My love, Broken and Twisted (Tyki Mikk)

Chapter 25

Fear prickled at the back of Shaun’s neck, he was behind her, she couldn’t see, but she knew the twisted grinning face that the voice belonged to. “Millennium Earl…” She greeted flatly, sounding much more confident than she actually was. There were very few people that Shaun feared, but this ridiculous fat man happened to be one of them. “Hmmm? That didn’t sound all too friendly my dear, why we got along just fine the last time we spoke.” The Earl's ears drooped a bit, genuinely offended by Shaun’s poor manners. The exorcist wrung her bandages out in the sink, and then wrapped the still damp cloth back around her wound, “A lot has happened, since the last time we spoke.” She scoffed icily, as she aggressively tightened and tied the fabric. There was a long silence, perhaps even more frightening than the actual conversation. Shaun didn’t dare turn around, not yet, but she still had the guts to take hold of her scythe, which was luckily leaned up on the counter just next to where she stood. “I see… Well perhaps it would be wiser then to skip the friendly banter.” The Earl’s eyes narrowed a bit at the weapon, “We have business to discuss.” Shaun half turned her head to face where the voice was coming from, holding her scythe in a white knuckle grip to keep her hands from trembling, as her gaze fixed on him.  “What business could I possibly have with you?” She growled through clenched teeth, “Well you see, I have an offer for you my dear. I’ve come to save you.” He bowed slightly, Oh fuck this is bad… “Save me from what… may I ask…” The Earl let out a small laugh, raising the closed umbrella she knew to be Lero he pointed at her, or more specifically… her left shoulder. “From your detestable god of course.” He grinned, sending a cool shiver up the exorcist’s spine. “Shaun, if you allow the fall to happen your soul and your life force will cease to exist, you’ll be no more than a sad memory… however, your god cannot lay claim to the souls of my akuma… you’re a smart girl-” The Earls piercing golden eyes cut through the blackness, Shaun felt as though they were boring into her skull, “-I’m sure you of all people would know what I’m getting at…” Shaun raised her brow at him, a little shaken by his words but with each passing second the fear and in some ways, excitement of the moment was bringing out the bloody reaper in her. “You have got to be fucking joking.” She laughed a bit, “I would much rather have my soul ripped to shreds then give it up to you.” Shaun hissed, a sharp pain shot up her arms almost as soon as the words left her lips, making her wince. “Be careful what you wish for…” The Earl jeered, earning a spiteful glare from the blonde exorcist. Letting out a deep sigh to compose himself, the Earl continued, “I do like you Shaun, and so does my beloved family… One of them in particular…” Shaun thought about Tyki, asleep in the other room, but calling out to him or Kanda for that matter would only end up hurting them instead. He did say this business is between us two after all… Shaun began to run her fingers across the razor sharp edge of her weapon. “It would hurt me so to see him grieve for you, and I know that he would never approve of this, but he still must pay for disobeying me. This way we can all still be together, everyone is happy, I’m only trying to make the best of this.” He smiled innocently. Shaun’s throat hurt a little at the thought of staying with Tyki, but she knew she would be making a deal with the devil to do it, becoming a puppet for the Earl, how could she ever be happy again? “… Do I need to repeat myself?” Shaun spat , “ I… would rather… die.” The Earl grinned wider, plucking a lily from the assortment of flowers rimming his hat, he let it drop from his fingers and gently fall to the ground. “Oh you will… but not by god’s hand.” He laughed, his image fading into the darkness. Shaun began to panic a little, Where did he just go!?  “GAH-!?” Shaun yelped in confusion as something raised her up into the air by her hair. “No hard feelings my dear…” He said as she thrashed around in his grip, “…but I don’t take no for an answer…”  CRASH! The Earl used Lero to block a vicious slash of Shaun’s scythe as she fought to get free. A purple pentacle shaped gateway appeared beneath his feet while he held the blade at a safe distance, and the two of them were then swallowed up by the abyss.