The Severaine

Chapter Eight Fenris-4

“What did he do with it?” Acha paced the floor as she tried to sort through the jumbled memories that had amplified her slight headache into a migraine. She felt the secrecy, the desire not to tell her.

“The vault? No, I am never so obvious… it would have to be a place only he could go.” She thought harder, but it was becoming so difficult. At this moment she felt more like Fenris than herself. She felt the hunger, the outrage at these people walking through her home. Most of all she felt the kinship with Lain, an alliance of friendship which ran back as long as time itself, or so it seemed, and found herself looking forward to their reunion. She felt the urge to repel the intruders. Her gaze quickly flicked to a place she knew a weapon could be found.

Eiji touched her gently, seeing the pain and confusion she suffered. His touch seemed to anchor her somehow, she scanned the rooms for ideas. When her vision fell on a small glass, she knew the answer. He was so careful when he had opened it, so no one could see what was inside; only he could access it.

“The cellaret.” Acha's knees buckled as the pressure in her head exploded. Eiji threw Chrissie the key as she ran to the cupboard. She flung the doors open grabbing the cloth pouch from inside, fastening it to the belt around her waist.

“Thank you, I couldn't have left without them.” Chrissie extended her hand to Acha to help her to her feet. It was an action that surprised her, after all, Chrissie had just seen a fraction of what her touch could do, yet unlike she had expected, she did not even hesitate in making contact.

Daniel felt a sensation normally only recognisable in his dreams. The strange prickling at the base of his neck that saw his posture straighten and his eyes search the shadows. She was near. Normally, just moments before she appeared in his dreams, he remembered this feeling. He felt it in the waking world too, during those moments he was certain he had caught a glimpse of her. He opened his mouth, an attempt to warn his friends, but the words froze in his throat, unable to force their way past the constriction of fear which made drawing breath a challenge.

Daniel's every movement seemed delayed. He turned his head, Acha was still crouched over Fenris examining him cautiously as Eiji watched over her. He had to question how it was they could not feel the murderous intent, the raw power that approached.

The sound of footsteps on the marble entrance, through the door left open in their haste to locate Acha, was the harbinger of her physical presence here, and a warning they had delayed too long. Acha stood, she knew that footfall, that gait, and found herself smiling. She clamped her hand over her own mouth as she almost shouted out a greeting to Fenris' friends of old. She bit her tongue just in time, freezing like the others. They knew if they were to move it would instantly betray their location, but at the same time, if they didn't, they would be discovered for certain.

Chrissie was no stranger to people; she, too, had heard the name Marise Shi. It was a moniker everyone knew, a person most people feared. She knew enough to know her twisted vengeance was not an end she wished to meet. Marise had become infamous, not only for the number of lives she had taken, but for some of her more brutal killings.

Chrissie quickly removed two of the cards from her pouch, quietly motioning for her new allies to join her by the wall. The hushed conversation of the two people would drown out the noise they made as they crept across the room. She grabbed Eiji's hand, who in turn took Daniel's, and he Acha's as they stood with their backs pressed firmly against the wall.

As Eiji held his breath he felt the power rising around her. It was an energy he was unacquainted with, a force of the likes he had never felt before. There was no question in his mind she drew upon the elements, yet within the waves of energy there were unfamiliar powers. She looked to them before she whispered a warning.

“You must be silent or they will see us. Whatever happens, do not break contact.” Daniel and Acha glanced around, unsure exactly what was happening, unsure how their standing against a wall quietly could possibly stop Marise and Elly from noticing them. They were exposed, the light walls unforgiving to any blemish, let alone four figures. Perhaps she was hoping they would be distracted by Fenris and they could sneak away. Whatever the plan they could only hope it would work, there was no other option available to them. Should they try to flee it was unlikely they would reach the outside before being faced with a confrontation there was little chance of overcoming. Their only advantage at this moment was the unconscious figure. He would hopefully draw their attention.

Marise was the first to enter, and her vision passed over Fenris briefly before quickly examining the room.

Daniel's posture stiffened as he inadvertently pressed himself further against the wall, his breath catching in his throat. All at once, every injury she had inflicted, in either reality or dream, began to burn. The blur of unshed tears filled his vision as it bore into her. The initial fear now churning within was being refined into something more potent, hatred. Her presence brought with it an overwhelming oppression, and when he was finally able to draw a breath, he exhaled a fraction of his restraint.

Eiji had felt the growing pressure on his hand as it grasped Daniel's; his grip was moist. With a glance to Acha he understood all too well how delicate their current situation was. Either of them could betray their presence. Be it Acha, who watched Marise with what could only be described as a lustful hunger, or Daniel, who followed her every step with thoughts of vengeance. Daniel's clammy grasp tightened on his, it was only then Eiji realised Daniel was trembling.

Marise's appearance had triggered another merge between Fenris and Acha, drawing memories of the time he had seduced her completely. She had been his for the taking, powerless in his presence, and to prove it he had left a mark upon her flesh to prove his control to Lain. Acha moistened her lips as Fenris' desire returned. She felt Daniel's nails through her glove as he tightened his grip. It was an action that allowed him a measure of control, and for her it was grounding, returning her back to who she was.

Marise's steps were predatory and without footfall as she stalked around the room. Her vision searched every shadow, she heard every noise, or believed she did. She stood just mere feet away, yet somehow remained unaware of their presence. Her back was to Daniel, her hand resting on her hip as she looked over the bound figure of Fenris. Daniel clenched his jaw, his vision straying to Eiji's feet. He knew within one of his boots was a weapon. She was completely unaware of them; he could strike before she had chance to react. He could do it, he knew he could. There would still be Elly to contend with, perhaps, but after Marise was dead what happened to him was of no importance.

He was aware of Eiji's vision upon him, and glanced towards him, almost as if seeking permission. Eiji shook his head slowly. Daniel took an uneven breath. He did not need permission anyway. This was something that had to be done, and if he was the only one capable of doing it then so be it. He lurched forward, only to find himself pinned against the wall. Eiji's shoulder in front of his own, holding him firmly in place. The beads of sweat on Eiji's forehead indicative of a magic being weaved. Daniel looked down, seeing the tendrils of energy weaving up his legs, fixing him into place. How could he do this to him, how could he deny him revenge?

Daniel had thought long and hard about the circumstances surrounding his friend's death in the few minutes since Marise entered the room. He had to kill her, there was no choice. Zo had been given no burial, no fare so that her shade could be collected by Kharon. She would remain trapped in the banks of Acheron. She deserved better than that. In death at least she had to find peace, and with Marise here he could provide it.

Every muscle in his body flooded with energy, he knew he could move, a single glance confirmed what he knew, the almost invisible restraints had faded. Clearly this was permission in itself. He took a long slow breath, unaware of the fear in his friend's eyes. His fingers twitched, preparing for the quick action to follow. He tensed, counting himself to action.

'Three, two, one—'

“Have you found any sign of them?” Elly questioned, entering the room, her voice breaking his fixation. She seemed to be looking directly at him, the coldness in her gaze stealing the courage and strength he had taken so long to rally. He feared them exposed, but then, she turned her focus to Fenris. He was extremely pale, she only recalled having seen him in such a state once before in their long history. Taking a knife, she cut through the restraints, placing him with ease upon his favoured chair. She did not like how lethargic he was. When she had moved him there had been no resistance at all.

“There has been too much activity, but I do not think they have been gone long. I can still feel their power.” Marise glanced around the room once more before turning her attention to Elly. “Who could have done this to Fenris?” Under normal circumstances she may have been able to tell, she was proficient in detecting magic and its unique aura. Had the air not been saturated by so many different types she would have known long before Elly spoke, in fact, it was doubtful she would even still have been within these premises. If she had even the slightest idea of who had stood within these walls, she would have already been hunting them.

“Looking at the evidence I would say an Elementalist, someone who is no stranger to alchemy, and someone whose touch can steal life,” she assessed, once more glancing towards them. Perhaps it was simply a trick of the light, but her eyes seemed to flit to each of them as she spoke of their talents.

“You mean—”

“Yes, they must have been here for Chrissie. Fenris has grown careless, his method of seizing her left too many unanswered questions, questions which would lead directly to Cardow. Given that Acha would not be as susceptible to his powers it is quite clear what transpired here.” She looked at his pale complexion, wiping the dried blood from the corner of his mouth. “Once he fell to her, it gave them the time needed to rescue her and leave literally seconds before we arrived.” She looked again to the wall where they stood; there was something cold in her eyes. “We may have even passed them,” she added.

“Then we must go after them,” Marise demanded as she turned towards the hall where they had entered.

“No need, Collateral's portal to this land is a well-guarded secret, it's almost impossible to find. Even those who know of it would not dare to cross Fenris' land, let alone approach his tower. They would not have gone that way, and since there is a boat in the harbour, we must assume that is how they arrived, and plan to leave. The sailors will not be ready to depart for a few hours yet, so once we have seen to Fenris we can simply intercept them.”