, what he had just seen. They had to know what happened and who did it. Glumshanks was terrified and utterly surprised by the hot tears that ran down his face. Kaos had done the impossible; had actually removed two Skylanders from the roster all without anyone being the wiser. The Academy was in trouble and Glumshanks finally understood where he belonged.
Anywhere but at Kaos's side.

Note from Seraph: Despite the fact I posted this on St. Valentine's Day it's not meant to be a 'down with love' statement. It just happened that way. I'm quite happy with my significant other and an exploration of the other side seemed interesting.

Credit for the Roller Brawl x Dino-Rang pairing goes to shaloneSK over on Deviant Art. Again, I'm not against that pairing (I actually kinda dig it) but they were just the first ones to pop to mind when I decided I wanted Kaos to be the jealous heart.