The Cure: Part Four
The dark room in the heart of the temple ruin had grown quiet, thick with tension, and made only worse by the idle conversation between Janette and LaCroix... which was in a language the three lunatacs with them didn't understand anyway. The two ancient vampires spoke in some long dead tongue from their past First Earth, the same one Janette lapsed into every now and again when she was angry or otherwise emotional. French, Alluro remembered as he searched his memory for the trivial fact, that was it's name. Not that it was terribly important. At the moment he was more concerned that he was stuck here with LaCroix and a very angry, now vampiric Chilla.
Alluro glanced over at her from the stone outcropping he was reclining on. She was sitting sullenly in a corner, staring at the floor, looking nastier than he'd seen her in a long time. He had tried to comfort her earlier, but she would hear none of it and told him to get lost. He wasn't about to argue, not with her in that kind of mood-- that usually had only one outcome: him getting iced or burned somewhere unpleasant, which even as an immortal, still hurt like hell.
RedEye didn't look any happier, he was sitting on the floor leaning against the wall, fighting off sleep. As a mortal, he was the only one in the room who still had a real need for it, for vampires only slept for relaxational purposes, sometimes to speed up healing after an injury, or even as a way to pass time when bored. There was no real biological need for it. RedEye, though, did need it, and he was losing the battle against his weariness. The only reason he hadn't fallen asleep yet was that he didn't trust LaCroix not to chow down on him the second his eyes were closed.
Alluro looked from RedEye to Janette again. He really wanted to speak with her, convince her to take him, RedEye, and Chilla out of here and away from LaCroix, and get back on their mission. He still wanted to find that chalice Luna had sent them here to find in the first place... the promise of such power that it held, he still wanted it, and badly. Then maybe once he'd used it and reached his fullest potential, he could let Chilla use it... it wouldn't turn her back into a regular mortal lunatac like she wanted, but maybe the boost to her powers would put her in better spirits. Hell, just the thought of finally being able to send that little bitch Luna packing for good should be enough to put her in better spirits. It certainly did the trick for him.
Unable to hold back from grinning a little as he visualized himself drop-kicking Luna and booting her clear out of Skytomb, Alluro stretched and stood. His gaze fell on Janette, who was still conversing with LaCroix. He wanted to talk to her, alone if possible, away from the others but especially from LaCroix. His goal was to talk her into leaving LaCroix and Nick so she could come with him to get the chalice and then stay with him, to do all she had promised to do with him before her "death" last year. Before he got the chance to approach her, though, a loud scratching sounded in the tunnels above them, almost like some wild beasts had gotten into the temple and were scrambling about.
RedEye, already nervous and on edge, was the first to jump and look up. Chilla also looked up, her resentful expression temporarily replaced by one of curiousity. "What on Third Earth is that?" she mused aloud.
Janette shrugged as she looked up at the source of the strange noises. "I wouldn't be concerned, it's not like there is anything in these jungles that can do us real harm anyway. We're immortal."
"Not all of us." RedEye said nervously, staring intently at the spot in the ceiling where the noise was coming from. He focused his powerful infared vision, trying to discern what it could be that was causing it. "Wait, I'm getting something... it's two creatures, but they don't have regular heat signatures... they're sorta like..."
The noise stopped. RedEye then looked to Alluro, then Janette and LaCroix, and finally to Chilla.
"Like what?" Alluro inquired.
"Like a--"
The ceiling crashed in on the far corner of the chamber, and from the tumbling mess also came two creatures... Divia and Ren'fos.
"Like two vampires!" Divia roared, and grabbed hold of one of the flaming torches. As a vampire, she should have feared fire, but she knew she was agile enough to avoid being burned... and that she was likely superior enough in ability to the other vampires here that they would probably not be able to dodge a strike of flame if she were to swipe at them.
When LaCroix heard her voice, a voice he hadn't heard for thousands of years, and saw her young face-- still deceptively sweet and innocent, except for the evil sneer on it right now-- he grew even paler with shock, and nearly choked. He closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head, then opened them again and stared. She was still there. "Di... Divia?"
"Did you miss me, father?" she asked in a sarcastic, sugary sweet tone.
The eyes of all three lunatacs widened in amazement, and they exchanged surprised looks. Did she just call him her father?
Janette looked from the girl to LaCroix, unsure of what to make of this. She knew of Divia, but she also knew that she had supposedly met her end thousands of years ago after being beheaded and sealed up in an Egyptian tomb. So if that was true, how could she be here now? "LaCroix..." she started gently "is that really her?"
Divia stepped forward and glared at LaCroix. "Go on, father, tell her. Tell her that the daughter you murdered with your own evil hands stands before you right now. Tell her all about how I saved you from being burned alive in the eruption at Pompeii thousands of years ago, how I gave you the ultimate gift of eternal life and you repaid me by chopping my head off with a scythe and imprisoning what was left of my body under the sun god seal."
"I did that to you because you were too sick and evil to live in this world." LaCroix answered in a low, even voice. He stared hard into Divia's eyes, trying not let himself be swayed by his conflicting feelings. Though he hated her for the most part, there was a small part deep within him that regretted what had happened. There was a time that he'd loved her more than anything--- but that time was past, long past. She had ruined that, when she'd done all she had done and he saw her for the vicious, depraved, and vindictive being she really was. "And it doesn't appear that the centuries have mellowed you any, either. You're still the same twisted little brat you always were, aren't you?"
"Must run in the family." Divia spat back. "You're a fine one to call anyone evil, father. You're the one who killed me when all I wanted was your love and devotion! Was that too much to ask? Was it?!"
The dysfunctional family reunion scene was the final thing to set off Chilla's simmering temper. "You want his love, kid? You're welcome to it!" snapped the icy lunatac. "You vampires have got to be the most screwed up bunch I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with, including the mutants. You said you wanted a companion, LaCroix? Well now you have one! I'm out of here, and if you know what's good for you, you'll leave me the hell alone!" She stomped toward the door.
LaCroix went red with rage as he saw his newest fledgling walking out on him. "You will go nowhere, Chilla, you are mine! You belong with me!"
Divia immediately picked up on his attachment to Chilla. "Yours you say, Lucius? Well then, let me show you what it really means to lose something you care about!" She hissed and sprang forward, swinging the fiery torch at Chilla.
Ren'fos stood there still, not attacking, just watching. He would make no move until Divia instructed him to.
"NO!" shouted LaCroix, Alluro, and RedEye all in unison. RedEye immediately fired his sidewinder at Divia, but the shot missed. She was just too fast. Chilla, reacting in her own vampiric speed, spat ice at her and effectively extinguished the torch.
Divia stood there for a moment, stunned as she witnessed Chilla's abilities. "How did you do that? What are you?"
"Something superior to you. Something you could never hope to be. A ruthless fighter, a wild spirit, and a grown, beautiful woman, the ideal lover and companion for a vampire such as myself." LaCroix said arrogantly.
"Oh, really?" Divia asked, seething with hatred. Her expression grew darker as her thoughts fed on themselves and became even more angry and twisted. Her father's adding of insult to injury only made her want to punish him more. Oh, she would make him pay for that, for such cruel betrayal. He wouldn't be so smug when he was watching his icy vampire lover/child die at her hands. A sick smile began to tug at her lips as she visualized his expression, first when the ice-spitting woman was killed, then his beloved children. Nicholas. Janette. All dying, suffering, at her hand, with him unable to do a damned thing about it.
An unimpressed sigh from Janette snapped Divia back to attention. "Why don't you get over this temper tantrum of yours while you still can and move on? One would think after all these millenia, you'd have grown up by now."
Divia narrowed her eyes. "How dare you be so condescending to me? You think because I have a child's body, that I think as a child does? I am far older and wiser than you could ever hope to be... or that you will ever live to be. For your insolence, you will be the first to die. And how fitting... the oldest child is the first to go."
Janette was still not impressed. "You overestimate yourself."
"Do I? We shall see. Defend yourself. It won't matter, you won't last against me anyway." Divia sprang forward, moving faster than Janette, and landed on top of her. She tried to maul her, but Janette was strong and fast enough to stop her from doing any damage. Divia bared her fangs and thrust forward, grazing Janette's throat with them in an attempt to tear it open. Janette managed to wriggle partway out of the deadly grasp, but not before one of the girl's jagged fangs tore into her throat. She let out a choked noise and thrashed, trying to kick the older vampire off of her.
LaCroix and Alluro both immediately made an attack at Divia in Janette's defense, but LaCroix was stopped, struck down by a spear thrown with incredible force. Alluro looked up, startled, just before Ren'fos, who had sprung into action when his mistress was attacked, dug his claws and fangs into his right arm. Alluro howled in pain and threw the Riylien vampire off.
Ren'fos landed with a thud, startled and a little afraid. He knew he couldn't be killed, but when Alluro stood up, furious with his eyes blazing and fangs bared, he was more than a little intimidated. This vampire was not only older than him, but a hell of a lot bigger, too... his own five foot, four inch frame and less than musclebound body was hardly going to strike fear in this other vampire who was at least a foot and a half taller than him.
Alluro could sense that very thought, and did not hesitate to use it against him. "You will not attack me again. You will back off and leave." he told Ren'fos hypnotically.
Must leave... Ren'fos blinked and shook his head. No, he couldn't do that... not when his mistress needed him. He had to help her fight and destroy the evil ones, he couldn't just leave her here alone with all of them against her. It wasn't right.
Alluro frowned. Apparently this one had a stronger will than he'd thought, either that or Divia had a very strong hold on him. That was probably much more likely, especially since she had brought him across recently, a fact Alluro picked up from his awareness while trying to impose his own will on the Riylien fledgling vampire. But he'd also picked up on some conflict within him... being Divia's follower somehow didn't set right within the young vampire, and Alluro knew he could use that to get him out of the way. "But it is right, friend... look how she attacked us. You know she is the one who is evil, not us." he asserted.
"N-no." Ren'fos argued, feeling less and less confident. "She helped me. I owe it to her."
"Help you? She nearly killed you. Why would you serve one who seeks to destroy you?" Alluro asked, his silky-smooth voice sounding like the perfect voice of reason to the confused vampire.
"No, she saved me!" he screamed. The sudden indecsion blanketing him was intolerable. "Stop it, just stop it! Get out of my head!"
Meanwhile, RedEye fired his sidewinder at Divia to get her off of Janette, while LaCroix was pulling Ren'fos's spear out of his stomach, where it was deeply and painfully embedded. Divia, who had just gotten the advantage in her struggle with Janette, leaned forward and again sank her fangs into the other vampire's body, and began to tear at her flesh like a wild beast. Janette struggled helplessly beneath her, let out a shrill and pained scream, but had lost her strength and could not free herself from Divia's deadly grasp. In addition to ripping her throat out with her terrible fangs, Divia also was scratching at Janette with her nails, leaving long bloody scratches on her body, scratches that throbbed with all the hatred, pain, and suffering that had dwelled within Divia for countless centuries. The kind of pain that would slowly kill her and drive her into madness, an injury that an immortal couldn't recover from, even one as old and powerful as Janette. It was after she'd delivered a fifth scratch that RedEye's shot hit Divia, knocking her off of the now unconcious Janette.
As Divia recovered from the blow, she heard Ren'fos yelling at Alluro, and turned to him. Her eyes blazed and she reinforced her power over him as their eyes met. "You stupid fool, stop standing there and help me!" Divia screeched.
"Yes, mistress." he replied automatically, and shook his head. Alluro's interference was forgotten. Ren'fos immediately leapt forward, aiming an attack at LaCroix, who had just pulled Ren'fos's spear out of where it had embedded itself in his body after the last attack. Divia meanwhile rushed Alluro, who had immediately fled to Janette's side once Ren'fos had gone after LaCroix. RedEye and Chilla in turn went after Divia.
Chilla fired a heat beam and hit Divia, which acted much like a fire or the sun would-- it burned. Divia howled in pain, and Chilla took the opportunity to fire at her again. And again. Each shot hit, and Divia screamed in agony louder and louder with each burn. Seeing his mistress in pain was too much for Ren'fos, who still felt very much obligated to serve Divia despite Alluro's earlier attempts at undermining it. He turned from fighting LaCroix and took hold of Divia, then the two of them fled the chamber and vanished as quickly as they'd come.
The others didn't bother to follow. Not only was dawn not that far off, but both Alluro and LaCroix had gathered around Janette, oblivious to anything else other than her grim condition now that the immediate threat was over. She was alive, but not doing well. Horrible wounds, inflicted by Divia's vicious attack, covered her upper body. Her face and arms had been badly cut and slashed, but the worst wound was the deep, jagged gash across her throat, torn by Divia's fangs. Had she been mortal, she surely would have been dead already. Janette's dark blood oozed from the wound, dripping across the ivory skin of her neck onto the dirty stone floor. She was slipping in and out of conciousness, and was clearly in great pain. Each wound burned and throbbed, as though something was inside it and irritating it, much like it might have felt had someone gone and rubbed garlic on her... only this was even worse than that, for it was a pain that seemed to pervade her very being, even her conciousness and thoughts.
Alluro saw the miserable shape she was in and didn't know what to do or say. The thought that she might die again was unbearable to him. It wasn't supposed to happen this way, they were supposed to be invincible. Immortal. Eternal. How could this be happening? He took one of Janette's hands in his own, squeezing it in a gesture of desperate affection and need, and looked to LaCroix. "Do something." he ordered, his voice shaking slightly with emotion.
"And just what is it that you think I can do?" LaCroix asked the lunatac vampire. His tone was even and low as he looked down upon Janette, an unreadable expression on his face.
"You can't let this go on. We're not supposed to be able to die, not unless it's by fire or sunlight or one of those other methods. Not from a vampire's attack, at any rate... Therefore she can't--" Alluro said, rambling.
"In case you haven't figured this out, the rules don't apply where Divia is concerned. She is not a normal vampire." LaCroix said, growling slightly.
"As if there was such a thing." Chilla remarked.
Alluro and LaCroix both ignored Chilla. "All right, if she is not 'normal' then what is she?" Alluro asked LaCroix. "She said she was your daughter, and that you had killed her. What did she mean by that? Is what she said true, that you spawned that... that beast? What the hell is she? A demoness? A vampire? What?"
LaCroix sighed. "I wouldn't know. At one time, you could have called her my child, back in my forgotten and, as I look back on it, rather insignificant days as a mortal... but things" as he said the last word, his eyes grew dark for a moment "happened, and it became clear to me that her true nature was the repulsively evil one you just saw, something that made even my own blood run cold... so I did something about it. Yes, I killed her, or I thought I had. As far as I knew until this little ambush occurred, I thought she was dead. As she stated to all of you, I beheaded her and imprisoned her underneath the seal of a sun god in a First Earth Egyptian tomb. The fact that she still lives somehow has come as a total surprise to me."
"But you have to know--"
"I don't." LaCroix cut him off, his voice rising a bit. "I know nothing of her or what power she has obtained since her release from the prison I left her in. I can't tell you what she's done to our beloved Janette, or how we might reverse the damage she has done to her. As far as saving Janette, your guess on how to do it as probably as good as mine."
***
Pumyra and Bengali were still on the trail of Lion-O, but losing time as they followed. Pumyra was growing more and more distracted by the throbbing pain of the wound on her arm and a growing sensation of a darkness within her. She didn't say anything about it though... it would only worry Bengali and they already had more than enough to worry about. Cheetara had vanished, Lion-O had been attacked by a vampire and driven crazy, and now Pumyra was feeling the same evil drive that she knew had overtaken Lion-O-- and it scared her. Frightening impulses, ones that urged her to maim and kill, torture and destroy, were making themselves known in her normally calm, rational, and gentle thoughts. What if she gave into these dark urges? She was immortal... and as such, could do a hell of a lot of damage if she lost control. Could she hold them off forever?
Bengali was a few steps ahead, unaware of the pain she was in. He was doing his best to figure out just where it was that Lion-O had gone. He was well aware that the Thundercat lord was not himself, but Bengali wanted to capture and restrain him so they could remain with him until they found a way to cure his condition. Then it struck him. Cure him... that was it! "Pumyra!" Bengali exclaimed, and turned around.
She met his gaze and tried not to wince with pain. "What is it Ben? You think you found something?"
"No, not that I'm afraid... I do think we are on the right path, but that's not what I'm about to say. I just had a thought. You know how we decided that we'd have to restrain Lion-O once we caught him, until we figured out how to undo whatever that vampire did to him?"
Pumyra nodded.
"I know how we can do it." Bengali told her. "I hate to do this with Cheetara still missing and unaccounted for, but Lion-O's condition sort of makes this a much higher priority now, since we know for a fact that he is in trouble and we can't say the same about Cheetara... What I am trying to say is that we have to find the Chalice of Riyl-Inth, now, before anything else. It supposedly cures any unnatural condition, right? Like our vampirism... well odds are that if it can cure us of being night-cats, it can get rid of whatever evil infected him too."
"What are you saying, Bengali, that you think we shouldn't be trying to find Lion-O right now? You think we should be going after that chalice instead?" she repeated, trying to make sense of what he was saying. It was hard to concentrate on anything, with her arm throbbing and aching the way it was and with the sick, hideous impulses that were cropping up in her concious thoughts with increasing frequency.
Bengali was still oblivious to her condition and rambled on. "Yes. If we have it in our possession then we can just take Lion-O to the site and perform the ceremony to restore him to his senses, and then cure ourselves. Then we can find Cheetara-- and I hope in the name of Jaga that she is still all right. Damn." Bengali let out a low growl. "I can't believe how this has turned out..."
Pumyra tried to offer him a smile. "It'll work out, Ben. It always does." It has to... right? she finished silently. How desperately she wanted to believe that. Unfortunately, those dark feelings inside her were now leading her to believe otherwise.
***
Nick and Cheetara continued on their own path through the woods, looking for Lion-O, Bengali, and Pumyra. Their pace had become a little more hurried as they saw a lightening in the sky on the horizon. Dawn was fast approaching. "Cheetara, I know how important it is for you to find the others, but..." his voice trailed off as he looked nervously at the signs of impending dawn.
"No, Nick, I know you can't be out in the daytime. We'll find you some shelter now. After you are safe, I will look around during the day, then come back to where you are when I find them. Odds are the others will be seeking a good place to wait out the daytime too by now, so I can probably find them easily in daylight, if they aren't moving." Cheetara looked around, the jungle didn't appear to have anywhere that would really shield Nick from the sun in the immediate vicinity. "Where do you usually sleep?"
"Well, among the Riylien I rest in one of the huts, but we are rather far from their settlement here. There might be some caves, but I don't think they would be safe for a mortal... you'd have to worry about snakes, poisonous spiders, possibly other wild animals and whatnot. Actually, we are only a short walk from the ruin LaCroix sleeps in. He and I aren't on the best terms, but I know he wouldn't turn me down if I needed to stay there. You don't have to come with me though, he is a threat to you as a mortal."
"LaCroix doesn't scare me." Cheetara said bravely. "Well, not much anyway. I can handle him if I have to. I don't want to risk your being burned. Let's go... I need to know exactly where to find you, anyway."
Nick nodded and gave her a smile. "I admire your bravery. You never cease to amaze me. All right then, follow me." He started off in an northbound path, through the brush, and Cheetara followed him close behind. The pair walked for a short while, perhaps a mile or so, hurrying along as the brightness in the eastern sky grew. Before long they'd arrived at the same ruin where, unbeknownst to them, the lunatacs and Janette had been at earlier, and where Divia had wreaked havoc only about thirty minutes earlier.
As they approached the door Nick suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. He'd heard a sound, a sound that chilled him to the bone. "No... oh, no... Janette..." he said, choking, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Nick?" Cheetara instinctively put an concerned hand on his shoulder. "Nick, what's happening? What's the matter?"
"It's Janette. I can hear her... she's been hurt. Badly. I have to get inside, I have to get to her." he told Cheetara.
Cheetara took his hand and squeezed it. "I understand, Nick. Let's go."
Without another word Nick grasped the door and shoved it aside. He flew in, and even the swift Cheetara had trouble keeping up with her immortal friend. She followed him through the seemingly endless twists and turns of the ancient structure, descending deeper and deeper and farther underground. The dank, choking atmosphere of the place reminded her more than a little of Mumm-Ra's pyramid. She could feel evil in almost the same intensity here as she could there... it was no surprise that LaCroix felt at home in this place. They rounded a corner and came upon a large chamber lit by torches.
In the darkness Cheetara could make out several forms, then a loud, angry, familiar voice. "Hisssss! Thundercats!" Nick and Cheetara were suddenly greeted by an icy blast of frosty air. The pair ducked out of the way, only to hear the attacker yelp and the sound of flesh being struck, followed by that of someone falling and hitting the floor.
"You will not attack Nicholas again, ever!" raged an infuriated LaCroix, glaring at Chilla, who was laying on the floor, rubbing her backside to get rid of the stinging sensation. The shove she'd gotten from her new master had knocked her onto the hard stone, and it stung a little. She muttered some more nasty Plundarrian phrases at him, while LaCroix turned to greet Nick and Cheetara. "You'll have to excuse my dear Chilla, she gets a little overexcited sometimes."
"I'll show you overexcited!" Chilla growled. She started for LaCroix, but RedEye grabbed her arm to restrain her. He didn't want to see her get LaCroix in an even worse mood, not when his own neck was on the line.
LaCroix shot her a look clearly saying she'd better calm down, or else, then looked back to his visitors. "Nicholas... and a Thundercat. Cheetara, is it? Whatever brings you here?"
"It's not a social visit." Cheetara replied coldly.
Nick's eyes fell on Janette, who had been laid down for comfort on a makeshift bed of a stone slab with some primitive cushioning. Alluro was kneeling next to her, stroking her hair and the side of her face gently, wearing a distressed expression on his face. Nick was shocked at how badly Janette appeared to have been hurt... had she been mortal, she surely would have died by now. He rushed past LaCroix and joined Alluro at Janette's side. When he realized she wasn't concious, he looked to LaCroix. "What happened? What the hell did this to her?!"
"I'll tell you what did this to her." Alluro snarled. "LaCroix's little demon child showed up and threw a temper tantrum, and she took out her psychotic little abandoment complex on Janette."
Nick gasped. "Demon child? You don't mean--"
"Yes Nicholas, he means Divia. She lives."
"How?" Nick asked.
LaCroix sighed. "Does it really matter at this point? What's done is done, she's already done her damage, and now I have to sit and watch Janette die for it."
"She won't die!" Alluro shouted angrily.
RedEye eyed the unconcious vampire doubtfully. "I don't know about that, she looks pretty far gone--"
"No! There is a way." Nick said suddenly.
Cheetara, who had been standing warily by the door, looked at him inquisitively. She had been thinking the same thing he had apparently just thought of. "Yes, Nick, the cure. We can find it now and give it to her, before you use it yourself and Pumyra and Bengali can use it."
"Cure?" LaCroix asked, growling slightly.
"The chalice of Riyl-Inth. It is a magic healing artifact. We Thundercats came here originally to use it to cure Bengali and Pumyra of their vampirism. By chance I got separated from the others, but thankfully I ran into Nick, and he is helping me search for it. It cures any unnatural or deadly condition in one's body. If we find it in time, we can save Janette. All we'd have to do is take her to the lost temple and perform the small ceremony with her there."
Alluro's curiousity was aroused, as he suddenly remembered something. "Wait just one moment... since when can the chalice of Riyl-Inth cure anyone? Luna told me that she'd sent Chilla, RedEye, and myself to retrieve it as an enhancer of natural abilities, an unlimited source of power."
Chilla raised her eyebrows. "That is what she said, Thundercat. Mumm-Ra told her himself."
"And the Book of Omens showed it to Lion-O that it is a cure. It has nothing to do with power enhancement." Cheetara told them. "I'd take the word of the Book of Omens over that of Luna and Mumm-Ra any day."
Alluro let out a low growl of anger. "Why, that spiteful, manipulative little bitch!" he snapped. "Luna knew full well that if she told me it was a power enhancer that I would use it. She was trying to trick me into curing myself of being a vampire. How dare that little troll try and trick me?!"
Despite the circumstances, LaCroix chuckled. "It's rather amusing how suprised you are that Luna would lie to you."
"Shut up!" Alluro snarled back. "I don't believe anyone asked you for your opinion!"
"Please, enough of this!" Nick interrupted. "The point is, there is a cure, and we have to ensure that we find it in time to save Janette's life. We're going to have to wait the day out, but we must be ready to leave as soon as the sun sets to get there in time... I am not sure Janette will last another 24 hours. If we all team up and get her there together, I think we can do it. LaCroix, you know the location of the lost temple of Riyl-Inth, right? You've explored this area of the jungle pretty thoroughly."
Alluro interrupted before LaCroix could answer. "Oh, hold on one moment. If you think that I am going to team up with a sanctimonius, self-righteous, do-gooder like you--"
"Do you want to see Janette live or not?" Nick snapped back. Alluro stopped, but continued to glare at him. "That's what I thought. Look, I don't like you any more than you like me, and frankly, I think bringing you across was one of the worst decisions Janette has ever made, but what's done is done. I know what you mean to her and I have a feeling that she means just as much to you. Therefore, if you have one bit of common sense you will realize I am right and quit arguing with me right now."
"Hey, where do you get off talking to us like that?" Chilla shouted at Nick.
"No, Chilla, I suppose he is right." Alluro said with a resigned sigh, then turned to Nick. "Fine, let's hear out your little plan."
"Yes, Nicholas, do tell." LaCroix urged him. "I indeed know where the lost temple is and will have no trouble taking you to it. So please, tell us your plan." But don't think for even one moment that you'll be getting that cure for yourself, LaCroix added silently.
***
From the dark depths of his ancient tomb, Mumm-Ra stood at the edge of his cauldron watching the scene of the vampires agree to find the cure together. "Damn them." he muttered. He couldn't believe that after all of his efforts they-- especially LaCroix-- still lived. He had to credit Divia a little for having enough power to take down Janette, but overall he was most unimpressed with her. She had still failed to kill Lion-O or any of the other Thundercats, and although she had done a great deal of damage to Janette, she was not dead yet either, and LaCroix, Nick, and Alluro were still quite alive... and even worse, they were working together! This was not in the plans at all.
Mumm-Ra sighed. No, this deal with Divia was not working out. He would have to end their little partership and get rid of her as well. Though admittedly he admired her viciousness and capacity for evil, she was a little too unbalanced and consumed with rage for his liking. "I should have learned my lesson the first time." Mumm-Ra remarked to Ma-Mutt. "Never send a vampire to do a mummy's job."
He looked up from the cauldron and stretched out his arms in preparation to address the ancients. A plan to throw a wrench into the works of all their plans and turn things to his favor formulated in his mind. With a little ingenuity, he could still get his way, get rid of the Thundercats in the jungles of Riyl-Inth, and take care of all of those pesky vampires on this planet for once and for all. "Ancient Spirits of Evil, transform this decayed form to Mumm-Ra, the Ever-Living!" he shouted. Ancient supernatural winds whipped through the dank, musty pyramid, and bolts of sinister lightning sliced through the darkness, illuminating the chamber fully for a few moments as they engulfed the ancient devil priest's body, transforming him into the mighty monstrous form in which he held his greatest power. Mumm-Ra bid goodbye to his ever-faithful pet Ma-Mutt, looked to the opening at the top of the chamber, cackled evilly, and flew off into the fading night.
***
"Awaken, Luna. Awaken now, or face the wrath of the mighty Mumm-Ra!" ordered a deep, commanding voice. It cut through the strange, nervous dreams of the sleeping lunatac and startled her into a sudden conciousness. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, trying to focus on the source of her rude awakening. Her eyes blinked, and were confronted with the harsh vision of Mumm-Ra's decaying face. "Gah! Mumm-Ra! What on Third Earth do want? You'd better have a good reason for waking me up like this! Your ugly face is hardly what I want to see as soon as I open my eyes!" she squawked. Across the room, Amok had also awakened, having been used to responding to any signal of distress or displeasure in his mistress's voice. He bounded over to Luna's bedside and gave Mumm-Ra a slight growl.
"I will do as I please and you should never presume to think otherwise." he told her arrogantly. "And believe me, there are far better things I would rather do with my time than stare at your own rather unappealing face. I have come here on business, Luna, and to do you a bit of a favor. The mission of the other lunatacs in the jungle had run into some serious snags that will prevent you from ever getting your hands on that little cure you wanted, as well as keeping that fool Alluro from unwittingly curing himself."
Luna frowned. "Snags? What exactly do you mean by 'snags', Mumm-Ra?"
"I mean," Mumm-Ra explained "that they have been diverted from the original plan. While in the jungles, they met up with some individuals that we had all believed dead, but were actually hiding out and living a primitive lifestyle in the jungles of Riyl-Inth."
"Who?"
"LaCroix, Janette, and Nick... the vampires we all believed to have perished in the fire at Baron Karnor's tower last year."
"What?" Luna was dumbfounded. "They are alive? But how?"
"They apparently escaped the burning tower at the last moment and found shelter somewhere, then fled to Riyl-Inth and allowed us all to believe they were dead. But as fate would have it, Alluro and Janette stumbled across each other in a lake in the jungles, and have reunited. They were taken to LaCroix, who abducted Chilla and bit her, turning her into a vampire as well so that he might have her as a consort."
"Chilla's a vampire too?" Luna asked with surprise. She knew how Chilla felt about vampires in general, and was astonished that she had permitted LaCroix to do such a thing to her.
Mumm-Ra picked up on her line of thinking and answered for her. "Not by her choice, but as we both know, LaCroix is not the kind to give much thought to what others may want. Anyway, that's not the worst of it. Also on the loose is LaCroix's rather nasty child, a vampiress who had been trapped for millenia, until she was recently freed." Mumm-Ra decided to leave out the little detail of who had freed her, and why. "Now," he continued "she has attacked them and dealt a seemingly fatal wound to Janette. She lives, but not for long if she is not cured. Nick and one of the Thundercats, who have also gone in search of this cure-- apparently the sudden movement of Skytomb to the region clued them in as to what it was you were after there-- so they might find it and cure the night-cats of their vampirism. Cheetara has wound up on her own with the vampire Nick, and they too have shown up at the ruins LaCroix now calls his home. The group of them, your lunatacs included, have agreed to help search for this cure, which Nick explained to all of them." Mumm-Ra summarized.
"Uh oh..." Luna muttered. "Then Alluro must know how I decieved him, doesn't he?"
"He most certainly does, and he is rather displeased with you for it. Though to be perfectly honest, I think you were right in doing so... his arrogance is disgusting enough as a mortal, but as an immortal, he is intolerable. That is why I came here to warn you of what was happening, so you could take action to turn things back in our favor."
"Indeed. And how might you suggest I do that? You said Skytomb can't enter the jungles of Riyl-Inth, and TugMug and I are at least a day behind in hiking time. We will never catch up with them."
"On foot, no, but in Skytomb, you can beat them to the cure. LaCroix has explained to the others where the lost temple in which it is hidden is located. I also learned that information, for I was watching them in the cauldron. I can give you the coordinates, you can fly there in Skytomb, leave it set on auto pilot hovering above the dense growth beneath, and simply transport yourselves down in one of your vehicles. Once there you can take the cure for yourself, give it to Chilla, since she never wanted to be a vampire anyway. Since the cure will be in your possession, you would be able to deny it to the Thundercats, whom I will encouage LaCroix's daughter, the evil Divia, to destroy, along with LaCroix and Nick. Janette perhaps you can choose to save, I know you were once allied with her... and perhaps, you could use Alluro's feelings for her as a bargaining chip."
"Force him to cure himself or refuse to save Janette's life, you mean."
"Yes. I am certain that he would do so to save her, given the strong feelings that her bringing him across stirred within him. There would be no risk of him being changed back, for once Janette recieved the cure she would be cured not only of her wounds, but of her own vampirism as well. They would live as mortals for the rest of their days, as would you... for by then, LaCroix and Nick would have been disposed of. Does that sound like an agreeable plan to you, Luna?"
Luna nodded. "Yes, Mumm-Ra. As soon as you give me the coordinates, I will have TugMug set course immediately."
Mumm-Ra grinned, and his eyes flashed red with evil delight. "Excellent."
***
Ren'fos swiftly carried Divia deep into a stone cave that would shelter the both of them, just as the first rays of sunlight began to touch the land. Even the beginnings of dawn had proven painfully bright, and his now immortal skin tingled with discomfort. He had no doubt that what his mistress had told him last night was true, he would surely burn to death if he ever saw the sun again... but given what he had gotten in return for it, the promise of immortality, the ability to not be hurt or killed and stay young forever, giving up seeing the sun ever again was a small sacrifice.
He set Divia down in a dark corner, far from any place that a stray ray of sunlight might creep in, and held her tightly. Despite her ruthless and decidedly evil behavior, which admittedly, he was frightened and repulsed by, he still felt a need to comfort and care for her. Perhaps it had to do with that bite she had given him, he felt such harsh and terrible feelings within her, and couldn't help but want to make her feel a little better. She had granted him immortality after all, so trying to take care of her when she needed him was the least he could do. "I think we are safe now." he whispered to her.
She leaned on him. "For now... and we're trapped here in this damned cave for an entire day. I can't believe my father managed to find such powerful friends. If only that strange blue one hadn't been there, the one who was shooting fire at me, they would all be dead now."
Ren'fos nodded. "Yes, I have never seen a creature such as her... or that tall one who was able to get inside my mind and talk in my head. Or that big whitish one with red eyes either, I have never seen anything like them."
"And tonight, you won't ever again. They will be exterminated, I'll see to that." Divia vowed with a snarl.
"How?"
"A question I would like to hear the answer to myself!" announced Mumm-Ra, as he materialized in the cave alongside them. He met their surprised eyes with an impatient expression. "You've made many boasts and promises of your power, Divia, but I have yet to see you really deliver. I am still waiting for you to dispose of LaCroix, the other vampires, and the Thundercats. Not a one has perished yet, even Janette still lives. They are leaving at daybreak to find the cure, the long lost chalice of Riyl-Inth. Unless we stop them, they will find it... LaCroix knows the location and will take them there as soon as the sun sets far enough on the horizon to allow them to travel safely. You will have to make your final move tonight, or all of our plans will be ruined. And I don't tolerate failure, Divia." he added sternly.
"And you won't have it." she repied in a snotty tone. "And don't you dare take that tone with me, Mummykins, I may have the body of a child but I possess the mind of someone just as ancient and evil as yourself. Your arrogance may intimidate your worthless evil flunkies, but it doesn't impress me in the least."
Mumm-Ra's eyes flashed. "You are treading on thin ice, my dear. Don't start something with me that you haven't the power to finish, or rest assured, you will regret it."
Divia favored him with a rather insincere smile. "Well, when your enemies are destroyed, we'll see who ultimately has the greater power... they say actions speak louder than words. When I rid you of those you asked me to destroy-- and I'm guessing you did so because you have failed in your own attempts to do so, you and I will both know just who really has earned the right to boast of their power."
"Those are wise words, Divia, I will give you that. But remember, until you actually follow through on them and prove them to be true, that's all they are. Empty, meaningless words."
***
Beneath the opaque black canvas of her tent, Pumyra tossed and turned in a fitful sleep. Terrible, evil dreams of pain and torment played out in her mind, her darkest fears taking form and assaulting her sleeping senses all at once. The same nagging, evil impulses that she had been fighting off all night, only now that she was asleep they were running wild.
She saw herself crying, screaming like a madwoman. Bengali looked at her, but instead of the love shining in his eyes that she had grown so used to and depended upon for comfort, instead she saw fear, and revulsion. "You're a monster... no one could love such a sick being as you!" Bengali snarled at her. His tone was cold and uncaring, and after giving her one more unbearable look of disgust, he turned away.
"How can you say that to me? You love me! You've told me so yourself!" Pumyra screamed back to him. She reached her bloodied arm toward him, desperate to keep him from going.
"I loved what I thought you were-- then I looked deep into your sick and twisted soul and saw something that nothing in existence could love." Bengali continued. "You're worthless, useless, disgusting! This world will be such a better place when your presence no longer taints it." The tiger then turned around, holding a scythe, ancient, worn, and somewhat bloodstained, but still quite functional. Light shining from an indeterminable source gleamed on the blade, sharp and deadly as new. He raised the scythe and stepped toward her, growling. "You deserve to die!"
Pumyra backed up, whimpering. "No... Bengali, no! Please!"
He spoke no reply, but swung the scythe at her neck. The agile puma vampire leapt back, but not without being grazed by the deadly blade. Suddenly something deep within her snapped. "You're wrong, Bengali. It is you that will die, right here, and right now!" Full of rage, Pumyra sprang forward and barrelled into Bengali. She tore the scythe from his hands, and brought it crashing down upon his neck. The blow was not enough to sever his head, but enough to put him in terrible pain. It was not a survivable wound, he would die, left like this... only it would take a few agonizing hours for him to do so, unless she dealt a second blow and put him out of his misery.
But she didn't... instead, she simply stared into his pained face. For some unexplainable reason, the expression now held no hatred, only fear, disappointment, and... pity? "I tried... I didn't want to believe..." he murmured. His speech was impaired by his choking and coughing, blood was oozing into his lungs and making it difficult for him to speak. "I was told that her bite made you sick and evil. I said... no... not my sweet Pumyra... she's not capable... it was a test... failed... why did you have to fail...."
A spark of guilt lit inside her, but it was soon extinguished by a surge of darkness. "You sick bastard, how dare you test me?! How dare you threaten me? After all I have done for you!" The arm in which she had taken her attack from Divia now throbbed with each word she said, power pulsing from it and urging her on. "You were so wrong... it is you that deserves to die. I gave you unconditional love, and all you gave me was betrayal!" Suddenly Bengali's face changed, briefly, to LaCroix's, before shifting back again. "Well now I will show you what it means to be betrayed by those you hold most dear!" Pumyra shrieked. Her voice was shrill with emotion as she raised the scythe one more time and fully removed his head from his body.
But that wasn't enough, her rage was not satisfied. She took hold of a wooden stake-- where it came from, she didn't really know-- and stabbed him in the heart with it. She pulled it out, hollered in fury, and brought it down into his dead flesh again. And again. And again.
Then there was laughter. LaCroix stood above her, while several other shadowy figures stood behind him. "I always knew you had it in you, my dear."
"What? No...." Pumyra then looked down at her handiwork and her own bloody hands. Without warning, the rage vanished, and she was left to ponder what she had done... and when her mind tried to process it, she screamed.
She sat bolt upright in bed. "BENGALI, NO!!!" she screamed.
Bengali awakened in a flash and put his arms around her. "Pumyra? What's the matter? Did you have a bad dream?"
'Bad dream' doesn't even begin to cover it, she thought. She leaned into his embrace, trembling violently, and choking back tears. "Ye-- yes. But I don't want to talk about it." she sobbed.
"Are you sure?" whispered Bengali, stroking her hair soothingly.
Pumyra nodded. She could never tell him that dream, never explain it. He'd never be able to look at her or trust her again. "I--I, um, don't even really remember it now. It was just unpleasant, that's all." she lied. "Just hold me, Ben. Hold me tight and tell me it'll be okay."
"Of course it will." Bengali assured her. "I won't let anything happen to you. I love you, and I always will."
"I love you too, Ben." she murmured back, kissed him softly on the neck, and closed her eyes. "I love you too." Keep it up, Pumyra, and you might just convince yourself of that, spoke a little voice inside her. She bristled, but otherwise forced herself to ignore it. No, I am in control. I am a Thundercat, I am powerful, and I will not let this get me, she vowed, and drifted off to sleep in Bengali's arms.
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