Chapter 47: The end of Rage

"You're mistaken," Ace inhaled uneasily.

Silthus ignored him and began to rummage around the room. He came to where Michael was standing with a dark threatening glare. Michael stepped aside with a smile. Silthus leaned close to the cabinet. He knocked against it and it rang out hollow.

"Open it, Ace, before I kill you and him," Silthus glanced back with a cold-blooded stare.

Ace's lips parted and he released a disgruntled sigh. He walked up to the bookcase and drew back the book. It sent down the latch on the cabinet. Silthus at once drew it back and threw back his hand impatiently for the key. Ace reluctantly placed it in his hand. Silthus flung open the door roughly and stared down menacingly.

"What do we have here?" he questioned spitefully, "I didn't know you were into this sort of thing. Keeping a woman locked in a closet. Care to explain?"

"Not really," Ace remarked indifferently.

Silthus seemed to teether upon lunging on him directly but a greater force of annoyance drew him back to the closet and he thrust his hand inside yanking Veretta out.

"Unhand me!" Veretta exclaimed at once.

Silthus cast a vicious inspecting eye over her and shook his head with a cruel smile, "who are you?"

"I have no reason to answer you," Veretta returned.

"Everyone in the continent answers to me, girl," Silthus replied with a grin, "Quick before my patience grows thin,"

Veretta's brow furrowed as she looked at Silthus in inarticulately. Suddenly, her face drew up in revolution. Her green eyes widened in savage regard. She let out a furious disjointed breath and the air crackled with an electric charge.

"Silthus," she breathed venomously.

She threw back her hand and a bolt of lightning tore across the room. Michael instantly caught hold of her wrist and redirected the blast shattering the window. Silthus stared down with thinly disguised rage. Veretta stared up at Michael in disbelief as he ripped her hand from Silthus. Before she could counter, his hand flew out dotting around her pressure points. She immediately went limp and fell back. He caught hold of her and stared down apathetically. Michael laid her back down upon the bed and turned back to Silthus with a smile.

"You saved my life," Silthus exhaled furiously, "That little witch almost killed me!"

He turned to Ace with a revengeful glare, "What is the meaning of this?! Did you bring an assassin here to kill me?"

"Don't be dramatic, Silthus," Ace dismissed, "if I was going to hire an assassin, I'd find someone who could actually kill you. The girl must have hidden there to get revenge on you of her own volition. It wouldn't be the first time,"

Silthus turned back to her with a murderous stare, "I'll cut her to pieces,"

"My lord, if I may be so bold?" Michael smiled before continuing without waiting, "A man such as you shouldn't have to dirty your hands with such trivial matters. Let me kill the girl. I assure you her punishment will be suitable,"

Silthus appeared to think on the idea, "Well, since you have saved my life, Michael, I will allow you. I'm quite curious about your magic. Will you make a show of it? I want to see for myself,"

"As you wish," Michael gave a smug bow.

"Then tomorrow, out in the courtyard," Silthus smiled at Ace cruelly, "Kill her for us,"

"It will be my pleasure,"

"Very good," Silthus said quietly. He strolled to the door with a sigh, "this terrible turn of events has tired me. Show me to my room,"

"Yes," Ace answered stiffly.

They both disappeared out into the hall for several moments.

When Ace returned, he found Michael with his eyes closed reclined beside the fire.

"Oh, you stupid little boy," he remarked without opening his eyes, "You've fucked up again,"

"I fucked up?!" Ace snapped,"Do you even know what you've done?"

"You mean what have you done," Michael chuckled. He opened his severe golden eyes and stared at Ace with an unsympathetic smile, "He knew she was there from the first minute he stepped into the house. Holy magic users can sniff out dark magic like bloodhounds. At least this way, we appear innocent. I don't know what you're so angry about. I'm just fixing your mess,"

"I never asked you to!" Ace exploded. He caught hold of the wizard, roughly dragging him to the chair and slammed him against the wall, "I was handling it!"

Michael rolled his eyes and pushed Ace back with annoyance, "Who do you think you're talking to, you ungrateful brat? You asked for my help- here it is!"

"That woman..." Ace exhaled angrily but paused.

"She is what?" Michael shrugged.

"You will regret harming her," Ace said quietly.

"Let me be the judge of that," Michael laughed derisively.

"I'm serious Michael,"Ace warned.

"Well, all you have to do is ask me to save her and I will," Michael shrugged, "but you should be more worried about yourself. Why on earth would you get involved with a holy magic-user? Don't you know he could kill you, you silly little demon?"

Ace's jaw clenched and he turned his face away, "He has something that I need,"

"Which is what?" Michael surveyed Ace carefully.

"Will you save her or not?" Ace retorted with irritation.

"First, the book of stars," Michael held out his hand expectantly.

"I can't give it to you yet," Ace said stiffly.

"Why not?" Micahel's eyes narrowed darkly.

"Silthus has it," Ace said in a low voice, "but I'm going to get it back from him. We have a deal. I have fulfilled my end and he's going to give me what I want by the end of this. Once I take a page from it, you can have the rest,"

"You don't eat the steak if you don't have the money to pay for it!" Michael snapped, "you promised me that book! Why would you give it to him?!"

"I didn't give it to him!" Ace returned, "he took it from me! I couldn't exactly get back without...oh, I don't know..dying!"

"Don't be a fool," Michael scoffed, "You know very well that men like him will never give you what you want. He'd rather kill you,"

"Then what am I supposed to do?" Ace pinched the bridge of his nose.

Michael's anger abated and he surveyed Ace with a smile, "This is what you have me for,"

"I saw you nestling up to him. I wouldn't if I were you," Ace warned, "he'll kill you just for saying the wrong words to him,"

"It's a hundred years too early for me to be killed by the likes of him," Michael scoffed, "I'm not you. I have my own methods for getting what I want as you well know,"

"That's what I'm afraid of," Ace poured himself a drink with a sigh, "Tell me what your planning,"

"That would spoil all the fun," Michael grinned, "but you can trust me, Ace,"

Ace stared at him with a smirk, "No one can trust you,"

*********

Early the next morning, Ace was awoken by a loud banging at his door. He let out a moan, finding the morning light streaming through the curtains vindictively. He stumbled to the door with agitation. He stared up at Silthus with a blank expression.

"What are you doing? Hurry and dress yourself," Silthus remarked impatiently.

Ace gave a huff and turned back to the room. Michael let out a chuckle.

"Some habits die hard I see," he said to Silthus with a smile.

Silthus abruptly turned and stepped towards him, "May I ask you something, Michael?"

Michael stared down unflinchingly. Silthus' mouth drew up in a smile, "Are you afraid of me?"

"Should I be?" Michael answered flatly.

"Yes, but that's beside the point," Silthus' blue eyes lit up with an eerie intensity, "you are quite refreshing!"

Silthus slipped his hand around Michael's arm grazing his skin, "What a lovely complexion. Where did you say you were from again?"

"I didn't," Michael stared down at the hand with an exceedingly cold glare. Silthus pulled back his hand in surprise.

"Your skin is so cold," he commented, "like Ice,"

"Bad circulation," Michael grinned.

At that moment, Ace appeared from his room wearily, "let's get this over with, shall we?"

"So lazy and unmotivated," Silthus shook his head. "Was he always like this?"

"Worse," Michael smirked, "I had to scream at him till I was blue in the face for him to cast a simple spell,"

"Yes, yes," Ace interjected with agitation, "these journey's down memory lane grow quite tedious,"

"Very well," Silthus smiled, " We have more pressing matters. Let's go outside,"

They emerged at the front of the manor at the people white courtyard lined with trees. As usual, the midland sun was unrepentantly bright. A row of grand seats were laid out in strange contrast to the open grounds. Ace gestured reluctantly and Silthus took a seat. Michael remained standing surveying the grounds with curious eyes as he waited facing back to the house.

A moment later, Yona appeared dragging Veretta behind her. She instantly caught sight of Silthus and threw herself towards him in a blind rage. Before she could reach him, she was batted to the ground with a wash of bitterly cold water. She stared up viciously, finding Michael standing over her with a compassionless smile.

"Come witch, show me your magic," he said, then turned and gestured to the crowd provokingly. Both Yona and Tomas were standing beside Ace. Tomas's eyes met her Veretta's painfully. Yona caught hold of his hand and steadied him. Veretta slowly turned her gaze back to Michael. She wouldn't involve Tomas again.

"Don't do this," she said quietly, "please Errik,"

The black wizard flicked his wrist and a jet of water sent Veretta flying across the threshold. He descended the path after her with an air of malevolent amusement. Veretta pushed herself back up, spluttering back mouthful water. She stared up from her drenched raven hair and met his gaze darkly. The wizard's face drew up in a cruel smile.

"I told you, my name is Michael."