Surrender

AUTHOR's NOTE: Almost there guys. I hope this Chapter doesn't come off as too mushy in the end there. But you'll see an area about a quarter of the way through where I say { cue Halo } that is this song by Beyonce = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70AgyIEnBRE I felt the song was appropriate for the current scene. Also as a tribute to MJ, his song "Will You Be there" also works for that scene especially the spoken part which I'm going to post below. Link for that song is here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvYygjcMDdQ&feature=related

WILL YOU BE THERE SNIP~
In Our Darkest Hour
In My Deepest Despair
Will You Still Care?
Will You Be There?
In My Trials
And My Tribulations
Through Our Doubts
And Frustrations
In My Violence
In My Turbulence
Through My Fear
And My Confessions
In My Anguish And My Pain
Through My Joy And My Sorrow
In The Promise Of Another Tomorrow
I'll Never Let You Part
For You're Always In My Heart.


And now, Chapter 16 --

//Devo knew he should be dead, but when he opened his eyes to find the tentacles that had impaled him lying on the floor and his mother standing next to him protecting both their bodies with a barrier shield; he realized that a miracle had indeed taken place. And that miracle’s name was Gillian. “Mother, what are you doing here?”

“Interfering, as usual,” Gillian replied as she held one hand up to maintain the barrier while the other hand healed her son’s injuries. She noticed instantly when Arabel’s horrifying visage vanished.

“You’re hurt;” Devo noticed that Gillian’s right arm was bleeding slightly.”

“It was inevitable that he’d get a shot in. My powers are currently divided. As soon as you are done here you must return to the real world immediately, the Tolatrians have finally focused their attack on Atika. I am currently maintaining force fields around all our cities, thus the power division. Perhaps you should put this on hold until it is once again safe to return.” Gillian hoped he would reconsider; she didn’t want to risk losing him again. “Chances are I won’t be able to intercede like this again. I think you should return with me.”

“If I leave now, Arabel’s mind may be forever blocked from me in the future,” Devo stated.

Gillian knew this was true, and also knew that this would be Devo’s response even before she had suggested it. She sighed before accepting his decision. “You just be careful, don’t let him get that close to you again.” Gillian paused to place a chaste kiss on Arabel’s cheek before she began to vanish from view.

All too soon Devo was alone again. His attention was now divided as he thought of what his mother and his fellow Suvian’s must be facing with the Tolatrians at the gates. He had to find and get through to Arabel as soon as possible. He didn’t like being in this vulnerable state any more than Gillian did.

Devo was grateful when the darkened room vanished and the scenery changed once more. He was in the parlor of what appeared to be a townhouse. A quick glance around revealed whose home it was. He saw a picture of Arabel and Anata; they were perhaps several years younger when it was taken. Anata had her arms wrapped around Devo’s neck and both of them were smiling. Could this be the home where the twins grew up before Talion was destroyed?

Devo began to explore the home when he came to what appeared to be a dining hall. He saw two people he did not recognize standing with a much younger version of Arabel.

“Mother, father, believe me when I say I tried my best with the Latrians, they just were not interested in what we were offering,” Arabel explained.

“If your grandfather had never suggested we give you this opportunity, then this would never have happened; for I knew from the very start that you were not cut out for diplomacy.”

“Your mother is right; you are a disgrace to our name.”

Devo was stunned by the words he heard coming from the lips of the strangers he now realized were Arabel’s parents. This had to be part of the reason why Arabel had not wanted to speak of them during their trip back to Hemparon. Arabel couldn’t have been older than 16 years old when this had taken place.

“Luckily the Latrian diplomat will be coming here by the end of the week; so we’ll have a chance to repair the damage you’ve done,” Lediya Cresh said sternly.

“Yes, and be sure to make yourself scarce when he gets here,” Banos Cresh stated.

Devo saw when the older Cresh’s left the room and vanished. It didn’t take long before Anata appeared in the room.

“I really screwed up Anata; they’ll never let me live this one down.” Arabel sighed as he took a seat at the dining table.

“It’s not your fault, that guy was an asshole, you said it yourself. He wanted to sexually assault you Arabel, and then made up horrible lies when you refused him. You did the right thing, and I’m sure eventually Mom and Dad will realize that.” Anata ruffled his hair as her mood suddenly changed. “Now, let’s go for a run. I’m going to leave you in a trail of my dust!”

Arabel found Anata’s smile infectious as he got up ready for action. “We’ll see about that.”

Devo would have loved to have seen more of the twin’s interaction, but the memory vanished to be replaced with one that was much more horrific. It was the meeting hall in the Tolatrian military base where Anata was murdered. The image of Anata being run through on Medaq’s staff repeated itself over and over as if it was a broken record. Eventually, Devo noticed that the hooded figure had re-appeared once again at the end of the hall.

There was an icy chill that almost seemed to emanate from this dark version of Arabel. This being was cold and heartless, and so very dangerous. This was what Gillian had warned him about. The entity, the part of Arabel’s mind that dwelled on his insanity could kill Devo without so much as a second thought.

“Why do you remain here?” Arabel’s raspy voice spoke beneath the cloak.

“Because I’m not leaving until you return to your former self,” Devo stated. He was startled when Arabel seemingly shadow-stepped directly in front of him.

“You must have a death wish,” Arabel said before once again revealing his scarred visage beneath the hood.

Devo quickly put some distance between them realizing that he could not allow Arabel to get the drop on him with those tentacles once more.

The scenery changed one more time. This time to a dark forested area that Devo did not recognize. He decided it was best to keep him talking which hopefully would fend off any incoming attack. “Please Arabel; you are one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. I can tell you are meant for great things, don’t let what has happened between us prevent you from attaining your goals.”

“And what has happened between us. You’ve been lying to me from the start, you never even told me you were a Prince, why is that? Did you think I’d suddenly become clingy and needy? Oops, that happened anyways didn’t it?”

“I didn’t want to burden our already fragile relationship with the truth of my heritage.”

“Bullshit! You were just making sure you kept me at arms length, but I couldn’t see it. I fell hard for you. You were my first broken heart.”

“I regret never getting the chance to tell you the truth. It was my intention to protect you from Medaq; I never meant any of the words I said to him.”

“Enough!” Arabel’s opaque eyes were wide as he stared at Devo. “I don’t know why you came here, but if your plan was to allow me to take my revenge on you; then here I come.”

Devo managed to raise a barrier shield to block Arabel’s tentacle attack. He was stunned when one of the tentacles broke through the shield almost immediately. He had to adjust accordingly and create another shield to compensate. But each new barrier was penetrated like the original.

Devo heard when Arabel began to laugh darkly, his face an unrecognizable mask of the person Devo thought he knew so well. Arabel really was a stranger now. When the entity raised the flat of his palm and pressed backward; this simple movement lifted Devo off his feet, regardless of his barriers and sent him flying. He made firm contact with the trunk of a withered tree. The blow left him slightly dazed, so he wasn’t prepared when Arabel suddenly appeared before him, his tentacles once again breaching Devo’s shield to encompass his legs and arms.

Devo was dangled several feet above the ground as Arabel’s tentacles suspended him with their tight hold. They felt cold and slimy as they slithered against him, and Devo had to wonder why Arabel would imagine such monstrous appendages even in his crazed mind. Devo gasped when one of the tentacles slid up his pant leg and quickly ripped it open shattering what was left of his barrier in the process.

“You’re so strong, and muscular,” Arabel began. “So very masculine and dominant; have you ever allowed another male to penetrate you? Would you have allowed me to do so had we continued our sham of a relationship?”

Devo felt as the tentacles wrapped around his chest began to squeeze him mercilessly. He gasped for breath as the pressure increased. “Yes, I would have.”

“Lies!” Arabel hissed at him. “But it doesn’t matter what you say; for here and now you will know what it feels like to be penetrated. To have your body used like that of a whore.”

Devo squeezed his eyes closed as he felt the tentacles ripping what was left of his clothing to shreds. His body shivered when the cold aura emanating from Arabel caressed his now naked form. He felt four of the slithering tentacles gather at his exposed anus.

“Do as you will,” Devo kept his eyes closed and tilted his head to the side as his body braced for what he knew was to come.

Arabel frowned at Devo’s submission, but his words did nothing to tame his ire. “May the pain this causes be greater than that you have inflicted upon me.” With those words, Arabel thrust forward with the tentacles quickly penetrating Devo’s body to the hilt. A smile curved his lips when he heard the Prince cry out in agony. Arabel began to slide the tentacles in and out of Devo’s body at a frantic pace. He was pleased when he saw that the fleshy appendages were soon covered with Devo’s life blood.

Arabel leaned forward and licked the deeply tanned skin located above Devo’s right nipple. When his teeth elongated into fangs he quickly bit into the tender flesh, reveling at the pain-filled gasp the Prince elicited. Arabel found the taste of his victim’s blood sweet. He continued to feast on Devo’s chest to the squelching sound of his tentacles fucking the Prince’s wondrous body.

“Please, Arabel – let go of this hate. Please come back to me.” Devo’s eyes were glossy with unshed tears not from the pain Arabel was inflicting on him, but by the fact that he had failed to reach him and time was fast running out.

“You still think there is a part of the Arabel you knew left in me? Fool!” Arabel spat at him.

If Devo had learned anything from his parents and the trials they had been through before he was born, it was definitely persistence. “Give me a chance; allow me to save your soul. Allow us an opportunity to have the wonderful life I know we are destined for.” Devo felt when a new set of tentacles curved around his neck threateningly.

“Please Arabel, don’t throw that life away.” Devo felt when the tentacles tightened blocking off his vocal chords. He began to choke as the veins in his forehead began to bulge from the strain.

“It’s too late.” Arabel prepared to inflict the killing blow when a voice behind him gave him pause.

It’s never too late.”

Arabel turned around slowly when he heard the voice of this newcomer. His grip on Devo’s naked form had loosened somewhat but the Prince still remained suspended against the tree trunk.

Devo felt that Arabel had loosened his grip on him and had to wonder why. One glance upwards gave him his answer. Anata stood there, dressed in a long, sleeveless white dress with her blue-black curls flowing down her shoulders. Her aquamarine eyes were glowing as she regarded them and he had never seen her look more beautiful, almost angelic in appearance.

“You’ve dwelled in this place of darkness for far too long my brother. I can not allow you to throw your life away,” Anata stated.

“You – you’re dead,” Arabel said through gritted teeth.

“Even in death I live on in you – here.” Anata placed a palm directly over her heart.

“No, I’m all alone; I’ll forever be all alone!” As Arabel’s anger began to flare he once again tightened his hold with the tentacles around Devo. He was unprepared to see the tentacles suddenly cut right down the middle, severing his hold on Devo. The Prince fell to the forest floor, gasping for air. Arabel returned his attention to Anata, as all his anguish and pain forced him to do the unthinkable. He attacked her, dozens of tentacles shot towards her at lightning speed. Arabel stood in stunned silence when the tentacles parted around Anata’s body and left her unscathed.

“Impossible, I am ruler here! I decide who lives or dies!” Arabel cried.

“I will say it once again, I am a part of you; thus you can not hurt me.” Anata suddenly vanished from view before appearing in close proximity to Arabel. She placed both hands on his chest. “It’s time to bring this inner conflict to an end.”

{Cue Halo}

********Arabel’s anger, hatred and despair roared its protest as Anata’s aura replaced those negative feelings with the positive feelings of love and trust that the twins had shared throughout their life. The dark inner walls which had surrounding him leading to his fall into insanity tumbled into nothingness along with the vicious façade that had overtaken him. The halo which surrounded them with such bright, white light was not only soothing, but healing. It was time to leave the terrible aspects of his past behind and look towards his future.

“You’re gone – you left me.” Arabel grasped Anata’s hands with his own as his aqua eyes held hers with a fervent stare.

“Gone but never forgotten. As long as you carry within your memories, within your heart; I will always be with you, my brother.”

“How can I survive without you in the outside world?” Arabel didn’t think he could do it alone.

“You’ll have some help.” Anata removed one hand from Arabel’s grip to point behind him.

Arabel glanced behind him and saw Devo. The man who had been the cause of much heartache and joy ever since he first met him. But he was also the man that Arabel knew he was hopelessly in love with.

“He came here to save you, knowing full well the dangers of your darkened mind. Nothing would have stopped him from rescuing you from the abyss you had fallen in to. He would have gone so far as to let you take his life, to show you the full depth of his feelings. You won’t be alone; Devo is your match in every way. And he will see to it that you experience the life you were meant to live,” Anata concluded her words of wisdom

Devo was stunned by what he had just witnessed. From his position on the floor he saw when a bright white light began to engulf the siblings. He’d had to cover his eyes and all he could hear was Arabel screaming. He’d heard what sounded like a small explosion, and opened his eyes to see that Arabel’s unsightly, scarred visage had been replaced with the Arabel he knew and loved. His short cropped dark hair covered his right eye as usual. His beautiful slightly tilted aqua eyes had returned as well as his flawless dusky skin. Could it be that this was finally over?

Devo got to his feet and noticed he was once again dressed in his black leather vest and pants. The pain Arabel had inflicted on his body was now gone as well. He looked up to see Anata smiling at him. “You, you saved us.”

“No, you saved us,” Anata began. “I couldn’t have garnered the strength needed to return Arabel to himself if you hadn’t been brave enough to venture into his mind. I knew exactly what I saw in you when I first met you Devo Sventos. You are the man that led my brother to salvation.”

Devo saw Arabel looking at him with tear-filled eyes.

“I’m so sorry Devo, how can you ever forgive me for what I’ve done to you?” Arabel asked.

Devo smiled at him before Anata released Arabel to his arms. “Don't apologize -- there's no need.” He paused to kiss Arabel softly on the lips. “But, we must go; I fear our troubles are not yet over. Atika is under attack by the Tolatrians.”

Arabel turned to look at Anata as he realized their short-lived reunion had come to an end. “I don’t want to lose you again.”

“You won’t lose me silly; like I said, I will always be right here.” Anata pointed at Arabel’s heart. “Now go, both of you. Save your world and begin your future together.”//

~*~

Devo awoke to the sounds of bombardment outside the fortress walls. He quickly sat up in bed and glanced across from him and saw as Arabel too began to regain consciousness.

//Mother, I’ve returned and Arabel is once again himself.// Devo waited for a reply but none came. Was Gillian not still nearby to be able to hear his thoughts? “Kenlan,” Devo noticed the white-haired man standing near the balcony window.

Kenlan gave them his attention glancing from Devo to Arabel. “Is he…”

“Yes, he’s better,” Devo stated as he got to his feet and helped Arabel to his. “What’s the status here?”

“The Queen has been maintaining a force shield over our cities. It will only last for so long; currently we have sent our own ships to engage the Tolatrians. They may not have superior weaponry, but they’ve come at us with insane numbers.” Kenlan moved to an empty wall and pressed a concealed button. The wall panel flipped revealing a computer monitor which showed the enemy fleet located on a star system map. Each blip on the map represented a Tolatrian ship and there were so many blips all bunched together they covered a large area on the space map.

“Where is my mother?” Devo asked.

“She said she was going to battle stations level 14. I am assuming she is still there and perhaps trying to make contact with the leaders of this attack.”

Arabel grasped Devo’s hand for support as he realized the Suvians may not come out of this unscathed. “The one leading this attack would be General Hetite. He is not a compassionate man and likely would not be open to negotiations.”

“That’s too bad,” Kenlan began as he lowered his gaze. “For them.”

Arabel was shocked by Kenlan’s response. “I thought we were out-numbered.”

“Yes we certainly are, and what of it?” There was a bored expression on Kenlan’s face.

Arabel glanced up at Devo hoping that the Prince would shed some light on this very confusing discussion.

“I have to find my mother. Kenlan will you look after Arabel while I’m gone?” Devo asked.

“You’re not leaving me here. I’m going with you.” Arabel’s tone of voice was adamant.

“I just got you back, I can’t risk losing you again,” Devo touched Arabel’s smooth cheek gently as he gazed at his love with a heart-warming expression on his face.

“Then keep me close – but I am going with you,” Arabel replied.

Devo was silent for a moment before he nodded his approval. He glanced up at Kenlan to find the mystic smiling at them. For too long the outcome of this entire situation including Arabel’s amnesia remained extremely volatile. Finally, it appeared that Devo and Arabel were going to be just fine. The Prince wrapped his arm around Arabel’s slender shoulders before leading him from the room.

~*~

“This is a standstill, we must get into their cities,” Medaq stated as he glanced over at where Hetite sat on the deck of their flagship battle cruiser. “Thus far their fighters have taken out dozens of our ships and have been managing to maneuver our attacks rather well. This is going nowhere fast.”

“Perhaps we’d now have a bargaining tool if you hadn’t seen fit to release the Prince when you had him in your grasp just two days ago,” Jubek spoke up as he sashayed his way into the conversation.

“What is the meaning of this, Medaq?” This was the first Hetite was hearing of this.

Medaq scoffed as he glared at Jubek. “As usual, Jubek is talking out of his ass. I never captured the Prince.”

“You let him go free, what’s the difference?” Jubek smirked.

“Permission to speak sir,” A soldier who had just entered the deck interrupted the current conversation.

“What is it?” Hetite snapped.

“I received a communiqué from the surface. It’s from someone by the name of Queen Gillian and she wishes a cease fire so that we may negotiate,” The soldier stated.

“That must mean we have them right where we want them,” Commander Soton spoke up. “We should continue bombarding them, and eventually we will be victorious.”

“You can do that and we can lose badly or we can accept her wishes and once they lower their defenses, we make our move. We must be allowed to place our troops on the ground, I fear a space battle will be too long and drawn out with no guarantee of victory,” Medaq explained

“So in essence you want a second chance to conclude your feud with this Prince?” Jubek spoke up. “Isn’t that what this is all about, your vengeance? He refused to serve you and you’re still steamed about that aren’t you?”

“Must we really have to listen to the ravings of this so-called respected Scryer? General, I really want to concentrate on the fight at hand and help us achieve victory but I can’t with Jubek hounding me like this.”

“That’s enough!” Hetite stated.

Jubek began to chuckle. “Thought you’d get off easy did you?

“I meant you, Jubek.” Hetite turned cold black eyes towards the pink-haired scryer. “Your assistance for getting us to this galaxy will be noted, but for now you’re more a hindrance than a help to us. Medaq is my head-scryer for a reason and his wishes will be adhered to. You may leave us; your services won’t be required for the remainder of this mission.”

Jubek blinked at Hetite in disbelief. He glanced over at Medaq whose smug expression could not be denied. Jubek was instantly angry but knew he had no leg to stand on for retaliation. So he did as he was told and left the deck. Hetite would pay for his dismissal; this wasn’t over – not by a long shot.

~*~

It took about an hour but eventually General Hetite agreed to meet with Gillian at the fortress. She lowered her force shield around the structure allowing a single Tolatrian away ship to enter and land in the ship hanger.

General Hetite accompanied by a group of soldiers and scryers exited the ship to find a single woman awaiting them. Hetite looked the Queen up and down. She was wearing a skin-tight black leather shirt with long sleeves. Her matching low-rise black pants which hugged her hips to reveal a decent portion of her flat, tanned stomach. Tall black boots and a gold belly chain completed her attire. “You are either brave or very stupid to meet me here alone woman.”

Gillian tilted her head to the side causing the soft waves of her blond curls to fall over one shoulder. “Why should I be either of those if you’ve come here to meet with me in good faith?”

Hetite’s grin soon faded as he glanced around the docking bay which seemed empty except for the parked ships. “Do you have some force waiting to jump out at us at any minute?”

“I am the only one here and is this everyone?” Gillian referred to his away party; she noticed that Medaq was strangely absent.

“Yes, now on to the terms of your surrender,” Hetite stated as he closed the distance between them.

“My surrender? I thought we were here to discuss a suitable outcome for this,” Gillian replied.

“You were the one ready to come to the negotiation table; we were fine with continuing to bombard you until your shields failed. Therefore you are the ones that obviously had something to lose.” Hetite didn’t appreciate her coyness. “I suppose I shouldn’t expect a woman to understand the ideals of men.” Hetite noticed when the expression on the Queen’s face changed. There was almost a smirk on her face and he soon realized the reason behind it when right before his eyes the Queen’s body began to shift and change shape.

~*~

Devo could finally sense his mother’s spiritual energy and knew she was safe. He was holding Arabel close as they walked through a dining hall located on one of the middle floors when he sensed it. They were no longer alone. When Medaq teleported into the room before them, Devo was not surprised.

“I made sure you could sense me coming this time, I didn’t want it to be over to soon,” Medaq chuckled.

Devo released Arabel from his hold and nodded in the direction near the back of the dining hall. After the younger man had moved to safety, Devo focused his attention on Medaq.

Medaq had his usual wide-grin on his face. “Aren’t you going to thank me for sparing your life the last time we met?”

“Actually, you’re going to thank me for putting you out of your misery by the time I’m through with you,” Devo replied sinisterly.

Medaq threw his head back and guffawed at Devo’s statement. “During our past battles you’ve barely shown that you are my equal, yet you stand there exuding confidence? Is it because you expect your mother to save you at any second? Hetite will deal with her soon enough. And after I’m finished with you – I’m going to fuck your whore boyfriend before your very eyes. Then I’ll lay you low for good. And to think this all could have been avoided if you’d simply agreed to join me.”

“Enough talk.” Devo refused to wait another minute listening to Medaq’s sick speech. Summoning his staff he quickly elongated the tip and moved to attack. Medaq managed to block his first blow expertly but Devo did not stop there. He kept the attacks coming at a frenzied pace, forcing Medaq to take up defense.

Arabel stood behind the long table at the end of the hall as the fight began to heat up before his eyes. Here he was face to face with Anata’s murderer waiting for Devo to exact revenge for him. He was in no position to do the exacting himself. He realized that the part of Anata that lived within him wanted him to heal and move on. But he wasn’t sure that would be completely possible unless Devo was ruled the victor of this battle.

As their staffs clashed together, Devo noticed when Medaq began to chuckle deviously and saw as a bolt of electric current leaped off Spark to connect with his own staff. Devo quickly shadow-stepped away from Medaq and buried the tip of his staff in the marble floor allowing the current to be negated into the floor and not through his body. Medaq used this opportunity to take the offense forcing Devo to withdraw his staff from the floor just in time to fend off the attack.

As the fight continued, Devo managed to land a blow which resulted in a thin red line appearing across Medaq’s chest. “There’s plenty more where that came from.” Devo continued his assault against this enemy he despised and soon noticed when the blinding fog tactic Medaq employed way too often began to creep up on him.

Devo expected Medaq to once again hide within the fog and attempt to attack him at some later date. However, The Prince instantly felt when Medaq seemed to retreat and knew that Arabel would be in danger. Teleporting to Arabel’s side, Devo made it just in time as Medaq appeared intent on doing his lover serious harm.

Devo’s eyes narrowed as he glared at Medaq. “You bastard, if you wish to kill me then focus on me!” Devo knew this was Medaq’s method, distract then move in for the kill. Medaq’s underhanded tactics certainly fit the bill. “Sorry to disappoint that your little plan on Iterlan failed.”

“Yes, apparently it did since you two are both still together, but I hope it caused you at least some discomfort,” Medaq grinned.

Arabel lowered his gaze at that comment. Medaq would never know how much discomfort he had caused Devo. He still held the memories of what he had done to the Prince while they were in his subconscious. He crossed the line and he wasn’t sure if any type of apology could ever make up for what he had done.

Medaq didn’t realize just how much he had angered Devo with his words until the force of the Prince’s attack slammed him into the opposite wall. Medaq was caught in a tight hold he seemed unable to escape from. Perhaps he would need a little help.

Devo was ready to finish Medaq off, he felt his opponents staff wavering as he pressed his own blade downward with tremendous force. Devo was unprepared to hear Arabel yell for him to watch out. He turned slightly and saw Sesan barreling towards him with a flame staff. Devo knew what was happening. Sesan had shown up to distract him long enough for Medaq to kill Arabel like he had done with Anata. The Prince couldn’t let this happen. His inner power had been building up throughout the course of the fight with Medaq. His golden eyes began to glow iridescently as finally he began to release that power within.

NEXT CHAPTER: The conclusion.