Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

Traitor	By : MyouTakara Category: Zelda > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 9770 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda, nor am I making any money off this fic (I am being bribed with fanart. Does that count?)

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Chapter Ten

I highly recommend every go check out "Enchanted Apple." This gem, depicting a scene from this chapter between Vio and the glowing stranger, can be found on Kurotorasempai's deviantArt page.

Chink-ping. Chink-ping. Chink-ping. "You're moving, little Hero. I know you're awake." Chink-ping. Chink-ping.

Feeling as though grains of sand were wedged behind his eyelids, Vio slowly forced them to open, peering around him. He was in the cage still- no- this one was different. The cushion had a pillow-like raised edge, which his head rested on. It reminded him of the "dog bed" he'd seen once in a noble's home (well, he was a pet, wasn't he?). He could see something purple (flowers?) attached to the outer top of the cage above his head.

He didn't recognize the room past the bars. It looked like it might be a study or a library of sorts, with dark crimson carpeting and curtains, a comfortable-looking black sofa, and. . . books. The walls were lined with shelves upon shelves of books stacked in neat, perfect rows, as though they were rarely touched, meant for show only. Vio's mouth watered at the very sight of them. How long had it been since he'd held one of his leather-bound friends? Too long, certainly.

Chink-ping.

Oh yeah. . . Vio's tired mind reminded him that someone was in the room with him, and scooting so he could turn left, Vio spotted the overly large and showy black desk, and-

"Sheik?" Vio sat up so fast he almost fell over, grabbing the bars of his cage for support.

The being- who Vio now saw glowed, which Sheik most certainly did not- threw his head back and laughed, dropping the ball he'd been playing with. It hit the carpet and bounced slightly, rolling over to rest near Vio's cage. It was a very pretty thing, black as night with a curious silver mechanism inside that turned and chinked and whirled and pinged. Focus, Vio!

"Close, but no." The stranger chuckled, smiling at some secret joke with his head tilted to the side. How silly of me, Vio thought. Now that he looked closer, he saw that the stranger's features were more like opposites of Sheik's. His hair was lovely fawn-brown, almost long enough to trail the floor, even tied back as it was (Sheik's was just as long, actually, but he usually kept it hidden under a turban, to "keep it out of the way."). His clothes were white (if a bit rumpled and dirty), but for the red scarf wrapped about his neck that seemed...almost obscene, somehow. His eyes were an intense green, like Hyrule field on a summer's day (Sheik's were more the color of dried blood, like his own spattered across the dungeon floor) filled with amusement and curiosity, and...cold. Cold like the nobles of the court who tried to pretend kindness on the surface while not giving a damn about anyone but themselves. Sheik's facade was one of ice to most, but those who knew him could see the warmth beneath. Oh, Vio would give anything to see that warm again. . . Pay attention! He's talking!

". . .rumors that Shadow Link had caught a little Hero. I came to see if they were true." The stranger seemed to know that Vio's attention had wandered, and looked all the more amused for it. He slipped off the desk with the grace of a jungle cat, sauntering closer to kneel by Vio's cage. The floor in here was as blood-splattered as everywhere else in the castle, and the stranger grimaced when a relatively fresh patch stained his clothing. Vio watched at him with a look of detached curiosity, too tired and dizzy to manage anything else. The stranger smiled that odd smile again, reaching into the folds of his cloak to withdraw a shiny red apple.

Vio's gaze locked onto it, his eyes widening with desire and mouth watering. An apple. How long had it been since he'd had one? Or any fresh fruit at all, for that matter? There was the "heart fruit incident," but nothing before or since. The stranger's smile widened. Withdrawing a small dagger, he carefully cut a slice from it, splitting the red skin and releasing its sweet fragrance into the air. He held the slice delicately between his fingers, offering it through the bars of the cage.

Vio reached for it before he gave himself time to think about it, but snatched his hand back at the last moment, groaning with want, but wary still. The stranger chuckled. "I promise it's safe. Watch." He broke the slice in half, popping half in his mouth and offering Vio the rest. This time there was no hesitation.

Oh, it was heaven. Sweet but tart, crispy, juicy, fresh, the pick of the harvest. It called to mind cool autumn days and warm sunshine, playing in the orchards with Zelda under Impa's watchful eyes (and Sheik's as well, though Link hadn't known that then). The apple piece was gone far too quickly.

The stranger cut another slice. "How long have you been here, little Hero?"

"Couldn't say. Lost track a long time ago." Vio croaked, throat too dry and voice too little-used. The stranger passed him the slice and Vio bit into it, savoring its juice on his tongue.

"Three months, a week, and four days, presuming you've been here since you went missing." Vio started. That was all? Eyes raked over his body, gaunt and too-thin in the dress, the way he moved so that the bottoms of his feet never touched anything, the eagerness with which he set upon the bruised apple slices. "When did you last eat?"

Vio thought about this, lightly sucking on his next apple slice. He hadn't eaten anything this morning, having learned better than to take food Shadow offered him directly. The drugging incident he'd mentioned to Shadow had happened...four days ago, judging by Shadow's sleep patterns. He'd been so hungry then...when had he eaten before that? He wasn't sure. There had been foul potions from the Wizzrobes, but he barely kept those down, so he didn't think they counted. Too long. He's getting annoyed! "Four days, I think."

If this bothered the stranger, he didn't show it. "Has he hurt you?"

Had Shadow hurt him? Well, yes, but he deserved it. . . didn't he? "He's. . .punished me."

The stranger's eyes flicked to Vio's, reading the confusion and uncertainty there. "I see." He murmured. He fell silent, but kept cutting slices of the apple until it was almost down to the core. He held one of the last in his palm, regarding it thoughtfully. "Does he love you?"

"He says he does." Vio answered, licking his lips as he eyed the apple slice.

The stranger made a disappointed sound, broke the slice in half and ate part of it. "That's not what I asked."

Vio gave an audible whine, gripping the bars of the cage with all his meager strength. "What else do you want me to say? I don't know what he's thinking most of the time! One minute I'm everything to him and the next I'm no better than dirt. He's capacious, unpredictable, absolutely insane! He hates me. For all he says, he must! He's going to kill me!. . ." Vio sighed and visibly deflated, sinking down against the cushion he rested on, strength spent. "Yes. He loves me."

"I see." There was perhaps a tinge of sadness in the stranger's voice, but Vio felt too tired to try to figure out why or what it could mean. The stranger kept staring, passing the rest of the apple slice through the bars. Vio savored it.

"Who are you?" Vio asked finally, the intensity of the stranger's gaze unnerving him.

The stranger chuckled and stood, chucking the apple core in a trashcan as he strolled past Vio's cage to the rows of books, scanning their titles. "What do you call a Hylian's reflection?"

Vio blinked, frowning. "Their shadow." He said after a moment.

The stranger nodded. "The Hylians are the lights of Hyrule. Their shadows live here, in the Dark World. The Hylians are the yin, and their shadows the yang. And yet..." the stranger moved to another shelf, crouching to search among the books there. "Every yin must contain a little yang, and every yang a little yin...or else they will collapse. Who are the shadows of Hyrule?"

Shadows of Hyrule? The Shadow Folk . . . "The Sheikah?" Vio guessed.

"Very good. You know, in this world, they're often called Cast Shadows, to distinguish them from the Hylian Shadows." The stranger made a pleased noise, withdrawing a slim leather-bound book from the shelf. "And if the Cast Shadows are the yang to balance the Hylian Light's yin, their must also be yin, Shadow Casters, if you will, to balance the yang of the Hylian Shadows."

What? Vio's head spun. The stranger slipped the book through the bars of the cage. "Enjoy your reading." Vio glanced at the book, reaching out to pick it up. Roulettes Ombre: Le Guide le Plus Complet

...What? The title wasn't even Hylian! "Wait, I can't..."

The door banged open. Shadow stood in the doorway, his expression murderous. "You!" Vio shrank back. What had he done this time? What would Shadow do to him-?

"Yes?" The stranger's tone sounded light and airy, not at all concerned.

"You- You- Shadow Caster!" He stomped into the room and past Vio's cage, seizing the stranger- the Shadow Caster- by the front of his shirt. "What the FUCK is the big idea? Spying on my court, knocking my Goddesses-dammed guards unconscious, and now you've broken into MY OFFICE, and DARED to stay in here ALONE with MY PET? Who the fuck sent you, bastard?"

The Shadow Caster's nose wrinkled in disdain, and he reached up to place his hand over Shadow's, removing his grip from his now even more wrinkled shirt. "Such foul language, Shadow. There's no need to be crude. Your. . .pet is perfectly safe. . .in his. . .birdcage." The Shadow Caster's lip twitched. Now there was a sentence you didn't get to say every day, even in his line of work.

Shadow snarled, jerking his hand away. "Don't you DARE address me familiarly! It's LORD Shadow to you! What the hell is wrong with you?" That sadness flickered in the Shadow Caster's eyes again, almost too quick to see. His head tilted to the side and he smiled.

"My apologies." The Shadow Caster said, bowing his head. "But to be fair, your guards were practically begging to be escaped. Can't even tie a decent knot. Besides, I could have done worse. I didn't kill them, did I?"

Shadow was not amused, shoving the Shadow Caster back until his knees hit the desk and he fell backwards onto it, scattering parchment and ink quills everywhere. Shadow slammed his hands down on either side of the Shadow Caster's head, trapping him. "You work for somebody, now who is it?" He demanded.

The Shadow Caster seemed unperturbed by his position. He smiled, arching a brow at Shadow's anger. "Now, whatever would give you that idea, Lord Shadow?"

Shadow slammed his fist by the Shadow Caster's head, denting the desk. Vio visibly flinched, but neither of the pair at the desk paid him any heed. " Do not. Fuck with me."

The Shadow Caster laughed at him outright, sitting up partially and bracing his hands on the desk behind him. "Very well, Lord Shadow. A certain employer heard rumors that you captured a Hero. He asked me to confirm it."

"Well as you can see, I have. Now tell me who your employer is! Who the fuck thinks they can spy on me and get away with it?" Shadow snapped.

"Hm..." The Shadow Caster made a thoughtful noise. "And if I don't want to tell you?"

Shadow snapped his fingers, calling his mists to gather at the edges of the room. They inched closer to the cage and Vio slumped down, eyelids growing heavy. "You have until the mists reach you to answer me." He responded coldly.

The Shadow Caster smirked. "I can't very well answer you if I'm asleep, now can I?" He seemed completely at ease and unafraid. This only annoyed Shadow further.

"You will answer me, or else. . ." His eyes raked over the Shadow Caster's form, taking in the way the white fabric clung tightly to his muscles, inching up ever-so-slightly to reveal the taut, glowing skin of his abdomen. He leaned in close, his breath hot on the Shadow Caster's ear. ". . .You won't like how you'll wake up."

The Shadow Caster didn't miss Shadow's appraisal of him. In fact he seemed amused by it, lips twitching up a smirk. He casually hooked one leg around Shadow's waist, pulling him closer. "Who says I won't?" He murmured.

Shadow growled his displeasure. "Shadow Caster. . . " The mists swirled about his feet now, inching their way up the desk.

The Shadow Caster tsked. "Oh, very well. I know a losing side when I see one. King Igos du Ikana. I trust you've heard of him?" At Shadow's scowl and sharp nod, he went on. "He's had his eye set on the former Lord Onox's domain for some time. Those lands, of course, are now part of your own. He's trying to determine just how powerful you are."

Shadow threw his head back, barking a laugh. "Does he think he can take me? Take me, when I have the power of four chosen heroes in my body? The fool. Oh, I'll have to disabuse him of that notion. Him and anyone else stupid enough to stand against me."

"Will you kill him?" The Shadow Caster asked. It didn't seem that he really cared one way or the other, but he DID want to collect his pay before his skeletal employer bit the dust.

Shadow's lips twisted into a sadistic smirk. "Oh, I'll do far worse than that.~" He crooned, his mind dancing with delight at the possibilities. "But for now. . " He trailed his hand down the Shadow Caster's chest, licking his lips as he imagined the smooth skin hidden beneath the wrinkled white. The Shadow Caster gave no indication that the attention was unwelcome. "I think I need to teach you a lesson about pulling these little stunts- "

A quiet whimper gave the only warning before bars rattled and the sleeping Vio screamed, thrashing in his cage while incomprehensible pleas fell from his lips. Shadow swore, throwing himself back from the desk and running to the cage, creating a door where there had been none with a touch of his hand. He wrenched it open and pulled Vio out, clutching him against his chest lest he do more damage to himself.

"Vio, Vio, it's alright Vio. I'm here. Nobody's going to hurt you while I'm here Vio, sshh. . ." Shadow soothed, running his fingers through Vio's limp, sweaty locks. The touch seemed to soothe Vio, and he relaxed in Shadow's arms with a soft sigh, nuzzling against his chest but never waking. The Shadow Caster watched the display with an unreadable expression.

"If there's nothing else, Shadow Caster, you're free to go. But. . ." Shadow turned a warning glare on him, his eyes promising retribution if his words were not heeded. "Make it known that Vio is mine. Anyone who dares to touch him will feel my wrath."

The Shadow Caster nodded his acquiescence. "As you wish, Lord Shadow." A flash of light and the Shadow Caster vanished.

Shadow paid his departure no heed, settling himself on the floor with his precious pet in his lap, murmuring softly to him. "No one else will ever hurt you, Vio. I won't let them."

The problem with a warning like the one issued by Shadow, of course, is that certain people who hadn't even entertained the notion will decide that taking what is not theirs simply to piss off its jealous owner sounds. . . fun.

They were known as the Red or River Zora. Born as reflections of the blue-skinned guardians of the Hylian Goddess' lake, they lived in tribes in the poisoned waterways of the Dark World. Sometimes those seeking to take over Hyrule employed them to shoot fireballs at the unwary, but more often then not they simply traveled the world in their tribes, causing chaos wherever they could.

Their females were known to be particularly beautiful, deadly creatures. They seduced the weak-minded and bade them to do their bidding, always with the promise of pleasure when they were satisfied. Instead of pleasure, however, most of their victims met their fate in the bottoms of the rivers, drowning and burning all at once, their bodies never to be found.

One such river ran along the boundary to Shadow's fields. The plants that grew best there required the poisons in the water to produce their fruit, but were dangerous to those that tended to them.

So, naturally, once Vio was able to move about the bedroom on his own (with a heavy limp, only very slowly, and never for long), Shadow sent his captive Wind Mage there. He took utter delight in the sight of the filthy, exhausted Vaati dragging himself back to his meager quarters after a hard day in the fields. His overseers were Hinox, and those who worked with him captives from Shadow's exploits. The overseers hated him, the devil-deal bound bastard who wouldn't bleed properly no matter what they did, and they tried everything to make him bleed. They tied him to posts and tried to whip him raw. They beat him, betting each other how many cuts it would take to slice off a limb or an ear. They drove their daggers into his flesh and fucked the holes they'd made, tearing his body anew with every thrust. It was humiliating, degrading, and Vaati spent every moment there cursing Shadow and Vio alike, Shadow for sending him there and Vio for dooming him to an existence under the sadist's thumb. As the days dragged on, he found he didn't give a damn if Vio meant well. He convinced himself that the Hero had known precisely what he was doing, had meant to do it.

And so, when the Red Zora came to him, how could he refuse their offer?

Vaati had two weaknesses: pretty girls, and a one-track mind when angry. The Red Zora knew to play right into both. A lovely Red Zora approached him in the fields, out of sight of the Hinox. She whispered sweet promises into his ear, and she made him want. The waterways ran through the castle undergrounds (much like Hyrule castle), so getting in would be easy. But where was the Hero kept? Did he know? Of course he did.

His condition, of course, prevented him from acting directly against Shadow. That didn't mean that it stopped him from waiting until Shadow was gone to unlock a door or two, or slip a few potions into the drinks of choice guards. The bedroom, being the one room in the castle Vio was permitted to be unfettered, was inaccessible, but the spells protecting the office were just that much weaker. . . and who thought to cast protection spells against the Red Zora this deep into their domain, anyway?

"Vaati?" Was that happiness in his voice? No, it couldn't be. This was the one who had condemned him to suffer!

The Red Zora cackled, advancing into the room to surround the cage. The leader of the group spoke, its voice gravelly and grating. "Can't touch him, huh? The little upstart thinks he's so invincible that nobody can touch his little pet?" The Red Zora rammed the butt of his spear into the cage, and Vio just wasn't fast enough to dodge, taking the blow to the side of his head and crying out, raising weak arms to protect himself. The Red Zora laughed, grabbing his cage to shake it, jostling him around inside.

"Vaati, help me!" Wasn't that sweet, a Hero begging him for help?

Another blow, another cry of pain. "Vaati, please!" His eyes locked with Vaati's, pleading for help and. . .heartbroken? Disappointed? Did he. . . expect that Vaati would save him? Ridiculous! And yet. . . almost too quiet to hear. . ."Aren't we friends, Vaati?. . ."

Friends?

"We'll show him just how untouchable his toys are!" As though in slow motion, Vaati saw one of the Red Zora aim his spear at Vio's chest, just beside his heart. Something overcame him, and he reacted, shooting a spell to stop him- but too late. The spear pierced his chest and Vio screamed to wake the dead.

"SHADOW!"

Whatever happened next was a blur. Shadow appeared like a storm, hacking left and right until there was nothing left of Vio's assailants. Vaati found himself gore-covered and uncaring, kneeling beside Vio and frantically firing off any and every healing spell he could think of, trying to save the Hero's life. Tear-filled eyes stared up at him, lips moving, voice barely audible.

". . . cursed. This is what happens to people who trust you, cursed mage. . . Your mother was right to leave you. . .She knew what you were. . . Cursed. I never should have trusted you. . ."

The shadows came from nowhere to bind him, restraining his body and squeezing his chest. They crushed him smaller and and smaller, while voices cried out that all of this was his fault, his fault and he deserved it. His bones broke and crumbled, his insides split and rearranged, his head popped like a melon and still, still, still he couldn't die. . .

And then he woke in tears, because it was morning and Vio wasn't dead yet but he wouldn't eat again if Vaati didn't bring him something himself (Shadow ALWAYS drugged the food, and Vio wouldn't eat it.). By noon he'd forgotten why he woke up crying.
- 9
- 10
- 11
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Traitor