Taste of Poison- SpainxReaderxEngland- Ending 1

After entering the house the trio were met with an impenetrable silence, the sounds of London far behind them. The quiet didn't seem normal, the air thick with dampness and a cold more bitter than they'd ever experienced; barely any light at all filtered through the shattered windows (the street lamps were in disrepair, providing no light at all when twilight fell), silken cob-webs strung across them like bunting or a haunting sort of decoration. The three began to advance forward after a moment of disbelief, flinching at every sound or movement that resonated around them. The foyer of the building would have once been grand, now it seemed barren and desolate as rain-water pooled on the chess-board floors and dripped tantalizingly from the ceiling. Faded Damask wall-paper peeled from the towering walls, the ceiling not even visible as it disappeared into nothingness along with cracked marble pillars and ghost-like moths.

_______ instinctively crept closer to Arthur, trying to calm herself and savour the reassuring warmth of his body. The Englishman almost seemed as disturbed as she did though, unsure what to make of the haunting expanse spread out before them. "This place is like something out of a ghost-story..." He murmured, glancing around. "And it's huge! How are we supposed to find Gilbert?"
The blonde tore himself away from ______, melting into the shadows as he approached a door-way. He rattled the rusted handle, embedded in splintered wood, muttering in irritation when he found it locked. There were several other doors, shrouded by torn blood-red drapes, but inspection proved them to be locked as well. There was now only two ways for them to proceed: By leaving back through the way they'd come, or by ascending a sweeping stair-case across the room and venturing into the unknown. Antonio wished they could have left, internally regretting the fact that they'd have to linger in the haunting confines of the house in search of Gilbert. Once again he pondered whether Francis had been telling the truth, but not daring to say a single word. This place was dangerous, and he could feel it in the air.

Gaunt faces leered down at them from gilded frames as they picked their way up the stairs, _______ shuddering involuntary beneath their commandeering gazes. She wanted with all her being to leave, but she realised that there was no turning back. Arthur turned to watch her, a hand drifting to the small of her back and guiding her as her skirts whispered along the ground. "You don't need to be scared..." He murmured eyes luminous in the growing darkness "I won't let anything hurt you."
"I won't either." Antonio appeared the other side of the young woman, cradling his weapon and trying to disguise the way his hands trembled. It was a hard thing to ignore though, and the Spaniard watched on in fear as they walked. The hall they ventured down almost seemed eternal, each door that they tested rendering useless- Arthur remarked that they were locked for a reason, and that they'd have nowhere to neither run nor hide if things became dangerous. That frightened his companions even more, so he tried to refrain from talking for their sakes.

Eventually the corridor began to branch off, and Arthur began to consider which way they should go. Unlike the other halls, some of the doors were open- But they were met with nothing but ebony spiders and creaking floor-boards. One room had a large, gaping hole in the floor, the rotting boards holding it together collapsing into darkness. It was almost as if the house was a war-zone, even more destruction in the wake of the three as they explored. Antonio suggested splitting up, but Arthur refused sharply, ensuring that they stayed together. "What are we supposed to do then?" The Spaniard questioned,  voice tremulous. The Englishman turned to face him, expression unreadable. "I...I don't know."
The golden head snapped around, boots squelching against the sodden rugs that lined the hall. Arthur found it hard to admit to being wrong, and as he carded a hand through his hair he realised that every answer he needed had escaped him. He was used to being certain, and it was more than ominous not knowing what to expect. Crouching beside a pile of rubble, fallen from the roof, the Englishman sighed. If there were meant to be clues, he couldn't find them. For once Gilbert had him well and truly fooled, and no matter how hard he inspected the house he couldn't change that.

"Arthur, what's this?"
"Pardon?" The Englishman glanced upwards, strolling towards ______. There was a vial in her hand, a crack disfiguring the blown glass. As he seized it from her, he looked around the room. "This was a study." He said, rolling the object between his hands. The young woman was unsure what to do, however, when he brought it to his nose and sniffed it. "...Amanitin."

"Amanitin can be detected in the blood almost immediately...causes cyanosis of the extremities...a deadly substance indeed."

He'd heard of that before, for certain.

"I want something, Kirkland."
"And what might that be?"

Arthur felt his breath catch in his throat as he remembered. He'd met with Ivan Braginski, had been promised the substance for his own wicked deeds. He never did receive it. ______ watched the Englishman's peculiar expression, placing a hand on his shoulder. "What's Amanitin?"
"A poison. It's a highly toxic thing, I've...worked...with it in the past."
"But why is it important?"
"It's Gilbert. He's leaving clues."
"To what?"
"I do not know. It could, ultimately, be my demise but I don't intend it to be so." Arthur slipped the vial into his pocket "I refuse to play his games."
______ smiled at him apprehensively, glancing around in hopes of spying Antonio. "Toni?" The Spaniard appeared, eyes widened like a frightened animal. The man was evidently still frightened, and he gestured shakily down the corridor. "T-There's something down there." He whimpered, white as a sheet. "I-I heard a noise, I swear I'm telling the truth!"
"Show us." The trio followed the Spaniard, Arthur's stance tense as he looked around. They were met with nothing but a vacant, eerie quiet. There were cumbersome double doors too, engraved with dancing women and fairy-tale scenes in front of them. Antonio watched the entrance with mistrust, voice wavering as he began to speak again "I tried the door and it was locked, so I started walking again, but then I heard a noise and then...well, it is open now."
"You're certain?"
"Of course!"
"What sort of noise was it?"
"A-A metallic sound, and some foot-steps."
"Someone unlocking the door?"
"I don't know!"
"Well there's only one way to find out then." Arthur approached the door, extending a hand and pushing it. There was a long, high-pitched creak as he did so, and soon enough the way ahead was clear.
It was a room not at all unlike a ball-room, an elegant expanse that radiated refinement. It wasn't in total disrepair like the majority of the house, and lit candles flickered in a crystal chandelier above them. The trio's steps were tentative and cautious as they walked, the combined sound of their feet resonating through the empty stretch, nothing and no one present to watch them. Or so they thought.
"There's no way of getting out of here, save for the door we came through." Arthur stated, looking bewildered "Someone can't just disappear at will! I know we were in the corridor, but whoever it was would have passed us to get to the stairwell." He darted towards the wall, tugging on lanterns and decorations that lined it. "There's got to be some sort of secret pass-"When his words met nothing but empty air, Arthur finally turned.  Antonio was stood not far from him, staring unblinkingly at the door. "Where's ______?" He turned, looking truly frightened.
"S-She's gone. The doors locked again."
"What!?"
Antonio winced as Arthur fisted his shirt, tugging him closer and glowering down at him "I don't know what happened Arthur!" He pleaded, the Englishman dropping him to the floor and gritting his teeth. "I thought you were going to protect her, you idiot!!" He spat, glaring into nothingness "For God's sake Antonio, I thought you were capable!"
"I-I am, but sh-"
"Don't start.." The Spaniard was terrified by the animalistic snarl on the blonde's face, cowering away from his penetrating emerald eyes and bared teeth "You better help me find a way out of here." He hissed, tugging his pistol from his belt and cocking it. "Or you're dead."
Antonio set to work immediately, frantic and desperate not to die. Arthur was tamer than he'd been originally, yes, but now that ferocity had returned. The taller male cursed himself internally for forgetting how dangerous the man could be. He was a criminal, and he had forgotten that.

Elsewhere, ________ was trying not to panic. She wasn't aware of how she'd left the ball-room, and there was the vague recollection of something being clamped over her mouth and nothing else. She was currently blind-folded too, so her eyes were of no use to her at all. She could hear Him though. The circling, predatory foot-steps and the mocking voice- It was plain to see that Gilbert had found her, and that meant he was aware of Arthur and Antonio's location. "Why are you doing this?" She queried into the blackness, head bowed. No reply met her ears, save for the sound of Gilbert stopping. She was glad he'd ceased his constant pacing, but the lack of sight made her wonder what was going to happen next. It was hard to anticipate the criminal's next move, unpredictable as he was, and with all her heart she hoped he wouldn't hurt her.
"You're a pretty one." The young woman's head snapped up, eyebrows furrowing beneath the blind-gold.
"What?"
"I mean what I said, Miss. Kirkland is lucky to have you."
"Who says I belong to him?"
"Oh, really? Maybe it's that Spaniard then?"
"It's complicated." She heard him crouch, felt a hand caress her cheek.
"Life is complicated, dearest." She could almost see the smirk, hear his words dripping with venom "You can't decide which one you want, can you?"
"N-No..."
"Do you want me to help?"
"No. Why would I accept assistance from someone who's just kidnapped me?"
"It's not that at all, we're only down the hall from them."
"I don't need you." She felt a minty breath in her ear, the hairs on her neck standing on end.
"I think you do, _______." He purred, drawing back. The woman relaxed, but that didn't last long when she suddenly felt something sharp at her throat. "W-What are you doing?"
"I'm going to make a deal with you. If you refuse, well...nobody will hear you scream~"
"...Fine." The woman groped forwards, clutching the collar of his jacket "But promise me neither of them will get hurt."
"Someone has to. Either one of you, or all of you."
"I won't allow it."
"Let's see what you think once I've worked my magic on you~"
"What?"
"I'm not the only one who likes to play with poison..."

Arthur slid on to the floor, back against the wall. Burying his head in his hands, he considered within his mind whether he should accept defeat or not. Antonio was still trying to find a way out, but he felt as if nothing they did would come to fruition. "You might as well stop..." He murmured huskily, feeling tears prick at the corners of his eyes "We're not getting out of here, not until Gilbert's had his way with us." He felt the Spaniard's warm body place itself next to his.
"What do you think he's going to do to us?"
"I don't know...it could be anything..." A sigh expelled from Arthur's parted lips "He's obviously going to kill me, probably you too."
"Why me?"
"Nobody here save for me and ______ know who you are, no one out there in London will miss you."
"That's a...scary thought."

Gilbert cupped _______'s face in his hands, staring into her eyes. He'd removed the blind-fold, and for a while the young woman wished he hadn't. The albino's cardinal red gaze was soul-searching and teasing, and not for one moment had he sought to stop taunting her. "What is your proposition?" She choked out, breath hitching. The German had promised her she'd die if she didn't listen. She didn't want to, but she had to. It wasn't much of a consolation that he was letting her choose the way of her demise either (by dagger or poison, it seemed. He even vowed to use other means to get her to agree with him.)
"Here we go then." He began, running his fingers through his snowy white hair and standing up. He began to stroll slowly back and forth, voice low and sultry. "I am willing to let you leave this place." Gilbert proposed "You and that Spaniard are free to go, to swan off and get married if it's what you so desperately want."
"On what condition?"
"That I get Arthur."
"What will you do to him?"
"Kill him. Another term you have to agree to is that you won't go crying to the Yard about this."
"If we do?"
"It'll be ten times more painful for him...and, if worse comes to worst; I shall send one of my assassins after you both."
"Anything else?"
"You have to leave London. Forget everything that ever happened to you, forget that me and Arthur even exist. Simple, no?"
"I can't just forget my lover."
"One of your lovers. You're truly a greedy girl, aren't you _______?"
"I don't care." _______ gulped, squeezing her eyes closed and then looking defiantly up at the German. This is what I need to do, I can save us all.
"I do not accept."
"Then you shall watch them perish."

Arthur and Antonio decided it would be best if they tried one last time to try and escape. With reluctant hands they explored, all the while wishing that they wouldn't cry.  The Englishman cursed himself internally every few minutes, bitter and regretful- All of this was his fault. ______ and Antonio should have left when they had the chance. Pushing half-heartedly, the gentleman was shocked to hear a gasp of delight from his companion across the way. "Arthur! Look!!" He turned, hands drifting slowly back to his sides. The door was open, but he felt no inclination at all to go through it. "That opened for a reason, Antonio." He said fearfully, wringing his hands in front of him "We're going to...t-to..."
"To what?"
"...It's fine...let's go." The two began to walk, weapons at the ready. There was only one door left for them to try, their fate inevitable. Arthur let his forehead rest against the cool wood, a solitary tear trickling down his face.
"_______?"
_______ looked up at the sound of Arthur's voice, skittering out of Gilbert's grasp and resting her head against the door. "A-Arthur? Is that you?"
"...Yes, poppet. Toni's here too."
"Don't come in."
"We have to."
"Run." _______ felt tears stream uncontrollably down her face, her voice cracking "Run, and get away from here now. Both of you." Gilbert watched as she spoke, intrigue in his eyes.
"Let them in." He said simply.
"No! I won't!"
"You will." ________ heard Arthur's voice again.
"_______...are you still there?"
"Y-Yes." She sobbed "Why aren't you leaving?"
"We're not going without you."
"Please...I don't want you to die."
"You can't do this...I refuse to leave you here. Gilbert will kill you!"
"He's going to do it to you."
"What?"
"If I let you in, he'll let me and Toni go free...we have to leave London, forget about this. About everything." Arthur was crying freely now, Antonio unsure how to interpret the situation. "_______..."
"Y-Yes?"
"Do you remember what I told you before we left today?"
"You said you'd love me whatever decision I made."
"And that is the truth. " Arthur sighed, resting his hand against the wall where he thought his lover's would be "I love you." He gulped. "I never knew I was capable of such a thing, but I am...and I'm truly, truly thankful for having you in my life. You've made me realise that I'm not alone, that I'm not a bad person. You...you see through the mask I wear, and you bring out the best in me. Honestly. I can't stand to see you waste away here, and although you'll tell me otherwise I'm not worth it." He sniffled, reaching for the handle. "Let me in. I'm not afraid to die."

"N-No...Arthur, No."
"I remember what you said to me before this happened."
"Once I thought you a criminal, thought you'd lost your mind...now I see you as a hero." _______ slid to her knees, almost completely unable to form a coherent sentence through her tears "My hero..."
"Then let me be your hero." Arthur's voice was gentle now, and he for once didn't care about how heavy his heart felt "Please. Do this one thing for me...________...my _______."
"I-I c-can't!"
"You will." All of a sudden ________ felt hands around her neck, the ghost-white digits curling around her throat cutting off her breathing for a moment. Gilbert peered through the crack in the double doors, smirking. "I see you've made your decision, Kirkland. Come in here now or the girl's gone." The German gave a satisfied smirk as he tossed the woman in his arms away from the door and opened it. Arthur stepped forwards bravely, tear-stained face stony as he watched the albino. "Before you kill me, I want answers." He said quietly, striding across the room and kneeling beside _______. The girl sobbed in his arms, clinging to him tightly "And I want to say goodbye."
"Fine. What do you want to know?"
"Why have you been playing this game with me? Leaving clues that don't mean anything, toying with our heads?"
"Because I want you to realise that I am the man who bested you, Kirkland."
"But why?"
"I've only ever wanted to be better than you. I've wanted the power for as long as I can remember...your brother was just as fickle as you."
"Allistair?"
"Yes. I threatened him, told him to give you the wrong information- He refused."
"Did you murder him?"
"No. Both of us are aware of the guilt that torments the Scotsman you called brother. He isn't sure whether to blame you or apologize to you."
"Ok. Can you tell him that I'll miss him? Even after all we've been through he's still family. Get him to tell my mother too."
"As you wish. Is there anything else you want to know before you kiss your lover goodbye?"
"...Yes, there is." Gilbert waited to hear what Arthur wanted, not at all expecting what he heard. Before he knew it the Englishman was across the room, lunging at him and pinning him to the unforgiving ground. "I want to know how you'd like to die."
The battle was a swift one, everything ending as soon as it began. _______ and Antonio watched in fright as the two landed blows on one-another, and when it ended they felt that familiar nervousness. It had been a whirling mass of gunshots and metal, and there was no denying the grunts of pain.

It was hard to tell which of the men the victor was, and they finally knew as Arthur staggered to his feet. Blood dripped from a gaping wound in his shoulder, and his eyes were hazy; but it was obvious that he'd won. Gilbert now lay limp across the room from them, eyes and mouth wide in silent surprise. The Englishman fell at their feet, clutching his wound, and Antonio and _______ helped remove him from the house as he began to whimper in pain.

It took a while for Arthur to recover, but soon enough he did (and with that brought a proposal to the young woman that she couldn't refuse). _______ made her decision, no doubt in her mind at long last. She realised that she never wanted to live without Arthur again, and it made her happy to know that Antonio wasn't overly disappointed at that fact. "How did you do it? Kill Gilbert, I mean" She asked her lover as the three of them sat together once more. Arthur merely kissed her on the lips, smirking into the kiss.
"A taste of poison~"