Chapter Twenty-Three
Allura was dying - or at least her soul was. Devonn was winning and he knew it. Allura would weakly struggle and Devonn would merely chuckle at her in amusement. At one point he forced her to open her eyes by pulling her hair. She looked through him and this Devonn did not like.
He hissed, "You will not pretend I am not here, Allura..I will make you respond to me!"
He slapped her hard and then ripped off the remains of her gown. Allura felt the coldness overtake her again. She shivered involuntariy.
Devonn smiled and said, "Soon, angel, you will no longer be cold."
He slid his lips on her neck and as he did so, Allura gave up. He would have his way now. Suddenly, a voice within her cried, No!Don't give up!!Fight! I'm coming!
Her angel - but he was too late now. Devonn held her tightly and smiled with anticipation. He had drawn this out as long as he could. Now she would know who her true husband was.
Lotor ran around the corner and stopped short of his old chambers. His eyes narrowed. They were in there. He just knew it. He would be quiet, although every instinct wanted him to just rush into the room.
He opened the door quietly and his eyes adjusted to the dark room. His mouth tightened as he heard a groan from Devonn. He wanted to leap at him and kill him on the spot, but he had to be patient - but not *too* patient. Lotor seemed to wait for an eternity as he quietly stepped over to where he could get to Devonn.
Devonn was lost with her. She was wonderous. He had made a fine choice for a wife. He could now see why Lotor had been so desirous of her. The fact that she was unwilling didn't bother him. She would be used to him and she would grow to desire him. But right now that didn't matter. All that mattered was that he would have her at last. He kissed her deeply one more time and she moaned in despair which excited him all the more.
He whispered, "Mine.." as he prepared to take her.
Suddenly, he was yanked away by a strong arm and faced a dead man - his half- brother,Lotor!
Lotor's eyes blazed forth in fury. He wanted nothing better than to kill this demon!
Devonn, despite his obvious disadvantage, smirked and said, "So, Lotor, you've come back from the dead."
Lotor snarled, "And you tried to rape my wife!!"
Devonn's eyes gleamed and he said malicously, "Oh? Rape your wife? I don't think so. She's my wife!" and then he grined knowlingly, "I am such a lucky man."
With this, Devonn suddenly charged Lotor and tried to reach for Lotor's weapon. They wrestled on the floor, both evenly matched.
Devonn snarled, "This time I will make sure you stay dead,but before I kill you, I will take the one you love in front of your cursed eyes, son of Raull!!!"
Lotor let out a feral scream and Devonn could see the blood lust in his eyes. Devonn knew he needed to get out of there - if he wished to live, that is. Devonn bit Lotor's wrist savagely, but still Lotor held the weapon.
Devonn snarled and said, "Curse to you to hell,brother." Devonn leaped off the floor with Lotor in hot pursuit. Devonn went to a window ledge and smirked. "You're weak, Lotor. You will not prevail against me!"
Lotor said, "You think not? I wouldn't be so sure!"
Devonn glanced at Allura lying still upon the bed and said, "Neither will she! I will be back."
Lotor fired his weapon at Devonn as he leaped. Lotor ran to the window and saw Devonn disappear into to thin air! Lotor's lips tightened and he thought that Devonn's disappearance was Hagar's doing, and no other. The old faithless hag had loyalty to no one but herself.
He heard Allura moan and he rushed to her. At first, she weakly fought him, but then she opened her eyes and said, "My angel, you saved me.I knew you'd come."
Lotor worriedly searched her face and then he gently kissed her mouth. Allura smiled slightly and said, "Lotor."
He needed to get her out of here before Devonn came back. He covered her nudity with the sheets and lifted her up in his arms.
She murmured, "Take me away from this place."
He whispered, "I will, my sweet." and he carried her out the doors of his former chambers.
Bengale: A Witch's Revenge
Bengale, emerged from Castle Doom a broken man. He had finally snuck away while she was called away. He didn't care if he died now, maybe it would dispell the horror of what he had went through. He shivered in revulsion. He needed to find a way out of here quickly before she found out he was gone. Else he'd have to -shudder- do his husbandly duty again and he rather die than do that again.
That Black Magic of Honevera's was powerful. He had been like a puppet, manipulated by her. His mouth twisted in disgust. He would never, ever plot against anyone again. He just wanted to go to a peaceful planet somewhere and live out the rest of his days and drink himself drunk. That was the only way he'd ever forget his encounter with Honevera - or rather, Witch Hagar.
He shuddered again as he shambled outside the castle. Suddenly, he saw what had to be a pilot come out of the castle from another exit. The pilot was a tall young man in a blue and white uniform.
Bengale ran to the young man, yelling, "Wait!" The young man turned to him and looked with suprise at Bengale's dishelved appearance. Bengale said, "Listen, I don't know who you are,or where you came from. Just get me off this horrible planet and get me away from that witch!"
Lance looked at the old man and thought, ..is it me, or does this guy look like Cossack?..
Lance asked, "Are you a slave?"
The old man snapped, "Yes! Hagar's!! If she ever makes me do that again, I'll geld myself!:"
Lance raised an eyebrow. Bengale was hysterical now.
"Yes! You stupid fool! She made me have SEX with her with that damnable black magic of hers! Gaaaa.."
With uncommon strength, Bengale clutched at Lance, "I mean it! Get me off here! Dump me anywhere! Just get me away from her!" The old man mumbled, "..why I ever married her is beyond me.."
Lance fought the urge to laugh hysterically and he said, "Okay, buddy. You can come with me to Arus."
Lance never completed his sentence for the old man had yelled, "Thank you! thank you!! May the angels bless you, young man..let's go!!"
Lance again stiffled his urge to laugh and led the old man to Red Lion. He shook his head. Hagar had sex with this guy? No wonder he wants to leave!
Lance shivered in sympathy. As Lance led the old man into Red Lion, Bengale turned to him and said, "You wouldn't have anything in the way of liquor in there would you?"
Lance shook his head and led the old man in without another word.
Allura and her Angel
At last he got Allura to the Phoenix. He was half-afraid that he would run into resistance, but he did not. He carried her into the ship and placed her in a small bedroom towards the back.
When he let go of her to place her on the bed, she cried out, "No, Don't leave me."
He kissed her forehead gently and said, "I will be right back, my sweet."
He went to the cockpit and saw the note Giselle had left for him. He had been so concerned over Allura, he did not think about her and the baby. At least they were with Akira. He knew they would be all right.
As he powered up the ship, he thought of the promise he had made Akira. He knew Akira would hold him to it. His heart wrenched at the thought of leaving her on Arus and never seeing her again. He didn't think he could ever touch another woman again. If he did, he would always think of her. He would never love another. He knew he wouldn't. How he wished he hadn't made that promise! A bit of his old nature rose up and whispered in his mind, You've broke promises before, why not this one?
No. He hated Keith Akira, but Lotor knew that if he went back to his old ways, he lose Allura forever.
As the ship departed Doom airspace and headed for Arus, he placed the ship on autopilot and went back to her. He laid upon the bed with her and held her close. Allura seemed to know that it was he for she drew herself closer to him and smiled. The look of peace and contentment on her face melted his heart. He would like nothing better than a life with her and the baby that they both loved. He would give more children if she wished. He would do anything for her, but now he would have to leave her alone forever. Just once - just once he wanted to be with her as her husband. Did she wish to be with him after all she had been through? He did not want to cause her any more pain.
She opened her eyes and stroked his cheek, "You saved me,Lotor."
She kissed him and he closed his eyes and held her tightly. He said, "Allura, I would go through hell for you.I love you." This time he kissed her more feverently and he murmured, "God, I don't want to leave you, but I -"
She seemed to not hear this, for her hands were in his hair and she was kissing him back, murmuring his name. He could not stop this, nor did he want to. He may have to hold to his promise to Akira, but that was when they reached Arus. For now, it was just the two of them and he would not stop - not unless she wanted him to.
They kept on and then it was like before, only this time,there was no one to interrupt them. At the last, Lotor had asked her if she truly wanted this. Her eyes sparkled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and murmured, "Yes, my angel..yes..I love you, Lotor." She kissed him and that was all the answer Lotor had needed from her.
Afterwards, he watched her sleep, tracing his finger upon her lips. He watched the rise and fall of her breathing and listened to her heartbeat. Lotor made himself memorize everything about her - the way her hair fell in waves around her, her eyes - how they sparkled and changed to a darker shade of blue according to her mood. Her touch, her kiss - they were an indeliable mark upon him. Had he made the same impression upon her? It didn't matter. After they arrived on Arus,she would no longer be his. Perhaps she would marry - well, she would have to - they would insist upon it. The thought of her doing that twisted at his heart. All he would have would be this! Sometimes he wished he had never seen her that day on Arus - but he did and that's was all ancient history now. If all he had with her was now, then so be it. He would make the most of it.
He kept holding her tightly for the longest time until she stirred again. She opened her eyes and then she gasped. She flung her arms around his neck, her tears of joy running down her cheeks.
She exclaimed, "You're alive!!"
Allura kissed him feverently, all the while murmuring, "You're alive...alive..."
He smiled and she drew back. She said, "You're real..I didn't dream you..he said you were dead, but you're not.." She hugged him again and said joyfully, "You're not dead!"
Lotor wanted to just share in her joy, but he had a promise to keep,and it would be easier if she thought him dead.
He drew back from her and said, "I am dead, Allura."
She looked at him shocked, "No..you're real. I can feel you - touch you..you're not.."
He kissed her gently and said, "Before I died, I prayed that I would have one more night with you - just one to say goodbye to you and release you at last."
Allura started to sob, her hands touching his chest. "No! no!! Please don't leave me! You can't be dead! "
Lotor's heart broke in two seeing her cry. He never could stand that. He murmured, "Allura..please don't."
She looked into his eyes and said, "You say you are dead, but I will never believe it..never..if you must leave me, then let us pretend that we will never be parted. Kiss me as if you will be here tommorrow to greet the day with me."
She sobbed, "Tell me you will love me forever! Tell me that we will see our daughter grow and that we be blessed with more children."She kissed him despite her tears and said, "I will always love you, Lotor. All those times I resisted you..I loved you then."
She held him to her and he whispered, "I loved you from the first moment I saw you..and I will love you thoughout eternity and beyond."
Allura whispered, "Take me with you..I wish to go."
He said, "Where I go, you cannot follow." He kissed her again and to his surprise she said, "Then kill me. I beg of you."
Lotor's heart turned over at how she was reduced to begging. He had to convince her to live!
He stroked her hair gently and said, "You cannot die, my sweet. You must live for Arus, remember? You always had a heart for your people." He smiled a wry smile and said, "You often reminded me of that."
Allura said, "I know, but I can't.."
Lotor cut her off and said, "You must go on for your planet, Allura..you will forget me."
She whispered, "No, never...death can never part me from you."
They kissed and Allura whispered, "I wish to be with you before you go."
Her tears ran freely down her face and he caught one on his fingertip. She cried the tears he could not bring himself to, for if he did, he would never let her go.
He tried to make her laugh and said with a ghost of his old smirk, "Anything for you, my sweet."
She tried to smile but couldn't. The look in her eyes were desperate, as if she expected him to disappear any moment. She kissed him with passion and he returned her kiss. The time for talk was over, for there just wasn't much time at all for them.
She was asleep when they reached Arus. He had dressed her in a modest gown he had found in one of the closets and he had put his uniform back on as well. His heart felt like a heavy stone within him as he carried her off his ship. She did not stir as he carried her. He glanced and saw them all - her friends. He saw Giselle with the baby as well. He walked over to them and before he handed her over to one of the medics, he kissed her softly on the mouth. He noticed Akira had bristled when he did that, but he didn't care. His heart breaking, he handed her over and he watched as they took her away to the med lab. He went to Giselle and she handed him the baby. Lotor could feel all their eyes upon him as he held the baby gently against him. He could see that Allura's Nanny, especially had questions in her eyes and the look Akira had given him had been murderous. He smiled at the baby, who seemed a little fussy at first, but then she smiled at him at last.
He whispered, "Take care of your mother." He kissed the baby's forehead and handed the baby back to Giselle.
Giselle said, "Your Majesty, do you want us to stay with you?"
Lotor shook his head and said, "No, you must stay here on Arus. Watch over Allura. The baby will help her."
He whispered so that the others could not hear. "Never let her know I live, Giselle.I will be on Canesian. If there is an emergency, then I will come.."
Giselle had tears in her eyes. This wasn't supposed to happen this way!
Lotor turned to Coran and said, "I have reason to believe that Devonn still lives - if you need assistance from me, I will provide it."
Coran nodded and said, "We accept your offer, Lotor and we extend the same courtesy to your planet."
Lotor nodded curtly and turned away. As he feared, Akira had followed him. When they got to the Phoenix, Keith said, "You do remember the promise you made, Lotor?"
He nodded sadly, "Yes, Akira, I remember and I will keep it - for her -not you."
Keith nodded and said, "See that you do,Lotor. She will be better off."
Lotor's eyes narrowed and he said with a voice as cold as ice, "When I leave her forever, Akira, who will be better off? Her or you? Forgive me if I am not overjoyed at the prospect."
Lotor went into his ship without another word and took off. Keith looked on as the sleek ship left Arus. He had felt chills up his spine at the coldness and the pain in Lotor's voice. Keith had a feeling that something was being hidden from him - he didn't know what. He shook his head. It didn't matter now. Allura was safe and sound at last. Lotor would plague her no longer and she would be free at last. Despite a nagging feeling deep within him, he felt he had done the right thing. Knowing that the princess was safe on Arus where she belonged gave him a sense of peace. Keith turned and walked back to the Castle of Lions.
As Lotor left Arus, tears he could not cry in front of her cascaded down his cheeks as he mourned for the one who was yet alive but lost to him forever.
