Warnings: NCS

CHAPTER TWELVE:

Khatet’s Castle

Cairo, Egypt

North Africa

Duo growled and held out his hand, which now seemed to blaze with fire. “Oh, it will make a difference, Solo. Because I made a promise all those years ago, remember? And unlike you…I always keep my promises. For betraying me then and now, Solo…here is my gift to you…”

And with a loud cry, Duo sent out the wave of fire towards the smirking boy, only to gasp in shock as someone else got in the way.

The accompanying cries and gasps of shock that rang out through the room sent a chill down Duo’s spine. The blood…there was too much of it…how could he have…

“No…” He whispered softly, falling to his knees as his body began to tremble. “No…he isn’t…”

Solo smirked and nodded softly. “Yes, I am afraid you did, Duo. I am afraid you did.”

The silence was deafening, almost too much for the occupants in the room to bear. The lonely echo of the large clock in the hallway was the only thing that disturbed the heavy, thick air.

On the golden floors, the blood continued to flow freely, coating the pristine floors with its dark color, filling the air with its thick, musky smell.

A small choking sound was soon heard as a woman slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle the vomit that threatened to spill from her lips. This action seemed to awaken the others in the room, as low murmurs became louder and faces turned away in disgust.

Solo eyed the body and stepped gingerly over the puddle that was beginning to gather at his feet. Stooping to his haunches, he turned the barely recognizable body of the boy he had trained with a face filled with pity and disappointment. “And he had so much promise, too…” he whispered huskily. With a small cry, he fell to his knees, sinking his hands into the pool of blood. His body trembled, dark locks pulling free from his ponytail to unravel and frame his handsome face in waves. He rose to his feet, unaware of the unconscious steps that his guests had taken away from him. An aura filled with pure rage had begun to blaze around his body and his servants were quick to take note of the current state of their master. Each tried to leave the room faster than the other, but Solo seemed to have other ideas. Without tearing his eyes away from the ‘dead’ boy, he caused all the doors to be slammed shut, successfully trapping them all inside the large hall.

Spinning around slowly, he finally lifted his head to pin eyes as black as night upon the pale visage of the trembling American. “You didn’t have to kill him, Duo,” he muttered huskily. He began to walk towards the immobile figure, drops of blood spilling from his fingertips creating rather erratic designs of spots on the floor.

Quatre tugged gently on Duo’s arm, his now widened aquamarine depths filled with fear at the dull rage that was directed at his lover and friend. “Du….Duo…let’s go…please…”

Solo gave a short bark of laughter and stood a few inches before the still frozen figure. “He isn’t going anywhere, Quatre my dear. His body is filled with immeasurable guilt at what he has done and at the moment Amon-Ra is feeding off his desolation and sorrow. He is an empty vessel filled with nothing but memories of darkness.”

Trowa walked forward, green eyes flashing in annoyance. “Stop this, Solo…Lord Khatet…whoever the hell you are! Hasn’t he been through enough, already? I thought you were supposed to be his friend?!”

“You said you were going to help him!” Wufei interjected with a scowl. “What do you plan to do now?!”

“Nothing.”

Loud cries of ‘What?’ from the others at the single word from Heero echoed off the walls and into disbelieving ears.

“What…what do you mean, Heero?” Trowa asked in a calm voice, although his body was beginning to quake and tremble in fear. “What is going on here?”

Heero raised dull eyes to the smirking ones on Solo’s features, hands folded across his chest. “It was all a plot to get us here in the first place. He had no plans to help Duo, neither had he any plans to let us out of here in one piece.”

Quatre blinked and stared in confusion at all of them. He didn’t like what was going on. There was something not quite right about it all. “Explain this to us, Solo!! What have you done to Duo?!”

“Don’t you get it yet?” Heero blurted out in irritation. “He is not the real Solo!”

Trowa and Wufei growled, wondering why they hadn’t been able to sense the difference. Come to think of it, their normal abilities seemed to have waned. There seemed to be a sense of helplessness that washed over them. “He…he must have drugged us or something…” Wufei muttered out weakly. His hands flew to his throat as a burning sensation raced through it. It felt as if someone was pouring a vat of hot oil down his throat.

Trowa and Quatre were going through the same problem…and so was everyone else. Hands flew to throats, some heaving, others choking as they all tried to gather much needed air. The only ones that did not seem affected by the ‘strangulation’ were Heero, ‘Solo’ and Duo.

Duo remained as immobile as ever, the dead and empty look in his eyes never giving anything away. Heero’s frown deepened as he walked over the now prostrate figures of his comrades to stand beside the sorcerer.

“Where is he?” he asked softly, dark cobalt blues filled with hatred and as hard as chips. “Where have you taken him?”

Lord Khatet sneered and gave Heero a mock bow. “I answer to no one but my Lord Amon-Ra. I owe you nothing.”

“Don’t…don’t let him…hurt…Duo…” Quatre choked out weakly, as he tried to stagger back onto his feet. His legs gave way again and he ended up falling upon his knees. Coughing out thickly, a wad of blood was ejected as his body convulsed rapidly. His body was beginning to turn a rather sickly shade of green and Heero could feel himself get even angrier as he noticed that the effects were also beginning to happen to his friends. Several servants had stopped breathing and the air was now filled with the stench of death.

“Damn it!! You bastard!!” Heero lunged for the sorcerer, only to find himself flying across the room. He winced as his head slammed against an ornate bronze statue before sliding to the floor and cradling his now injured head. He pulled them away as the thick feel of his blood coated his fingers. Staggering to his feet, he reached into his pockets to pull out his gun, only to wince as he remembered that he did not have it with him at the moment. He would have to rely on his fists and hope that things didn’t get out of hand too soon.

Placing his hands together to form a tent, he closed his eyes and bowed his head, lips beginning to move in a slow chant. If he couldn’t fight with his weapons, then by Kami, he would fight with his mind.

The Khushrenada Estates

Northern Hemisphere

Earth

Treize dropped the papers in his hand as the ominous silence filled the large office. A gust of wind flew into the room, causing the candles on his desk to flutter weakly before going out completely.

“Heero…”

The door burst open and opening up his mouth to reprimand the intruder, the agitated face of his lover and assistant caused him to raise an eyebrow in question.

Both men didn’t need to say a word. Heero was about to do something drastic and if he wasn’t stopped soon, all hell might break loose.

Giving Zechs a curt nod, Treize made a quick call to his messengers, assembling a small army for backup and reaching for his cloak, he walked out of the office with a determined frown on his face.

The Shadow Realm

Duo stumbled across the dark hallway, hands reaching blindly to steady himself. His fingers brushed against cobbled stone, his body trembling with cold.

Dark…it’s so…dark… I can’t see anything. Quatre…where are you?

“Duo? Duo, sweetheart, it’s me.”

He spun around to stare into the smiling face of the young woman that had been like a mother to him. “Sis…Sister Helen.”

Not really wondering why in the world the nun was as naked as the day she was born, Duo walked up to her with eyes that shimmered with tears. He realized that he too was nude and he fell to his knees before her. The tears fell freely, his arms wrapped around his body tightly as the cold and loneliness crept in.

“I…I am so…so…sorry…I wish I could take it all back.”

“It’s never too late to ask the Lord for forgiveness, Duo. You know that,” she knelt beside him and cradled his body to hers, lips brushing against his unraveled locks in a soft kiss. “The Lord always forgives…doesn’t he, Father Maxwell?”

Duo jerked away from her, eyes widening at the sight of the smiling old priest. “Fa…Father…”

“The Lord always forgives those who turn back to him, Duo. Remember that…”

Duo whimpered as he noticed their figures seeming to disappear from him. “No…please…don’t leave me here…it’s so dark and cold and lonely. I am afraid of being here all by myself…please…”

“Yo! Duo, you jerk! What ya doing on the floor?”

“Solo!!” came the happy cry as he rose to his feet to run towards the smiling ten-year-old boy with the shaggy black locks. “Oh, Solo…I am so happy to see you!!”

The boy snickered and placed hands on his hips, eyes lighting up with mischief. “Duo, you jerk! You always were such a crybaby!”

Forgetting that he was now a grown teenager, Duo fell to his knees again and sniffled sadly. “Solo…you left me. You have a family now and people who love you and…”

“Duo! I am still your buddy! And don’t you ever forget it! We had a bond, remember?!”

Duo wiped at his eyes tearfully, a small tremulous smile coming to his lips. “Yeah…we had a bond. Blood brothers for life.”

“You got that right! Now, stop your whining and get up and go fight for you…for us, Duo!! Don’t let those bastards get to ya!”

Solo seemed to fade out as well and yell and bellow as he might, Duo could only watch helplessly as the young boy disappeared from sight again.

Fight…I have to fight, but how?

“Duo…”

Quatre!!

He lifted his gaze and smiled happily at the blonde that stood waiting for him with open arms. “Wait…wait for me, my love,” he pleaded desperately as he began to run towards him. But it seemed like the closer he got to the blonde, the farther away he seemed to be. “Quatre!! Don’t leave me here! Please, let me be with you!!”

“He doesn’t belong to you.”

Duo whipped his head around to stare into the saddened visage of the demon hunter, who stood by the side, with arms wrapped around his waist.

“He…Heero…”

The Japanese boy lifted his eyes to pin cobalt depths filled with misery on him, causing Duo to gasp at the intensity of his gaze. “Why won’t you give me a chance, Duo? Why won’t you allow me to help you in the only way I know how?”

“You want to kill me, Heero,” Duo croaked back weakly, his feet leading him forwards yet away from the other boy. It was funny the way things worked in this ‘place.’

Heero winced and lowered his gaze again, his hands went behind him, only to appear again with a familiar-looking gun now in them. “I am sorry, Duo.” A tear slid down his cheek. “In order to help you, I will have to kill you. You have to be reborn, Duo.”

The braided boy shook his head slowly, hands moving to his chest as he tried to step back. “I can’t let you do that. Quatre won’t let you do that! He will protect me!!”

He stopped as he found himself wedged between the two stoic figures of Trowa and Wufei. They placed their hands upon his arms and tugged him towards Heero. “Come with us, Duo. It will be quick and painless, we promise.”

“No!! Let me go!! I have my friends!! They will help me!!”

The sudden sounds of laughing children filled the empty void and Duo gasped as he noticed the group of kids that seemed to grow and grow in size. Their loud cries getting louder and louder as Trowa and Wufei tightened their hold on him.

“Duo is a freak!! Duo is a freak!! Duo is a freak!!”

The American shook his head, tears of frustration and humiliation falling down his cheeks as he struggled violently within his prison. “Stop it. Please, stop it. I am not a freak…”

“He killed us!! You killed us, Duo!! You made us suffer and now it’s your turn!! Duo!! Freak!! Duo!! Freeeeeeeeeak!!!”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

Heero’s eyes snapped open at the loud cry, his concentration wavering a bit as he noticed Duo crouched on the floor with his hands placed against his head. The boy seemed to be writhing in agony and Khatet stood above him, his own eyes closed and lips moving in some sort of incantation that Heero couldn’t decipher at the moment.

Growling in determination, Heero squeezed his eyes shut again. He was determined to go through with the counter curse. He wasn’t sure if he had enough strength to pull it off, but by Kami, he was going to try. A strong gust of wind from seemingly nowhere caused him to falter again and the cruel laughter from Khatet sent shockwaves of ice down his spine.

“Damn it! I can’t…concentrate…ARGH!!”

A painful, but carefully placed blow was struck at his head. It had been so fast that he had barely been able to register who his attacker was. Rolling unto his stomach, he coughed out thickly and tried to get to his feet again, only to howl out in pain as he felt another blow against his ribs. The kicks continued in rapid succession and Heero was completely powerless to do anything.

Of course, it didn’t help that his assailant was one Duo Maxwell.

Kill me if you will, Duo…but I will rescue you from your darkness whether you like it or not.

That would be his last thought as a final crushing blow sent him into oblivion.

The messengers stood behind their two leaders watching the ominous clouds above them in silent wariness.

It was time.

Treize nodded curtly and began to walk down the empty streets towards the looming castle that seemed to shimmer in the fading light. “We have to hurry. Amon Ra is about to be reborn.”

Quatre could vaguely feel himself being lifted by someone or something, he couldn’t be sure. His body felt numb and he could barely recognize his surroundings. He felt himself being placed on something flat and cold. Raising slightly trembling hands to his chest, he realized that his robes had been replaced with something flimsy. It barely covered his naked flesh and shivering unconsciously, he lifted heavy-lidded eyebrows to stare at the infinite domed ceiling above him.

Where in God’s name was he?

Something warm blazed beside him and jerking around quickly, he came face-to-face with a large golden statue of a pharaoh of some sort. His vision was blocked by a figure dressed in black robes. Although his back was turned to him, Quatre could still make out that this was Solo…or not Solo, according to Heero. Funny how he could still remember what had happened.

Duo…where are you, my love?

Right beside you…

Quatre’s face broke into a welcome grin, but that was soon wiped from his face as he noticed the empty, lifeless face of his lover. A searing agony flared through him and he felt his heart break into a million pieces. Duo was an empty shell. Gone was the vivacious boy he had fallen in love with. In a matter of moments, he would be dead. Quatre wasn’t sure if he wanted to go on living at all.

“Duo,” he whimpered achingly. His hands tried to reach out to caress the cold and pale cheeks, tears of sorrow spilling from his eyes as he stared into the blank amethyst depths. “I love you, Duo. Please…don’t forget me…”

“Silence!!” bellowed Lord Khatet, as he walked around the table to lean above the terror-stricken face of the blonde. “You will do just fine, Quatre Winner. Destined to be lovers, both of you will provide the essence I need to reawaken my master again.”

Putting on a face of false bravery, Quatre tried to release himself from the cold slab, only to gasp as he finally took note of the chains that held him down. “Ah!! What are you planning to do to me?! What have you done with Duo?!”

The sorcerer smirked and ‘shed’ the body of Solo that he had borrowed. Now in his true form, Quatre found himself staring at a man who looked no more than sixty at the most, with hair as black as night and eyes just as dark. The blonde cringed and tried to back away from the leery look that was being thrown his way. “Yes, yes…you will do just fine,” Khatet muttered softly. He reached for the hem of the flimsy sheet that covered Quatre and tugged it off with a flourish.

This action caused the blonde to flush a bright crimson, his body involuntarily shivering again as his skin was exposed for the world to see. He couldn’t help being a bit embarrassed at how hard his erection had become just from the situation. He squeezed his eyes shut and prayed fervently for the humiliation to be over.

Lord Khatet snickered. “Yes, I think you are more than ready, my dear Winner. Duo, my pet, why don’t you come and finish him off to your delight. Take him hard and rough.” He added in a conspiratory whisper. “The blood and semen from your coupling will do more to make my lord awaken. Now take him!! Use him to your will!!”

Quatre struggled violently against the chains, eyes widening as he watched Duo strip out of his bloodied robes to climb onto the slab with him. “No…please, Duo!! Don’t do this!! You cannot do this to me!! I love you!! Please!!”

For a brief moment…just a brief moment, something shimmered behind the blank depths but that was quickly replaced as Khatet barked out a sharp order. “Tekumveh!!”

Duo straddled Quatre’s lap and placed his hands upon the erect flesh, fingers beginning to stroke the hard length up and down in a smooth rhythm. Not bothering to prepare the blonde in any way, he thrust his swollen erection into the tight heat, body jerking at the sensation that flared through him. Quatre screamed out at the dual sensation of pleasure and predominant pain. He didn’t need a scientist to tell him that he was bleeding from the onslaught and the tears continued to cascade down his cheeks as his lover continued to use him.

This isn’t you, Duo. I know it isn’t you. Please, come back to me…help him, somebody!! Please!!

Entry into Khatet’s Castle had seemed a bit too easy and Zechs had the feeling that there was something not quite right.

“A bit too easy to get in here, wasn’t it?” Treize muttered out softly as they made their way up a flight of stairs. “Where the hell is everybody?”

“Lord Khushrenada! I think we have the reason here…”

The two leaders walked after the calling messenger with hands upon their hips ready to whip out their weapons if need be.

Instead, sharp gasps of shock and surprise at the sight before them was all they could manage. In the large hall, piles of dead bodies lay upon the floor, bodies already decaying as the dry and arid smell of death filled their nostrils.

“What…what the hell happened here?” Zechs asked softly, as his eyes roamed over the bodies. “Do you sense any of the boys?”

“Over there,” Treize replied, feet already leading him towards the corner where the three demon hunters had been placed. Zechs ran up to his side, hands reaching out to hold the limp and bloodied figure of Heero. “They aren’t dead yet,” he muttered thankfully. He pulled off his gloves and held out his hands over the boy, closing his eyes as he began to heal him quickly. He couldn’t help smiling as he heard his lover begin to chant softly as well. Treize might be strict with the boys, but one couldn’t deny that deep down inside…he cared for them just as much.

The castle seemed to tremble, sending all the messengers and their leaders into states of high alert. Treize slipped his hands back into his gloves and eyed the silent boys before him, a frown of consternation on his face. Turning back to face the soldiers, he barked out coldly. “Prepare yourself. We are going in to stop Khatet and his plans.”

He rose to his feet and made his way towards a door that lay a few feet away from them. “Some of you might not make it out alive. Heh…I doubt even I will make it out alive. But we must try. For the sake of Earth and for the stability of peace. Will you die for me and with me for this cause?”

All the messengers fell to their knees in reverence, while Trowa, Wufei, Heero and Zechs stood behind him with determined looks on their faces. “We are ready, Treize,” Heero muttered.

“Eager to get going, hmm, Heero?” Treize asked with a raised eyebrow.

Heero snorted and walked up to the door ahead of everyone else. He placed his hand on the doorknob and not turning around, he whispered out harshly. “Allow me to kill Duo myself, Treize. That is all I ask of you.”

“Why should I…” Treize began to complain, only to stop as he felt the hand upon his shoulder. Gritting his teeth, the aristocrat agreed. “Fine. You can finish Maxwell off, but please try not to let your emotions get in the way this time, okay?” Not waiting for Heero’s reply, he turned to face Trowa and Wufei. “Stick with Zechs, you two. I do not need both of you getting into more trouble than necess…” He stopped again as he heard the door opening up and the sounds of running footsteps already making their way into the darkness beyond. “Damn it!! That boy is going to get me really mad!!”

“Let’s just back him…what the hell?!”

Trowa and Wufei had broken free from them and had also run into the darkness after Heero, causing most of the messengers to stare at their furious leaders in slight bewilderment. “What do we do now, Lord Khushrenada.”

Treize grit his teeth and began to stomp into the room as well. “Follow me. And I swear once I get my hands on those boys, they will wish that they had never been born!!!”

“Yes!! Yes!! Let his blood flow, Maxwell! You are reawakening the great one all over again!!”

Khatet’s maniacal laughter echoed off the walls, as Duo continued to pound into the now pliant flesh of the boy beneath him. His movements seemed automated and contrived. His thrusts maintaining a steady rhythm that looked almost forced. Quatre was no longer conscious at this point or he would have seen the tears that had begun to streak down the miserable boy’s face.

You need to be reborn, Duo.

Help me…Heero…

I am coming for you. Wait for me, Duo. I will finally set you free….