Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Shadow War ❯ Shadow War 8 ( Chapter 8 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Ice crept into his limbs with slow precision, traveling along his fingers, through his bones like frost. It was an unnatural invasion of the flesh that wove its frightening tendrils from the inside. The cold did not bring numbness as it worked its way through his body, inching through the veins in his neck, down across his chest. Like jagged shards it stung as it spread, cutting through muscle, cracking bone. “I will kill you,” Dilandau growled unevenly, refusing to shiver outright.
Zongi smiled in the darkness, light glinting off the cusp of his lip, glancing over a sharp cheekbone. “No, but I will gladly kill you.”
The light was imagined, as were the circumstances of Dilandau’s slow demise. It was a silent game of will and ignorance. As long as Dilandau didn’t realize the pain he felt was artificial, Zongi could continue to hurt him. Since Dilandau didn’t know he could fight back, his violent thoughts had no bite. Thoughts were powerful only if the thinker knew he could give them form.
“Does it hurt, much?” Zongi cooed. “Is it cold?”
Dilandau willed his arm to strike out at the despised creature, knowing it lacked the vitality to move. “I hate you,” The punch halted mere centimeters from where it began, locked in an unseen brace of ice.
“And I hate you also, strange coincidence,” he said with light sarcasm. “But it seems my hate is stronger, for you are at my mercy.”
Dilandau had no comment for that. He shifted his eyes to look somewhere else, into the deep void. Somewhere he had a nagging feeling that he wasn’t as helpless as Zongi wanted him to believe, but most of him was shoving the situation in his face. He was powerless.
“I could have done away with you painlessly,” Zongi said thoughtfully, mimicking one of Dilandau’s gleeful expressions. “But it just wouldn’t have the same effect. It would be too easy for you.”
“I will not give in to your pain,” he seethed, squirming in an effort ro break free. He could hear his stiff tendons groan under the stress of motion, like old leather straps pulled taut. Blades of cold made cuts in his muscles, while bones splintered, all beneath the skin.
“Yes, please move,” Zongi whispered, loud enough for Dilandau to hear. “Twist and bend until you rip yourself to pieces.”
Dilandau fought harder, stopping only as he felt the loud ‘POP’ of his spinal column snapping. With a gasping cry he lay still, breath labored, body unearthly still.
“Oops,” Zongi sang. “I think you may have broken something vital.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he panted. “I have no body.”
“Sounds good, but I don’t think you mean it.”
“You try to deceive, but I’m not fooled. I am alive.” he shouted. Zongi made the words bounce back off unseen walls, echoing clearly.
As the words came back at him a second time, then a third and more, Zongi listened with mock intensity. He stared at Dilandau’s face, watching his reaction. “Sounds unconvincing, doesn’t it.”
“I’m alive!” Dilandau shrieked.


Somewhere in the castle at Palas, a young woman crouched in the corner of her chambers, hands clamped to her ears as she screamed her existence to the world.


The market was wonderful. The sounds, the people, the exciting clamber of words and wares carried along on the light evening breeze. Spicy smells and fishy smells, herbs and perfume, all swirling together into the atmosphere of stalls and venders.
Allen maneuvered his horse through the bustling crowd with care, glancing back every few seconds to make sure Aristae was following closely. She was, but with constant discipline of her horse. The disobedient gelding had his head gravitating toward every fruit and vegetable stand they passed, trying to grab something with his lips. Each yank Aristae gave on the reins reminded him of his manners, but only until they passed the next delicious looking shop. Of course Allen’s horse didn’t give the food a second glance, proud and aloof he worried more about keeping people out from underfoot than anything else.
When they emerged from the thickest part of the market, Allen gave a sigh of relief. They had both made it through alive, without injury to anyone else. It was an accomplishment, considering the multitude of people. He would have preferred a different route, but the market was the only way to get to the sandy cove from the East gate. If he had thought about it, he would have led Aristae around to the south gate, where the streets had little traffic.
“That was fun!” Aristae chirped, sounding much like a young sister he once had. “Can we do it again? I mean, now that I know it’s survivable?”
“No,” Allen said with false annoyance. “We might not make it out alive next time.”
“Aw...no fun.”
“I want to show you the cove, it is quite lovely at sunset.”
“I’m game!”
Allen looked puzzled. “What?”
With a nervous laugh Aristae dismissed it. “Never mind. To the cove?”
Allen nodded, sending his horse onward.