41 The Beginning of the End (2/2)

”A real nasty burn.” Miles tried to explain.

”Burn? Well shit. I need you to go grab some aloe leaves from the downstairs. I'll also need to make it into an ointment so bring the supplies while you're down there. Don't forget the wrap, got it?” Zyron instructed, as he continued to the room where Eclipse was at.

”Uh right, I'll get that.” Miles replied, before he hurried downstairs, Zyron parted with him as he entered the room Miles lead him to, seeing Ashewyn looking over the wounded elf.

”Just tell me what to do to help.” Ashewyn spoke up, as he glanced over to Zyron.

”How about just warning me if you see any 'visions of rain'?” Zyron replied, as he drew closer to look over the burned arm, noticing that fabric of her clothes had been tarnished as well in the process. The wound seemed in pretty bad shape, as he unraveled the bandage that was placed on her some time prior. Blood was dried onto the fabric of it, and tearing as he tried to gently remove it. ”Crap. Okay, we should remove her coat, in case there are any concealed injuries besides these burns.”

”Let me get it.” Ashewyn reluctantly replied, as he shifted to remove the coat from Eclipse.

Ashewyn helped to remove the coat, leaving Eclipse in little more than her bikini top and her striped trousers. Under her coat however revealed she was hiding more injuries than she let on. Her torso had several bruises along with partially healed up scars and scraps covering her pale skin, albeit not as fresh as others. There were a few new wounds besides the burn on her arm, along with amassively swollen bruise on her upper rib cage. With her chest exposed this way, her visible breathing appeared staggered.

”Any sign of rain?” Zyron asked, cautiously.

Ashewyn shook his head. ”Not yet, just make sure she gets through this. That wound might be infected.”

”Shit. I'll do what I can.” Zyron replied, glancing to the door to see Miles enter.

Miles came up to them to deliver the herbs, and other healing agents as Zyron had instructed. He felt kind of weird in this situation, and quickly decided to leave Zyron to mending Eclipse. As Miles turned to shut the door behind him, he took notice of Ashewyn's demeanor, and was surprised how adamant the red haired Amygdala seemed in this moment. The feline shrugged it off and returned back down to the lower level of the hideout, keeping distance from Runfaust to avoid as much conflict as possible.

He glanced around as he descended the staircase, noticing Nye wasn't around, it was fairly early, so she may have still been sleeping, he thought. As his eyes trailed around the location, he took notice of Talis and Djinn, who had fallen asleep. The two girls were sitting at one of the tables closest to a wall, leaning against each other with the egg nestled in it's mother's arms.

Miles attention shifted around, noticing Solitaire on the upper level leaving her room after dressing herself. She stepped to the railing, peering down, but her attention didn't linger on Miles. She soon shifted her gaze to the room Eclipse was being looked over in.

From behind, Minerva's arm was wrapped over Miles' shoulder. ”You did good getting your friends here, kitten.” In her opposite hand she held a pint of beer, and seemed pretty content when she peered down to Miles with a subtle smirk, as she took a drink.

Miles' mind seemed to completely forget what he was doing, as his attention was now on her. ”I don't think I could have done it without you.” Miles smiled to her.

Minerva smirked before giving him a quick kiss on the nose. ”Sounds like you need me.”

”Reow. Well, maybe I do.” Miles flirted back, playfully placing his arm around her waist, which she allowed, before nipping to his ear. This of course made Miles purr.

Meanwhile, Zyron was upstairs finishing his work on Eclipse. He had cleaned her infected wounds and wrapped them up once he was done. ”That should about do it.” He took a breath, as he wiped sweat from his blond brows. ”Might be good to keep an eye on her for a while, just in case.”

”Leave that to me. Go make sure our other guests aren't wounded.” Ashewyn looked to the canine, his expression difficult to read.

”Fair enough.” Zyron nodded, before exiting the room to go check on the others as directed.

”Why do you feel like I'm your responsibility?... Is it because I showed you my vulnerable side sometime ago in the woods... and once more in the castle?...” Eclipse weakly spoke up.

”You're awake?” Ashewyn turned his gaze to her elven woman laying in the bed.

”Only for a short while now...” She replied, softly. ”Won't you tell me why?... I just... I want to understand.”

”Do I need a reason?” Ashewyn asked, sitting back down beside her.

”You're an Amygdala... but again... I suppose not. We are allies now.” Eclipse closed her eyes.

”Why did Aoba hurt you? Before the betrayal I mean.” Ashewyn inquired, looking to her in concern.

Eclipse opened her eyes to look to Ashewyn. ”He does that... If Aoba's not happy, he takes it out on others, especially the women in his harem... He claims to love us, but if we even remotely disagree he... He can turn very violent. We... had a few arguments... So he'd hit me continuously... Until my screams ceased...” She explained, in a soft, yet scared tone.

A tear suddenly trailed down her cheek, Ashewyn shifted his hand to stop it with his index finger as he looked to her. ”He's not going to hurt anymore.” Ashewyn said, causing Eclipse smile in response.

There was an abrupt knock at the door, followed by a voice. ”Oy, Smokey! I think we need your help our here.” Called Solitaire.

”...” Ashewyn went silent, before getting to his feet. ”Just rest for now. I'll check in on you in bit.” He said heading for the door.

As he opened the door, Solitaire gave him a stern yet concerned gaze.

”What is it?” He asked.

”Your sis. Runfaust is concerned, so he wants you to go help look for her. He's already sent Nye out. Seems dodgy innit?” Solitaire explained.

”... Shit.” He stepped passed Solitaire briefly. ”Look after Eclipse, and get Fluffy if anything seems off. I gotta go find Molly!” He replied sternly, before hurrying off to join Nye and Pneuma.

”Oy! We might need a bigger search party!” She shouted, but her words failed to reach Ashewyn as he had already made his way to the lower level with haste.

As Ashewyn reached the outside portion of their domain, the muggy air of the nearby swamp lands festered around him. A chilly breeze blew passed him as he made his way to search for Molly.

”MOLLY! ANSWER ME!!” He heard Pneuma's voice calling in the far distance.

”Molliana!” Another voice called, this one much closer, from seemingly the opposite side of the upcoming trench. Judging by the tone it had to be Nye, just as Solitaire mentioned.

Ashewyn proceeded in Nye's direction, moving through the brush of the muddy terrain. He came up to a woodland pass, taking notice of Nye standing on top a tree branch to get a better view of her surroundings.

Her eyes spotted his movement, shifting to peer down to Ashewyn. ”Ashe.”

”Any sign of Molly?” He inquired, his tone out of breath.

Nye closed her eyes and shook her head. ”No.”

”...” Ashewyn was clearly worried, but he had a lingering determination. ”We'll find her.”

”Then let's keep looking.” Nye replied, hopping down to the ground beside him.

The two of them resumed their search around the swamp, trying to help Pneuma find Molliana. If Pneuma was struggling to find her then something may have happened, they assumed. However, there didn't seem to be any Templar anywhere to be seen, and the forest was pretty quiet outside of the wildlife and monsters occupying the area, as well as their voices calling out to the missing girl.

”MA-MOMMY!!!” Cried out a staggered shriek from somewhere ahead of them. It sounded like Molliana's voice.

”Molly?!” Ashewyn gasped seriously.

”We should be swift.” Nye stated, as they two hurried in the direction of the her voice.

Deeper into the swamp, Molliana was being restrained by a man she could not see. Her eye was blind folded, and her arms bound behind her back. Tears seeped into the shroud, as she cried for help. A hand touched her head as dark eyes focused around them.

”That a girl, keep cryin'. 'Bout time we get these shits movin', eh?” The voice of Pythagoras chuckled softly as his elf-like ears wriggled to listen carefully.

”I...I want my.... my mommy...” Molliana whimpered, snot running down her lips with the tears that managed to escape being sucked into the cloth.

”Shh-shh-shh. She'll be here kiddo. Don't you worry your pretty little head. Mommy's comin', I can smell it.” Pythagoras grinned, as he pinched her cheeks into her face with his more human shaped hand. ”You can scream all you want, but whimperin' ain't doin' nothin' for ya.” He said, pulling roughly on one of her pigtails.

”EEEKKKKK!!!” She yelped, as her sobbing voice cracked in panic.

”Get your hands off her!” Ashewyn's voice demanded, as he and Nye finally emerged from the brush.

”A-A-Ashe?...” Molliana whimpered, her voice trembling with terror, as she continued to sob profusely behind the shroud.

”it's okay Molly, we're here.” Ashewyn tried to calm her from afar.

”Well now, you two took your sweet time gettin' here. This little one must be yours, am I right?” Pythagoras grinned, with a soft cackle under his breath.

”Let her go, before we make you.” Nye insisted, preparing to summon her wraith-edge.

”I wouldn't do that if I was you.” Pythagoras waved his finger back and forth, as his claw like hand gently placed around Molliana's neck. ”I'm here to talk, so listen or this squirt gets popped.”

Nye retreated her hand back before the sword could form, letting her eyes pan to Ashewyn, who kept a serious focus on Pythagoras. ”What do you want?” He begrudgingly asked, in a defensive manner.

”What I want? Ahahah!!” He cackled wildly, before shifting to a menacing gaze to them. ”Involves someone else, but that ain't why I'm here. Not entirely. Mistress has an offer for you, and it gets me what I want.”

”What might that be? You're part of the cult, no doubt.” Nye inquired, preparing to take action if it was required of her.

”Depends. Either your allies can join us, or you'll have to play the Queen's game on our turf. Now, don't make any any rash decisions just yet. Before you do, did'ja want this squirt alive or dead? You comply with the offer and she goes free, but betray us... or decline, well-” Pythagoras drags his thumb across his neck, as he mimics the sound of a blade cutting into flesh. ”Shhhhhhhhttt... Hahahhaahah, catch my drift?”

”Hnn...hnn....Ma...Mommy...” Molliana was shaking, as she continued to cry in fear.

The sound of flapping was subtlety hanging overhead as a massive bastard sword came crashing down with one great bound. Before it could meet it's target however, the sword was deflected by several strands of green hair tendrils. The hair continued to coil around the sharp edge, as the wielder struggled to keep grip on the hilt of the blade. Pythagoras' eyes loomed over to Pneuma who was determined to strike him down. Ashewyn and Nye were stunned on her entrance.

”Did'ja want the kid to die?” Pythagoras asked, boredly. ”...Wasn't I clear on the terms, hag? I know you've been watchin', I ain't stupid.”

”Pneuma, he's not fooling around!” Ashewyn tried to reason with her.

”Let her go. NOW!” Pneuma demanded, completely ignoring Ashewyn like an angry mother bear, struggling to save her cub.

Pythagoras scoffed with a faint smirk, as he sent Pneuma flying back into a tree, with her sword getting stuck on far from her in the muddy ground. His tendril-like hair slithered back around him after forcing Pneuma away. The action had taken Ashewyn and Nye's attention from Molliana briefly.

”Ahahaha... Consider this a formal invitation to the underground. I warned ya 'bout this.” Pythagoras grinned, as he gripped tightly to one of Molliana's ponytails, forcing her to look at them.

”EEEEK! No... Please.... don't....” Molliana pleased, as she cried out. All three of them immediately turned their attention back to her with the feeling a trepidation rolling in.

”Say 'bye',squirt!!” He cackled as his eyes widened crazily.

Without a second thought, the claw crunched into Molliana's neck like a guillotine. Panic rose in their eyes, watching as the young child's head was clipped from her shoulders. The movements happened so quick as Molliana's head dropped to the ground, rolling from her body as it fell.

”No.... No..... Molly....” Pneuma frantically began to sob. Blood started to coat the ground, but Pneuma's anguish turned to rage as she grabbed her blade, and rushed at Pythagoras like a hellbent demon ready to slaughter. ”You're going to regret EVER CROSSING ME!!!!!” Pneuma screamed out, with tears of rage flying from her vengeful eyes.