Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

Decadence Escaping
By : FlayraDowitcher
Category: +G to L > Hetalia: Axis Powers
Views: 2961 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia.
Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
***Warnings: Disturbing scenes, some language, slight violence

***Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia.

Chapter 9

Two arrows were pointed directly at them while one man lazily swung his morning star like a pendulum beside him. Ivan counted only four men but did a quick scan of the area to see if there were more. One man who was not wielding a weapon had some sacks hanging from his horse full of furs. So he was right in assuming that these men were fur traders for the Emperor. He shoved the spear into Alfred’s hands, forcing him to take hold of it. Alfred looked from the spear, to Ivan, then to the men. If he couldn’t spear a fish then how could he spear a man?

“Do you have traveling papers?” Asked the man with the morning star.

“What papers?” Ivan asked.

“Emperor’s law! If you travel through his woods then you must carry the necessary papers with the proper seal! Since you do not know of this law I can safely say you do not possess said papers?”

“Why should we need permission to walk through the woods?” Alfred spoke up, puffing out his cheeks. “That’s ridiculous! Do the animals need papers too?”

“Your friend has a big mouth.” The leader said with a smirk.

“He speaks only logic.” Ivan replied. “Let us pass and I can ‘safely’ say I will not have to draw my sword.”

“Or my spear!” Alfred was getting caught up in the action.

“Ha! You threaten us with that tiny stick?” Laughed one of the men with the bows.

“Yeah, I do!” Alfred pointed it at the man. “We got this, Ivan! Lets show these guys what free men can do!” Ivan glared at him.

“ ‘Free men’? Escaped slaves! GET THEM!”

Ivan immediately drew his sword and blocked the blow from the morning star. Alfred side-stepped an arrow and rushed towards the first man. Before the man could reach for another arrow, Alfred shoved the spear upward and stabbed him in the chest. The horse reared in fright at the man’s pained cry and bucked him off. Alfred stood there for a moment, realizing that he had just brutally wounded a man. Ivan’s shout of his name made him turn around and another arrow swished past his face, leaving a thin cut along his cheek.

“ALFRED! THESE MEN WANT TO PUT YOU BACK INTO SLAVERY!” Ivan shouted and blocked another blow. “DO YOU WANT THAT TO HAPPEN?” Ivan knew he had to snap Alfred out of his stupor or he would be killed. Alfred dodged another arrow but Ivan’s words stuck in his head. Alfred narrowed his eyes and with a growl he charged at the other man.

“You won’t take me again!”

Ivan smirked at his lover’s determination as he slid under the body of the horse and came up from the other side. With a heavy swing he was able to lap off the leader’s hand. When the man roared in pain and shock, Ivan took the opportunity slash at him again and slit his side. The man fell from the horse and Ivan stabbed him to finish him off but not before taking the morning star into his possession. He saw that Alfred was holding his own with his opponent but the other, who was unarmed, looked ready to make a run for it. Ivan rushed towards the man and just as he thought the coward turned his horse to escape. Ivan slid to a halt and planted his feet on the ground. He raised his sword above his head with both hands and threw it in a spiral motion towards the fleeing man. To his disgrace his sword had hit one of the trees but what came next surprised him beyond words.

“I got this one, Ivan!” Alfred pulled the bow back and let loose his arrow as it hit its target dead on in the back. The man let out a straggled cry and fell from his horse. “Ha ha! Look at that shot! I nailed the bastard!” Alfred gave a victory leap in the air with the bow raised high. Ivan just stared at his lover’s back, in complete shock and utter amazement.

“Alfred…? May I…ask where you…learned to shoot like that?”

“Huh? Oh, I was the top archer in my class! I would go out and practice at the target rink as often as I could!”

“…really?” Ivan couldn’t believe that Alfred had kept this talent a secret from him. All the worry and stress he had over keeping Alfred safe from harm made his frustration with the young man soar to a new height. All this time he thought he was completely useless and defenseless in matters such as this yet he knew how to properly use a bow. Not only that but he could even hit a moving target.

“Yeah! I didn’t know you could actually kill people with it. We were taught that it was strictly for sport and nothing else.” Ivan saw red and began to swing the morning star above his head with a crooked smirk. “You’re completely right about the whole ‘kill or be killed’, Ivan. I feel a little…well, guilty for taking another’s life but they would have arrested us and we’d end up on the poles! Right Ivan?” Alfred turned to look at his lover and he shrieked in fear at the spiny ball just above his head. “IVAN!” Ivan quickly lowered the morning star and his eyes widened at what he was just about to do. “I-Ivan…?” Alfred said his name with a nervous chuckle. “You okay?”

“Y-Yeah…I was just…trying it out, that’s all. I got a little too close to you, I apologize.” Alfred let out a breath of relief and slapped Ivan on the back.

“Good! For a second there I thought you were going to hit me with it!” Alfred laughed and Ivan gave a little chuckle. He wasn’t sure what had just come over him but the anger he felt towards Alfred at that moment was enough to ignite a violent action. And he would never actually harm his beloved Alfred…or would he? “Ivan! Snap out of it!”

“Oh…yes. Sorry, I zoned out there for a moment.” He cleared his throat. “Okay, first order of business, we take as many goods from these men as we can. Clothes and all!”

“You got it!”

The two lovers set to picking off the bodies of the fallen men. Alfred took one of the men’s tunic and under jerkin, along with his pants and hide boots. Now that he was going to be the archer of the duo he took the leather armbands as well and collected all the arrows. Alfred noticed that the man he had killed with the arrow still had his horse standing by him. The horse was the one carrying all the furs and Alfred grinned brightly as he had a wondrous thought. He and Ivan could sell the furs once they got safely to the Northern city. They would also be able to ride it through the woods instead of walking. All he had to do was catch it.

Ivan was having no such luck with the clothes for they were all too small for him. He tried on the last tunic but it wouldn’t stretch over his shoulders. He silently cursed his large frame and height. Even the pants were too short or too tight. In fact, none of the pants he tried on fit comfortably, which meant that he would have to remain in his current blood stained dirty pants. Luckily one pair of boots fit so he eagerly took those, yet his torso was still exposed. Tapping his chin in thought, Ivan had an idea that would be better than nothing. He took one brown tunic and slit open the front and cut off the sleeves so he could have a vest. It wasn’t want he would have liked but it would do for the rest of their journey. Ivan called over to Alfred and reminded him to take the fur shawls or anything else of the like that would keep them warm.

“Hey Ivan! Look! I got us a horse!” Alfred brought the animal over to him. “And look at all the furs! We can sell these! And there’s even a cargo bag filled with dried meats and bread! Not only that but there’s a bedroll too! A bedroll!”

“Very good, Alfred.” He smiled. “I must say you make a very handsome huntsman.”

“Yeah, well, what can I say?” He smiled proudly and flung the stolen cloak around his shoulders. “I wasn’t the most popular boy in my class for nothing!”

“Ah, speaking of that…is there anything else you are hiding from me?” Ivan asked as he laid a fur poncho over his shoulders and tied it in the front.

“What? Oh, you mean about my archery thing!” Ivan nodded. “I can do blacksmith work like my father but you knew that already. Um…no, nothing I can think of. I never really thought of the bow and arrow as a weapon of combat.” Ivan sighed and rubbed his temples at Alfred’s dense skull.

“Something that can fly swiftly through the air with a sharp tip on the front into an object ‘couldn’t’ be used for killing someone or something?”

“Well…I guess I never cared enough to think about but you could shove a spoon down someone’s throat and kill them just the same. And I’m certain people don’t fight with spoons.” Ivan raised his eyebrows.

“Odd example but not incorrect. Well done.” Alfred grinned proudly. “Oh, before we set off, get the fur shawl from that man. We’ll be getting into colder climate soon.” Alfred did so, gathering it up and slipping it on under his cloak.

“What about you? All you have is a fur shawl and a cloak but no shirt! Won’t you be cold?”

“Well I have my scarf and the fur and I’m used to the cold so I should be fine for a long while. Many of the clothes didn’t quite…fit me.” Alfred chuckled and kissed his cheek.

“I wouldn’t mind you riding around on the horse naked.” He winked.

“And I would forbid you to wear clothes at all just so I could admire this perfect body all the time. But alas, we must keep moving.”

Ivan mounted the horse and lifted Alfred up to sit behind him. They traveled for the rest of the day and slept once again in a high tree while the horse grazed below. The next two days they traveled they hadn’t encountered any dangers. Their good luck was appearing to come to end an end when the sound of distant thunder arose Alfred from his nap. He was resting his body against Ivan’s back as the rode and the sound had jerked him awake. Ivan pulled the horse to a stop and looked up through the treetops.

“Cold rain will be on its way shortly. We are getting closer to the mountains.”

“I don’t want to sit in the rain, Ivan! Especially if it’s cold rain!”

“Then we must try to find shelter. I know we are close to the base of mountains and with any luck we should find a cave of some sort.” He kicked the horse back into a trot.

“Cave? Um…don’t bears and bats live in caves?”

“I’m sure if we ask the bear politely he would share his home.” Ivan smiled and chuckled when Alfred pinched him.

“I’m serious!”

“Chances are slim that we would find a bear. Now bats and bugs, that’s a different story.”

“Oh, good. I don’t mind bugs. Bats…I’m not sure on yet.” The next rumble of thunder sounded closer than the last. “Lets speed it up!”

Ivan’s hunch was right for shortly after their stop they had come upon the base of the mountains. His home was beyond these mountains and if things were different they would be climbing over. But getting to the Northern city was more important. Their next challenge was trying to find a cave or grotto that they could take shelter in. The sky was beginning to grow dark and if they didn’t find something soon they’d end up drenched. The last thing either one of them needed was to catch a chill and fever from the rain. The length of the mountain base never seemed to end and there were no caves in sight for quite a while. A loud clash of thunder startled all three of them and Alfred had almost gotten bucked off. Ivan sped the horse up to a run so they could cover more ground quickly. Alfred saw what looked to be a cave up ahead and hit Ivan in the back of his head when he pointed to it.

“LOOK! RIGHT THERE!” Ivan gave an angry grunt but saw the cave that Alfred was pointing at. He slowed the horse to a halt and slid off, helping Alfred down.

“You gather wood for a fire and do it fast! I’ll get the horse inside and tied.”

While Alfred gathered the wood and stones Ivan fished through the utility sack. He found the loop nail and used a rock to hammer the iron piece into one of the numerous cracks. Tugging to make sure it was secure, he tied the reigns around the hoop to anchor the horse in place. The animal was clearly a trained hunting horse for it immediately laid down on the cave floor. Ivan stroked its nose and pet its mane before relieving it of its traveling sacks and saddle. Alfred had made numerous trips in and out of cave delivering stones or wood. Ivan helped him make a circle of stones and pile the wood properly to start the fire. They had made it to shelter just in time for the first clash of flashing lighting and heavy rain began to rage outside. They sat on the bedroll and shared in some of the dried meat and water flask. Alfred wrapped his cloak tightly around him for the cold draft from the rain was slipping into the cave. Ivan removed his own and wrapped it around his Alfred for extra warmth. Alfred smiled and leaned into him while they sat quietly, watching the storm rage outside.

The storm continued long into the night and they had curled up by the dying fire wrapped tightly in their bedroll. They both lay on their side facing the fire, Alfred’s back pressed up against Ivan’s chest. Ivan had his arm wrapped around him tightly and held his lover close as they slept. Ivan awoke some time later after sensing the fire went out. Alfred was still snoring softly in front of him and he kissed the top of his head. The rain was pouring heavily outside but the thunder had died down. Ivan looked over to the dead fire but saw something large at the mouth of the cave. Instead of jumping up and attacking, Ivan simply slipped from the bedroll without waking Alfred. He stood and walked to the mouth of the cave where the object was standing. The horse was asleep as well but didn’t notice Ivan walking about. The entity in front of him seemed familiar and he found himself looking up into the somewhat opaque face of the Dark Wolf. Ivan felt no fear as he stood before the questionable god.

“Okay, I shall humor you and the spirit realm. Why do you keep appearing before me? Are you the one sending pictures to my head? If you were then I would ask you to stop. Nothing is going to destroy my chance of regaining my life.”

‘You and your devotee are not welcomed in these woods.’ The wolf replied, echoing with voices of many others.

“That’s nonsense. You don’t control the woods or the mountains…humans do.”

‘You have been away from home for far too long. No Cycraian tribe will except you or the outsider.’

Ivan narrowed his eyes in thought as he picked through his subconscious, trying to understand the words. He knew this was only a dream and nothing more, so what was his subconscious trying to tell him?

‘You have seen the face of your fallen master, yes?’ Ivan turned and looked back up at the wolf.

“Just my mind playing tricks because my body is worn and tired.” He replied.

‘Foolish human!’ The deity thrust its head down to make contact with Ivan’s body. Its face was the length of his body and the yellow eyes bore into his violet ones. ‘You are haunted by these images because of the vicious mass murdering of your fellow species! Murder that was ignited by lust and jealousy for the one you call ‘Alfred’! YOU have no right to take the lives of your fellow human beings! That is for the spirits to decide!’

“You’re wrong! This is all a bunch of horseshit! Killing is a natural part of life, especially one like mine! I’ve killed more men in the arena with my own two hands! My will to survive was strong and I would not let myself be killed! I murdered them as well yet I don’t hear you speaking of THEM!”

‘You did not want to kill them but you had to. It was not your choice you were only being obedient. But you CHOSE to murder those you found threatening to your lover.’

“You’re wrong! Alfred taught me how to have hope and that helped me gain control of my life! I was tired of being forced to fight and bullied and beaten just because of my position as a slave! He and I should not have to suffer at the hands of others! We have our freedom now and we gained it on our own without help from anyone! If I hadn’t had killed them then they would have killed us! I could not take that chance! I DID NOTHING WRONG!”

‘By losing faith in the gods and spirits you have abandon your chance to live amongst the tribes again. Your lover comes from another world and society that has lost all hope of spirituality and community. The tribes will burn you and your Alfred before they accept you. Perhaps the tribal spirits will strike you both ill so your souls and seed will be wiped from this earth.’ Ivan growled and stared at his reflection in the wolf’s eyes.

“I lost faith in the gods long ago when they turned their backs on my village! My entire life was destroyed…everything I knew and loved was raped and taken from me! I can only think of how many men, women, and children cried out to the spirits to save them yet a blade still struck them down! And yet you have the audacity to say I have no respect for the gods…after what they did to me?”

‘Perhaps all things happen for a reason.’

“I don’t believe in that sort of logic. People control their own lives, not the gods.”

‘Heretic! Your stubbornness has damned you from finding peace in this world! You will be forever haunted with the ghosts of those you have killed! Never again will you have a dreamless sleep! You chose this path even when I tried to warn you of its dangers! I spoke with your lover’s voice for it is he who has led you astray. You have ignored my warning!’

“Stop it!” Ivan clutched his head in his hands. “Nothing was Alfred’s fault!”

‘The Empire is nearing its end and it will fall leaving all men free of chains to build anew! You would have been freed without any blood on your hands and you could rejoin the Cycraians. Instead of continuing on your current path you let yourself be led astray by lust, pride, and greed!”

“SHUT UP! YOU’RE WRONG! YOU’RE NOT EVEN REAL! YOU’RE MAKING THIS UP IN MY HEAD!”

‘This is your punishment! Trouble will continue to find you as you make this futile journey.’

“IT’S NOT MY FAULT! IT’S NOT MY FAULT!” He fell to his knees, still gripping his head. “What is happening to me?” His shouts turned to whispers. “Why can’t I pull myself together? I’m so confused…I feel so lost…”

‘You are a lost soul, small one.’ The wolf’s many voices changed to a softer tone as it shrunk to the size of an average wolf. It silently walked over to Ivan’s fallen form and sat before him. ‘But you don’t have to be…you choose to be. That is the decision you have made for yourself. Once you die you will spend your eternity with me.’

“No…this is all a lie…all of it! There is no set path…there isn’t! There isn’t! You make your own path!”

‘Lose your true reason for murder and you will find a new path with greater opportunities open for you.’ The god looked back at Alfred still asleep on the bedroll. ‘Come back to the way things were and you will find peace for you aching soul.’ Ivan looked over at Alfred. ‘You won’t be haunted by nightmares and visions…just come back to the way things use to be.’

“Used to…be?”

Ivan stood up on shaky legs and walked over to Alfred’s sleeping form. All of the wolf’s words were spinning in his head and he was finding that they were making sense. He had forgotten all about the codes of the tribes and their rules. This brought up a long lost memory of a man in their tribe who denounced the buffalo spirit. The village elders hanged him and his elder sister shielded him from the sight. He couldn’t let that happen, not to himself or to Alfred. Ivan would not have done all this just to let himself be killed by that which he thought would bring him joy. Was what the wolf said true? Was this all just a dream or was it real? He was so confused, his mind continuously battling between reality and illusion. Is he really being punished for his feelings for Alfred? Did his lust blind him so easily? What would bring this all on now if it were an illusion? Was it when he tried to hit Alfred with the morning star for frustrating him?

“Mm…Ivan?” Alfred opened his eyes and looked at Ivan who was standing above him. “Ivan? What’s wrong?” The man wouldn’t answer him. “Ivan? Ivan! Snap out of it! What’s wrong with you?” Alfred noticed the strange, dark look on Ivan’s face but was unprepared for the massive hands around his neck. Ivan’s hands squeezed and pressed against his windpipe, making Alfred choke for air. His hands tried to pry the larger ones away but he couldn’t get them to budge. “I-I-v-van!”

“It’s your fault!” Ivan hissed and tightened his hold. “IT’S BECAUSE OF YOU I AM SUFFERING!”

Alfred’s continued to gasp and choke while his body thrashed uselessly under Ivan. He tried to call out his name but it always came out in a gurgled choke. Alfred could feel his strength leaving his body as the lack of airflow began to weaken his struggles. Ivan’s violet eyes burned into his like an icy fire, those eyes that he had fallen in love with and that hold such gentleness. He thought Ivan loved him and that the man wanted to protect him, so why was he doing this? He didn’t know what he did wrong or why Ivan wanted to kill him but his mind was slowly starting to fog over, making thought impossible. He felt a few tears slip from the corner of his eyes as the feeling of betrayal was hurting more than the strangling.

“ALFRED!” Ivan released his hold around Alfred’s neck when he saw the tears. His mind snapped back to reality and he realized what he was doing. Alfred was on his side, coughing and gasping for air while holding his bruised neck. “Alfred…Alfred! What have I done?” Ivan backed away from him and fell to the cave floor, gripping at his hair. “Alfred, I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I…I…” He had almost killed him!

“Ivan…” Alfred gasped his name as he sat up, holding his neck. “Ivan…what…were you…doing? Why?” Alfred watched as Ivan pulled his knees up to his chest and grip his head as heavy tears started to pour from his eyes. “IVAN!?” Alfred ignored the ache of his throat and neck for he was more concerned with the sudden massive mood change of Ivan. He quickly crawled over to him and covered the large hands with his own. He tried to pull them away from Ivan’s head but they couldn’t be moved. “Ivan, what’s wrong? Please tell me what’s wrong!”

“He wanted me to kill you!” Ivan whispered.

“Who is ‘he’? Whom are you talking about?”

“The Dark Wolf! The Dark Wolf, he was here! He came into the cave and woke me from my sleep! He told me that the visions I’ve been seeing of those I’ve killed are haunting me for my crimes of murder!”

“What are you talking about? Ivan you’re not making any sense! What’s the matter with you?”

“He said it was all your fault! He said that I would never find peace in this world or amongst the tribes because I killed for you! I killed for you out of jealously, lust, and pride while abandoning my morality! I have denounced the gods and they are punishing me! They are punishing me for killing others and loving a non-believer like you! You are not of the tribes or of this mountain world! You are an outsider and the tribes will kill you if I present you to them! I will suffer forever because of you! If I want things back to the way they were then he said I must get rid of you!”

“Ivan…Ivan what are you saying? There is no wolf god here…it’s…it’s going to be okay…you were just dreaming.” Alfred wasn’t even sure about that.

“No…no more dreams! No more! No more!” He shook his head violently. “The dreams are warnings! He made them warnings to keep me from straying but I didn’t listen! I saw only you! Now I will have horrible nightmares about all the bad things I’ve done! I will never rest again! Never!” He started to laugh then and Alfred leaned away from him, more frightened by this outburst than the strangling. “Everything is adding up! The path…the wolf…the voices…the blood! Everything was telling me to ‘stop’. They were all warnings! Warnings I ignored because I wanted to possess you for my own! I wanted you to be mine and I would do anything to have you! Now that I have you I am being punished! NOW I CAN’T ENJOY YOU!”

“IVAN!” Alfred backhanded hard across the face, drawling blood from his lip. He smacked him again but from the opposite side. “SNAP OUT OF IT!” Ivan’s eyes were still wide with tears and they trembled as they gazed at Alfred. Alfred had never seen such a look on Ivan’s face before. He looked like a lost little boy who was scared and confused without anyone to turn to.

“A-Alfred…?”

“Ivan, look at me!” Alfred gripped the sides of Ivan’s head and pressed their foreheads together. He could feel his own tears stinging behind his eyes. “Ivan, listen to me…you’re safe now. No one is going to hurt you. I don’t know what that ‘god’ said to you but it isn’t true! He’s not real, Ivan! WE are real! I am real! I’m right here, in the flesh! You didn’t do anything wrong! Nothing is your fault or mine! We did all this on our own!” Ivan tried to turn away but Alfred pulled him back, his tears finally breaking free. “I don’t understand what you are going through, Ivan, but I won’t let anything bad happen to you! I promise I’ll protect you from these visions and dreams that haunt you! I won’t let that god have you! I won’t let him harm you like this! You are mine, not his! We belong together, you and I!”

“But he said-“

“Fuck what he said! So what if the tribes don’t accept us? We’ll live somewhere else! Or maybe we’ll stay in the city! Or we can just not let anyone know! But no one is going to make you suffer! I won’t let them!”

“You won’t?”

“No. No I won’t. I don’t want you listening to that god anymore! I want you to only listen to me because I am real! We are real!”

“But…but I’m lost…I’m so lost, Alfred! I don’t know what’s real and what’s not!”

“You’re not lost…because I’ve found you.” Alfred smiled at him. “I found you and I plan on keeping you safe.” Ivan blinked his tear-stained eyes and then smiled.

“Yeah…yeah you found me…” Ivan leaned forward and held Alfred close to him, resting his head on the lithe chest.

Alfred just held Ivan’s body as the mass of the man relaxed in his arms. He had never seen the man cry like that before or tremble in fright as he did. Ivan was a strong, fearless man who bravely fought his way to victory in fights. He was not afraid of any man who challenged him. He had saved Alfred by killing his abusers and making sure they escaped to freedom. Ivan never backed down to anyone and would even accept brutal punishments without showing fear. So what was with this sudden change of personality? Alfred had no clue that Ivan was plagued by visions of the dead and frightening nightmares. Was that what he was thinking about when he zoned out?

‘I guess you’re strong physically but not so much mentally.’ Alfred said to himself as he stroked Ivan’s silver hair. ‘You’ve had such a difficult life its no wonder you can get like this.’

It still bothered him that Ivan tried to strangle him and he had to wonder if that would happen again. He didn’t appear to be in his right frame of mind, almost as if he were a whole different person. Ivan kept saying that the Dark Wolf said to kill him…but he had stopped after he saw the tears.

“Alfred?”

“Hm? Yes Ivan?”

“I’m sorry…for trying to hurt you like that…it wasn’t me, I swear!”

“I understand, Ivan. I know you would never want to hurt me.”

“Do you really mean all that? What you said before? About chasing away the nightmares and ignoring the tribes?” Ivan sat up to face him and Alfred smiled.

“I did. Ivan…I can’t fully understand what you are feeling or what you are going through…but I want you to know that I love you and I want to protect you. Just like how you protect me I want to do the same for you. Why didn’t you tell me you had all these dreams and doubts?” Ivan looked down at his lap.

“Because I wasn’t certain of them myself. I honestly have to say that I don’t understand what is going on with me either. This isn’t like me. I know the gods and spirits are a lie but a few minutes ago…he seemed so real. And I almost killed you! I almost killed you because he said it was your fault I was seeing all these things! But I swear…it won’t happen again! Please…don’t leave me because of what happened! Don’t hate me! I promise it won’t happen again! I would never hurt you! I love you! I sacrificed everything to be with you!”

“Ivan…calm down. I understand you just had a moment of weakness. We’re under a lot of stress and worry with his journey we’re taking. It’s very dangerous and there are grave consequences if we get caught. Once we make it to the city we’ll be safe…and then we can relax.” Ivan smiled at him and took his hands.

“How can you forgive me for what I did to you?”

“I guess I’m just as crazy as you are.” Alfred said with a laugh and a second later Ivan was joining him. “Just promise me if you see or hear these ‘ghosts’ or gods, tell me right away and I’ll help you through it, okay? I’ll chase them away for you! Let me be your hero, Ivan!”

“My hero? Where was my ‘hero’ when we had that scare with the elk?” Alfred smirked and gave a little blush.

“Well…that was different.” Ivan pulled him into a tight hug, almost crushing him.

“I understand. I’m sorry again, Alfred. I really am. You’re my everything…you’re all I have. I just…lost it there. But I feel much better now! Your words really helped.”

“Yeah, just don’t let it happen again, okay? I would like to believe in your gods because the stories are nice but remember what you told me?”

“It’s all bullshit.”

“Right! So just keep thinking that, okay? Don’t lose your shit now, Ivan! We have a long way to go yet! And it’s stopped raining!” Alfred pointed to the mouth of the cave where the sun was starting to come up. Ivan grinned brightly and turned to give Alfred a passionate kiss. “Wh-What was that about?” He laughed.

“Because I love you! You’re best thing that has ever happened to me, Alfred! I can’t believe I actually let my mind wander that far to act the way I did…and you forgive me for it.”

“Yes, Ivan, I forgive you! Geez, take a hint already! Many people have wanted to strangle me before! Stop talking about it now. It’s done, okay? It won’t happen again.”

“Right, I won’t lose control.”

“So lets get packed up and continue on our way!”

The ground was soft and moist from the rain and the horse had to take heavy steps to march through it. Alfred and Ivan had remained silent for most of the morning ride. Even though Alfred forgave Ivan for his earlier attack he couldn’t help but wonder if he would do that again. He didn’t want to do it but he stuck an extra small dagger is his armband, just in case. He wouldn’t try to kill him but he would fend him off until Ivan regained his senses. Ivan’s persona had changed since their talk and he seemed to be back to normal. As they continued on along the base of the mountain the woods were growing denser and the trees were getting larger. Alfred gave a quick sniff of the air and quickly covered his nose.

“Uggggh! What’s that smell?”

“Probably the horse.” Ivan replied.

“No, it’s worse than that! It smells worse than the sewer! I feel like I’m going to throw up!”

“Try not to.” Ivan rolled his eyes yet he did smell something extremely unpleasant. He had a rough idea of what it could be but he didn’t want to scare Alfred just yet. Ivan glanced back and forth at their surroundings until Alfred let out a gargled squeak behind his palm.

“What is that?” Ivan looked to where Alfred was pointing and his eyebrows went up to see a group of various animal bones hanging along a tree branch with colorful strands of ribbon.

“Bones. It’s a ritual…well, more of a protection spell.”

“Meaning…?”

“Meaning, if I didn’t know any better…I would say…” Ivan kicked the horse further into the trees and they happened upon a large number of tree houses. All the tree houses were connected by rope bridges and ladders that lead up to them. “I knew it! An enchantment tribe!”

“What’s that?”

“They are not like my tribes of the mountains and we never got along very well. They believe in magic and we believe in spirits.” Ivan proceeded further into the village. “Strange…it’s deserted. That’s very odd…covens rarely leave the village.”

“It looks like no one has lived here for awhile. Do these guys usually just pick up and move? Or do they float away on magical clouds?” He snickered at his joke.

“Not THAT kind of magic.” Ivan gave a little smirk when he felt Alfred’s arm tighten around his waist. They moved further into the village, looking all around. “Something must have happened. Enchantment tribes never abandon their villages. They build and stay where the ‘magic’ in the earth is strongest. That’s all nonsense too, Alfred, so don’t be frightened. We’re bound to find at least one person.”

“Um…Ivan? I don’t think their protection spell of bones back there worked.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Look up.”

Ivan looked above them to see numerous dead bodies of men and women hanging from the rope bridges. The bodies had been there for a while due to their level of decomposing. Alfred started to tremble behind him as he couldn’t remove his eyes from the curtain of bodies.

“Ivan…what happened here? Did your…tribes do that?”

“No. No, this is not the work of the mountain tribes. We would never hang our enemies like this.”

“So who did?”

“Hm…they are fairly close to the path so perhaps the imperial guards or hired witch hunters came across them. Or they knew about them and the Empire wanted them gone. Magic wielders are rarely shown mercy…just like slaves.” Ivan slid off the horse and went to one of the bodies that had fallen. He bent down and felt the rope between his fingers. “Imperial guards no doubt. This is quality rope. Witch hunters would use the entrails to hang them.”

“Ugh. Ivan, lets get out of here! Lets go back the way we came and just go around this massacre! Society is breaking down, that’s all I have to say! People are getting nuts!”

“Nuttier.” Ivan corrected him with a light smirk. “The world has always been crazy.” Ivan walked forward more and noticed another set of strange ropes hanging from the bridges. He checked back to make sure Alfred was still there and waved to him.

“Ivan, this isn’t funny! I’m starting to really, REALLY not like the woods! Perhaps we should think of residing in the Northern city where magic bones and groaning elks don’t run amuck!”

“Alfred, don’t be afraid. Everyone is dead here and there is no such thing as magic.” He studied the ropes again. “The mountain forests are much more beautiful than the lower land ones. Once you see it you’ll-“ Ivan never got to finish his sentence as the ropes snapped and a large net appeared from under the leaves beneath his feet. He let out a curse and a grunt as the net lifted him high above ground and trapped him completely.

“IVAN!” Alfred called up to him, leaping off the horse to stand beneath him. “IVAN, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?”

“ALFRED, BEHIND YOU! OUTLAWS!”

Alfred spun on his heel and quickly readied an arrow in his bow, prepared to shoot. Cloaked figures of leaves began to appear in bunches from the ground floor and tree branches. They all had arrows ready and pointed straight at him. Alfred slowly lowered his bow as he did a mental count of fifteen or more and that was only what he saw in front of him. He dare not look behind him.

“Ivan…what are we going to do?”

End Chapter 9 TBC
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Decadence Escaping	By : FlayraDowitcher Category: +G to L > Hetalia: Axis Powers Views: 2961 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia.

Decadence Escaping