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The Dominus Blade

They were created to be as one. Fate bound them together across time. They have found one another again -- will destiny keep them together or tear them apart?

DaoistI42fqo · Fantasy
Not enough ratings
31 Chs

Chapter Twenty: Conditions Changed

 Katherine practiced for several hours with her orb, filling and emptying it with mist and colors. By the time she was finished, she could command it with a touch of her fingers, she also had a raging headache! Collette brought her a snack and a carafe of minted water. She drank the water as though she had been walking for days through the desert! Dehydration she guessed – the exertion had depleted her. 

 She met Sauvageon in the conservatory and they practiced a bit, but eventually settled in the chairs and talked about a variety of things. Finally, he sat forward a little and angled a critical eye at her. "It is time you feel what the testing will be like. Nicklaus is right I have but days to prepare you. So be it."

 "What will happen first?" Katherine asked.

 "On the day of testing, you will walk down a long dark corridor and enter the Oculus. You will stand at its center, the dome eye will be open to the elements." Sauvageon told her. "Then one by one the Sept will begin to exert pressure on you, trying every way they know to draw you to them. It may be in the form of psychic bombardment, or if they are truly allied to Nicklaus, they will give their power to the Dominus, and he will claim you."

 "Suppose it is raining that day? I stand in the rain?" Katherine asked.

 "It is possible," Sauvageon replied. "But a few drops of rain are minor to the bombardment you will experience from the Sept."

 "You're going to show me how to block that won't you?" Katherine wanted to know.

 "I will, but at the same time you block everyone you must open yourself to the Dominus." He told her. "He must be strong enough to fight past your barriers to reach you."

 "So, I'm blocking everyone but allowing a chink in my armor to let him through?" Katherine surmised. "What if the others see it?"

 "And they will," Sauvageon told her. "It is a test of wills, yours against all of them. In the end, your power merges with whomever it deems worthy."

 "It might not be the Dominus?" Katherine asked.

 "There is always the possibility, but I do not think there is any question on that, Katherine, do you?" Sauvageon asked with an impish smile coming to his face.

 She blushed pink and shook her head. "No, I don't think so. And that is messing with my head too. I'm like an overwrought teenager."

 Sauvageon nodded, "Yes I've noticed. But it's not only from you in the last twenty-four hours!"

 Katherine frowned slightly and realized he was talking about the Dominus! That made her blush a deeper shade of pink and Sauvageon even in his advanced years found her blush very charming in a woman of modern upbringing. He waved her over to the center of the room, "Now go and stand over near your piano. I will begin slowly. You will sense my pressure. To block, it is the same principle used when emptying the orb. We shall see how far I can press, yes?"

 "Okay," Katherine replied. She rose and stood near the grand piano. She drew a breath but did not even get to expel the air when she felt a vise grip the inside of her skull. She gasped at the intensity of it. 

 "If that is all it takes," Sauvageon said in a mocking tone, "You are defeated even before you begin!"

 Katherine glared over at him. She 'pushed' back and felt relief!

 "Good, but not good enough, Katherine." He said.

 It was a darkness that she had never encountered before. It wrapped itself around her like a massive snake. Then she remembered what they called him, "the Beast of Germany" – she saw it! The thick coils slowly swirled around her, closing in with each revolution. 

 Then the electric lights in the house began to flicker. The lights that were not on began to glow as power oozed through the entire electrical system of the manor. She felt the coils of the serpent tighten around her. From every part of the mansion, the lights sizzled with a fire that was born of something not of natural design. 

 Vincent had been on his phone with his father when it suddenly went dead. Vanderau felt the surge even before his laptop snapped off and the electricity began to dance across the room. He jumped up and rushed from his suite. He sprinted down the back hallway on the third floor and rushed down the circular staircase to the first floor. He skidded to a halt as he met Vincent in the gallery and together they raced to the conservatory. 

 Katherine was now fully enraged by Sauvageon's mocking voice in her head. Old he might be, but he was an Olympian of the mind! She could not push him out of her head. She relented and in the center of the suffocating darkness, she centered herself and clasped her hands around a small flicker of light that condensed into a small neutron star. It was no bigger than a marble, but it had the brightness of a million suns! Sauvageon smiled, she was trying something new and unique. Would it work? He had only called up the beast a handful of times in his long life, and she was going to try to set it on fire!

 He could feel the strength begin to drain from him. She was doing what he wanted, she was not pushing him away with force, she was tapping into his power and using it! She could easily kill him, destroy his mind! She could do that. She felt the power in her and it would be so easy to reach out and take hold of the bright rope of power and simply snap it in two like a dry twig! 

 From somewhere she heard someone shouting to her, "Katherine, stop! You must stop! You'll kill him if you don't stop!"

 But she did not want to stop! She did like Sauvageon, and to kill him would be such a waste! The pressure to stop continued from outside as the power struggle she and Sauvageon engaged in went on. She heaved one last gigantic mental push and the monster fell away from her like smoke! The neutron star she cupped in her hands flared briefly and then grew faint, but it did not vanish as she thought it would. She had to smother it! 

 "No Katherine, release it! Let it go!" Vanderau called to her. "Let it go!"

 She turned and looked at Vanderau where he stood and wanted to defy him, but something in his eyes called to her and she opened her hands and let the ball of light float up above her head. As it rose higher, it grew fainter and as it died, she staggered backward and caught herself on the edge of the piano. She sank to her knees and was panting like she had run a marathon! Her whole body was drenched in sweat. She blinked the perspiration from her eyes and looked over at Sauvageon, he did not look too fresh either, but he had a victorious smile on his face.

 Vanderau turned on Sauvageon, "How dare you press her this hard!"

 "You said you had days!" the old gladio growled back. "Now you have a Potential that can hold her own even against the 'Beast of Germany'! Congratulations, Nicklaus!"

 Vincent rushed over and helped her to her feet. Now that she was in command of herself she saw the damage she had done to Sauvageon. She eased away from Vincent and patted his arm to indicate she was all right. She staggered over to Sauvageon and held out her hand to him, he took it in both of his. "You pack one hell of a punch!" she muttered.

 Sauvageon threw back his head and laughed. He was happy! Finally, someone who could match him, and he also knew she could probably kill him. "Now all you have to conquer is your French!"

 She began to giggle hysterically. She felt lightheaded and Vanderau was there to catch her before she fell to the floor. He carried her to the chair next to where Sauvageon sat. He looked up at Vincent. "Go get Collette immediately."

 "Yes, Dominus!" Vincent declared and rushed off to find the young woman.

 Katherine stirred and tried to sit up but was too weak. Vanderau pulled the low stool over next to her, took her hand, and felt the thready rapid pulse. Her skin was burning hot, he glared over at Sauvageon, "What have you done to her?"

 "Nothing, he's done nothing!" Katherine said as strongly as she could manage. "I needed to know how to defend myself."

 "Not this way!" Vanderau declared and then as he met Katherine's eyes he realized something had changed! He looked over at Sauvageon and the old gladio nodded. When he spoke, he spoke in a language only he and Vanderau understood. And the impact of the old Gladio's words made the young Dominus study his Potential in awe. "Are you certain?" he asked Sauvageon as he continued to stare at the young woman.

 When Collette and Vincent arrived Vanderau got to his feet. "I'm taking you to my tower. Vincent, we'll use the elevators." He reached into his pocket and tossed Vincent a set of keys. 

 Vincent caught them but paused and looked from Sauvageon to Vanderau. When Sauvageon nodded his agreement, he and Collette went off to prepare the rooms. Vanderau held out his hands to Katherine, "Come mon coeur, can you stand?"

 She nodded and put her hands in his and he pulled her up. She was still woozy, and she slumped against him. He felt so cool as she laid her face against the cool cotton of his shirt. He caught her up against the wall of his chest and held her close. She was happy to stay there but realized that she was too close! "Isn't unwise for me to be so close to you?"

 "Not anymore," Vanderau whispered, and Katherine looked up at him in surprise. He was glaring at Sauvageon, "It appears conditions have changed."

 When Katherine's heart began to pound, fearful she had done something wrong, Vanderau's gaze shifted to hers and the fierce intensity vanished and he smiled, "Do not worry, mon coeur, you've done nothing wrong." 

 She glanced over at Sauvageon, the old Gladio met her gaze, and he smiled proudly at her. Vanderau drew Katherine closer to his side. To Sauvageon he gave a curt nod, "We will talk later."

 Sauvageon breathed a relieved sigh and nodded in agreement. Vanderau looked down at Katherine and smiled, his eyes warming as he studied her face, "It is only a short way to the elevators do you think you can make it?" 

 "I think I can get there," Katherine said. She felt like her whole body was made of jelly! But somehow having Vanderau holding her, with each step she felt a little better. As they slowly moved down the back hall to the servants' elevators he glanced down at her, "You've fried my laptop, by the way," 

 "I'm sorry." She returned. "I was trying to escape the coils of a ginormous serpent from hell!"

 Vanderau chuckled and she looked up at him and grinned back. "Well, since it was a life-or-death situation," he leaned close and whispered against her ear, "I can always get another laptop, I could not ever find another Katherine."

 As they got to the elevators, Mrs. Tremeur and Collette were waiting. Collette immediately rushed to Katherine's side, but Mrs. Tremeur stopped her, and both stepped aside with Vincent. "The elevator is on emergency power," Mrs. Tremeur said, "We will use the stairs."

 Katherine was failing again and this time she was scooped into the arms of the Dominus! She had no choice but to put her arms around his neck and shoulders and his arms drew her to him. She felt the beat of his heart as it thrummed heavily in his chest. He stepped into the elevator and Mrs. Tremeur pressed the "up" button.

 Once the doors closed she turned to Vincent, "Go help with Sauvageon. Once we have madame settled, you will all be having dinner with the Dominus in his quarters."

 Vincent hurried back to the conservatory to find Etienne leaning over Sauvageon. "My God, he's not dead is he?" 

 Etienne looked over his shoulder at Vincent, "Not yet! Go get the brandy! I think he needs it!"

 Vincent rushed down the gallery to the study and grabbed the brandy bottle and glasses. When he returned, Sauvageon looked a bit more alert and was patting Etienne's shoulder as the stable master continued to fuss over him. When he saw Vincent with the brandy bottle he waved him over.

 Vincent poured a glass of brandy and handed it to Sauvageon, who took a large gulp and leaned back against his chair. 

 "It was amazing," Sauvageon said, his voice strong again. He took another swallow of brandy. "She will have no trouble holding her own against the bombardment."

 "For a Potential," Vincent replied. "That's exactly what it is – an attack on her defenses."

 Etienne perched on a stool near where Vincent sat, "How did she manage it? Everything is out of commission, including the perimeter fence and backup generators."

 "She used my power against me," Sauvageon told him then handed the empty glass to Etienne. "Help me get to my room, Vincent. I understand we are dining with Nicklaus tonight." 

 "Yes, how --," Vincent started to ask but he waved off the answer, "Never mind!"

 He and Etienne each took hold of Sauvageon's arms, and they slowly walked to the tower room. Once they got the elderly gladio safely in a chair, the stableman turned to Vincent. "I take it that the Dominus will not be leaving tonight as expected?"

 "I do not think he will," Vincent answered. He looked down at Sauvageon who had drifted off to sleep and was snoring lightly. "If anything changes I will let you know."

 Etienne was extremely happy to return to his apartment over the stables. Vincent closed the doors of the tower suite and glanced down the hallway to the elevators, they were open.

 His phone vibrated a call. He headed down to his room and answered the call from his Father, Martine. "Papa?"

 "What happened? Renault called and told me that something was happening there at the Sun Maiden. Are you all right? The Potential?"

 Vincent scowled. "Renault is here? He needs to get as far away from here as he can! Tell him, Papa. I do not want to have to go up against him!"

 "So, it is true," Martine said. "You have the Vanderau Blade!" 

 "It is certain," Vincent said. "I will keep her safe until the testing, even from the Dominus!"

 "Good, good," Martine said. "Do what you must. I will call off Renault, you concentrate on the Potential. The Dominus will need to notify the Chamberlain."

 "I am sure the Sept will also be informed," Vincent said, "Whatever happened here tonight, has altered the course of everything – including the testing."

 "I will await word," Martine said. "Godspeed my son!"

 "Thank you, Papa."