36 Labyrinth of Bloodshed (1/2)

Chapter 36: Labyrinth of Bloodshed

Around one of the upper corridors of Skyworld castle; Solitaire had decided to go exploring on her own. She figured she could look for breaches in the templar elsewhere than the crowd from Eclipse's instructions. ”(I bet I can find better rubbish on the templar my own way. No sense eavesdropping on some daft gossip.)” She thought to herself, in an almost arrogant manner.

As she was walking, Solitaire came across a partially ajar door. There was nothing but darkness visible from the small opening.Solitaire decided to approach it, gently pushing against the creaking door, as it slowly opened. Only the light from behind her seemed to illuminate the black room, until she noticed a window where the twin waning moons was visibly casting light inside.

However she also took notice of a small figure, cloaked in the enveloping darkness. They seemed to be staring out at the moons, but Solitaire accidentally took a step back, bumping the door. As it creaked again, the childlike figure slowly cranked their head her way, with a wide grin. ”Daddy will be angry if he knew you found me.” The boyish voice came from the figure.

Chills rushed up Solitaire's spine, as she saw the little boy's unnerving face. The glimpse of his shadowed over expression reminded her of a spider. The sight of this child was so terrifying, it literally froze Solitaire in place.

”Why so quiet? Hee hee hee.... ” The boy giggled, before he turned his body, to face her. Small wings stretched out, as the boy suddenly lunged at her like a savage beast. ”Come on! Don't you want to play?!” He called out, in a terrifying manner, as he dove her way.

”EEEEEKKKKK!!?” Solitaire let out a brief scream, as she urgently retreated the room, and quickly slammed the door shut behind her.

There was a loud thud as the boy hit the door, causing Solitaire to flinch anxiously. Her heart was racing, but she heard the clawed footsteps of the child creep away from the door. She eventually slid down to to her knees as she panted to catch her breath. She let her head sink down to lean against the tops of her legs, closing her eyes for a moment.

The clopping of hooves approached her, causing Solitaire to gaze up in worry. Standing there was Max, but he seemed to be giving her a strange look. ”Whatcha doing fossiking around up here mate?”

”I... I was just taking a bloodygander, not like I'm gallivanting around for shites and giggles. I thought I could get better rubbish on the Templar up here was all.” She frantically tried to explain herself, without letting him know she had been spooked by whatever was behind that closed door.

Max gave her a suspicious look, before glancing to the closed door. ”Cricky...”

Solitaire took notice, and stammered to get the words out. ”Before you ask, there's a-”

”Found that tall poppy's secret, eh? Well good onya, actually bloody hard yakka. I bet Eclipse will wanna yabber with you on that. Pretty tinny I found you though, there's actually been a change of plans. I'll fill you in on the way there. Come on mate, let's get a move on it.” Max interrupted her, but seemed more concerned about getting to the ballroom.

”Bollocks, really? Alright then.” Solitaire groaned, as she followed after the stallion.

Elsewhere at the same moment, the event with Miles in the dank and eerie chambers of torture, resumed. ”NOOOO!!!! AHHHH!! SOMEONE! Please!! Huhuhhuh... H-H-Help!!” Miles had pleaded desperately in tears, as he cried for help. Dimitri could only grin in pleasure at his traumatized prisoner, while enjoying every moment of his suffering. Dimitri's nibble fingers picked up Miles' removed digits and turned to place them in a glass jar on the shelf behind him.

Miles' panic was worsening, causing him to take this moment to get up. However, before he was able to flee, Dimitri had caught him by the throat. The mage's grin quickly faded, as he clutched Miles' collared neck. ”And where might you think you're going?” The intimidating man asked, as he eerily leered at the feline.

With his free hand, Dimitri grabbed Miles' right wrist. The feline grew worrisome, realizing what this madman could do to this hand as well. He shifted quickly in hopes of escaping Dimitri's grasps, only to knock the deceased body onto the ground in puddle of their own blood. Miles immediately felt his back roughly shoved against the cold and sticky wooden table, forcing blood to come out his nostrils. The chain of his collar suddenly locked his back in place on the torture table.

”W-What!?” Miles gasped in panic, reaching his blood covered free hand to clutch the collar the best he could. Without two of his digits it was near impossibly to get a hold of it.

”How about you to tell me where you took The Grand Master's pet, before I REALLY start wounding you.” Dimitri stated, in a cold tone.

Miles gasped, trying to pull his wrist away from the mage, only to have it placed into a restraint. ”I-I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!!!” Miles cried out, struggling more.

The scalpel suddenly slammed down next to Miles's head, puncturing his left earlobe. Immediately, Miles' eyes teared up again as he felt the blade pull harshly away from him; ripping open his ear.

”Akkk!!!” Miles gasped, scrambling around his feet in attempt of getting loose.

Dimitri however was getting annoyed, using a magic spell to force his legs down. Restraints immediately snapped shut, as Miles was locked into this contraption without a way to get free; all this while his left hand was bleeding heavily to the grimy stone floor.

”Now, now. Let's not have any more of that, shall we?” Dimitri took the scalpel again, rubbing it softly against Miles' throat. ”I'mstill waiting for my answer, vermin.” He said with the cold gaze still locked onto the trembling feline.

”I...I told you... I don't know...” Miles replied, softly in between heavy breaths.

”I can't say I believe you.” Dimitri scoffed. ”You're much like that hare, you Leashed leave little to the imagination, it's rather patheticreally. Nevertheless, I WILL get my answer out of you yet. Now hold still!” Dimitri took the blade, cutting into Miles' right petrol muscle.

”AIIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!! I-I TOLD YOU- I DON'T KNOOOOOOOOWW!!!!” Miles screamed in pain.

A swift smack collided with Miles' face, as Dimitri backhanded him. Fearfully the feline quieted down to a whimper, his eye and cheek now blacked from the physical contact.

”It-It was that rabbit.... I didn't....” Miles' voice cracked, cowering as Dimitri rose his hand at him again.

”Rabbit you say?... Hige.... That little traitor...” Dimitri lowered his palm, as he turned from Miles to held his chin. ”Hmmm.... Oh whatever shall I do with him... Clearly he has not learned his lesson since the last incident. I suppose I'll have to remove a bit more than just a set of testicles then.”

”W-What?” Miles gasped in a shaken tone. ”(He castrated him?! Is-Is he planning to do THAT to ME TOO!?)”

Dimitri turned boredly to gaze upon the battered feline. ”Oh? Didn't he tell you? Perhaps he was too ashamed to mention just what I put him through.” Dimitri gestured to Miles, with a subtle smirk crossing his lips. ”This? This is nothing in comparison to what amount of torture that hare endured by my hand. I estimated that he had changed his tune after that endeavor; even the aftermath of the position I placed him in, that inevitably lead to his friend's utter death. No matter how dire the consciences, you selfish vermin just don't learn, it seems. I just may have to cut out that thieving heart of his, well, after I'm through with you that is.” Dimitri stated, as he began to approach Miles once again.

”B-But I....” Miles fearfully whimpered.

Neither had noticed yet, but from the outer hallway, Ashewyn had finally located them. He peered inside, as cautiously as he could with a serious gaze. It was clear, however, that he was sickened by what he had seen and just heard. ”(I have to do something.)” He thought.

Steam began to envelop the room, and the thick fog was making it impossible to see. ”Don't even think of moving an inch, I'm not finished with you yet.” Dimitri grew annoyed, setting down his tools before approaching the staircase. ”I swear this better not be some shenanigan that Merric is pulling.” He muttered under his breath, before ascending to the main corridor. Miles could barely see anything, as he heard Dimitri walk away from the entrance to investigate.

Another set of footsteps seemed to approach him, the sound was certainly not Dimitri's. Miles tried to shift, but he was growing a bit weary from the loss of blood. ”...Someone.... P-Please.....” He stammered in desperation.

”...What did that guy do to you?” Ashewyn's voice asked, as he came into view.

”Red?” Miles asked, almost in disbelief.

”Yeah, it's me. Damn...” Ashewyn was looking over Miles' condition. ”You really shouldn't have gone against my plan... Not that we can change that now.” He stated, in concern.

Miles could only furrow his brows at Ashe, understanding all too well just how stupid his choice of disobeying him was. Ashewyn touched his hands to the restraints, to melt them away with his fire magic. Afterwards he helped Miles up, and noticed his hand, seeming completely shocked.

”Even this is a bit too much karma. Give it here.” Ashewyn reaching out his hand.

”... I probably deserved it...” Miles lowered his head, before timidly extending his butchered hand to Ashewyn.

”If you really think that, then I hope you learned your lesson.” Ashewyn spoke softly, before he examined Miles' hand. ”This is gonna hurt, but it should stop the bleeding.”

”That's fine... Not like I can feel my hand now anyways...” Miles replied quietly, trying to crack a joke. He was just relieved that Ashewyn came to save him.

Ashewyn grimaced slightly, as he carefully placed his palm against the open wound. Miles flinched briefly, before Ashe proceeded to cauterize the infliction. This made Miles nearly bite his tongue from the pain, but he seemed to be putting up with it the best he could. As Ashewyn released Miles' hand, the feline took a deep breath. ”Oooowww... Okay... That hurt...” Miles winced.

”Warned you. Anyways. We shouldn't linger here too long, who knows when that guy might come back. Let's hurry.” Ashewyn turned for the door.

”Right... We still gotta save Nye.” Miles nodded, before quickly grabbing his jacket and sword from the corner of the room, where it had been carelessly tossed to sometime before he had regained consciousness.

The two proceeded for the hall, only to walk right into Dimitri's line of sight. Without given warning, Ashewyn was sent flying from a magical attack from the mage's tome. Miles' expression shifted to terror as he saw Ashewyn being blasted off his feet, fearfully shifting his shaken eyes to Dimitri.

”It was only a matter of time for more of you vermin to crawl out of hiding.” Dimitri boredly looked to Ashewyn.

Ashe got up from the ground, somewhat bruised fro that attack. He shifted his hand to rub his knuckles under his nose, keeping a serious gaze on Dimitri. ”So this was all just a trap, huh?”

”A trap you say? What in Maker's name are you babbling about? Is there something else going on, besides you followers of the Queen of Fiends?” Dimitri grew curious, but it only made him seem more menacing.

”(So Eclipse didn't set us up. Good... I was worried there for a second.)” Ashewyn seemed relieved, as he thought for a moment. ”Just talking to myself.” Ashewyn finally replied with a scoff, as he rushed Dimitri's way.

Miles nervously scrambled for his sword, but was immobilized by fear as he watched Ashewyn flame up, and engage Dimitri in combat. Flames and light expelled around them as Ashe used his flaming aura to clash with Dimitri's light magic tome. Balls of light began to form behind the mage.

As the book floated above his hand, Dimitri swung his free arm, casting out the several spheres of light in Ashewyn's direction. The barrage of orbs collided where Ashewyn stood, but embers of this created smoke that blocked any line of sight, as each of the spheres exploded on contact. Miles stood in shock, horrified by the sudden deadly strike.

”Ashe?... ” Miles whimpered, his eyes trembling.

Flames emerged not far from Dimitri, where it formed back to a physical state. Ashewyn appeared from it, seemingly unscathed from the explosive onslaught. Dimitri took notice of this, as he glanced back see Ashewyn flying his way, with flames trailing behind his wings like a speed boost.

Dimitri smirked at the sight, almost as if he was enjoying this. ”You're proving rather annoying. So this is where you die.”

The mage held up index and middle finger to point at Ashewyn. Suddenly the tips began to glow, right before a light beam shot Ashewyn's way. Quickly the Amygdala weaved his flight range, just barely dodging the attack.

”What?!” Dimitri appeared shocked that Ashewyn had avoided his attack, seeing the red haired Amygdala come flying into close range. Ashewyn gripped to Dimitri's face with his flame ignited hand, slamming him back hard into the stone floor of the castle.