34 Plan of Infiltration (1/2)

Chapter 34: Plan of Infiltration

Within Knothole, the entrance door burst open with Ashewyn and Miles barreling down the stairs to the main section of the hideout. Everyone except Jackyn was downstairs, and all of which turned to face them with startled and confused expressions.

”What the hell's going on?” Zyron gave them a funny look.

”-and Where's Spooky?” Solitaire added, as she crossed her arms, with an unsure expression.

Ashewyn shrugged, closing his eyes. ”It's complicated, but we need to keep this as quiet and calm as possible. I'll explain the details as short and sweet as I can, but we need to keep quiet. We can't let Jackyn get involved, not with his condition.” He said, as he gathered them all over by the bar.

Ashewyn sat down on the bar table, with his arms crossed, with all the concerned eyes eagerly placed on him. Miles kept a bit of distance, watching the others as Ashewyn explained what occurred.

”As you probably guessed, I was out confronting Miles about his antics. I guess Nye decided to give him a piece of her mind too, and followed us out into the marshlands. Before we even realized anything, one of the Templar's Terra showed up.” Ashewyn sighed briefly, as he slightly shook his head. ”He snuck up on Nye, and took off with her... No doubt he's taken her to Skyworld...”

”Wait-wait, excuse me, but WHAT?! Dammit... That's not good!” Zyron gritted his teeth. ”W-What the fuck are we supposed to do?”

”Hmmm.... That's a good question. It's no easy feat reaching the land in the skies. Even if one can fly like those 'angels'.” Runfaust spoke up, crossing his arms as he thought for a moment.

”What would the Rhyme want with Nye though? I don't understand.” Solitaire added. ”She's not the real Queen of Fiends. Surely they know that... Right?”

”No one can be for certain. It's fairly clear to me, that it's imperative we proceed to Skyworld. If we don't act with haste, who knows what that Templar Grand master has planned for her, if he does in fact believe she's the True Queen of Fiends.” Pneuma turned seriously to the others.

As they were discussing the matter, a metallic clank suddenly hit the floorboards below the stairwell. Everyone slowly turns to where the source of the sound came from, with unsure expressions, to spot a knife stuck in the ground. It was a very specific knife that only one person amongst them carried. All of their eyes panned for the upper floor, to notice Jackyn holding onto the railing. He must have been holding the knife, and lost his footing to have dropped it. His fangs gritted, letting those intimidating blue eyes gaze to them all with a serious expression.

”You shouldn't be walking around, you can barely stand.” Ashewyn got to his feet, as he gave Jackyn a strict tone.

”I'm fine, besides, I already heard the whole thing. What makes you assume I'll just sit back while who-knows-what is happening to Nye right now? I'm going!” Jackyn retorted as he shakily proceeded down the stairs, carrying determination in his voice.

”In the condition you're in? It'll be safer if you let us handle this. You go up there, you'll be an immediate target for the Templar. You know that.” Ashewyn gestured, in a frustrated manner.

”I don't care. Can't you see that I've already made up my mind?” Jackyn reached the bottom of the staircase, struggling to keep his balance with that new leg.He wearily shifted to retrieve his knife from the floorboard.

”You should listen if you know what's good for you! You'll only get in the way.” Miles scoffed, crossing his arms with a slight hiss.

Those piercing blue eyes rose, shooting a sharp glare at Miles. Miles nearly gulped as he saw Jackyn walking his way, never even shifting away his intimidating gaze.

”Do you really wanna test me, cat?!” Jackyn got up in Miles' face, scowling in a menacing way.

Miles tried to keep a brave face, but his knees were already rattling slightly. ”B-Bring it!” He stammered, his knees buckling in.

”Miles, back off. You've already caused enough problems as it is.” Ashewyn scolded, trying to keep the peace.

Miles took a few steps backwards, averting his eyes from Jackyn as he got to a distance. ”...”

Ashewyn sighed, in annoyance as he rubbed his head. However, his eyes turned back over to Jackyn. ”Well... Seeing you won't listen to reason. Have it your way, Jackyn. We need a plan though... or things are gonna go south REAL quick.”

Pneuma placed her knuckles to her hips as she turned to Ashe. ”Ashewyn, the only way we're going to have any chance of reaching the Rhyme's city in the sky, is by flight. That leaves just the two of us.”

”Pneuma's right about that, Ashe.” Runfaust glanced over, obviously taking her side.

”I-I don't w-wanna fight...” Molliana began to bawl in fear, but Pneuma pulled her into a hug, stroking her hair.

”Shh... It's alright Molly. You're going to stay here where it's safe.” Pneuma motherly comforted the little cyclops.

”O-Okay... Mommy...” Molliana sniffled, wiping her nose, tenderly.

Ashewyn shook his head. ”I think it's better if you stay here too, and keep watch over things. We're gonna have to be less conspicuous. With too many Amygdala, we'll likely attract more attention from the Rhyme.”

Pneuma crossed her arms, ”You're becoming quite the tactician, Ashe. Very well, we'll do this your way. I'll remain here with Molliana.”

”Thanks for understanding.” He smiles back, before turning to Runfaust and then Adam. ”Fiends are out of the question too, seeing you'd be a walking target for obvious reasons. Sorry Adam, that means you're helping by sticking back here too. Same goes for you old man. Also, Adam... Keep an eye on my sis, alright?”

”I'll do what I can.” Adam accepted, with a gentle nod.

”Very well, then I shall remain here as well.” Runfaust agreed, without disagreement.

Ashewyn then turns to Solitaire. ”So, that leaves Jackyn, and Solitaire to join me on our trip to Skyworld.”

”W-What? Why are you choosing me to go, mate? I can't fly.” Solitaire seemed stunned.

”Besides that, What about me!?” Miles spat out, obviously wanting to go. ”-Or the mutt for that matter!?”

”Don't even start, asshole!” Zyron growled at Miles.

”Miles, first off, this is YOUR fault. Don't make me repeat myself again. You're gonna stay here, and when we get back, you'll receive a punishment of Nye's choosing. So shut it!” Ashewyn snapped.

He had immediately shut Miles down, letting the feline slink back with an annoyed gaze. ”...”

Ashewyn returned his gaze to the pink haired Morphious. ”Look, I'm picking you to go because you smell human, and you look it. Yet underneath that facade is a lethal weapon. This is a battle after all.”

”Bugger.... Fine. Innit gonna be hard to fly with both of us? Hope you got a bleeding idea how we're gonna get up there.” Solitaire grumbled.

”I didn't think about that...” Ashewyn grimaced, with a serious expression.

Zyron rolled his eyes, before getting struck with a though. ”Hey. I have an idea.” He spoke up, getting the others attention. ”Some time back, a couple of Terra helped me save Solitaire. These guys claimed they were forming a resistance group, and opposed the Templar. They were pretty insistent on recruiting me for their cause, and even gave me their location, despite that I fucking told them I wasn't interested. Thing is, their boss is the current Spymaster of the Grand master, so they obviously are already planning to over throw the guy as it is.” Zyron spoke up, getting out the details the best he could.

”What might you be implying?” Runfaust glanced to Zyron.

”I can get Solitaire in, make sure no shady shit goes down. Assuming we're avoiding any detection, might be smart to just fly Jackyn up there.” Zyron explained.

”...” Jackyn kept quiet, already impatient as it was.

”Sounds like a good plan.” Pneuma glanced over to Ashewyn. ”I'm amazed of how much wit this Vulpis posses.”

”Damn straight.” Zyron snorted slightly.

”Alright then, let's do this. Zyron, you escort Solitaire, while Jack and I take to the skies. Everyone else, stay put.” Ashewyn nodded.

The scene transitioned to a dark chamber in Skyworld, where their prison cells were located. Nye was immediately flung into an open cell, with her arms bound behind her back with magic-resistant restraints. She tumbles briefly, before colliding with the wall, causing some rocks to chip off, and fall to the ground beside where she laid. Nye's eyes shifted behind her, struggling to move her hands, as she attempted to summon her wraith-edge.

”Pfft. Try all you want, those bindings render your magic useless.” Spoke the harsh tone of her captor.

Gaigas steps into the cell, and approaches Nye. He knelt down beside her, with a cold gaze, before clutching roughly to the top of her hair to force the blond to look at him in the eyes.

He grinned dastardly, ”Oh, the things I would do to you if Aoba let me. Hahaha, you're so vulnerable, like a powerless little lamb. Really makes me HUNGRY.” Gaigas' tone grew sharper, as his grip tightened.

Nye flinched, baring her fangs in pain, as she endured the roughness of this beastly dragon. ”...”

he darkness of the chamber was then broken, as a door behind Gaigas opened; illuminating the path of the entrance with the torch lit corridor. Gaigas' eyes glanced to it, as a familiar blond haired woman entered the room. From this angle, Nye could only see to about her mouth, when the upper half of her face was just barely out of her line of sight.

”Gaigas, you know that Master Aoba doesn't want you to ruin his new toy. I suggest you leave her to me, like he instructed.” She spoke up, with her hands to her hips.

The dragon snarled, releasing his grip on Nye, letting her drop to the cell floor. ”Whatever. Just stop looking at me with that FACE! You know I HATE when you do that!!”

”Then get out. You don't have to like it.” The woman smirked.

”Tzz.” Gaigas grunted, with a scoff before shoving passed her to leave the chamber.

The woman watched him leave, before stepping closer to Nye. ”Sorry about the riff-raff, he's much like a dog who refuses to obey anyone but his master. Everyone else is just in his way.” She said, as she crouched down, to shift Nye up, allowing the Amygdala to sit and face her. ”So, you're the new competition. Hmm. Different than I was expecting. Oh well, I know how Aoba is.”

Nye finally was able to see the woman's face, immediately recognizing her as Astrid, the templar that was hunting Jackyn some time ago. She then had a brief recollection of something Jackyn had told her during their time speaking together. ”The Templar Baroness that was hunting me... I killed her.” She heard Jackyn's voice echoed in her mind.

”Oh, don't look at me like that. I may appear to be a Rhyme, but that doesn't quite mean I AM one.” Astrid said, before her face and body morphed into her true form, the succubus woman named Horrifica. ”See? Becoming other people is much like putting on a mask. Oh,excuse me, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Horrifica Lilitu, love. As you can see, I am a succubus. I can be anyone I want to be. Even you. Kee hee hee.”