Black Hearts
There is a light, but with it comes darkness. Very few have ever been able to find it, that's why it's considered a myth...to have a heart
Chapter Eight
Kratos' eyes opened, he was still in his room the box laid on the desk top, untouched. The window was closed and he looked around for the source that had closed it. Someone cleared their throat he turned to the door, and there standing in the shadows was a blue haired half. He sighed turning away, his shoulders hunching as he looked at his hands in his lap.
"Kratos." He didn't make a sound, silence as his mind began to buzz again with the unforgivable things of the past so long ago and forgotten.
"What are you hiding, Kratos. Damn it tell me!" before he knew it he felt a hard grip go around his collar and lift him up, his eyes connecting with the fiery in the icy blue ones before him. He adverted his eyes; they trailed up to the desk and the box glinting in the sun's light. Yuan growled and let go moving towards the desk and box. With one fell swoop of his hand he knocked the box and it's contents onto the hard wood floor, Kratos just sat there emotionless. The rustle of papers filled the room as tiny pieces of parchment fell to the floor scattering themselves about the room. Yuan's eyebrow rose.
"Letters? Do you mean to tell me…"
Lloyd dodge rolled out of the way of the long black snake like whip that cracked through the air like silent roaring thunder. The black haired half elf, grinned maliciously as he raised his arm once more in a threatening motion. His head spun to the glowing mana of a silver haired half elf's spell. He dashed forward, jumping to the left as Zelos thrusted, with his dagger out, towards the half elf. The red head stopped mid stride, and spun around to the half elf's back.
"Shit." He ran forward unable to catch up with his target.
"Genis! Cancel it!" Lloyd cried running forward, his boots kicking up dirt and dust that was beneath his feet. They were on the outskirts of the refugee camps, a few more miles and they would've made it, if only they hadn't…
"Angel feathers!" Colette cried her wings extended and her Chakrams swinging about her, and she spun around full circle and let them fly, the pinkish iridescent ones following the hard real ones as if meaning to catch up. The half elf paused, and smirked. He began to glow a bluish hue, his hair floating out before him. His right arm was now the only thing glowing. He spun around to face the myriad of chakrams flying towards him. He snarled.
"Rapid Swing!" He cried out his right arm blurring with his lighting fast movements. The clang of whip to metal flowed through everyone's ears, and flashes of light blinded them for a few seconds. Lloyd looked towards the half elf, and saw that the chakrams were suddenly flying back towards them.
"Damn it!" He blocked both and dodged two of the iridescent ones, as they collided with the ground, Colette caught the real ones and the spell immediately wore off. Zelos clutched his arm panting.
"He's…he's pretty damn fast." He gasped.
"Fire!" Genis gasped as his voice was unexpectedly cut short, as he felt an icy cold hand wrap around his throat. His kendama dropped to the dirt ground with a thud, as his hands moved to his attackers black armored arms. Raines eyes widened.
"GENIS!" She ran out from her safety spot within the woods, Sheena chased after her.
"Ah…a…" he gasped his throat closing dangerously tight, the half elf before him smiled his eyes bearing no kindness, no remorse. Genis closed his eyes to the pain, and the black haired half elf turned his head to another silver haired half elf.
"Oh. Your sister, is it?" he leered at Genis his face inches from his own.
"You must make her worry a lot."
"Leave him alone! Let Genis go!" Lloyd cried, slashing lengthwise at the air with one of his swords. The half elf with the blue striped cape hunched his shoulders. Colette noticed they were shaking. He spun around eyes glowing bright red and his body shaking with undeniable anger.
"YOU WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH MY PLANS HUMAN!" He yelled discarding Genis to the side like an unwanted object. Raine rushed over as Genis sat up coughing and rubbing his throat. He began walking forward his whip in his hand. Lloyd took a step back his swords coming up instinctively in a guarding position. The half elf laughed as he twirled his long snake like whip in the air above him, it made a low humming sound as it flew through the air. It struck.
"Ah!" Lloyd turned his face away as he dropped his swords, his red gloved hand going to his right cheek. The half elf stood their amusement in his eye.
"Fool, you think you can win by just defending?"
"How about this! Light spear!" Zelos rushed forward, the half elf knocked away his glowing dagger with his hand, but it wasn't enough to disarm the chosen, Zelos countered with a spinning high kick, where in the half elf ducked and moved fluidly between the chosen's raise leg and arm, his whip flew in once again and sliced two long gashes into Zelos's torso and left arm.
"Damn it!" he cried rolling away leaving a blood trail. The half elf kept moving though circling the swordsmen the healer and the blonde.
"Had enough yet, Lloyd Irving?" Lloyd looked up taking his now blood drenched hand away from his face.
"H-How do you know my name?" he asked eyes narrowing. The half elf snorted.
"Phanos of course."
"No. T-That can't…that's a lie!"
"Why must it be a lie! Is it because you don't wish to hear it! Well! Phanos is still alive, and my god am I going to make you pay for what you did." He snarled wiping a loose strand of black auburn hair from his eyes. They burned, burned with the fires of thousands of years of relentless hate.
"You will not keep me from my goal!" he cried running forth Lloyd bent down to pick up his sword but he hissed as the whip dug once again into his hand. He fell backwards onto the ground staring up at the amused half elf.
"Lloyd!" Colette ran to him helping him to his feet shakily. The half elf glared, his whip lying around his feet like an obedient pet.
"You damn humans never know when to keep your nose out of other people's business do you?" He laughed as his whip lashed forward Lloyd pushed Colette out of the way.
"Ah!" he fell backwards arms over his now bleeding chest, he panted looking up at the half elf, which walked over to a shaking Colette.
"Ah…perfect."
"Get away from her!" Genis cried using a lightning spell. The half elf shot out his arm in front of him and a black four-legged creature erupted from the ground letting out a chilling howl. The lightning bolt crashed into it sending it sprawling to the floor. It got up though shaking the shock of the spell as if it were nothing, it growled baring its huge pearl white fangs, and its pure blue fiery eyes glowed as it turned to Genis, who took a step back in horror. Lloyd staggered forward.
"G-Genis! R-R-ah!" He felt the whip tighten around his neck.
"LLOYD!" Sheena, Raine, and Zelos cried out. The half elf smirked as the boy fell onto one knee. Gripping the whip trying hard to breathe. The half elf's laughter rang out on the silent battlefield. The dog like creature that was about the size of Noishe dug it's silver claws into the dirt as it took another step towards Genis, who was backing away slowly. It was pure black with blue markings along it's body it's eyes, claws, and teeth were all pearly white, two large spikes stuck out right behind it's head, like ears, and it's long narrow whip like tail had small spikes going up it to the beasts back. It took another step forward and Genis tentatively took a step back, a tree root was sticking out behind him and he tripped.
"Genis!" Raine spun around.
"Etsuei!" The dog paused its attack on the defenseless half elf. The older man glared at his pet. "Come." He responded rather peeved, the beast narrowed its eyes and it turned around.
"MERIDIAN!" The half elf's eyes widened as a wall of light encompassed his vision.
That voice! There were loud barks, a cry of pain and then the light faded.
"Kratos…you son of a…" Kratos helped his son to his feet turning to the hissing words of the panting sweat streaked half elf; the half elf cradled his broken wrist against his chest his eyes burning with hate. Lloyd groaned coughing a little, opening his eyes to see his father and the mysterious man glaring one another down.
"Zelos…take Lloyd." The red head was knocked out of his shock and nodded dumbly. Lloyd heard the growling he turned.
"N-Noishe…" he was surprised to see such ferocity in his pet, Noishe's teeth were bared and he was growling the hair on his back, his ears, and tail all standing up as both he and the black beast circled one another. The black beast snapped at the air Noishe jumped back a little, but his eyes never disconnecting from the black beast. Raine was standing beside a shaken Genis.
"You will not take this away from me!" everyone turned to the half elf loose strands of hair fell over his face giving him a frightening similarity to his brother, Phanos. He slashed his hand downward passionately as he cried out. He winced as the pain from his crippled left hand shot through his arm. Kratos stood looking down at him his face like porcelain. Kratos pointed his sword directly at the half elf that stood shocked but soon began to laugh.
"Oh, please Kratos. You wouldn't kill me if your life depended on it. You have such a guilty conscience it plainly visible so why don't you just…" the half elf paused as the sword shot through the air between them and collided with the half elf's shoulder. Meridian looked at Kratos's angered expression in confusion and amazement.
"You're right Meridian I won't kill you, but I will hurt you very, very badly." He hissed. Meridian narrowed his eyes gripping the swords blade and tearing it from his shoulder.
"Black wave!" his voice rang out as his black engulfed hand slammed on the ground before Kratos, Kratos looked at the ground below him and then back at the half elf, he was angry. He took a step forward, and then the ground beneath his feet crumbled to pieces as millions of black sharp shards shot out around him, cutting into his flesh. He covered his face with a purple-gloved hand; time seemed to slow down then as he saw each single shard of the Meridian's attack slicing across his skin.
"Ah!" he didn't have time to cast guardian. Meridian smiled as he turned on the blonde girl known as Colette.
"Kratos!" Lloyd pushed Zelos away and began to run forward, Meridian stepped forward his shadow chilling her to the bone. She looked at him his eyes clear, composed, collected; he grabbed her wrist in a vise like grip.
"L-Lloyd!" the boy spun around his eyes wide.
"LET GO OF HER!" He ran forward but immediately stopped, rooted to the ground as a dagger with a "P" engraved on it was placed to her neck. Raine's eyes widened at the dagger and it's familiarity.
"You…you're the one who did that…did that to Dirk and Noishe. You bastard! WHY!" Lloyd cried clenching his sword hilts, the blood from his cut hand dripped to the dirt floor making the sound of raindrops. Meridian let out a bitter heartless laugh as he tilted back his head to the now sunset dyed sky.
"Because…I can." Colette gasped struggling to break free.
"Ah, don't try to run away my dear…you'll only hurt yourself." He whispered into her ear pressing the dagger dangerously close to her neck, she nodded looking at Lloyd frightened.
"As for the rest of you, I bid you all farewell. Of course, till we meet again that is." He tossed a black orb to the ground and with a loud pop, and black flash, and a soft hissing noise a black cloud erupted underneath his and Colette's feet.
"Oh yes…as for your pet." He smiled "he won't be around too much longer." Zelos narrowed his eyes.
"That's what you think! Light spear" he swung around his glowing dagger connecting with the gaping jaws of the beast ready to attack a panting bleeding Noishe. Zelos was pushed backwards, his cuts painfully stinging and throbbing as he felt warm blood trickle down his shirt and arm.
"Zelos!" Sheena cried running toward him. He gasped as the beast pushed him back farther whipping its head trying to break the chosen's grip on his dagger.
"Eh…damn you're an annoying little bastard aren't you?" Zelos said smiling a little; the beast growled its blue eyes glowing in anger. It jumped to the side taking Zelos with it, he cried out in pain as the beast's tail slammed into his back he rolled to the side, panting trying to get up from his crouching position, the beast leaped into the air fangs bared and claws fully extended.
"Etsuei! Leave them!" Zelos put his arm up in defense but all he felt was a hot brush of air. He looked up confused and saw the remains of the beast, tiny black wisps of smoke.
"Colette!" Lloyd cried running underneath he black cloud. A grunt from a familiar voice made Lloyd look side longingly at his downed father. Dad…
"Oh, such hard choices, who will it be? The girl or your father?" Lloyd raised an eyebrow. How did he know that Kratos was my…? Kratos was on one-knee immobile cuts on every inch of his body his arms over his chest he was panting his headshot up as he glared at the half elf and his human hostage.
"Lloyd…don't worry about me…just get-just get Colette back." Kratos whispered his whole body shaking in pain. He clenched his fists turning his furious brown eyes up to the man on that pitch-black ominous cloud. He dashed forward as the cloud was farther away.
"Colette!" he cried one arm outstretched. Colette leaned over the side of the black cloud, but Meridian appeared behind her and yanked her away by her hair, a vicious smile on his face. He wrapped his arm around the struggling girl's waist and Colette brandished her chakrams.
"Lloyd!" she cried out as the half elf knocked her weapons away and they fell to the ground below lying uselessly in the emerald green grass. Lloyd growled his back burning more than ever white hot flashes of pain blinded his vision and the only thoughts running through his mind were those of anger, despair, and confusion. What…what the hell am I suppose to do! The voice within his head raged as he looked up helplessly. His vision turned a familiar pure white, and a blonde haired child stood before him, back turned. Mithos turned his head to the boy in red and gave a small smile.
"You do…what you have to do to keep living for the days to come…Lloyd Irving Auron." The half elf said, his face was surprisingly calm and his blue eyes sparkled in the unnatural light of the current setting. The settings returned to the field with the billowing and the cloud dotted sky that suggested rain.
"Kratos! Kratos are you alright!" Raine cried running over to the panting man who was still down on one knee. He looked up at her, his eyes clouding.
"Don't you dare fall unconscious on me Kratos!" Raine pleaded turning Kratos' face up to hers, he closed his eyes gently.
"DAD!" Everyone stood still as Lloyd darted over to his fathers side, he turned around to the now air borne cloud, with it's two occupants. Colette stared numbly at the boy below her, his brown eyes connecting with her crystal blue ones. I'll come for you…I promise. She was startled at first and then with a small smile nodded, as her vision was wrapped in darkness as the scene of her friends and Lloyd disappeared right beneath her feet.
Kratos! It's been so long since we first trained together…I hope this letter gets to you without too much delay, I long to train with you again…and talk to Mithos he's more friendlier than I could possibly imagine. There is one thing though…it's about…Phanos, I know you told me not to write about that kind of stuff in these letter just in case…he finds out, but Phanos has been acting ever so strange lately…I'm getting worried…it's like, he's a whole different person. Kratos...I wish you'd come back…I just wish…this war would stop already…heh, sorry I forgot that you're trying to do just that…See you soon…
Meridian
He sat down on the bed eyes wide with disbelief, the soft gentle push of the air from the open window sent the dormant letter in his limp hands cascading to the floor in a fluid movement similar to a dancer. He put his head in his hands his silky blue hair falling over his shoulder.
"I should've known…god why didn't I see it!" He slammed his clenched fist into the soft down bed as he shot up and began to pace.
"I-I just can't believe this! Why the hell would he keep something like that from me…from them?" he paused at the sound of voices…his eyes darted to the window.
"Soldiers? What the hell could they possibly want?" he rubbed his temples as a banging came from down below.
"I'm coming I'm coming! Hold your damn horses." He grumbled walking down the stairs and opening the door, he looked in surprise as a steel sword tip was brought to his face.
"A half elf! What the hell do you think you're doing here!" The guard holding the sword growled. Yuan took a step back, what the hell are Tethe'allan soldiers doing all the way out here?
"Where is Lloyd Irving Auron!" the other soldier wielding a spear asked as he stamped the spear handle into the ground. Yuan smiled and shrugged.
"He's out saving the world, would you like to leave a message?" the guard wielding the blade slashed across the renegades face and grabbed him roughly by the collar. Yuan felt the warm blood trickle down his cheek and off his chin as he stared emotionlessly at the infuriated human before him.
"Do you think we have time for games, half elf? Now, I'll ask you again, where is Lloyd Irving?" Yuan closed his eyes, and shrugged.
"He's right behind you…" the guard let go of Yuan's shirt and spun around, he gasped as two duel blades were pressed into his face, and he almost fell to the floor.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Lloyd asked a peeved expression on his face he looked at Yuan who was leaning to one side in the doorway, arms over his chest a bemused expression on his face.
"You okay, Yuan?" the half elf waved nonchalantly as he turned around and went back inside.
"P-please! You must help Tethe'alla! A request…from the king." The guard holding the spear said everyone walked over, Zelos grunted as he shifted his weight trying to keep the unconscious Kratos from falling off his back.
"I'm…going to go inside…" he whispered, Sheena held back a laugh knowing it wasn't the time or place for it as Yuan stepped to the side looking incredulously at the red head and auburn haired man on his back.
"It was him!" Lloyd cried out angrily crumpling the paper in his hands. Everyone looked at the floor; the day's events still fresh in everyone's minds.
"Who was it Lloyd?" Yuan asked calmly. Lloyd looked up tears in his eyes.
"The half elf! The one, who hurt dad, kidnapped Colette and wiped out the entire Tethe'allan army! Meridian!" Yuan's eyes widened.
It's been so long since we first trained together…"Come on…all of you inside…I think you've done what you were told…now be obedient little doggies and go back home to your King." The guards snarled.
"Just who the hell do you think…"
"I said leave!" Yuan brandished his butterfly sword, staring sternly at the two men.
"We can't…we can't leave without a reply."
"Tell your King…we'll be there soon…just give us a little time." They nodded dumbly and took off at a half run, half walking pace. He coughed, as his re-sheathed his butterfly sword. He felt a light hand on his shoulder and looked to see Raine with a pained expression on her face.
"You haven't been resting…have you?" Yuan coughed a few more times before he could reply.
"With this group? I don't think I know the meaning of…" his sentence was cut short as another coughing fit wracked through his body, almost bringing him to one knee. Raine glared at him.
"You're not to leave the house, understood?"
"Yes…mother." He replied he let out a yelp as the silver haired woman grabbed him by one pointed ear and toted him back into the house. The sight was a morbid one to say the least. Kratos lay unmoving on a sofa, and Lloyd was right by his side. Zelos, Sheena, and Genis were all sitting silently by the fireplace.
"What happened…what happened to Kratos?" Yuan whispered.
"We were ambushed. And then he came to help us." Zelos responded breaking the long eerie silence.
"An Colette? What about her? You just let him…" Raine put a hand on Yuan's shoulder; he turned to her as she shook her head for him to stop. He coughed again, turning and heading up the stairs.
"Yuan…if you know anything about this Meridian…promise me you'll tell me if you do." Lloyd asked in a dulled pained tone of voice. Yuan hung his head his bangs falling over one eye.
"Of course…I'll tell you something once I find something on him."
"Thank you." He looked up the stairs at the door to Kratos' room and he sighed weakly climbing the steps to his room, and leaving everyone in a wake of profound silence.
His cries of pain, anger, and a mixture of frustration echoed off the castles black granite titled walls. He rocked back and forth holding his broken wrist to his chest.
"Son of a bitch…Kratos…I didn't think he'd actually break my wrist…" he whispered more to himself than anyone else. He turned to the blonde haired girl sitting silently on the couch gazing lifelessly into the roaring fire before her. He smirked getting up and walking towards her, he stared down at her with pitiless black orbs. She looked up at him surprised.
"Your hair…it's, it's actually auburn, like Mr.Kratos!" a hand shot to his face as he grabbed a few strands of hair which were indeed auburn. His eyes widened, as he spun around to face a mirror hanging on the wall.
"Shit…I didn't even feel…" he glared at the girl who was staring at him.
"Stop looking me!" He growled under his breath.
"Where'd you get that scar underneath your eye?" he adverted his eyes to the floor and clenched his fist till his knuckles turned white, one hand lightly traced the white scar beneath his right eye.
"My father…if you must know." He said. It was silent…dead silent, he hadn't expected this…he wasn't about to go and spill his guts to the human girl but somewhere deep down inside him he wanted to, he wanted to tell someone of everything he'd been through someone who would listen. He cursed turning away and placing his pale hand on his mirror.
"You're not…evil are you?" she asked tentatively. He scoffed back still turned to the mirror.
"What're you talking about, girl? I just wounded one of your friends and took you hostage. How can I not be considered evil?" he asked looking back at the solemn girl, his expression turned into a pained one.
"I never expected him to come! It wasn't part of the plan! I was just going…just going to warn Lloyd…that's all. Then he shows up and ruined everything! He always ruins everything!" Meridian cried slamming his fist into the tiled wall.
"Why do you hate…"
"It's non of your damn business! Why aren't you afraid your friends left you here to rot." He hissed. She shook her head.
"No. Lloyd promised he'd come for me."
"So you'll just wait here like an obedient dog, while he take his precious time in rescuing you?" she looked defiantly at him her face stern. She nodded. He smiled and shook his head, his figure was changed again, as a thin veil of smoke engulfed him, leaving his hair pure metallic black with auburn stripes. He walked to the door of the room, and looked back at the girl who was silently sitting there tears running down her face.
"You're not to leave this room, understood?" when he got no reply he just opened the door and left. He closed it gently behind him, even though his body was wracked with anger and pain, he couldn't believe that he slipped like that exposing whom he really was to someone so caring and willing to help. He slid to the floor arms between his legs he looked at his hands. He got up once more as he heard the stifled sobs of the girl in the room next door. He began to walk door the dimly lit hallway, he paused a few feet down the hall and looked at the door.
"I'm…sorry. I'm sorry you have to cry…for a man without a heart…please…forgive me." He turned and walked silently down the hallway his broken left wrist in a sling as he was engulfed by the darkness of the castle walls.
The plan…the plan has been set in motion I assume?
Yes…all the pieces have been set. It is only a matter of…Time. Time, which I do not have! Why is it taking so long!
Watch your mouth…you forget to whom you are speaking with.
O-Of course not, how could I forget something so…Important? Easily, as easily as a humans heart is corrupted by revenge and anger.
It'll work won't it?Surely you aren't underestimating me in that as well.
No, it's just…he's not very reliable…Oh? On the contrary he is quite reliable…more so than you thought.
I have thought a lot of things that not being one of them…As long as we have his heart, he will not be able to break free; neither of them will be able to break free of their bonds.
So are the laws of this place. A fitting punishment if I do say so myself.
All humans are the same…they neither feel pity or respite for what they do, they only wish to benefit themselves and no others, thus is mans downfall.
It's all coming back. Everything will soon be…mine. They will…all pay I swear it.