Indestructible, part 2

((Yeah, I know I just posted part 1.... sue me >.>))

"What have you done, Alby...." Mai's voice noticeably shook as she looked up at Seik.

Alberic turned, the large sheathed sword in his arms gleaming faintly in the moonlight. His tail curled slightly as it swayed back and forth, serpentine and sinewy, and the twisted horns on his head cast long shadows over his mottled, black-scaled face. "He will come. He will have to." His voice dropped to a caressing murmur, and he stroked Mai under the chin, nibbling on the tip of one of her ears. "And then, we'll see who destiny favors."

Seik was lashed to a crossbeam above them, unconscious, her head sagging and her arms outspread. Alberic had wound her entire body in wire; the tomb--King Ranperre's Tomb--was awash in moonlight, and Alberic laughed and laughed. "It is not I who makes you suffer, Seik!" he screamed at the sky, his wings flung wide. "It is FATE! Fate is the enemy here! Adelbert, fate is what separates us, what punishes us!"

The beast paced around the tomb, occasionally perching on the beam to which Seik was lashed, curling his arms tighter around the sword. He hummed or sang; he laughed often, his eyes filled with an indescribable joy, with unbreakable resolve, with insanity, with hatred; he nuzzled Seik's face, licking it, and grinned down at Mai as if daring her to stop him; he spread his wings and soared above it all, glorying in his freedom, but always descended to earth again, snarling and glowering around him, seeking his enemy, impatient and hateful. Mai stood there as if rooted, staring at Alberic, mesmerized and repelled, unable to look away. He was beautiful in this form, beautiful and terrifying, but the curse--the obsession--the love that bound them kept her here, helpless to do anything but serve him, helpless to stop him from devouring himself with his own madness.

"What have you done, Alby...." Mai raised her eyes to Seik once again. "She's going to die...."

"No!" He whirled on her as if summoned, grasping her around the throat, stroking her like a restive kitten, purring, his wings enfolding them. "No. She will not die. Either she or you or both--you will bear my child, Mai. I might kill her. I might not. But either way, we will free when it ends. Either way, destiny will break tonight. He will come. He HAS to come. I am waiting for him.... and when he comes, I will kill him and take his place."

Seik coughed, lost in her enchanted sleep, blood trickling from her lips. Mai turned from Alberic with a choked sob. Alberic laughed, drawing his tongue up her face from her chin to the corner of her eye, where tears were already welling. "I think I love that face the most, Mai...." he whispered.

A sound from behind them, a snapping twig, made them both whirl, and Alberic crowed in delight, sweeping air with his wings. Sparhawk was there, in black armor, his implacable eyes fixed upon them.