| It is never a good idea to make a deal with a demon. However, if you have no choice . . . why not? -Rules of Life, pg. 87 Part 44 He woke dazedly. His head throbbed and his entire body felt like it was broken. Through several quick experiments he found that he was indeed intact and sat up to see the Regent in the cell with him. � Where are we?� he asked groggily. � I�m not sure,� the Regent answered. � I woke <ribbit> only a moment before you did.� � Have you seen the others?� � No.� He frowned and stood, putting a hand on the wall for support. He wished Kitiane were there; she would know what to do. Zidane . . . That voice! � Kuja! You coward!� Now now now. I wouldn�t get too fresh if I were you. I have your friends at my mercy. � Let them go!� Why? I like them right where they are. I can free them, however, for a small favor from you. Do you agree to help me? � . . . I don�t have a choice!� You�re right, you don�t. I just wanted to give you the option of helping me or seeing your friends die. � What do you want me to do?� Go to the door. He did so, peering out warily when it opened. Making his way down to where two black mages stood, he paused and frowned. Stand between the mages. They transported him to a large room. The first thing he noticed was Kuja. � Okay, Kuja! What do you want from me?!� � I want you to go somewhere and bring something back for me.� � Which is?� he prompted. � The Gulug Stone. It rests in an abandoned fortress called Oeilvert on the Forgotten Continent west of here.� � Why can�t you get it yourself?� � It is surrounded by a magic barrier. I will not lessen myself by going. You, on the other hand, are too stupid to use magic, which makes you perfect for the job.� He bristled at the comment, but said nothing more than, � Okay, fine. But how do you propose I get there?� � I will let you travel on my airship, first class. Now, speak their names when you�ve chosen your partners.� Zidane paused. No magic? That left out Vivi, Dagger, and Eiko. Steiner would probably have a heart attack if Dagger was left behind, so . . . � I want Freya, Amarant, and Quina.� A moment later, they appeared on the same teleporter he had arrived on. � Stand with your friends.� � Wait a minute,� Zidane interrupted. � Where are the dragons?� � The dragons? Oh, them. Two got away; the emperor and the hatchling. I caught the empress because the stupid beast wouldn�t leave you.� � Where is she?!� Kuja pointed at a corner of the room. The corner rotated, revealing Kitiane chained to a wall by her neck. She roared and snarled, tearing at the collar around her throat. Saliva was strung between fangs and dripped onto the floor. � What did you do to her?!� � Oh, just a simple mind-controlling spell. I wouldn�t get near her if I were you. I�m the only one who can break the spell, but I like her so I think I�ll keep her for myself. You�ll have to find another dragon to follow you around.� He took a chance. � If I can pet her without her biting me, I get her back. Deal?� � You really are in no position to make such bargains, but all right. It will be fun to see you get mauled.� Zidane cautiously made his way around to where Kitiane was bound. Her wild green eyes were completely locked on him. A hungry intensity reflected in them and he shivered defensively. If she got free on her own, she�d attack the first thing that moved. Him. Getting as close as dared (about three inches from her snapping jaws), he lifted his hands toward her as he said soothingly, �Come on, Mother. It�s only me, Zidane. Wake up. I know you�re in there, waiting for your chance. Here it is.� She sniffed at his hand and the gleam faded from her eyes. She blinked in surprise. [Zidane? Oh! I�m drooling! How did that happen?!] �Kuja had you under some kind of mind-control spell,� he explained as he pet her. [O~oh, that bastard is begging to die!] �Don�t get too excited. I agreed to do something for him.� [Which is . . .?] �Retrieve something called the Gulug Stone from Oeilvert on the Forgotten Continent.� [Oh? The Gulug Stone? Hm . . .] �Do you know anything about it?� [I believe so. But it�s worthless knowledge. Everything I know about it Kuja told you already. Except that it�s guarded by something called �Ark�.] �I see.� He stood. � Okay, Kuja. Let her go.� [No need.] Kitiane strained against the chain momentarily. It snapped easily and she stepped off the platform to sit by Zidane like a trained dog. Kuja seemed surprised. � Well, I guess she�s your then.� � Don�t sound so upset. You have that silver dragon.� � Yes, but he can�t come inside and be with me.� � Oh, poor baby.� � Get on the teleporter, now.� Zidane did so and Kitiane followed, her head down submissively. Kuja teleported them to the airship dock and chuckled. � Idiots think they�ll make it back alive. Too bad for the ones left over . . .� <--Part 43 Part 45--> |