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He grabbed the knife by his its blade!

Alessio leapt back, breathing heavily as the knife vanished in Arsene’s hand, disintegrated almost instantly. All the color drained from his face as he imagined what could happen if Arsene used his powers on him.

“Wow, nice acting skills, ten points. You can act out your drama play, when I’m sure nobody’s trying to KILL you.” It took a second to – only barely – register what he was even talking about, the only thought Alessio had was about to pay for everything he ever did if he didn’t die in the struggle.

He sent a kick into the other’s torso hard enough it should’ve cracked bone. Not a thing. Before he could react Arsene’s hand was on him, yanking him off the ground. Alessio stifled a painful yelp, cursing and struggling frantically.

“Let me go, devils! I’ll kill you, please!” Wasn’t a rational threat but everything was white-hot terror.

“Wring my neck if you want to, I won’t feel a thing.”

In seconds they skidded to almost a halt and he was thrust on his feet, ready to bolt if he thought he stood a chance. Bam! Arsene smashed a small opening free. Alessio sucked in a breath.

“You’ll never get me down there!! You’ll have to kill me first!!!” Almost paralyzed, he staggered a step back, like a cornered animal. Memories of dark, bloody rooms. Sick smells. Cold as ice, but burning, ripping pain–

“You can either go in there or I can knock you out and throw you in there. Either way, I’m getting you away.”

He backed another step, crossing his arms defiantly.

“Hook up a ghoul.” Alessio cursed, glaring, almost crazed. This was just about the worst profanity available in Casumbra, and the most rebellious thing he could think to say.

Arsene sighed.

The next thing Alessio was aware of he was clasped tightly in a steel-cold grip. An involuntary cry escaped Alessio as the black and white powers materialized inches from him, even though he promised himself he wouldn’t flinch. It was always worse, they always made it worse if you made a sound.

“Is this because of your powers?” Arsene’s voice cut in, close, unbearably close. “Do you think I want to exploit you?”

Alessio kicked and snatched after his last knife. It didn’t do anything, black spots began to swirl across his vision, causing him to fight even harder. He stabbed wildly into his opponent, dizzily. As everything faded to black he could still hear Arsene’s voice, vaguely.

“If I wanted your power or anything you had, I would have had it by now.”

That was the last thing he heard before the world spun into darkness.

 

It was freezing cold.

But it wasn’t. Actually it was warm and he was sure it had to be a trick of him mind?

It was drilled, pounded into him not to move until no one else was in the room. Fake being unconscious, just delay the inevitable. Where was he…? What had happened? His chest nearly cracked from the loud thudding of his heart, he was sure it would give him away.

There was something covering him, that was soft.

‘If I wanted your power or anything you had, I would have had it by now.’

A flash of memory jolts Alessio upright, jerking back half-propped on his elbow. He tried to soak in his surroundings all at once, pressing his throbbing head with one hand. His hand brushed against the bandaged cut he’d gotten from the crash that had sent them both into the river much earlier. It was suddenly surreal and dizzying to think about.

Alessio’s eyes alighted on Arsene and he tensed. Did he pass out before Arsene got a chance to at payback or…?

“Where am I?” Alessio demanded

Arsene let out a slow breath.

“Still on the ship.” He said, surprising Alessio with a reasonably straight answer.

Alessio was waiting for it to happen, for Arsene to snap and make him regret every single thing he ever did in his short sad life. Some sort of threat at least, Alessio didn’t know how to overpower him, it’d be a completely useless effort to try to escape now.

But Arsene didn’t look like he was enjoying this either.

Cautiously, Alessio dragged himself a little more upright, curling his knees to his chest. He kept the blanket, though.

‘Is this because of your power? Do you think I want to exploit you?’ If he didn’t want to, why else would he help him? Pure motives only happened in fairytales…right? Alessio propped his chin on his knees and watched Arsene guardedly

“I made them think you were unhinged.” Alessio provoked, waiting for that reaction that would prove Arsene didn’t actually have any regard for his life. It was just a game?

“I was going to tell them all about your stash of stolen goods and pin all the blame on you.” He added recklessly, reevaluating everything Arsene had done, at a loss to confirm whether he actually cared or not. Maybe he did…Nithel had. There was…almost a chance?

He wanted to believe that, he really did…

 

@ragnarok