Slayer stood engulfed in magnificent beautiful golden flames that danced wildly from his body and his eyes glowed bright red. He stood there breathing heavy and his snout was pulled up in a snarl, showing his sharp, razor sharp teeth.
He was facing Vishious and not taking his attention off of him for a second. He was ready to take on his elder brother in combat if he needed to, because if Vishious did hurt Malice, then Slayer knew that he could only really blame himself for that happening. For it was he who had allowed Vishious to stay at the palace, and it was he who had chosen to not argue and allowed Malice to leave with Vishious to talk to him and leave the palace.. alone. He knew what his elder brother was capable of doing and he had turned a blind eye to it.
When the dust finally cleared completely and was no longer hiding anything from view, it was only Vishious that Slayer saw. Vishious still had not budged from the exact spot that he had been standing, this entire time. Unfazed by the explosion or the powerful burst of wind that had just taken out a good portion of the forest that they were at.
"Sire," it was Commander Beast, who had just broken the silence that had blanketed them. His voice was low and cautious as he growled. He then repeated himself, louder this time to get Slayers attention. "Sire, there's something that I think needs your attention, before, even, Lord Vishious." Beast said seriously. Bringing his massive wings down and clasping them at the nape of his neck, allowing the rest of his wings to cloak around his massive body.
It was only after Beast said this, that it dawned on Slayer that he had not seen Malice at all. And he quickly turned to look around before his eyes landed on Malice who was almost unrecognizable at this point. Malice's beautiful white fur that glowed in the dark and gave him an almost angelic glow, was in a kneeling position, not moving, completely covered in dust and blood. His stare was emotionless and unfazed.
Slayer couldn't hide the shock of seeing Malice in this way. His snout lowered and his flames started dwindling and dying down. His form started to change back to his human looking form and the forest clearing that was lit up by Slayers Flames, soon was cast back into darkness.
Slayer stood there with his long bright blood red hair no longer in a ponytail, it cascaded down freely now. His eyes were wide as he looked at Malice, waiting for him to say something or move, but nothing. Just dead silence.
Slayer was about to go to him and try to figure out what the problem with Malice was when out of his peripheral he noticed movement. Beast noticed the movement at the same time and both, then turned their heads to see Vishious walking calmly towards them. The sight of Malice had taken their attention completely off of what it was that had brought them here in the first place.
"What the fuck did you do to him, Vishious!?" Slayer demanded. Slayer was beyond pissed finding Malice in such a state. He didn't know yet how serious it was and he felt full of guilt at allowing Malice to leave with Vishious.
'I shouldn't have waited when I could tell that something wasn't right after hearing the Ryot Kamaira roar. I should've hurried to where Malice was...then', Slayer cursed himself. He had waited too long to go to Sinyster's aid as well when she had needed him, and he couldn't accept that his slow reaction might very well have cost Malice his life.
"No, need to worry. Though unintentional as it was, he's been momentarily petrified when I touched his head to heal his body," was the nonchalant reply from Vishious. He then stopped and stopped right next to Slayer, not even bothering to look at Slayer or Beast and instead was looking at Malice.
This irked Slayer at how Vishious seemed unbothered by their presence or about the situation at hand. "And why exactly was Malice hurt in the first place where you needed to heal him?" Slayer asked with clenched teeth. His hands turning into fists as he stood there staring at Vishious.
A dark, mischievous chuckle escaped from Vishious' lips as he then finally looked at Slayer. He then answered by saying, " Well because I was trying to be nice and not bring him back to you all beat up and hardly able to move after he decided to dare test his luck with me," Vishious said this like he found Slayer's question to be humorous. He then continued to say, " I took it easy on him and didn't drag it out. I'm not known to do such things anyway." Vishious said this, flashing a smile as he finished.
Slayer was getting fed up and without wasting more time with small talk Slayer said in a threatening tone, " Malice better pull out of this soon.... and I do mean soon. If he doesn't you will have to deal with me and I can promise you that fighting with me, it won't be over so quickly for you." Slayer then started walking to where Malice was still kneeling like a statue.
As Slayer walked away, he heard A dark chuckle come from Vishious. Ignoring it he came to stand right in front of Malice before kneeling down in front of him.
Slayers brows furrowed together and his eyes darkened as he looked at Malice. He growled through clenched teeth as he said, "How long will he be petrified!?" His red eyes were nearly glowing.
"Well if you would like, I can always use my powers again? Maybe it'll work to snap him out of being petrified." Vishious said this curiosity clearly evident in his voice as he said this.
"And what will happen if it doesn't reverse it?" Slayer asked. Moving his head to look up at Vishious as he was still kneeling down in front of Malice.
"Then his brain will melt and you'll have a eye catching fountain that will have blood running down i from its eyes, mouth, ears and nose.. And you can put it right by your front door to welcome your guests." Vishious said sarcastically.
"..." Slayer and Beast's eyes went wide in shock with what Vishious just said. For they both knew that Vishious wasn't over exaggerating or joking with what he just said. He was telling the truth. That either it would snap Malice out from being petrified or it kill him in a horrific and agonizing way.
"But, lets discuss this further back inside, shall we'" Vishious only just finished saying this when suddenly they were consumed into shadows. Beast and Slayer didn't have time to even know what was happening because in the next second they were in the palace corridor, but it was only Slayer and Beast.
Vishious and Malice were no longer with them.