Pull Through

Something shook the tower as a thunderous noise roared from the depths below. The force of the explosion shook the moving platform violently, rattling the chains which support it and scaring the three passengers aboard. Part of the metal flooring tore away, pulling loose from their screws in the process as two of the guards were careful not to step there. Perdilius leaned down, glaring through the rusted metal plates and into the window below, catching view of the evaporating bright yellow blaze shrinking down the tunnel shaft below.

"What was that?" Asked one of the guards, his voice slightly muffled due to the nature of his helmet. The mask appeared shaped as a cone, making it awkward for turning his head in conversation. His ally wore a more liberating helmet with the visor removed, leaving his puzzled eyes for his friend to see.

"That was the same sound as earlier when the Monsters broke through the base of the tower. What mind of monsters are these?"

"They don't have hands, you think they breath fire?"

Perdilius rolled his eyes. "They're felines you nitwit, and that was no ordinary blast! These dimwits are desperate to stop me, they will tear this building apart if they continue this."

"So, cats have bombs?"

"You mean their boobs?" The other asked, turning its beak-like head.

"No, not those bombs-"

"There was a human down with them, the elf child and a shorter female, a dwarf judging by her size and choice of clothing. I would assume she's tinkered in the profession of explosives before. The elf is just a child tree hugger, the only weapons he carries are dull arrows and fancy daggers." Perdilius explained, noticing the awkward glances from his men as they turned to his fancy black robe with a red trim. "These are meant for ceremonies and rituals, do not compare me with them."

One guard nudged the other who cleared his throat and faced forward, eerily silent for a moment as the platform continued lifting, albeit slightly shaking from left to right.

Felix held Nyitzcha in his arms, closing his eyes as the room filled with smoke too thick to see through. Their lips parted ways, his body instinctively responding to the affection he just received. Pulling her to him, he could see her eyes open and look around before her face began to blush. Her twin pony tails were at either side of his face before pulling back as she sat up on his lap.

"Ey thought we were goners for a sec, guess we still breathin' 'ere. Dat or we did pass."

Felix nodded, his hands gripping her firm thighs as she subtly rocked along his waist, nudging him against her buttocks. She smiled and kissed his forehead and whispered, "Not yet."

Standing back up, she offered a hand and helped up to his feet with a surprisingly strong grip. She patted his legs down and it was then that they began taking in what had happened. The smoke was starting to thin, they could see a number of loose rock and shattered stone littering across the floor. The maid herself was slumped against the wall, knocked unconscious with a thin string of blood dripping from her forehead were shrapnel must have struck. Above her were several crystal shards impaled into the shiny cave wall, the remains of the ball she once held proudly.

Nyitzcha ran off, pushing one large rock out of the way. "Found de wee lad." She cried out. Felix came rushing to help, Spi'Reto didn't seem to have sufferend any serious injuries as he held his head and turned him to lay on his back. When he let go, he felt the wetness on his fingers as Nyitzcha pressed her head against his chest.

"Still breathin' fer now."

"Is he-"

"No, just snoozin' and das it. Force of impact, de Golem sent em flyin' to de moon. Nut enough blood to prove lethal, trust me I dun seen enough t'know." She explained. "Now 'elp me lift 'im up, we need to carry em back out. 'Ave dat one girl take a gander and see what he needs."

Felix helped carry him from one side while she lifted from the other. He looked around, unable to find any opening around the cave walls. "I think we're stuck down here."

Just then, they heard the chains in the center freeze solid in its place, several links had ruptured from the impact and the weight was taking its toll.

As the entrance to their floor appeared, the lift came to a sudden stop. The guards looked at each other beginning to panic. The chains began to quiver before moving turning, slowly at first intimidating the passengers who feared the worst.

"Uh, Father Perdilius..."

Snap!

"Idiots! Jump!" Perdilius commanded, heaving forward just in time before the lift took them away. His gaurds clumsily followed, one of them struggling to walk forward before hitting his helmet against a torch bracket. He cursed and removed the awkward thing from his head, kicking it aside and facing forward with his soot covered face. Looking back, he could hear the lift banging and scraping loudly against the tunnel walls before crashing below.

Felix and Nyitzcha shook as the large platform crushed into the ground, planting itself inside as one chain dangled loosely. With a determined look, he turned to Nyitzcha who nodded in return.

"Let's just grab the girl and begin this ritual at once." He growled.

One of the guards nervously looked to him as they continued walking.

"Father, the lift-"

"I'm completely aware Bartholomew, thank you so much for announcing the obvious to me. Such an honest fishermen, you are." He fumed, pushing a door wide open as his men nervously followed. "What are those imbeciles thinking, that kind of blast will bury us alive!"

They had arrived at the cell area, walking past several metal doors before stopping at the right one. Picking out a large key ring from his waist, Perdilius mumbled to himself as he inserted the key and turned, unlocking the latch. One of his guards opened the door for him, the candle light from the nearby torch fell neatly upon a frightened KuliKuli staring back at them.

Perdilius glared his eyes and crooked his finger, beckoning for her to come to him. "Little beast, let us commence with our ritual."

KuliKuli growled, revealing her claws as she got on all fours, her fur and hair standing on end like brown and silver-white spikes. The guards readied their staffs however Perdilius stepped into the room with her, cracking his knucles.

"You wish to fight me, is that it? This didn't end pleasantly before, Nityri. Or is it KuliKuli now? That's what the boy called you. I can't tell, but I quite simply don't care."

"Boy...?" KuliKuli repeated, her eyes losing their fury as she began to smile like a little girl on her birthday. "Eek! My Felix is here to save me!"

Her squeal of delight was followed by her neighbor cellmate, Reta, laughing and congratulating her. "What did I tell you? Felix-san came around after all!"

"Felix, is that his name? He isn't coming around anytime soon." Perdilius grinned, witnessing the Nekomata's smile begin to faid. "Did you not hear the blast?"

"No... " KuliKuli shook her head, her heart beginning to skip.

"That's right, he died the way he lived, unknown and forgotten. He would have been saved had you not tainted him with your presence. How often must I remind you, Monsters have no place in this world. This was never your home, but do not worry. I'll be returning you to where you belong."

Perdilius began to approach her, watching her panic begin to rise as she was starting to hyperventilate. Reta was uncertain what to do, losing her voice in the moment as she held herself and sunk into the floor. Is it true, did Felix really... by the gods.

"It's not true." Reta's eyes opened wide as she shuffled to her feet, leaning in to listen to what her friend was saying.

"What?"

"It's not true, you're a liar!" KuliKuli smiled with tears in her eyes. "I can feel him, we bonded together. He's alive, he's tired, and he is so ready to kick your big deluded butt!"

Perdilius frowned in return. "So you marked him, of course. Why else would he be head over heels for a Monster?"

Without warning, he gripped KuliKuli's paw and pulled her hard. She had softened during the revelation and wasn't ready, hitting his arm before extending her claws once again and aiming for his hand. He caught her other paw just in time, roughly tossing her to his men as they grabbed her from both arms, dropping their spears as they did. She struggled and turned, shouting as Perdilius snuck a collar to her neck and latched it tight.

"This will keep you to your current form, so don't bother slipping away. Take her to the offering."

"That's a lot of stairs-" The guard paused as Perdilius stared him down. "F-Forgive me Father, I spoke out of line."

"Indeed, you did." He turned back, something was moving the sole chain left where the lift use to be. It was shaking from side to side, like it was pulling some weight.

In a moment, a hand reached out for the ledge to push themselve up into the floor. Feeling his hands throb in pain, Felix shook it off and pushed through the door, arriving to the hall.

"KuliKuli? Reta! Na'Vi!"

"Felix? Felix you're here!?" The voice led him to the correct metal door where Reta's face came into view through the tiny window.

"Reta, yes it's me! Are you hurt, how do I open this?"

"You need a key." She began before being interrupted from the other cell door.

"You missed them, they left a minute ago with her."

Felix turned around. "Na'Vi?"

"Hey, Felix. I... I really didn't think you would pull through."

"Hey, I came for all of you, not just her. It's alright, the rest are on their way. Now where's the key to this thing?" He peaked into the parted door between them, pushing it open and noticing a black robe at the end. Slowly he began to approach the dark fabric, feeling uneasy as he dug into its pockets before hearing something go clink inside.

"Found them!" He beamed, running out the door just as a large hand grabbed the side of his head before launching him down the hall and out the door. Sliding across the brick floor, he managed to grab the ledge as his body dangled out the tunnel from where he climbed from. He could hear footsteps, and in time was met with Perdilius, wearing a heavy black iron chest plate and with eyes of hatred glaring down.