Cries of Yesterday

Cries of Yesterday
A Grandia 2 fanfiction
Written by Krisa Kelly a.k.a. Scarlet Shaman © 2004

Chapter Five


Ryudo complained as he leant his head against the cold wall. “This is the last time I decide to take a short cut,” he mumbled.

Hopefully the others were nearby somewhere. The sooner they met up, the sooner they could be on their way to the Cathedral for Elena to report to Pope Zera. This journey was turning out to be more of a strain than Ryudo had originally intended for. For one, had had just planned to take Elena to see the Pope and leave it at that, instead he ended up taking care of every problem that a town saw and now had two extra travelling companions. He wasn't complaining really, he was just a loner for so long. He was used to it being just he and Skye. But it was somewhat of a pleasure to have someone who wasn't a bird to communicate with.

Ryudo's head automatically shot up upon hearing sharp steps echoing through the place. Someone must be coming.

'I wish I had my sword, at least then I could waste anyone who walked in. I'll just have to rely on physically force … not that I have a problem…'

He stood up and walked to the bared doors, watching a scarlet-haired man walking towards him. The man stopped in front of the door and fiddled with a set of golden keys.

“What the hell do you think you're doing? You have no right to take us and lock us up!”

“Ah, but you do know that there is a penalty for trespassing?” Diego sneered.

“Fine, we'll pay your lousy fine and then be on our way? How's that sound to you?” Ryudo said.

Diego shook his head, smiling. “I'm afraid that it'll take more than a sack of gold coins to pay off the debt. But it matters very little anymore. I just came to tell of your wrongdoing. I will return you to your friends and they you will leave and never set foot on my land again. Is that clear?”

“Crystal,” he replied.

Diego nodded and sorted through the keys to find the right one and opened the door, constantly keeping an eye on Ryudo as he walked out of the cell.

“Any funny business and you'll find that cell to be your permanent home. Remember, this is my land and I make the rules. This way.”

Ryudo followed the man. Someone seemed wrong about what was happening. Why would anyone capture them and just release them? It made no sense to him. What was this man's game? There must be something in it for him. You don't get anything for free in this world, it was a common know fact. He stayed alert and followed until he saw a familiar face.

“Mareg, you okay?” he asked the beast-man.

“I am fine, Ryudo. Where is Roan and Elena?” he asked, looking around as if he were sniffing the air. “I do not like this place at all … the SMELL. It is one I do not like. It is an evil within itself.”

“Melfice? Valmar?” Ryudo enquired.

Mareg shook his head. “It is neither, but … I do not wish to name the SMELL that repulses me.”

Ryudo nodded and thought back to what Mareg said earlier. Just where was Elena and Roan? Had the man yet to bring them?

“Hey, buddy! We're missing two! Where's Elena and Roan?”

Diego turned his head and smiled, attempting sincerity but turned out as disingenuousness. “Who?”

Ryudo growled but decided to control himself.

“Elena, the brunette and Roan, the blond kid. Travelling with us. Happen to notice them when you locked us up?” he scoffed.

“Oh yes, I remember. Would you like to know why I am letting you go while you are waiting for you other companion?”

Ryudo sighed and looked towards Mareg, who nodded. “Go on then … enlighten me.”

“Yes, one of your friends repaid your debt.”

Ryudo raised an eyebrow. “But you said that it would take more than a sack of gold coins to pay off this debt. My friends have no more money than me, so how is that possible?”

Diego sneered and scratched his chin, almost to look like he was thinking.

“I did say that, didn't I? But I prefer to take a more … intimate … approach when certain things come my way. Like this little debt, for example…”

Ryudo narrowed his eyes dangerously. If he had heard correctly, he knew what this man was talking of. It made him angry. How could this man do something like this? It was a stupid penalty for trespassing. It wasn't like they were causing any harm. But the way of repaying this debt? This wasn't right … it was illegal! If this man had done anything he'd be sorry. 'He'd better, for his own sake, be joking.' But the smile that was plastered over his face didn't give Ryudo that impression. It made a cold shiver travel down his spine.

“If you've laid just one finger on Elena, I'll…”

The redhead lifted his hands and waved them.

“Elena, the female, yes? She's very beautiful, isn't she? A sweet, innocent face…”

“Bastard!” Ryudo growled; clenching his fists and preparing to make a mark on Diego's face … a permanent mark that he wouldn't forget so easily. How could this bastard do such a thing?

“Yes, she was innocent. Just not innocent enough for my liking. No, she was too old. And I prefer blonds, anyway,” he laughed, licking his lips.

Ryudo backed down. He could hear Mareg growl loudly. What had this man just said? Did he…

“Ah!” Diego cheered. “Here's your female friend now.”

Ryudo saw and heard Elena. She was screaming loudly and her face looked tired, as if she'd been crying for the past couple of hours. Two guards held her arms and dragged her towards them but Elena continued to shout, pulling away from them. Their grip was too tight for her to escape from.

“I hope my guards weren't too rough with you, Elena,” Diego said.

The guards loosened their grip and Elena took the opportunity to escape. She ran forward and slapped Diego hard, thumping his chest and screaming obscenities that couldn't be made out. Ryudo saw the look in Diego's eyes and grabbed Elena's arms to stop her from causing any damage and prolonging their journey. As soon as Roan rejoined them and this was all sorted out, they could be on their way again.

Elena lashed out at Ryudo. She had recognised this man's voice as soon as she heard it. He was the monster that had caused Roan so much pain. Why didn't Ryudo understand that this man was … evil? Maybe not so as Valmar, but evil comes in different forms. This man needed to be judged and punished. She had prayed to Lord Granas and hoped he had heard her.

“You monster!” she shouted at Diego, fresh tears running down her cheeks when she saw what he looked like. “How could you?! How!? Why?! You are nothing but a MONSTER … an evil man!”

“Miss, I have no idea what you are speaking of.”

“Yes, you do! You're a monster. How could you do … do THAT to Roan!? HOW COULD YOU?! He's just a child! He's thirteen years old … he's just a child!”

She broke down at this point. She stopped fighting and threw her arms around Ryudo, sobbing into his shoulder, muttering, “He’s still a child. He did nothing wrong. Why did THAT have to happen to him?”

Ryudo was shocked. Elena was usually so calm and kept control of her anger, but now…

He sighed and rubbed her back.

“Shh, it's all right, Elena,” he soothed as best he could, but it helped very little. What was going on? He had an idea but didn't want to believe that it could be right. He was waiting for someone to say that it was some big mistake. There was no proof that anything had happened. This man could just be winding them up for some sick joke, revenge for trespassing. It must be that. Roan would walk in any minute now, the usual smile on his face, telling them all he was fine and nothing had happened.

Elena pushed away and looked into Ryudo's eyes. Her face was flustered from anger and exhaustion.

“No, Ryudo! How can it all be okay? It will never be okay! That man, that very same man that is standing over there, raped Roan! He raped him and can't deny it!”

Diego shook his head. He seemed not to be phased with Elena's words.

“You must be mistaken, Miss.”

Mareg growled. “The foul stench that surrounds this place cannot be mistaken!”

“I heard!” Elena shouted. “I heard your foul words! I heard Roan, screaming and crying, begging for the pain to stop! I HEARD! You raped him!”

“Now, Miss, rape is such a hard word to say in a world like ours. I wouldn't say that I raped your little friend.”

Ryudo glared at Diego. “You're not denying it?!”

“I deny raping him, but I do not deny having sexual intercourse with him. I thought it was rather consensual, actually,” he said, crossing his arms and raising his head.

Ryudo carefully pushed Elena aside and stepped closer to Diego, his eyes burning with anger. How that man could stand there and tell them all this as if he were proud of it was a mystery to Ryudo. If he had his sword, the scarlet-haired man would be on the end of it as soon as possible. He was disgusted. How could anyone do something like this? If he hadn't known what Diego was like, he would have thought of him as a respectable businessman, because that's the aura he emitted. But now Ryudo knew that he was nothing more than a sick paedophile who didn't deserve to live. It was repulsive that people like him walked this earth, making people's lives a misery and getting a sick pleasure from it.

His fists were clenched so hard the knuckles turned white. He was angered before but now even more. The fact that this bastard had the nerve to say that Roan had given his consent to have this man…

He couldn't even think the word; it was so appalling. True, he hadn't known Roan for too long but he knew the boy long enough to know that he had morals. He spoke almost like an adult; taking about subjects no normal thirteen year old wouldn't take interest in. But he was not an adult, just a child. Roan was a perfect image of chastity and virtue.

“You don't deserve to walk around with that grin on your face! People like YOU should damned to HELL, and if I had it my way, you'd be stopping by for a permanent visit soon … VERY SOON! I know for a fact that Roan would never allow something like that to happen, so it comes down to the picture that you're nothing but a sick, perverted bastard!”

Diego laughed. “How coincidental. That's exactly what Angel said.”

“Angel??”

“I didn't know his name and didn't bother to enquire it either. I named him Angel because of innocent and pure features … he's an angelic boy, don't you agree?”

“You fucking bastard!!” Ryudo snarled.

“Hmm? Roan, did you say his name was? Roan … it has a rather pleasing ring to it. Maybe he would have felt more at ease if I had called him by his birth name rather than this byname.”

“Where's Roan?!”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I said, where's Roan, you sicko!? Or are you deaf?!”

He couldn't stand him! How could he act so calm in such a strenuous situation? What was this guy's problem? Ryudo wondered whether being arrogant came naturally to the redhead or whether he was just an extremely good actor. He wasn't asking much but Diego had to bring out the worst in everything he said, making Ryudo swallow hard and pushing him that little bit further towards the edge. There was only so much Ryudo could do to stop himself from acting in a manner he would not regret.

“Yes, well Roan won't be here to say goodbye to you all, so you have no further business here. I will have a couple of my guards escort you OFF my premises and then you are free to go.”

The Songstress gasped. “What do you mean by, 'Roan won't be here to say goodbye to you all'? He's not staying here, he's coming with us … his friends!”

Diego walked around the passage, keeping a constant eye on his unwelcome visitors. He wasn't so much threatened by the brown-haired man and the female did nothing to intimidate him. It was the beast-man he was wary of, he had hardly said a word but he knew that he was slowly edging towards him. Even without a weapon, the beast-man was still one to watch out for. Diego stood in the doorway, being the furthest away from Mareg. If the beast-man became enraged, Diego would be able to swiftly lock the door, saving his own hide.

“He's not exactly in the best of state to come down and say goodbye. One would almost feel sorry for him.”

“Where is he!?” Mareg roared, bearing his teeth but not moving any closer.

“I'm terribly sorry, but I have a business to run. I suggest you leave, as you will never be seeing your friend again. The only one's who'll be seeing sweet, little Roan, will be paying for his services.”

“What!?” Elena and Mareg shouted.

Ryudo pushed past Elena and stood in front of Diego, both being the same height.

“You'd better pray to your god that you're lying!”

Diego smiled. “Children are rather like dogs, wouldn't you agree? Teach them while they are young and they will obey. They soon come to realise that I am the master and they are just the submissive. And just like with some dogs, some children are harder to 'train' than other ones, which is why if they step out of line, they will be punished. I condition them to do as I say. You're little friend is a prime example of one of the harder children. Yes, he was very fiery lad … but like the others who do not obey, he was punished…”

Ryudo lunged forward but was restrained by three guards, each struggling to pull him away from Diego. He managed to free his right arm and immediately used it to rid himself of one the guards. His fist came into contact with the guard's jaw and he was knocked to the ground, but as soon as one left another would take its place. Soon more were there, it was almost as every time Ryudo knocked one down, two would come in its place. All he could think was how much he hated Diego and how much he wanted to kill the man for subjecting Roan to such pain.

“So you raped him!? He told you no and you raped him as … PUNISHMENT?!? And now you've decided that you're going prostitute him!?! WHAT KIND OF SICK MAN ARE YOU!?” He continued to pull away. “He's not your whore and you have no right to do that to him! He's his own person and shouldn't have to take orders from anyone! You don't own him!!”

“I'm afraid I do. You see, the arrangement was him in exchange for your safety.”

“I NEVER MADE SUCH AN AGREEMENT!”

“No, but Roan did,” he smiled frostily, seeing Ryudo stop and look on in a mixture of shock and horror.

“No, he wouldn't degrade himself to THIS!”

“I thought that, too, but it seems he would rather see his friends alive than having to travel alone. You should honour his sacrifice, my lad. He cares for you all so much that he's willing to give me full possession of his body. So you see, it wasn't rape because he said I could use his body … even if he didn't want it.”

Ryudo began to struggle again, shouting, “You bastard! You blackmailed him into doing this!”

“How could you?!” Elena sobbed, falling to the ground.

Mareg dashed forward, grasping Diego's collar and hauled him from his feet. His eyes were narrow and he held the man only inches away from his face.

“Grrrr! You are a wicked man! Either you return Roan UNHARMED or you will suffer the dire consequences!”

“You will release me now or your friend will be faced with something worst … much worse!”

Mareg growled and drew the man closer toward him. This man was afraid but doing a good job at masking his worry. There was no way that he'd let him get away with what he did to Roan. The blond was a small ray of light, constantly cheery and able to see the good in most things. Roan was an optimist. Mareg remembered that he had seen Roan just laugh away some of Ryudo's cynical remarks where not even Elena could do so.

He was about to demand an answer from the man he held in his hands when he suddenly heard Elena shout, “Look out!” and within seconds everything went black.

Diego was dropped roughly to the ground and quickly stood, brushing himself down and sneering at the sedated beast-man.

“I've had enough chit-chat for one day. You will leave and never return. That is all.”

He watched as the guards forced Ryudo out of the door and escorted Elena, who was beginning to struggle. Several more guards came to remove Mareg. He laughed as he saw them leaving, Ryudo shouting, “you bastard! You won't get away with this, I promise you that! I swear to god that I will kill you!”

Diego shook his head. “People nowadays,” he said and walked away.

To be continued…