The Forgotten Zodiac

((Because I've realized that I lacked a truly wise character. xD Rush has intelligence, and everyone else is about the middle on both regards, but I never made one who was more wise than knowledgable.))

Rush was awake, whispering something as he stared at the floor. He was in a cage hanging from the ceiling; below him were thick iron spikes. Rush already knew what the little beeping mechanism the chain was attached to was. Too much magical movement from him would cause the entire getup to collapse. He would be impaled instantly. The Library knew this too; it was practically asleep again, as ordered by VPS.

"Byrne," He spoke as he realized that the boy was awake. "Byrne, listen to me..." He glared down at the boy. "We're in the science department of the Darkland's castle. I have no idea what the Phantom is planning, but whatever you do, when he turns on the lights, don't look. Don't look at anything. Shut your eyes and don't you dare peek. Is that understood?" He hissed. "It's just us two in here..."

L'arc was in a different room entirely. When the door finally opened, no one but the Phantom entered. "Hello there, child. How are you this fine evening?"

((Yepyep.))

((I get ya. But what about Jerod?))

Byrne nodded slowly, recognising Rush's voice and knowing well enough to obey the chimera. He had to know what he was talking about, right? The human had never been here before, but Rush and, and Byrne trusted Rush.

L'arc let out a low growl, glaring at the Phantom. He struggled more vigorously against his ties as the Phantom appeared, wanting very much to strangle him. "Mmm mmm mphhh!" he yowled. It was "Let me go!" underneath the gag, but the thick fabric rendered his words unintelligible.

Of course, he was sure the demon understood.

((Good catch. : P He'll come in later.

Also, Byrne has something attached to his chest that will eat his fear and eventually that will be converted to power which the Phantom will use for something or other.))

"Good...just...don't open your eyes. No matter what you hear from me. They won't kill me, I..." Rush muttered. "I'm a good test subject..." What he meant by that was rather vague. Was he a good subject in that he didn't struggle or fight back, or did it have to do with his hardy and mixed DNA?

"Hm...no." The Phantom chortled, knowing what L'arc was saying. He'd heard the muffled cry enough times. "You're going to die, L'arc. I'm going to kill you. Just like I killed her..." He pulled a stiff furry, bloody ear out of his small bag. "Aries...she was such a brave warrior. Brave enough to try and take me on." He tutted, shaking his head. "I tore her apart and kept this as a souvenier. Here," She moved forward and tucked it into L'arc's pocket. "You can take that with you to your grave."

((Otay.))

Byrne shivered, but he knew the action could not be attributed to the temperature of the room. Suddenly, he felt a bit weaker, and trembled a bit, shaking his head slowly. He let out a low whimper, looking up at Rush.

L'arc's expression went from defiant to mortified. He shook his head slowly, in denial, in untter disbelief at what he was hearing. "Nn," he groaned. [i]No. No![/i] He looked up at the Phantom, glaring and struggling. "Nn!"

"Don't be scared," Rush insisted. "It's fine. Just don't--" He stopped as the door was opened and the lightswitch was flipped on. It revealed two things; there was no one else in the room, they were in the surgery room, and someone had been bleeding in here.

Rush looked down, seeing the large tick-like object attached to Byrne's chest. It was draining power from Byrne's very heartbeat; being scared or afraid would only speed it up, and he wouldn't be capable of movement until it was off or full.

"Yes, yes, yes," The Phantom chortled, then laughed. "Come along, then, bring him in." He gestured to the door. It opened, and none other than Sylas was pushed in. His arms were broken and bloody, and his shirt was off, revealing a long line and a bulge under his skin. "Sylas, how are you, lad?" The Phantom smiled and grabbed Sylas by the arms and pulled hi mup, causing him to cry out in pain. Wail in agony. He struggled and tried to pull away, but that only hurt worse.

The Phantom moved behind Sylas, tapping his chest. "I put a wonderful little device in his chest. I'm going to send him to the Manakete Palace...and then...boom~! He explodes, and so does the entire mountain!" He laughed and laughed. Sylas shook and wept, unable to look at L'arc.

Byrne looked down at himself, feeling the breath in his throat catch. "Mmmnn?" the human turned a confused, frieghtened gaze up to Rush. He couldn't do much more, he found, even though he was not tied down like he thought he'd been. There was, indeed, a gag in his mouth, but the rest of him body remained passive of its own volition. His gaze wandered back to the creature-thing on his chest, and he let out a soft whimper.

"Aaahff!" L'arc cried, immediately beginning to struggle harder than he had before. "Ownn urrph mmm!" he flat-out begged, not that the Phantom could understand. The sentiment was understood, though. "Nnn! NNN!" he screamed through the gag.

((I actually didn't understand that one. xDD))

"Close your eyes!" Rush screeched at him, but it was too late. He was dragged out of the cage and grabbed by the head, the demon's thumb pressing into his cheek. He immediately stopped, not moving any more than he needed to in order to get strapped down to the table properly.

"So...let's see the orders..." The demon picked up a clipboard, examining it for a moment, then started carefully attaching thick wires to Rush's arm. The one the scales were growing in. The one his Dragonstone was buried in. He shuddered and closed his eyes, not wanting to watch what was going to be done to him. Not wanting Byrne to watch, either...but he couldn't make himself speak. He thought he might throw up if he opened his mouth.

Sylas wept bitterly, shaking his head and letting it hang. The Phantom let him go, and he collapsed on the floor in a heaping mess. "Ohh, bring in the other one. I'm liking the looks he's giving me," Phantom giggled, then frowned at the door. "Not ready? What do you mean, you just got started...? Fine! Tch..."

((You weren't supposed to. Ahem: "Stop! Don't hurt him! No! NOO!" ))

Byrne let out a thin moan, wanting desprately to help Rush, but he, of course, could not. He didn't know what was going on, or why he couldn't move, or what the creature on his chest wanted, or why he felt so dizzy, or why...

Remembering Rush's words from before at last, the human closed his eyes, feeling tears squeezing through them nonetheless.

[i]You like this? Why you little... why don't you take the gag out, and I'll give you a piece of my mind, and a sword through the gut while I'm at it! Let's see how strong you are when you face me when I'm free, not... not... let me go! Leave Sylas alone![/i]

The words were little more than babble when filtered through the fabric covering L'arc's mouth, but the potent glare on his face told the Demon King everything the druid had said. If only looks could kill... L'arc suddenly wished he had been born a Basilisk.

((For future reference, the ~ key is to be noted as a break, when I'm on my phone. :I))

"Don't open your eyes, Byrne," Rush sounded pained. There was a sickening splattering sound; they had cut open his arm, and blood was flowing freely to the ground. "Don't look!" He cried out before screaming in pain. But he didn't move. Not an inch. That was why...he was a 'good' test subject. They had wired his brain to paralyze him when they pressed on his pressure points in a specific way.

"Oh, come now...I didn't hurt him. I just came up with the plan to make him hurt others." The Phantom laughed, grinning.

((Got it.))

Byrne let out another whimper, this one louder than the last, but obeyed. He wondered what they were doing to the chimera, and why they were ignoring the human for now. He shuddered and tried to sit up, to run away or to help Rush in some way, but to no avail.

"Nnn!" L'arc growled, the ropes holding him creaking now, but still holding despite the druid's best efforts to get free.

((And for you, I'll come back and actually chance the ~s into breaks. x3))

Rush just kept wailing and crying out. Finally, the dripping stopped, and Rush quieted down. "How do you feel?"

"It hurts..."

"It's supposed to. Besides the obvious?"

Rush did nothing but breathe for a moment. Then, "My arm is numb. It feels dead."

"Oh, that's no good. Not to worry. I suppose you can't feel the plug, then?" The Demon rapped at something that sounded metallic, attached to Rush's wrist for the time being. It looked like it could be taken off pretty easily.

"No. Don't feel it." Rush muttered.

"Oh, good. Don't worry, we'll have your arm back in a few minutes. Just...oi!" The voice was directed at Byrne this time. "Open your eyes. Helloooo? You're not asleep, I know youaren't...should I electrocute you?"

"Shut up." The Phantom sneered. "Sylas, how are you holding up?"

"Leave me alone," Sylas moaned, curled up alone where he was. "It's all a bad nightmare...go away, go away..." He whimpered and cried weakly, then got on his knees and dragged himself over to L'arc. The Phantom kicked at him, but he screamed, "At least let me say goodbye!" King Verolen the First chortled and stepped back. Sylas pressed his face to L'arc's leg, sobbing uncontrollably. "L'arc...you have to...remember me. No matter wh-what happens..." He whimpered.

"Time's up, boy. Your flight to the palace is waiting for you." The Phantom smirked.

((:D))

Byrne whimpered a shuddered, feeling his heart begin to beat faster as the scientist turned his attention to him. His eyes remained shut, though, as Rush had commanded, though the human was nore trembling more than before.

((SYLAS CANNOT DIE. IF HE DIES, I WILL KILL YOU. AND ALSO GABE AND MAYBE L'ARC. KAPUT THE END. D: ))

L'arc's cries quieted and he fell still as Sylas came over, but wanting to hurt his best friend with his struggling. He only stared at the human after his words, then turned a rage-filled glare to the Phantom. "Nn," he begged. "Nn, leesth."

"Open those eyes of yours, boy." The demon jabbed Byrne in the ribs with something metallic. "Oh, it's not on..." A moment later, and Byrne was jabbed again; this time, painful electricity shot through his entire body.

((HE IS NOT GONNA DIE.))

"No, L'arc. See, I'm going to destroy you. Bit by tiny bit. First, I thought I'd destroy your dear supports. Those who you lean upon in your time of need. Bermuda is at the castle. See, I knew of his torture at the Oceanican Senator's hands. So I simply slipped in one night and embedded the trigger to this bomb in his wrist. It won't just blow; it'll blow up Sylas, Minori and Bermuda at the same. All of them, dead. Come along," He grabbed Sylas by the arm again and took him to the door. "Is that second one ready yet?" He snapped, throwing Sylas out. "Argh, fine...speed it up a bit, will you? I'm tired of waiting. Get him on his way to the Palace. Make sure to rough him up a bit, first...Bermuda will have no choice but to get close, to try and heal his dear friend..."

((WHEW. IT'S A GOOD THING BERMUDA LOST A GOOD BIT OF HIS HEALING ABILITY.))

Byrne wailed, feeling his muscles sieze and jerk of their own will. He tried to form words, tried to beg the man to stop, but his mind was on fire - he could do little more than scream and keep his eyes closed.

L'arc quaked with rage and sorrow. He was... going to lose everyone... Hot, angry tears blossomed in his eyes, though he did his best not to let them fall. "NN!"

When the electricity stopped, the demon stepped back and started kicking Byrne. "Open. Up. Your. Gosh. Darn. Eyes!" He snarled in rage. "Look at me, why don't you?!" He rounded on Rush. "You told him not to look, didn't you?"

"Duh." Rush huffed.

The demon screamed with anger and went back to kicking.

The Phantom watched in amusement, then looked towards the door again. Several long minutes passed, and nothing seemed to happen. Sylas' cries of pain could be heard from the hallway. The Phantom was torn between watching L'arc cry and watching Sylas suffer. "Ohh, bring him in here, show L'arc," The Phantom clapped, grinning. Sylas was pushed back in; he was tied up now bleeding from several cuts on his face, arms and legs. A knife was stabbed into his lower leg, and his good eye was swollen and bleeding. He wasn't very responsive, but he looked up at L'arc through the thin slit his swollen eye allowed.

He let out a small quiet moan before he was dragged out again.

Byrne wailed and cried, trying to crawl away from the demon, but his mutinous limbs remained deaf to his commands. His eyes opened the smallest slit and he looked up through his tears at the demon, trying to beg him to stop.

L'arc shook his head, now closer to breaking down in sobs than maintaining his resistance. "Aahpth, aahpth!" he begged.

The demon in question looked...well, terrifying. Half of his face was gnarled and twisted into a scornful scowl, the other half just...wasn't there. Burned and blackened. His eye had been tore out, and his skull was visible in several spots. It was enough to scare the living daylights out of anyone.

"Oh, shut up," The Phantom rolled his eyes. He glared at the demon dragging Sylas away. "Not done yet? Almost...so close. Just sit tight, L'arc. Rush will be ready for you any second now. In the meantime...what do you think pain does to animals? How do you think Rush will react to the sheer amounts of glorious pain I'm going to cause him?"

Byrne's heart hammered against his ribs, and he thought for a moment that it would pulse right out of his chest. He fell silent, unable to do more than gape in horror. He closed his eyes immediately, beginning to whimper again.

L'arc shook his head, sagging in the ties holding him. If defiance wouldn't make the monster stop, maybe submission would, the druid thought, one of his last fleeting shreds of hope. His eyes fell on Aries's ear, tucked in his pocket, and tears fell from his eyes.

The huge tick-like bug hissed and let go. Byrne was tied up by the demon, who smiled and chortled a bit. "There we go. See? All better. I'll be back to slit your throat later." He unstrapped Rush, who sat up and allowed himself to be pulled out of the room. The lights were flicked off again, and then they were gone.

A few minutes of silence passed. The Phantom shrugged and dismissed his own question, not really caring for much of an answer. He looked up as the door was opened and Rush was shoved in. The phantom took something from the demon; a large tube, filled with bright blue liquid of some kind, that shone brightly.

"There is a bug here in the Darklands that attaches to your chest," The Phantom explained. "It feeds off of fear; the very pounding of a heart in panic, the rush of adrenaline...it eats it all up, and converts it to energy. Pure, holy energy. It's a bit odd to find a creature like that here; you would think it would convert it to Dark Matter or something of the like. I've tried to get them to do that, actually, but it doesn't work. Nothing really works. This energy is so holy and pure that it can kill a demon in seconds. Not very kind. But it can also do things like...stimulate a stagnent Dragonstone." The Phantom uncorked the tube and dumped it into the metallic ring in Rush's arm. He ripped out the metal ring, and the energy quickly worked to seal the hole shut. Rush jerked his arm away, giving the Phantom an ugly look.

Then he looked like he might be having a heart attack. Blood splattered on the floor as scales forced their way into place over where his skin had once been. Claws grew in, causing more blood to hit the floor. Even more of it seeped out of the cracks between his scales before they sealed shut, taking their place as the new skin over his arm. The feathers on his right wing exploded off in a flurry; that was being replaced with a twisted and nasty leathery wing that was apparenty supposed to be like a dragon wing, but...it just looked wrong.

Rush started screaming then, but it wasn't done. It slowed down, yes, but it overtook a little more than half of his face before it was done. His eye changed, turning to the thin slit sort that normal dragons had. That was bloody, too. He was lucky to keep his hair, but short horns jutted out on the right side of his head. He writhed on the floor, screaming and wailing.

"Nn! Nn!"

L'arc wished they would take the gag out so he could beg properly. His skin had turned raw and blotched from the struggling he'd done before, and now tore as he fought to get to Rush, to help in some way. "NNNNNN!"

((Is so... short compared to yours. :C ))