Saint Seiya Fan Fiction ❯ Kage no Seinto (Saints of the Shadow) ❯ The Ulterior Motive ( Chapter 11 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

The figure, Dæmonicus, reached the House of Shadow Sagittarius. The Demoniac had sensed his cosmo, and they quickly gathered around the entrance of the House. As he entered the House, they all knelt down.
-Master, you have come.
-As I said before. It is good to see you still standing; I am pleased.
-Thank you, Master -Selena said-. We have--
-Where is Shadow Sagittarius?
-She's right there -Li said, pointing at the room.
Dæmonicus headed off to the room. He turned back and looked at the Demoniac.
-Stay here. No one must enter while I do this -He said, with a very firm voice.
-Yes, Master. Absolutely -Bithet said.
He entered the room, and he found Yuki lying on her bed. He smiled.
-Soon… Soon, my dear...
He took off a small box from his robe's pocket. When he opened it, a blinding light shone all around the room. The Demoniac could perceive this not only by the light coming out from under the door; they felt a new cosmo emerging from that room.
-What do you think he's doing? -Ryu Wo asked Selena.
-No idea -Selena responded-, he has never told me why we should keep her alive.
They waited for a long time, and finally, the figure came out of the room, rather exhausted.
-Let's get going now -he said-, Alexander must be waiting for us.

Vlad, after running hundreds of stairs, finally reached the Pope's Temple. He stopped, trying to catch his breath.
-Those were… Those were quite a lot of stairs...
He opened the big door of the Temple, and entered. There was a long hallway in front of him, which lacked illumination. There was a red carpet showing the way to the Pope's chamber.
-Classic -he said-. Just like the old Pope's.
He walked along the carpet, until he reached the door. He hesitated for a moment.
-Should I wait for my Master?
Finally, he decided to just open the door, making his way into the Pope's sanctum.
-This is better. Oh, there you are.
At the end of the room, a man sitting on the throne stood up.
-Here I am.

Alexander -Vlad said, and smiled-. It's been a long time.
-A long time, indeed.
-The world has changed so much in… To worse, of course, but…
-But?
-But you and I are still the same, aren't we? -Vlad said, smiling, getting closer to him.
-Oh, no. This time, it won't be the same as last time -Alexander said.
-Of course not -Vlad said-. This time, there will be no one left.
Vlad pulled out his arrow and pointed at Alexander's heart.
-Now, Alexander, it's time for you to die! Enchanted Arrow!
Alexander just raised his hand and stopped the attack with minor difficulties. Vlad looked at him, amazed. Back then, Alexander would have died from that attack if he hadn't moved.
-How… why?
-I am... quite different now.
Alexander grabbed Vlad's arrow and shot it back at him with his hand. The arrow pierced Vlad's left leg. Vlad screamed; his face showed anger and frustration at the same time.
-I don't know how or why you are different now, but you will not get out of this room alive!
-It's a gift -Alexander said-, a gift I received from Athena herself back then in the Secret War. I'm not only able to live longer, but I have become stronger as well due to my proclamation as the Pope of the Shadow Sanctuary.
-It doesn't matter if you are the Pope now. For us, you're still the young, inexperienced Shadow Saint we met back then…
-Then you will feel embarrassed, because this inexperienced Shadow Saint will annihilate you and Dæmonicus.
-Always so daring! Too bad this will be the last dare you make.
He had stopped smiling. Vlad ran towards Alexander, charging a blue beam of light with his right hand.
-Beam of the Dragon!
-Golden Dawn!

Both beams clashed, but Alexander's attack was far more superior than Vlad's. This one received the whole attack; he was pushed away with an incredible force. He was stamped to the wall, next to the door of the entrance of the room. He had his cloth broken, and blood was coming out of his mouth.
-Alexander... You have become really strong, I...
He paused and spitted some blood from his mouth.
-I was hoping to defeat you, but I failed... Just like in that occasion... Damn...
Alexander was listening. He waited for Vlad to stop talking, and started to move towards him.
-Vlad of Sagittarius Demoniac, it has been a pleasure to see you again.
Vlad looked at Alexander. Although covered by a black mask, Vlad was sure he was looking at him. For the first time in ages, the idea of asking for mercy had crossed his mind.
-Unfortunately, you must leave now. But before you leave, I will reveal you my face.
Alexander removed his mask, revealing a young face. Vlad opens his eyes widely in astonishment.
-You... you look just like...!
-Magnus Exorcimus! -Alexander exclaimed.
A beam of light appeared from Alexander's hand. He launched the attack, which hit Vlad. He shrieked so loudly that he was heard even by Dæmonicus and the Demoniac, who were just entering the House of Shadow Capricorn.
-What was that?
-... That was Vlad. He reached Alexander's sanctum. We must hurry!
-Wait, there's a saint in here!
-A saint won't stop us -Li said.
They walked through the House when suddenly Celsus appeared in front of them. The Demoniac noticed Nath's body near him.
-This is for what you did to him! Sharp Impact! -Celsus exclaimed, furious.
Tears came out of his eyes as he launched the attack against Dæmonicus, who repelled it with just raising his arm.
-Idiotic -He said.
He launched his own attack back, cutting Celsus' armor and some of his chest skin. He then dashed him and pushed him against a pillar. Celsus had no time to respond to his attack, and slowly fell to the ground, as blood came out of his chest.
-Lorelei -Dæmonicus said-. Bring me Nath's spear. It's time to awaken the real Taurus Demoniac.
-Yes, Master -she said.
Lorelei brought Nath's spear to Dæmonicus.
-Thank you.

He grabbed it and cut his palm with it. The Demoniac were confused. Dæmonicus poured some of his blood on Nath's lips. He did this for a couple of minutes. After this lapse of time, the wound on Nath's torso disappeared, and his face became pallid again.
-He's back with us... Biju of Taurus Demoniac! -Dæmonicus shouted in happiness.
The Demoniac rejoiced; it has been a long time since they saw the real Taurus Demoniac.
-Unfortunately -Dæmonicus said-, he's not going to be able to fight now. Let's get going to the next House.
-Oh, about that, Master... There is something I need to ask you.
-Yes, Ryu Wo?
-You said that there was no Shadow Saint of Aquarius...
-Yes; and...?
-Well, there actually is.
Dæmonicus lifted an eyebrow surprise. Then he went back to his usual serene look.
-You've become really good at hiding things from me, Alexander... -He whispered.
-Master? -Ryu Wo asked to see if he was listening.
-It is not such a big deal -Dæmonicus responded-. He's just one and we are six.
-Yes, but we felt Hikari and Azrael's cosmo disappearing from--
-They were taken by surprise -Dæmonicus said-. Any powerless saint has an advantage against superior beings than him if he hides. But, now that we know of his existence... he'll be no problem for us.