Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

Memories	By : Asirainis Category: +A through F > Dragon Quest/ Dragon Warrior Views: 1615 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Quest VIII, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 38
- 39
- 40
Memories
Chapter Thirty Eight: Rhapthorne's True Face
She gave him a smile of relief, "Thank you Your Majesty. I appreciate everything you've done for me."
He smiled in response as he asked her, "Your finger was quite discolored, but the healer couldn't remove the ring. Is it dark magic?"
She shook her head, "I'm not entirely sure to be honest. Where are we going?"
He frowned as he nodded, accepting it as fact for the moment before responding. "We're going to Neos. The new Lord High Priest is being coroneted."
Airlia frowned, knowing it would be Marcello who was there. She reached into her bag with her unhidden hand and pulled out a cloak and draped it over her shoulders. "I cannot be seen as I am. I need to be seen as no one special. If Marcello is under the scepter's powers once again, he will try to force me to be his wife. However, I need to be there to find the others. We got separated…" He nodded as he still feared for her safety. "I also… need to find Dominico. I know he will be there. He should be powerful enough with the former sage Kupas's powers to free me of that spell."
King Clavius nodded with a frown. "I don't like it, but I have no choice. I need to free you from whatever that dark magic is."
She nodded as Charmles came up to her. King Clavius pinned his son with a look. "Not one word to her Charmles. She's got enough on her mind as it is."
The pompous brat glared at her but complied with his father as Dominico's boat soon pulled aside them. "King Clavius. I worry about this meeting with the new Lord High Priest. Something's wrong."
King Clavius nodded to him, "As are we. That's why we're going to find out what this is about."
Airlia saw Dominico. "Dominico, I need your help. I'm under a horrible spell of sorts!"
He nodded with a frown as she was helped aboard his vessel. She held out her cursed hand as he frowned. "This is very serious dark magic. Let me see what I can do." He focused his powers as the ring glowed brightly before disintegrating. Airlia groaned as she held her hand, watching the color return to her finger and the pain subsided.
Looking up at Dominico she whispered in gratitude, "Thank you."
He smiled at her as he nodded. She returned to the ship with King Clavius on, who breathed a silent breath of relief as they neared Neos. Another ship started to approach as Airlia filled him in, "That's Cash and Carrie! They run Baccarat now that their father is dead…"
He nodded as he turned to Charmles, "No more gambling Charmles. I'll make sure they know to not have you accepted at their establishment." Charmles grumbled darkly as he nodded while they pulled up to the isle. Airlia threw her hood on, ensuring her face stayed obscured. They walked over to the others as she nodded to the siblings. Cash realized immediately who she was as he frowned.
As he was about to speak to her, King Clavius supplied, "Don't ask her anything right now. We need to seem like we're having a normal conversation while her identity remains hidden."
Cash nodded as the blond king continued, "In all seriousness however, I need to have your people at the casino turn my son away."
Cash nodded as he looked at the boy. "You got it. Let's go in and sit down waiting for the others to arrive." Airlia sat to the left of King Clavius as she kept her eyes on the scene ahead of her, her ears listening for her friends.
She watched as Marcello appeared to be in deep thought before speaking, "Thank you all for coming. Now I want to make one thing perfectly clear. I have no intention of becoming the next Lord High Priest. Or rather, I have no intention of becoming another hollow idol like all those we have had to endure until now! I ask you, what is a king? A king is but a man born into the right family! Should that give him the right to do whatever he pleases!? Be waited on hand and foot, and answer to no man!? A soldier demanding such treatment would never be tolerated! Even if such a soldier had the stature of a king, he would never be allowed to escape the social class into which he was born. I am such a soldier! Born out of wedlock, and thrown out of my own home! A commoner like me has no right to be Lord High Priest! That is the belief of the church. Yes! Such positions of weighty responsibility should be filled exclusively by incompetent aristocrats!" He held his hand over his chest for a moment to calm his anger before he continued.
However, it swelled in his chest none the less as he swung the scepter at the candlestick to his left, showing her that he wouldn't be forgiving for long to anyone who disobeyed him. Returning his attention to the group, his free hand clenched in a fist as he continued, "Our great, noble and righteous Holiness! Whatever did he achieve!? He couldn't even find my missing beloved's family to return her to their care! I honestly don't believe he even tried!" Airlia felt anger color her face at that statement. She couldn't believe he would dare to spit on the dead the way he was currently. Still, he continued on his tirade, "A sorrowful prayer for our uncertain world? Perhaps… but certainly nothing more! The Lord High Priest, our kings, our Goddess! All of them reign over us from their high exalted thrones! Each one as useless as the next!"
He slammed his scepter into the stone floor beneath him. Slowly he regained his composure, "But I am different. For I have not one drop of nobility in my veins. Yet I am here! And only as a result of nothing by my own merit! And my future wife, Airlia, who doesn't even know if she has a drop of nobility in her veins, is as gentle and fair as any Queen could ever hope to be. Yet most nobility snub her without a second thought to her gentle and kind nature. She went missing and I know she isn't dead for I would have felt it! I ask of all of you, please help me to find her!" Airlia turned her head down, but occasionally glancing to King Clavius – he was angered at the façade that was going on before all of their eyes.
Marcello slammed his scepter into the ground again, capturing everyone's attention as he demanded, "Follow me! It is time to oust our artless rulers! It is time to choose a new leader!"
He finally took a good look around and grinned when his eyes landed on a familiar green hooded figure sitting next to one such King he chuckled, "Ah, it seems that someone indeed has brought my future wife back to me. I am indebted to the ones who brought her back." He snapped his fingers as a Templar came over to her.
When King Clavius tried to resist, the man withdrew his sword slightly as the brunette placed a hand on his arm. "It'll be okay. They'll come. I know they will." He nodded as she got up and went peacefully to the dais. She climbed the ladder to where Marcello stood.
He gave her a feral grin as he withdrew a golden crown for her, which she noticed had a sun engraved in it. Placing it on her head, he smiled as he allowed his fingers to drift to her cheeks in a caress. Once he was satisfied, he walked back towards the people, eyes closed, reveling in his victory as he spoke. "So… You have a choice. Follow me… Or meet your fate!"
The doors opened to show Draco and the others had finally found her! She smiled in relief as Marcello's face marred in a sneer as he glared at them. "These intruders shall be the example of what will happen if you do not follow me!"
Airlia's face paled as she turned to the others and screamed – her voice carrying to them over the commotion… "Draco, everyone… RUN! It's a TRAP!"
The group saw her with Marcello and feared the worst had already come to pass as Angelo suggested, "Guv, care to use the soul stone to get us to the stage?" Draco nodded as he grabbed for the stone and willed them to the platform. When they arrived, they saw her sword on one of the guards' hip – knowing they couldn't touch the sword, they had likely taken the whole belt with it attached made her furious.
Jessica glared as she spoke, "That sword doesn't belong to you…" using her whip, she snagged it and ripped it away from him as Alistair and Draco went after Marcello.
Draco and Alistair had seemed to understand why she had always feared him, but this really brought the matter front and center. The man was a brutal monster who didn't know when enough was enough beneath the shallow but handsome and charismatic exterior. Marcello growled as he gripped her upper arm and pulled the girl tightly to him, "You – you're not supposed to be here!"
Airlia growled as she stomped on his foot, making him see red… "You could have had an easy life! You could have had everything you ever wanted! You ungrateful bitch!" He tossed her towards the edge of the stage, where there was a fifty foot drop. She struggled to keep her balance as she cried out in fright. Jessica sent her whip towards Airlia, wrapping itself firmly around her waist and pulling her towards the group.
Airlia looked at the others battling the evil within Marcello that was strengthened by the scepter. Jessica handed her the coveted blade. Drawing the scabbard string back around her waist, she gripped her sword and prayed that Ishmahri's second half of his promise would come true as they began to attack Marcello, trying to get the damned staff from him. She swung her blade, and was met with the scepter that had possessed Jessica, that had possessed that dog who made David's life such a living hell. His eyes flashed as he used the weapon to parry, and then to send her reeling backwards to the group. "So you want to be a harlot? Then let's make you a harlot before the world!"
He used his staff to allow the powers to run rampant, all aimed at the girl! She gasped as she stood, frozen in fear as the powers hit her, when nothing happened… She had braced herself for the attack and blinked when nothing had occurred. Her pendant shimmered as it reflected the spell back at him harshly… She was ever grateful as it protected her then, as the spell rebounded on Marcello, tearing some of the fabric along his chest. Draco, Alistair and Angelo gasped as they saw what it would have done to the girl as they each sent an attack, Angelo making his arrows rain down on Marcello and Alistair using his whip to send a lashing at Marcello while Draco sent lightning at him, finishing him off. Marcello growled as he dropped to his knee, the scepter clattering away from him to the giant statue of the Goddess… Everyone's relief was short lived though as the ground began to quake as the scepter glowed brightly, and Marcello's form with it.
A deeper voice was heard that frightened Airlia as he spoke, "He has been a stubborn one, but with your help I can finally fully control this flesh as my own. He resisted when it came to my future bride! As if anyone else could have her as their wife! Now that this fool has disposed of the Lord High Priest for me, the final heir is no more and the seal on the scepter is broken!"
Airlia cringed as she looked at the others, "Marcello wouldn't have killed Calchas. He would have been under the spell of that scepter. He just refused to let the creature have me."
They could finally see Marcello through the dark magic, gone was his black as night hair, replaced with a white hair, devoid of color as he held the glowing scepter, as he shouted, "Yes! The time has come for my resurrection!"
He flew up to the face of the goddess statue as he continued to speak, Airlia's fears becoming more and more solidified with every word, "Now! Complete my revival! My revival to flesh and blood!" He used his scepter to destroy the statue, throwing it as cracks started to reveal themselves in the statue.
Airlia looked at the others as they stared, mesmerized by the actions. "We have to get down below, now!" They hurried down the ladder as they saw more colored orbs appear in the fracturing statue.
However, once the statue was completely fractured, Airlia looked at the crowd, "Run! Get out of here!" She screamed to them, as Dominico nodded and hurried to get people out of there, signaling to the others to do so as well.
A giant purple demon appeared from the gaping hole as he held Marcello limply at his side. "So you desired my bride so much that you refused to let another touch her? You somehow broke away from me long enough to know that the ring I first had planted on her would turn her into something like me… You shall live long enough to see me take her as my bride!" He let the man fall to the ground as Airlia paled in fright.
She ran to him to try and break his fall, the end result being that she was pinned beneath his heavier form. "Marcello, wake up please! You must!"
He groaned as he opened his eyes to see concerned brown orbs gazing at him in fear and concern. "We have to get to the others, now!"
They got up as they started to run towards the group as the creature, Rhapthorne, waved his hand, paralyzing Airlia. "Help!" She screamed, unable to move her body. With another wave of his hand, he started levitating the girl towards him as Marcello jumped to try and reach Airlia, only to hit some sort of barrier and be shoved backwards.
He looked around as Jessica and Alistair both used their whips to wrap around Airlia's waist. Yangus gripped the whip that Jessica held as Draco joined Alistair with Angelo. Marcello looked at them working hard to bring her back to the ground as he grabbed the one that Yangus and Jessica held as he yelled, "Pull!"
They pulled until the whips were sent harmlessly back to the ground with a flick of the giant's finger. "She is mine! No one else will have my bride!"
He looked at the girl as she struggled to free herself from the bindings as she screamed, "Someone help me!" He glared at her as he summoned a black orb with his free left hand as he enveloped her, rendering her unconscious.
He revealed her after being held in the black orb for a gut wrenching five minutes. Gone was her princess dress, revealing a skin tight black dress that had a thick strap going around her neck to either side of her dress, like a choker, and while it just covered her breasts, there was a gaping cleavage between her breasts going down to her naval. Her skirt went down to her feet, but had a long slit to her upper thigh as he growled. "When she awakens, she will have no memory of anyone she traveled with, only desire to be with her true husband, me." Her mind whirled as she fought the dark magics that were trying to envelop her. Screaming for someone to help her within her mind to fight this darkness, she sent a prayer far and wide to any who could hear it. Marcello watched in horror as Airlia was slowly turning into some dark goddess as he pulled his rapier from his sheath and lunged at Rhapthorne, only to be flung away again by the invisible barrier that had protected the Lord of Darkness the first time.
As suddenly as she felt Rhapthorne trying to wake her, she felt the wind whipping against her face. She looked around to see why… a golden dragon with blue eyes was now flying below to catch her, saving her from death's grasp. She landed on him as she looked at the dragon, recognizing him from her dreams. She called out to him, "Tell me how I can save you? Where do I need to go?" She thought she was imagining things, but yet, she could hear his mind within hers…

I am trapped within my mind. I can only hope you hear me. Go to the mountain with a dais built there. Upon reaching there, you will find an altar with a dragon symbol emblazoned on it. Pray there for the path to open and you shall find yourself on a dangerous climb to the top. Reaching there, you will find the village there that is in need of your help. To save them, you must break me free of this curse. How? I do not know. I can only hazard you must beat me in combat. Be safe, fair maiden of the sun…

She nodded as she was dropped off by her friends as she pulled her bow and arrows out of the bag that Jessica had carried and armed herself. She was vaguely aware of being back in her princess gown because she awoke after the dragon broke the spell on her. Taking aim, trusting her heart for once, she let it fly, screaming, "Power of light, banish him!" He tried to resurrect a shield, but it pierced his shield easily, wounding him. He growled as he raised an arm up, calling for something as the ground began to shake.
Everyone latched onto someone else as the ground began to break apart. "Run everyone! Get away from here as far and as fast as you can!" The group fled as the ground below them began to shake and break apart, lifting into the skies, forming a demonic castle.
Once the castle was formed, it lifted into the clouds, Draco saw Rhapthorne shrink and go into the structure as Airlia eyed it warily before saying, "My banishment didn't work… We only have one option now… to kill him."
Draco frowned as he looked at her with an unspoken question. She shook her head as she responded, "How? I'm not entirely sure." He nodded as they looked around to make sure everyone was alright… Airlia frowned when she saw Marcello was missing. She may not have liked his behavior towards her in the past, but she knew that deep in her heart, she did love him.
Angelo saw Airlia looking around for something as he turned to Airlia, "What's the matter?"
She shook her head, "Marcello's missing. I want to make sure he's safe before I drill it into his head that I'm not some mere object to be possessed." Alistair nodded as the trio fanned out to find the missing dark haired man.
Airlia was the first one to spot something… a gloved hand holding onto an edge of the pit where the evil had been entombed since the time of the sages. She ran over to grab his hand just as it was starting to slip… A moment later and two other hands grabbed his as well to pull him out of the pit. Marcello, always being the stubborn one screamed at the lot of them, "Why Airlia? You obviously don't love me! You'd rather have a boy than a man! Since Angelo continues to shame me, and you don't love me, I'd rather die than to see you with another!" He tried to make them let go, but it only made their grip stronger as they pulled him out of the pit.
Once he was on his feet and before anyone could say a word, Airlia slapped him. "How dare you! I haven't been with anyone – ever! They've been escorting me, keeping me safe as Father asked of them. I don't want to be with anyone, especially now with some ancient evil holding desire for me. Now… once you get over yourself and stop treating me like I'm a mere object to be possessed, we can talk." She gave him a small smile as he looked at her with hope in his eyes for once.
The dark haired man nodded before he spoke, "Please, promise me that you will stay safe! I would like to take you up on your offer to talk when this is all over… Airlia."
She smiled at him and nodded, "Of that I promise you. You will likely find me at one of two places, either at Trodain or at Argonia."
He smiled with a nod, feeling lighter than he had in a long time. He could make a clean break off of everything, and if he was lucky, he could possibly have a second chance with the woman that he loved if after his soul searching – he found that he still loved her. She dusted off her green gown before turning to the others. The gown made her think about her relation to King Clavius… He had somehow felt drawn to her and Draco as much as they did to him. Something was off about that, however, they weren't quite sure what that something was. Shaking her head, she looked up at the ominous castle in the sky and knew that before she could contend with the demon within, she had to help that village…
- 38
- 39
- 40
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

Memories