Chapter 40: Loving you

"I really was going to give it to you before," Ace smiled dangling the necklace between his fingertips, "but I had a change of heart, you see. I don't intend to give it back for free,"

"What do you want for it?" Michael smiled.

"You mean aside from letting you leave here alive?" Ace smirked.

"Yes, aside from that," Michael rejoined.

Ace tapped the throne with a grin, "How about this? You give me...Clover,"

"Clover?" Albaric glanced waywardly at Clover. They were quiet.

"Yeah, it's not so hard, is it?" Ace went on. His eyes turned to the Emperor, "I don't know what they told you to get you here, but it's probably a lie. This necklace right here, that's the truth. I'll put it into your hand myself. I mean, what do you care if Clover lives or dies, Emperor of Rotan?"

"I do not care whether this demon lives or dies," the Emperor answered categorically.

"I thought not," Ace smirked.

Michael glanced at Clover, compelling them to speak. However, they were staring ahead with an apprehensive stare that seemed to have them immobilised. He was about to interrupt when Albaric put a hand on his shoulder. He gave a nod of reassurance which Michael accepted reluctantly.

The Emperor stepped forward, "But, you must do as you say. Put it in my hands. Yourself,"

Ace's brow raised with amusement.He turned his head to the side inkling his head ever so slightly as his attention was elsewhere. Finally his eyes came back to the group.

"How do I know, you aren't going to try some kind of trick again?" Ace said coldly, "so you can hold me down and scar me with holy magic again?"

"That was a mistake," Albaric confessed, "we didn't intend to hurt you,"

"Actually, I think that's exactly what Clover intended," Ace smiled.

"No they..." Albaric started.

"If that's what you think, what do you want me for?" Clover interceeded.

Ace's eyes came to them with distinctly dark eyes, "Why do you think?"

Clover flinched slightly but didn't break their gaze, "I take it, it's not because you want to tell me you love me?" They gave a weak smile.

Ace smiled, "There's only one way to find out,"

"So, you'll give the necklace?" the Emperor asked.

"A deal is deal," Ace pulled the chain from his throat with ease and held it out in front of them, "You can have it,"

Without hesitation, the Emperor approached the throne. The instant he did, Ace disappeared from the throne. Like a flash, he was walking past the Emperor down the steps from the throne. The Emperor looked back in surprise.

"But first," Ace smiled, "I get Clover,"

At that moment, Albaric stepped in front of Clover. He met Ace's dark stare apprehensive.

"Give us the necklace first," he demanded.

"I don't think you're in any position to be making demands," Ace replied in a low, vicious voice.

Clover stepped forward, inhaling deeply, "Fine. You have me. Will you give Keitel the necklace?"

Ace glanced back at the Emperor and threw the necklace back over his shoulder. The Emperor caught it. He glanced over at the others.

"You said you would put it in my hands myself," the Emperor said.

"And so I did," Ace dismissed.

He was far more preoccupied staring at Clover with a malevolent hungry stare. Clover's eyes fluttered with agitation.

"The rest of you can go," Ace smiled without breaking his gaze.

Albaric caught hold of Ace's arm. "Are you sure you've thought this through?" he gave an uneasy smile.

"I could ask you the same thing," Ace replied.

He glanced back just as the Emperor was about to lay hands on him. Ace caught hold of the Emperor's wrist and spun him around, releasing him in Michael's direction. They both went shooting back in the other direction. Only halting as they crashed into the wall behind.

Next he turned to Albaric with an expression devoid of sympathy. His fist went flying in Albaric's direction. Albaric drew his sword at once. The fist and blade collided with clang. Albaric dug his heels into the ground but was surprised by the force of it. He was forced off the ground and went flying back against the wall. He hit it with a slam and fell to his knees. Ace was standing over him within an instant. He grabbed hold of Albaric's face and held it to his. Albaric light grey eyes widened in surprise. He felt a sudden pull of all his energy. Like a sinkhole draining it from him. In all his battles against demon, he had never been overcome. He pulled away instinctively but his body wouldn't respond. He couldn't escape the darkness in Ace's eyes.

It was then Michael's magic rushed at Ace. A wall of water whipped up and came hurtling towards him. Ace let Albaric go and turned back. With a flick of his fingers, the wall of magic fell at once. The waves washed over Ace's feet as he glanced down apathetically. Behind him Albaric let out a cough. He tried to come to his feet but the dizziness set him back.

Ace closed the distance between him and Michael in an instant. Michael had just barely recovered from the last blow and was steadying his hand with the other.

"What are you fighting me for?" Ace interrogated wide wild eyes, "If you ask nicely, I might give the necklace to you instead of the Emperor,"

"I don't want it anymore," Michael replied coolly.

"I find that hard to believe," Ace's eyes regained their composure, "I already had Kali sniffing around for it,"

"Is Kali here?" Michael asked darkly.

"None of your business," Ace replied with a smile.

He threw his leg straight at Michael's side. Michael blocked just in time but Ace caught hold of him. He instantly felt his magic draining. He reached for his sword just as Clover interceded.

"Enough," Clover said flatly.

"Is it?" Ace smiled widely, "I think i'll decide when it's enough,"

He pushed past them and reached for Michael again. This time, Clover caught his hand and threw him back. Ace tethered back a few steps. He stared at Clover with a look of amusement.

"Stop it," Clover met his gaze unsympathetically, "I agreed to stay. Let them go,"

"Stop it?" Ace's eyes widened. He threw his head back laughing madly. Clover watched with him with difficulty. Suddenly he stopped laughing. He was staring up with a glazed look in his eyes. Slowly his eyes panned down.

"Why don't you stop it?" Ace breathed, "Stop fucking up my life!!"

He flew at Clover furiously. Clover parried his fist as they flew one after the other. However, Ace's hand managed to get around Clover's neck and he grabbed them by the hair and thrust them down onto the floor. Ace pivoted swiftly and sent Clover flying with a kick to the gut.

In spite of this, Clover came to a stand. Ace was already launching another flurry of attacks. This time, Clover grabbed his wrist and tried to wrestle it behind Ace's back. Ace knocked them back with a kick and threw himself forward. He lunged at their waist and they both crashed to the ground with slam that shook the room.

Ace's fist went back, then gaining moment hit clover across the face. However, before he could lay another, both Albaric and Michael came around and grabbed him. They started to pull him back but his strength was enough to give them difficulty.

"NOW KEITEL!" Michael yelled.

The Emperor came from behind and rushed towards them as Ace struggled against them. He pushed back and they were about to lose grip when Clover came to a stand and laid their hands on Ace's shoulder, pinning him down. The Emperor gripped Ace's face, staring into his eyes.

The force of the magic was enough to make Ace girth his teeth. He could taste metal in his mouth and his body shuddered from the static shock.

"They're trying to reach me," Rhiann appeared glancing down at Ace.

Ace stared at him but was unable to give a reply.

"You have to fight against it," Rhiann added.

Ace's struggling intensified. Even Clover seemed close to breaking but clung on desperately with the rest.

"Look at them," Rhiann went on, "look at their face,"

Ace's eyes came down to Clover. Clover stared back with pain expressions but did not relent their grip.

"They want to destroy you," Rhiann whispered, "All of your pain. It's because of them,"

Ace gritted his teeth and with a final shove, he managed to knock Albaric and Michael back. He slammed the Emperor to the ground and turned his eyes back to Clover. He stared down savagely. He caught a chunk of Clover's hair and dragged them forward.

"You..." Ace exhaled venomously, "You just can't help yourself. You just take over people's lives without a shred of remorse. I might have felt sorry for you if you had just told me the truth, but no. Because Clover, you are fucking coward,"

Clover stared unflinchingly, "What truth?"

Ace didn't respond, he locked his hand surrounding Clover's throat. Clover grabbed against his hand struggling against him. Ace's grip began to tighten. Clover attempted to pry his hands away with all their strength but to no avail. They let out a grunt as Ace straddled over them, strangling them.

"So damn selfish," Ace breathed, "Loving you was the greatest mistake of my life,"