Into The Light

Chapter Thirty-Six

The door burst open and Balmond dashed in, panting like a dog. Barats tramped in behind him. Alice laughed airily at the sight of the sweaty orc. "Well done," she commented. Balmond grunted.

"Are you sure they'll follow?" he questioned gruffly. "I saw them pause for a while." Alice seemed unfazed by the new information.

"They will. And if they don't, I have...motivation." At Balmond's curious glance, she smiled sweetly. "It...they will arrive soon."

Meanwhile, Harith was helping an exhausted Nana up for the umpteenth time. "I might have to carry you if you keep tripping," he joked. Nana blushed and apologised.

A hooded man and an equestrian hid behind the wall, watching the two Leonin. "Cute," the hooded man whispered to his companion. The equestrian nodded tersely and replied, "Our job is only to capture them, Faramis. That is what Vexana sent us here for." Faramis, the hooded one, snorted.

"Let's go then, Leomord!" he exclaimed. Then he clapped a hand over his mouth as Harith turned, suspicious.

"Probably just me," Harith muttered, not spotting the two men lurking in the shadows. Leomord sighed and readied his ropes and lasso.

"Now!" Faramis screamed.

"What the- argh! Nana!" Harith shouted, but it was too late. Leomord had thrown his lasso over the Leonin from behind the wall, and his aim was unerring. Harith was trapped, unable to use his powers. "Nana, run!" Harith yelled as he tried to get himself loose, but his efforts were futile. Terrified, Nana stood, stunned, seemingly unable to move.

The Abyssal demon duo finally made an entrance, Faramis' smirking face looming over Nana. "Aren't you pretty," he drawled. "All the things..."

"Don't you dare touch her!" Harith ground out. Leomord turned on him instantly and drew his sword. Faramis saw this and laughed. Suddenly...

"Molina, go!" Nana hollered, whipping out her blue mouse. Faramis was turned into an identical creature. Harith cheered, and Leomord snarled. But as Nana turned to flee, she was greeted by an unpleasant sight.

"Barbiel, to me now!" Leomord cried, and the ghostly horse charged straight towards him, knocking Nana down. She gave a little shriek and collapsed, probably fainting from the impact of the charge. Leomord mounted Barbiel and smiled smugly at Harith, who growled angrily.

"Drug her," Faramis commanded, "and secure the cat, as per our lady's instructions." Leomord nodded and dripped some cloudy fluid into Nana's mouth, some spilling down her chin. Harith cried out, afraid of what the potion might do to her.

"Don't worry, dear kitty-cat," Leomord drawled. "This'll only paralyze her for a couple of hours or so. But I'm sure you know that's enough time for her to die." Harith snarled and tugged at his bonds, trying to get free again. Leomord knelt down to secure him further, making his efforts worthless.

"Be a good cat and don't struggle," he instructed with a smirk. "The more you thrash, the tighter this rope will go, and the worse the punishment for your pretty little girlfriend." Leomord and Faramis exchanged a look that could not possibly mean well. Then Faramis added, "But if you're good and do what we tell you to, then we just might let her go..."

Harith took in a breath and begged, "Spare her, please. I'll do what you want, but don't hurt Nana." Faramis smiled triumphantly and hoisted him onto Barbiel's back. Then, Leomord and Harith galloped away, Faramis and Nana in tow.