I own Rachel, Kisla, Anastasia, and Rifkele. No more.... if I decide to throw anyone else in, I'll say so. I use a lyric from "Affirmation" by Savage Garden in this chapter.
A/N: This is my first CoM fanfic, and my first fully thought out fic on top of that. If I use little snatches of songs (I have been known to do that), I'll have the song and artist up in my copyright.
Blood on the Rose
Part 1: Sandry's Book
By: punkgothicjackal
Chapter 1: Anastasia
"Rachel, give me your hand."
"Oh, please, Niko, no..."
"Rachel..."
"Please don't."
"Do you trust me?"
The girl paused. "Yes." She said finally. "More than anything."
~~~~~~
Anastasia awoke from the dream like she had every other night. Blank and... well, not quite awake. She looked out her window, guessing about the time. Figuring it was almost time to get up anyway, she threw on her bardic robes of deep violet and let out a sigh.
She splashed some water in her face from the basin at the foot of her bed and blinked the liquid out of her eyes. Glancing over at Kisla, who was asleep, she darted out of the room, intending on a light, early breakfast before her class. Anastasia was a student at the Bardic College, even though it couldn't really be considered a college due to it's taking anyone of any age who showed talent. And Anastasia was full of it.
Soon after the breakfast hall had become fully occupied, Anastasia began to hear her name being talked about around the hall.
"Did you hear? They're coming to get her." One girl said.
"Her? What for? She's nothing special."
"Apparently she is.... they say the man is talking about taking her somewhere called 'Winding Circle' or something like that."
"If you beleive simple trader tales, ladies." Anastasia hissed, having had enough. (The bards held themselves in higher regard than traders and merchants.)
Nothing else out of the ordinary happened until later, when Anastasia was getting ready for her ballet class. The professors who ran the school found her pulling her long, black hair into a bun, with some apparent difficulty.
"Miss Winters." One of the professors said, laying a bony hand on her shoulder. "Come with me."
"Am I in trouble?" Anastasia asked, looking from one woman to the other. But they ignored her and led her right outside the headmaster's office, where she sat, a pit in her stomach.
After what seemed like ages, a man stepped out of the office and looked her up and down. "What is your name, child?" He asked, watching her with his dark eyes.
"Anastasia." She replied, her own eyes narrowing at the thought of being called "child". Sure, she was the youngest member ever to attend the college, but that still gave him no right.
"Anastasia, have you ever been tested for magic?"
Anastasia blinked. "My parents found no need to." She looked at the man curiously. Why would he be asking such things?
"Is that so?" The man looked highly amused, and Anastasia almost asked him just what he thought was so funny and why he had interrupted her from her class. "Anastasia, I am taking you with me to the Winding Circle community, where both the headmaster and I feel your needs are better suited."
"What needs?" Anastasia cried. "What are you talking about? You're raving mad- I'll be going back to class now, where I rightfully belong." She put her hand on the doorknob and pulled, but it didn't move. "Just what are you playing at?" She demanded, her dark eyes flickering.
"Anastasia, the case is closed. Tomorrow we will leave, and you will be with me. Now it is recommended you go and pack your belongings. We have quite a ways to travel."
Anastasia turned to leave, but then found herself wondering. "Sir, what is your name?"
"Niklaren Goldeye."
Anastasia stormed off, hating the man more each minute. When she got back to her dorm she shared with Kisla, she collapsed on her bed, frustrated. Tonight, like every other night, would be the same, with dreams haunting her that were too realistic to be dreams, so there was no comfort in sleeping. But if she didn't sleep, visions would fill her mind, tormenting her with the future.
~~~~~
Rachel blinked at the bright sunlight that flooded her vision and laughed. "It's so beautiful, Niko." She sighed, holding the flower with tears streaming silently down her sickly pale face.
~~~~~
Anastasia was awoke from the odd dream by Kisla's muffled screams. "What in the heck are you doing?" She yawned, rubbing her eyes.
"You're leaving and you didn't tell me?" Kisla screamed, and Anastasia was taken aback.
"Excuse me?" She said, staring bewilderedly at her roommate. "You weren't here to tell."
"Oh Anni, don't leave me." Kisla sobbed, flinging her arms around the skinny girl. Anastasia patted the girl's back, still quite surprised. Her and Kisla had never been that close, so it surprised her that she was making such a big deal out of this.
"I don't have much choice." Anastasia replied, her tone bitter. "They're making me go."
"They can't do that... can they?" Kisla's emerald eyes were huge.
"Apparently so." Anastasia murmered.
"Anni," Kisla said after a few moments. "There's something I want you to have."
"What... Oh, don't do this, Kisla." Anastasia said as she saw Kisla shift through her bag and pull out a velvet pouch.
"Take them." Kisla said, and hand shaking, Anastasia grabbed the gold rope that held the bag closed.
"I will never forget you, Kisla. I promise." Anastasia hugged the girl she had shared a room with for years.
"And I you." Kisla said, hugging her.
****
Anastasia awoke the next morning and glared at the rising sun. Why did she have to be chosen to leave to college? There was a lot of people here who would show potential signs of magic if Niko had looked for them, she was sure of it. But no, he had to have her.
When it was time for her to leave, she got aboard the ship gracefully, showing every sign of being a true lady. She had learned it was always important to show one's status at troubling times, and she couldn't come up with any better classification of troubling. And bards were very high status.
Anastasia went into the small room that would be her's as soon as they set sail and sighed. It was even smaller than her half of the dorm. Already she found signs of being homesick.
She went back out on deck warily, not having her sea legs yet. She rested her elbows on the railing, sighing. It was so peaceful. She lost all her worries and contempt momentarily, only to be broken by a voice.
"The ocean's nice, isn't it?" Niko asked, startling her. She whipped around, and he smiled. Shyly, she smiled back.
"Yes." She said quietly. "It's so big... it almost makes one feel insignifigant."
"Not insignifigant, just small. One is never insignifigant." Anastasia found herself blushing. Turning to look at Niko, she said, "Can I ask you a question?"
"Can you?"
"May I ask a question?" Anastasia corrected herself, turning crimson.
"Certainly."
"How do you know I have magic?" Anastasia looked up at him, not quite sure he was going to answer.
After a long pause, he said, "Anastasia, I can see magic. For a while, I've watched the students perform, but your headmaster called me to watch you in particular. When you sing and play instruments especially, I notice you use magic. Your headmaster and I both agreed it would be better if you were moved to Winding Circle community where we can get you a teacher who specializes in your type of magic. If we don't find you a teacher, sooner or later, you won't be able to control your magic."
Anastasia didn't reply, but looked back out into the ocean. 'Me? Magic? There's no way... But maybe there is. After all, strange things always happen to me, like those dreams and visions... maybe Niko knows something about them?'
"Niko?"
"Yes?"
"I... I keep having these visions... at night when I'm sleeping. But the thing is, I have them during the day, too. I think they are of the future... What do you think?"
Niko stared at her, and she took a step backwards. "What kind of visions?" He asked, staring long and hard at her. She blinked.
"The ones I have when I sleep... I think they're of the past, because somehow I know they've already happened. The ones in the daytime are of the future, because I know they haven't happened yet."
Niko didn't say anything, his gaze on the ocean. After a while, he looked at Anastasia. "When we get to Winding Circle, I'm going to have to tell Dedicate Moonstream about this. I don't think there are any true seers at any of the nearby temples."
"You think I'm psychic?" Anastasia asked, unable to keep the amazement out of her voice. Psychics were extremely rare and earned a lot of money.
"There are no psychic mages at Winding Circle, so that leaves me to teach you." He said, paying her no heed.
"Teach me what?" She asked, this time a little louder.
"The basics." Niko replied shortly.
***Love it? Hate it? Please reveiw!!!!***
A/N: This is my first CoM fanfic, and my first fully thought out fic on top of that. If I use little snatches of songs (I have been known to do that), I'll have the song and artist up in my copyright.
Blood on the Rose
Part 1: Sandry's Book
By: punkgothicjackal
Chapter 1: Anastasia
"Rachel, give me your hand."
"Oh, please, Niko, no..."
"Rachel..."
"Please don't."
"Do you trust me?"
The girl paused. "Yes." She said finally. "More than anything."
~~~~~~
Anastasia awoke from the dream like she had every other night. Blank and... well, not quite awake. She looked out her window, guessing about the time. Figuring it was almost time to get up anyway, she threw on her bardic robes of deep violet and let out a sigh.
She splashed some water in her face from the basin at the foot of her bed and blinked the liquid out of her eyes. Glancing over at Kisla, who was asleep, she darted out of the room, intending on a light, early breakfast before her class. Anastasia was a student at the Bardic College, even though it couldn't really be considered a college due to it's taking anyone of any age who showed talent. And Anastasia was full of it.
Soon after the breakfast hall had become fully occupied, Anastasia began to hear her name being talked about around the hall.
"Did you hear? They're coming to get her." One girl said.
"Her? What for? She's nothing special."
"Apparently she is.... they say the man is talking about taking her somewhere called 'Winding Circle' or something like that."
"If you beleive simple trader tales, ladies." Anastasia hissed, having had enough. (The bards held themselves in higher regard than traders and merchants.)
Nothing else out of the ordinary happened until later, when Anastasia was getting ready for her ballet class. The professors who ran the school found her pulling her long, black hair into a bun, with some apparent difficulty.
"Miss Winters." One of the professors said, laying a bony hand on her shoulder. "Come with me."
"Am I in trouble?" Anastasia asked, looking from one woman to the other. But they ignored her and led her right outside the headmaster's office, where she sat, a pit in her stomach.
After what seemed like ages, a man stepped out of the office and looked her up and down. "What is your name, child?" He asked, watching her with his dark eyes.
"Anastasia." She replied, her own eyes narrowing at the thought of being called "child". Sure, she was the youngest member ever to attend the college, but that still gave him no right.
"Anastasia, have you ever been tested for magic?"
Anastasia blinked. "My parents found no need to." She looked at the man curiously. Why would he be asking such things?
"Is that so?" The man looked highly amused, and Anastasia almost asked him just what he thought was so funny and why he had interrupted her from her class. "Anastasia, I am taking you with me to the Winding Circle community, where both the headmaster and I feel your needs are better suited."
"What needs?" Anastasia cried. "What are you talking about? You're raving mad- I'll be going back to class now, where I rightfully belong." She put her hand on the doorknob and pulled, but it didn't move. "Just what are you playing at?" She demanded, her dark eyes flickering.
"Anastasia, the case is closed. Tomorrow we will leave, and you will be with me. Now it is recommended you go and pack your belongings. We have quite a ways to travel."
Anastasia turned to leave, but then found herself wondering. "Sir, what is your name?"
"Niklaren Goldeye."
Anastasia stormed off, hating the man more each minute. When she got back to her dorm she shared with Kisla, she collapsed on her bed, frustrated. Tonight, like every other night, would be the same, with dreams haunting her that were too realistic to be dreams, so there was no comfort in sleeping. But if she didn't sleep, visions would fill her mind, tormenting her with the future.
~~~~~
Rachel blinked at the bright sunlight that flooded her vision and laughed. "It's so beautiful, Niko." She sighed, holding the flower with tears streaming silently down her sickly pale face.
~~~~~
Anastasia was awoke from the odd dream by Kisla's muffled screams. "What in the heck are you doing?" She yawned, rubbing her eyes.
"You're leaving and you didn't tell me?" Kisla screamed, and Anastasia was taken aback.
"Excuse me?" She said, staring bewilderedly at her roommate. "You weren't here to tell."
"Oh Anni, don't leave me." Kisla sobbed, flinging her arms around the skinny girl. Anastasia patted the girl's back, still quite surprised. Her and Kisla had never been that close, so it surprised her that she was making such a big deal out of this.
"I don't have much choice." Anastasia replied, her tone bitter. "They're making me go."
"They can't do that... can they?" Kisla's emerald eyes were huge.
"Apparently so." Anastasia murmered.
"Anni," Kisla said after a few moments. "There's something I want you to have."
"What... Oh, don't do this, Kisla." Anastasia said as she saw Kisla shift through her bag and pull out a velvet pouch.
"Take them." Kisla said, and hand shaking, Anastasia grabbed the gold rope that held the bag closed.
"I will never forget you, Kisla. I promise." Anastasia hugged the girl she had shared a room with for years.
"And I you." Kisla said, hugging her.
****
Anastasia awoke the next morning and glared at the rising sun. Why did she have to be chosen to leave to college? There was a lot of people here who would show potential signs of magic if Niko had looked for them, she was sure of it. But no, he had to have her.
When it was time for her to leave, she got aboard the ship gracefully, showing every sign of being a true lady. She had learned it was always important to show one's status at troubling times, and she couldn't come up with any better classification of troubling. And bards were very high status.
Anastasia went into the small room that would be her's as soon as they set sail and sighed. It was even smaller than her half of the dorm. Already she found signs of being homesick.
She went back out on deck warily, not having her sea legs yet. She rested her elbows on the railing, sighing. It was so peaceful. She lost all her worries and contempt momentarily, only to be broken by a voice.
"The ocean's nice, isn't it?" Niko asked, startling her. She whipped around, and he smiled. Shyly, she smiled back.
"Yes." She said quietly. "It's so big... it almost makes one feel insignifigant."
"Not insignifigant, just small. One is never insignifigant." Anastasia found herself blushing. Turning to look at Niko, she said, "Can I ask you a question?"
"Can you?"
"May I ask a question?" Anastasia corrected herself, turning crimson.
"Certainly."
"How do you know I have magic?" Anastasia looked up at him, not quite sure he was going to answer.
After a long pause, he said, "Anastasia, I can see magic. For a while, I've watched the students perform, but your headmaster called me to watch you in particular. When you sing and play instruments especially, I notice you use magic. Your headmaster and I both agreed it would be better if you were moved to Winding Circle community where we can get you a teacher who specializes in your type of magic. If we don't find you a teacher, sooner or later, you won't be able to control your magic."
Anastasia didn't reply, but looked back out into the ocean. 'Me? Magic? There's no way... But maybe there is. After all, strange things always happen to me, like those dreams and visions... maybe Niko knows something about them?'
"Niko?"
"Yes?"
"I... I keep having these visions... at night when I'm sleeping. But the thing is, I have them during the day, too. I think they are of the future... What do you think?"
Niko stared at her, and she took a step backwards. "What kind of visions?" He asked, staring long and hard at her. She blinked.
"The ones I have when I sleep... I think they're of the past, because somehow I know they've already happened. The ones in the daytime are of the future, because I know they haven't happened yet."
Niko didn't say anything, his gaze on the ocean. After a while, he looked at Anastasia. "When we get to Winding Circle, I'm going to have to tell Dedicate Moonstream about this. I don't think there are any true seers at any of the nearby temples."
"You think I'm psychic?" Anastasia asked, unable to keep the amazement out of her voice. Psychics were extremely rare and earned a lot of money.
"There are no psychic mages at Winding Circle, so that leaves me to teach you." He said, paying her no heed.
"Teach me what?" She asked, this time a little louder.
"The basics." Niko replied shortly.
***Love it? Hate it? Please reveiw!!!!***