The call drew her away in the blink of an eye, one moment she was there and the next she was gone.
For one so good at disappearing, she had really done it this time. Even the bond between herself and her knight elect couldn't be tapped in order to discern her location. Days bled into nights and though the eternal twilight of the Unseen Realm never changed, time did pass. In leaps and lulls, her absence was noted, by her men, by her family back home, and by the most important one of all, Maximus. There were two, however, to whom her location was not a secret and those two, in their chittery curiosity had easily followed their human master to her odd new home set deep in the realm's darkest Chaos. Their "mama" had changed, even the two little otters could sense the sudden shift in her already typically surly demeanor. She had surely fallen into the abyss at this point and with as much worry as a pair of otters can muster, they scampered out of the dark and into the dusky light, seeking the one person they thought could bring her back, Maximus. Shadow jumping here, Chaos hopping there, they soon found their way back to him and with all the fervor they could manage, tried their best to scale his leg while otter-babbling excitedly.
It had been a routine enough day, full of patrols and training. Only to come back and find her gone, which caused him to nearly tear the place apart, as well as question their men. He would then set out to try and find her. Seemingly no one knew where she was for several days until the two otters were spotted, getting him to blink at how excited they appeared to be. "They couldn't." Murmured as he lowered down to all the pair to climb up on his shoulders, before taking a chance. "You know where she is?" Not that he really understood what they were saying. He didn't speak otter.
Between Peanut Butter and Jelly, it was like a whirlwind of chattery excitement as they climbed all over Max. Here and there, they'd lightly bite at him then jump off and begin running in the direction they had come from, pausing to stop and stare at him before running back to repeat the process all over again. Granted, they couldn't speak Common, they knew they needed to do something to get him to go with them. So they would nip and bite and run until he got the point. Follow them!
Tilting his head as the two ran all over him and chattered up a storm, not at all bothered by it as deep down he got the feeling that they too were just as worried as he was. When they hopped down and took off running, getting him to rise back to his full height and quirked a brow to their stopping and looking at him. It was when they started back towards him that he got the hint of what they wanted. "Lead the way." Murmured to the pair as he moved to follow where ever it was they felt the need to guide him to.
Here and there they had to stop to make sure Max was still following and Jelly even pondered leading Max to the troops to get them to go too. Peanut Butter chittered at his sister and decided against it before continuing on their trek. Little otter legs tired rather quickly and before long they had to slow to a walk but eventually, they made it, coming to a stop on the ridge that overlooked the shadowed valley below. It was there that they stopped in the progression and skittered around Max's legs as if hiding behind him. Jelly clawed at his shin. It seemed they were there.
He kept up with the two otters, not even thinking that he might need the troops or bothering about getting them. All that mattered to him was finding out where they were leading him and hoped that it lead him to Jade. Only coming to a stop when they did and looked down into the shadowy valley, then looked down at the pair. Now lowering down to give them both a little scratch to the top of their heads. "You two head back.. If I do save her. She will be upset with me if you two got hurt. Go home." Softly murmured to what could be called their children. Well kinda.
Typically the otters would have been proud to warrant such praise but the base in the valley was a scary and rather foreboding place so they cowered down against the ground. Quiet chitters were exchanged between the pair and with one last look down the hill, they took off, leaping into the nearest shadow to get as far from there as they could. It left Max alone. Well alone other than the Twilight Sentries that stood guard over the gated entrance, hulking, massive creatures that easily towered over any humans in the area.
Remaining lowered in that crouch as he watched the two otters finally take off for safety, before turning his attention to the task at hand. Looking over the area as best he could, and taking note of what appeared to be just two guards. "Jade. I'll be there for you shortly." Scanning the area again to see if there happened to be another way in, or if he'd have to literally cut a path through multiple bodies like the last time he had to hunt her down.
It seemed the Crusaders had learned from their last encounter with the brash slayer and had beefed up security this time around. The base was compact, much smaller than the one before, and seemed to have only two doors, one in the front and one in the back. The front was heavily guarded and more than likely booby-trapped but the back, that seemed less so, a handful of human looking guards hanging out in a semi-circle and smoking cigarettes. Rifles hung lazily from their shoulders or were propped against the nearby wall, fortified steel like the rest of the building. The outer perimeter of the valley was lined with stone walls topped with wiring that seemed to crackle with chaotic energy. To say that getting in would be a pain would definitely be an understatement.
Growling faintly as it seemed that no matter how he done this, that it would be a pain to get inside before rising to his feet. Nothing ventured. Nothing gained. Taking a deep breath as he slowly aimed to move around, while using the shadows to try and slip around to the back, intent to use that as his point of entrance. Along the way summoning up the very armor that Jade had crafted and bound to him. A wise man would fall back an get help, but he knew that the longer that he waited. The less chance he had of getting her back, as well as saving her from the darkness she now found herself in.
Deep within the building, down four levels below ground, she sat between two men. The one to her left was a skin and bones sort of fellow, wheezy and sallow skinned. To her right was the exact opposite. Sekhmet al'Rin was broadly built and packed with muscle. His skin shone a purple-bronze for reasons few knew and where Shade, the man to the left, sat hunched over in his seat, Sekhmet sat tall, proud posture leaving his towering form to shadow the diminutive girl beside him. The monitors before them provided views of the entire area, both entrances, the perimeter wall, and just beyond, the lone Maximus inching his way around to a more advantageous vantage point. al'Rin's full lips curled into a sneer like grin and he lifted a thick finger to point the blonde man out on the black and white screen to Jade. Her expression didn't change though the violet of her eyes flickered with recognition.
"He has come to try and take you back to them, Jade." Sekhmet purred, his deep voice drawing her in to every word. It seemed to pull Shade in as well and he leaned toward the pair, sunken eyes wide. Jade sat perfectly still, her head just slightly tilted, the only sign of life coming in the form of her barely rising and falling chest. Sekhmet watched her momentarily and then tapped at a headset worn on his right ear. "Permit the slayer entry through the rear. Put up a fight but do not end him. We have a lesson to teach traitors like him."
"Yes... we do..." Jade droned ever so softly, her first words spoken in nearly twenty four hours. Her voice was hoarse with disuse but she didn't bother clearing it since she fell silent once more, watching all the while Max's progress.
Continuing his trek without any idea that he had been spotted or possibly being watched, before he took note of something. More so it just crossed his mind, as he looked back the way he had come from and back to the rear entrance. Debating if he should change his attack plans or go forward with his current plan. A slow smirk crossed his lips as he shifted to double back, and prove just how crazy the person they were dealing with was. As well as the lengths he would go to take Jade from their grasp, as he moved to hit the front gates instead of taking the more defenseless back door. Knock knock!
Sekhmet's brow arched as the young knight doubled back around toward the front, a low growl rumbling in his throat. The sentries were firm in their protection of the base and difficult to persuade otherwise. Shade and Jade both watched as well, feeling the anger rising in the Crusaders' leader.
"Do you wish for me to deal with him?" She asked at last, her voice lacking any hint of emotion. Sekhmet shook his head and leaned forward to swipe at the black and white screen. The sentries lurched into motion, suddenly on the look out for the incoming attack. Behemoth blades that dwarfed even Jade's giant beast sword were held at the ready.
"No. If he wishes to take the hard road then we'll kill him where he stands. Shame, I had been hoping to impress a lesson." He clucked his tongue to the roof of his mouth and sat back to watch.
Doubling back he did do, and smirked fainly to seeing the two guards being set into motion and pondered just how to handle this. Perhaps actually getting some help might be a good idea, yet they would see that coming. "Well." Muttered to himself as he slowly moved just far enough ahead to let himself be seen by the massive sword weilding guards, before slowly drawing his own. Sizing the two up from afar at the moment to see just how dangerous they were.
Each nearly ten feet tall, the Chaos creatures looked like a cross between two legged Egyptian dogs and the Incredible Hulk. Powerful limbs were as thick as tree trunks and a volatile energy swirled around them, capitalizing on their nature as beings of the eternal Chaos that made up the realm. Abyssal eyes looked to and fro for any hint of an impending attack and the human guards had all but disappeared to let the giant beings do their thing. Collateral damage seemed to be no issue for them and once activated as they were, it was only a matter of time before all hell broke loose.
"Great." Muttered as he caught how big the two were and shook his head slightly as he started to make his way forward. Knowing that matching their strength would be suicide, yet perhaps he could use his speed to his advantage, atleast till he could find a way to either slip by or if all else failed. Kill them.
Once he got closer it would become evident that they were only as solid as they wanted to be and a blow could easily pass through with minimal damage given to the beasts. As Maximus made his way forward, they finally spotted him and with a pair of ear splitting roars of rage the pair charged, blades angled in such a way that would surely decimate him if he didn't move. Quick.
Having been taught by Jade to spot such things and he suddenly charged as well, mentally counting down in his head the distance between himself and the charging creatures. Aimming to time his dive to split the two beasts when they attacked, as it was an attempt to cause them to attack the other.
Max must not have know what he was in for and oh how Sekhmet's grin grew as the boy dove out of the way. Rather than turn on each other to attack, they melded and became as one, a hydra-esque two headed creature with four arms and four legs and twice the height. Wielding the same blades as before, the Chaos swirled and coalesced, growing like a storm around them and spawning smaller monsters, each distorted and disfigured, the things of nightmares. And just as quickly as the change occurred, they turned on Max, intent on driving two of the blades down upon him, smaller minions closing in from around the sides.
Probably not as once he came out of the dive and roll. He whirled around to see what had happened, and muttered a curse as he shifted to do what he done best when it came to Jade. Aiming to cut down everything and anything in his path, while shifting and defending when needed to keep himself alive. This was going to be hell...and he was willing to face it. All for her.
Muttering as he took down foe after foe, and took notice in the chaos that it wasn't doing a bit of good. As he glanced for a brief moment towards the door and back towards the massive beast that was bearing down on him now. "Maybe this wasn't a bright idea." Muttered to himself as he knew it would fail, yet as he turned to actually take the beast on. He tried to reach Jade through their connection, in some hope that it would reach her and maybe get her to react.
Not a single shred of response through their connection came and she sat as still as ever, her thumbs twiddling slightly as she watched the futile battle rage on.
"He's not the brightest, is he?" Sekhmet said through a sneer, sitting back in his seat with a shake of his head. "And here I thought the idiot would at least attempt to get inside. Instead he'll die out there, how boring. Oh look," The man pointed at the screen just as the sentry brought the two blades down upon Max for what would surely be a fatal blow, a maniacal grin splitting his lips to reveal too white teeth that were just a bit too sharp to be natural.
~"Maximus."~ It was a single word passed through to her knight, coaxing him toward the door if he would stop and listen. If he didn't, he would surely die.
Another faint hint of a growl as the connection failed again, as he shifted to battle the beast. That was till that faint hint of coaxing reached him, as well as hearing his name. Waiting till the right moment, before bolting to go for the door to get inside, while cutting down any possible roadblocks that might get in his way. He had to reach her, before it was to late.
It was as though the black sea parted before him and a brief glimpse of twilight shone down upon him to guide his way through the bitter howls and snarls of the creatures around him that lurked just beyond in the dark. The door was unlocked and inside, not a single soul could be found. But she was there to guide him at every turn, a simple murmur that would tickle his ear (or so it seemed) that would nudge him in the right direction.
That got his brow to quirk as he noted that someone was trying to guide him into the fort, as well as once he got inside. That same force was aiming to guide him towards her, which he moved to follow the murmurs. Yet he still remained on guard as he followed the directions given to him.
It was eerie how quiet and empty it was, as if everyone had vanished in the blink of an eye. His footsteps echoed around him in an unnatural way and at last, the coaxing sent him to the narrow staircase that would take him to the floors below. Pitch black save for strategically placed wall sconces, it would be tight quarters if he chose to proceed.
Looking around as he shifted slightly as he walked, not at all liking how silent the place was as he moved further and further inside. Coming to a stop at the tight quarters, and sheathed one of his swords and started to carefully make his way even further. Already preparing his mind for what was sure to be the worst of the battles to come once he found and reached Jade. Knowing that those that held her, wouldn't give her up without a fight.
Four floors below, the trio watched Max's progress on the monitors until finally Sekhmet looked to Jade, leaning to whisper a string of quietly derisive comments. His hand ran along her arm in a comforting manner as if to let her know that he was there for her, that he would take care of her. Goosebumps rippled along porcelain flesh, her spine going rigid as she listened. He told her of how Max sought to take her away, to brainwash her and use her to further the dictatorship that ran the realm; her mother. It seemed Sekhmet's plan was finally coming to fruition as Max made it down to the bottom floor far underground and to the final hallway that stood between him and the demi-goddess. Beyond a heavy steel door sat but three people, Jade, Sekhmet and Shade, that and the slowly growing Chaos that seemed to seep from her very being. Purple black, it hung like thick smoke in the air and produced a static like crackle that hummed in their ears.
It was almost time to make her theirs for good.
Continuing to slowly make his way down before coming to a stop before the door, and allowed that darkness that had been bottled up to this point to come forwards. Now stalking towards him to try and open it and get inside before it was to late. "Jade!" Called through the door, again hoping that some part of her would react to his voice, but more importantly to his presence. It had been their connection that had kept them together, and had to be the way to get her to snap out of their control.
It seemed locked at first but the simple mention of her name was enough to unlatch it. It would swing open easily enough but within it seemed too dark to see. The three inside were barely lit by the glow of the monitors. The skeletal man who went by the name of Shade was visibly trembling, evidently terrified by the massive amount of elemental Chaos that surrounded them. The larger man, Sekhmet, bore an uncanny resemblance to a man Max had seen before; the one he had killed to free Jade the night this had all begun. He rose to his feet slowly, grinning from ear to ear. And slowly...he began to clap.
"Very good. Very good. It is so nice of you to join us, boy. Come in! I believe we've much to discuss." He gestured to coax Max into entering further. Between Sekhmet and Shade, Jade sat perfectly still, her head slightly bowed and her slightly tangled hair hanging limp around her face in a wavy curtain that obscured her features.
"Maximus... you should go..." She spoke without lifting her head, the words clipped and curt but holding a lingering tone of regret, as if it hurt to say. "He will not join us, al'Rin. He wouldn't..." A peek of violets slowly lifted his way.
When the door opened at the mention of her name, causing him to growl at the pair that stood beside her. Yet he slowly moved further inside, knowing full well that it would be placing him on their ground. As well as giving them the full advantage, now looking between the two only to focus on Jade. "Let her go, and you will be spared." Was all he said in return to both men, before looking to Jade. "I gave you my vow and my word, My goddess." Murmured to her to try and remind her of everything that he had promised to her.
It was Jade's turn to rise and as she did, she lifted her chin to meet his gaze. Her expression was hard, bearing none of the soft tenderness that was so common in his presence. Her head tilted just slightly and she looked upon him as she might have looked upon any other unremarkable soul in the crowd. Neither man spoke and instead, it was her turn to talk. "Maximus, I give you but one opportunity to join the Crusade. Fight with Us and you will be spared." She used his words briefly before continuing. "Should you choose not to, I will have no choice but to end your life."
His gaze remained on Jade as she moved to her feet, as took notice that she held none of the tenderness that had once been there. Yet he held her gaze as she spoke, not showing how much this was affecting him to have her say such things to him. "You will not end my life, Jade. You are far too strong to let these puppets control you." Nodding faintly to the two men on either side of her.
"Make your decision, Maximus. What do you choose?" She asked, flat out ignoring his attempt at making her think twice on what she was saying or doing. Her voice was flat, lacking any hint of emotion at all and she looked physically drained. At her side, Sekhmet toyed with a little purple crystalline shard worn on a chain around his neck. It just barely caught the light of the monitors in the dim room and when it did so, it was only for a brief moment. Coincidentally, Jade shifted uncomfortably in time with the toying, her weight shifting from foot to foot impatiently.
His brow rose as he caught the movement from Sekhmet and noticed what it was doing to Jade. Already starting to form a plan in his mind, as he slowly started to move forwards. "So." He started as he watched her very closely. "Either I follow them and be with you, or I refuse and you will kill me." Aiming to get closer and closer, hoping that none of them would catch on that he wanted to get within range to lash out and attempt to steal that purple shard from Sekhmet.
"You are correct in your assessment of the offer." She said almost robotically, watching his movements with a curious cant of her head. Shade was slowly inching back from the other two, his internal instincts urging him to run for the hills. Smug looking Sekhmet however lingered where he was, right at Jade's side and half a step back, an ever present shadow over her being. "Now. Make your choice or I will make it for you. Please do not make me do that."
"I see." Looking off to the side as he didn't give the hint that he noticed that Shade appeared to be the smart one. "Allow others to control you...or die." He made it seem that he was pondering over the offer, as he continued forward till he mentally calculated that he was within striking distance. He just prayed mentally that Jade wouldn't move to defend Sekhmet, as he lashed out in a suddenly thrust with the still drawn sword. His other hand swiping out to rip that purple shard from his grasp and around his neck.
Shade was a coward but nobody could be faulted for having self preservation in mind. As Max neared, Jade kept her eyes on him the whole time. She nodded once more. "Yes, you are correct in your assessment of the offer. I give you thirty seconds to ma..." She trailed off as Max struck, taking Sekhmet completely off guard when she did nothing to intervene. The sword did little to penetrate his solid armor but the grab at his throat easily snatched the crystal from his grasp, the chain snapping from the yank. With the motion, the crystal began to splinter, a crack running down the middle of it and with that, Jade let out a pained gasp, falling to her knees, her arms hugging her midsection as she doubled over. The Chaos exploded and the walls and ceiling rumbled, jagged fissures forming all around them. Shade took off leaving a panicked Sekhmet to try and fend Max off.
Hissing as the sword slammed into the armor, but he had gotten the shard and threw it down on the ground as violently as he could. Ignoring for the moment that Shade had ran, before moving to scoop Jade up in his arms as the place started to crumble around them. "Hold on, my goddess." His gaze snapped to Sekhmet, wanting to kill the man where he stood but knew right now. Getting Jade out of the building was more important, as he turned to try and get the hell out of the building as it started to fall.
He wouldn't get a chance to get that far. The moment the crystal shard hit the ground, it shattered completely and the ear splitting scream the little princess let out could have shattered glass. In fact, spider webbed cracks formed in the monitor's screens and soon they turned to static as everything came down around them. As Max reached her, her hand locked around his wrist and rather than rise with him, she yanked him down with her. A large portion of the ceiling, thick cement and solid steel, fell down upon Sekhmet and crushed him to the floor. Her head spun as she fought through the pain that ripped through her and attempted to get Max down as low as possible. There was no way they could make it up four flights of stairs in time and with all she had left, she erected a sturdy guard around them to protect against the proverbial sky falling in upon them.
Going with the tug and shifted to shove her down to the floor, as he moved to shield her with his own body. Catching the feeling of Jade using her energy to create a barrier, and reached deep within himself. Adding his own energy into the shield as well as listening to the place collapsing around them, willing to give his life to make sure that she was safe.
The entire base seemed to be caving in around them and it felt like an eternity passed before the destruction stopped. Soon silence reigned supreme and though the shield held up, Jade was unconscious, her grasp going slack around his wrist. Their pocket of safety let in but the faintest hint of light from above and while the Crusaders seemed to be no more, the implosion had attracted attention from the last person Jade would have wanted there, her family.
"Jade?! Max?! Are you in there? Say something... please..." A familiar voice called, her mother's tone sick with worry. Her father was there too, along with all three of her brothers, the men working at trying to get through the rubble down into the crater that was once the base.
Max continued to keep himself placed over Jade, while he poured his energy into keeping that shield in place. Even when there was nothing but silence around them. "Jade." Murmured down to the now unconscious woman, before just hearing the faint voices calling out to them.
"Hurry up!" Barked another familiar voice as it came from none other that her father as he was right there with her brothers and the other men trying to dig through the pile to reach them.
"We're here!" Max finally called out, knowing that her family was the only way they could get out. He just hoped that they wouldn't see this as his fault.
In the dark of their little safe haven came a violet glow from beneath her tattered and dirty shirt, a similar shade to that of the crystal Max had destroyed. It seemed to permeate through her veins and the flesh of her abdomen, producing an eerie light. She just barely stirred, the only reaction given as one of pain, her face contorting and her back arching. As those above heard Max's call, they worked as quickly as they could, finding it no small feat to dig through that much twisted metal and demolished stone. But soon they reached the pair and Max and Jade found themselves surrounded by the Alcars.
"Oh gods... is she..." Claire couldn't find it in her to finish her sentence as she rushed forward to try and get to the girl. The purple glow flared though and seemed to repel the deity back. "Max... her stomach... Twilight essence... I can't touch her..."
Max kept his gaze down on Jade as she started to stir, as he remained perched over her. Listening to the others as they worked as hard as they could to reach the two youths. As he breathed a soft sigh of relief when everything had been moved. His gaze snapped to Claire and the others for a moment, then back down to Jade.
He nodded to Claire's words. "What do I do?" Murmured as he would follow any order that was given to him as he leaned back to move a hand towards Jade's stomach.
"Maximus, I need to know what happened. What did you see that caused this? It will impact what you have to do." Claire said carefully, her wide eyes on her daughter and the young man beside her. She got as close as she could bear to be, trying to get a read on the young woman. "She's got Twilight's influence fading within her but something is perpetuating it... I just don't know what..."
"They were using a purple shard to control her. This place started to come down on us when I grabbed it and smashed it on the ground." Keeping his eyes on Jade even as he spoke to Claire, worry easily seen on his features and in his eyes.
Zack and her brothers kept back to let Claire take charge, yet couldn't help but watch the pair. Wanting to help but knew that this was all in Max's hands now.
Claire hissed a breath between her teeth, narrowing her eyes upon the pair. "You've been with her through all of this... I imagine your bond has allowed you some amount of... privilege so to speak when it comes Twilight's hold. So listen carefully to me, Max. You must do exactly as I say." Claire took a deep breath then exhaled before continuing. "Place your hand over her abdomen, where the glow is darkest... there just below her ribs where that scar is..." If Max thought back, it was approximately the same location as one of her worse wounds when she had been taken and tortured by the Crusaders so many months ago. "Draw on your bond, call it to you... I imagine we're dealing with a Twilight Shard similar to that which you destroyed. You broke the hold but the other half remains. This... isn't going to be pleasant but you have to do it. Call it to you and when you feel it, you must pull it out."
He nodded lightly to Claire's words, as at the moment he just wanted to save Jade as well for all of this to end. Another light nod as he moved his hand to be placed over the scar, and closed his eyes as he took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Fully drawing upon that bond with Jade, and tried to draw the remaining Twilight Shard from Jade's body.
With the press of his hand over her abdomen, she let out a harsh scream and tried to pull away from him, feeling the sliver of purple crystal within her dislodge, drawn to the pull of his call. She squirmed and writhed, kicking weakly in a futile attempt to get away as she felt it cut a path through her tender flesh until it was just below the surface of her skin, pulsing with violet light just beyond Max's fingertips.
"This will be over soon, my goddess." Whispered down to Jade as she screamed out and tried to pull away from him. Keeping his mind focused on drawing that shard out, as he tried not to let her pain that was flowing through her. Which was coursing through him to distract him, and the moment that it pressed against her skin from the inside, he pressed his fingers into her flesh to pull it free and hurled it away as far as he could.
As he pulled it from her flesh, sticky black blood poured from the wound and saturated her skin and clothing. Once it was free from her body though she relaxed back, her screams dying down to pained whimpers. As Max chucked the glowing shard, Claire shot it down with a concentrated blast of Chaos, blowing it to smitherines and leaving just a faint trickle of sparkling dust that settled several yards away. It was blown away by the next breeze and once she could near, she quickly moved to Jade's side. "She's bleeding badly... if she dies here, I cannot stop it..." A frantic glance went Zack's way, urging him to set their way home as quickly as possible so they could take the young woman and her ever faithful knight back to Nosgoth.
Once the shard was removed and hurled away, and turned his attention to try and stop the bleed as best that he could. Nodding to Claire as he shifted to pick Jade up in his arms, and moved to follow the others. Zack seen the nod and quickly moved to set their way home, doing so as fast as possible to get his daughter and her faithful knight home. Glancing to Claire once they made it back to Nosgoth and headed to where Jade could be healed.
