Beyond
Flora Winters
I do not own Final Fantasy VII.
Summary: Sometimes the dead simply do not stay dead. This story will contain boy love, strong language, and scenes of explicit violence.
Chapter One
Cloud had thought Wutai would be a peaceful place to retreat to, but, the dreams had followed him here as well. He pulled his black robe tight around him as he gazed out the window at the sand garden. This place made him feel safe and secure during the day, but during the night was a different story. He had hoped the priest's nightly chants would keep the spirits within at bay.
He had managed to clean up the mess he had made in the floor and locked himself up in the bath where he had cried himself sick again. The tears had flowed down his cheeks like raging rivers and he had feared his eyes would never dry. It upset him when he had looked in the mirror. His eyes were so clear and frightened. They never got red. He hadn't even looked like he had been crying at all. He had just looked like he had been running from monsters in the mist all night.
A sudden knock came at his door, causing him to turn around and look. Who in the world could that be at this early hour? Should he answer it? Hadn't he told management he wanted to be left alone?
He cocked a brow when a note was swiftly slipped under the door with a wisp. What the hell? He walked over, picked it up, and looked it over. It was a letter and it was addressed to him personally.
Mr. Strife,
Tonight is the Festival of the Full Moon. We know that you wanted some piece and quiet while you are staying with us, but, the festival can get quite noisy. It would be a real honor if you were to attend. We are sure you will have a wonderful time. There will be all kinds of vendors, selling food and many other wonderful items as well. People come from all over to have a good time.
Oh, and not to sound rude or anything, but, could you ever so kindly keep the nightly noise down? A few of our other distinguished guests have been complaining about odd noises and shouts during the late hours.
Thank you ever so much,
Management…
His nostrils flared in anger. Those other distinguished guests could kiss his ass! He was paying just like they were, if not more so for this private room. Plus, he had saved the whole fucking planet from being blown to smithereens by a psychotic bastard. He should be allowed to make all the fucking noise he wanted. It wasn't like he could control his dreams. He shredded the letter like an angry cat and threw the pieces over his shoulder where the fell like snow to the carpet.
Shit! He would have to clean that up later. He needed a fucking drink. Hell, he needed ten!
He got dressed in a rage and stopped to look at himself in the mirror. He was so pale and looked like he had lost weight, too. That only pissed him off even more.
Suddenly the image in the oval glass began to morph and he stumbled back with a muffled yelp. A wickedly handsome face, possessing emerald green eyes was looking out at him with terrifying malevolence. His hair shimmered all around his face like molten silver serpents.
"You really don't want to piss me off by keeping me waiting, Cloud," he grinned with devil red lips, showing just how sharp his white teeth really were. "I'll be stepping in for a howling good haunt when you close those pretty little eyes of yours."
Cloud punched the glass with his gloved fist.
Sephiroth grinned with shattered brilliance. "Stay in the light…"
Cloud was suddenly looking at his own frightened face in the wrecked mirror. Glass fell in shimmering sparkles to the floor. He could hear the insane laughter echoing all around him.
"You're not real!" He shouted, backing away from the mirror. "You're fucking dead!"
He spun around, kicking the mirror with all his might. His foot went right through the wall, making someone in the next room scream in fright. He heard a soft thud. They must have passed out.
He was breathing really hard as he pulled his foot free. Shit! He was going to have to pay for this, too.
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The ghosts were in the fog. They were dancing like sensual shadows made of mist and silver moonlight. Their movements were haunting, their costumes mysterious, and their voices were magical.
Flames were burning with amber light and the smell of incense was in the air. You could see it as it slithered through the air like serpents. Drums were beating and children were running around, laughing as they gathered up candy.
"Try your luck!" A vendor shouted, ringing a gong. "Step right up and throw the ball!"
Cloud passed him by. He would have broken the man's stall if he had tried his luck. In fact, he had to keep his feet moving. He had wanted to break something, but fought against the dark urge to do so.
Suddenly, all was silent. Cloud blinked. Everything was frozen at a standstill all around him. The flames were no longer moving, and fallen cherry blossoms were frozen in the air. Children were frozen in motion and the dancers were frozen in the air where they had leaped.
"Hero," a misty voice called to him on a jasmine scented breeze. It was so warm and so soothing on his chilled flesh.
Blue eyes turned to see a young man of mythological beauty walking towards him with the grace of a dancing god on a lake of ice. The silver mist wisped around his feet as wings of shimmering red silk billowed around his luminous white flesh. He was tall and lithe.
His skin was as pale as a moth and more luminous than a pearl. He had long, dark hair that had more coils than a nest of hissing black snakes. It seemed to billow around his gorgeous face like fiery black smoke from a smoking volcano.
It was his eyes that really pulled Cloud in. They were the color of amethyst gemstones and they shimmered like molten starlight.
"So lonely," the man smiled sadly with moon white teeth that were straight and perfect behind sensual full lips that were redder than any rose. "There is such a sad song which beats within your bruised and battered heart."
Cloud took a small step back from the stunning image of masculine beauty. It felt like the beautiful creature was stripping him down to his naked soul with those penetrating eyes.
"So many ghosts stand around you," he said, reaching out with a flawless white hand. His arms were draped in silk that looked like a spider itself had weaved its eternally flowing beauty. The man looked as if he were actually touching one of the ghosts. It really unnerved Cloud. Those radiant violet eyes burned him with such brilliant splendor.
Cloud wanted to tell him to fuck the hell off, but his tongue was twisted in his mouth. He couldn't move his lips. His mouth was silenced. It was like he was under some powerful enchantment. He couldn't speak. He couldn't make a sound in this man's presence. He couldn't even move his feet.
"Take this," the violet eyed vision said, holding out a shimmering red charm. It was in the shape of what half a heart would look like if it a whole was cut in two. It looked to be made of some glittering, glowing crystal. It was dangling on a flawless golden chain.
He stepped up to Cloud and he smelled like some wondrous paradise. He slipped the beautiful jewel around his neck, kissing his cheek with such warm lips. They were softer than any flower petal.
"It will protect you from that which haunts you," he said, stepping gracefully away. "And it will help cleanse and ease such sorrow…"
Cloud could feel the warmth pulsing against his chest like a twin heartbeat.
"Who are you?" Cloud managed to ask as he held the jewel in his gloved palm, feeling the warmth even through the dark leather.
"I'm a friend," he said, cocking his head to the side, gracing him with a glorious smile. "Who just so happened to be passing by."
Cloud must have looked as confused as he felt. He had no idea who this guy was. What was this power? It was as if the whole world was frozen around him. What was this man?
"I'll see you again, Cloud," the mythic beauty said, turning in a shimmering hiss of eternally flowing red silk. "And when I do, there will be such a happy smile on your handsome face…"
Blue eyes blinked and the vision in red was gone. It was like he had never been there at all. He could hear the drums and the cheering once more. The moon above his head was so big and full.
He looked at the half-hearted, twinkling charm that was in his palm. He put his other hand to his cheek and felt himself blushing. A beautiful man had kissed him. There was such warmth in his heart. It had not been there before. It had not been his imagination. This charm was his proof that the man had not been a figment. He tucked it away under his vest and went in search of something to eat. He was starving. When the hell had this happened? He actually had his apatite back.
"…Cloud…"
He spun around.
There was only the mist and dancing shadows within.
He put his hand over where the charm was and he could feel the warmth. It was pulsing against his cool flesh that was slowly beginning to warm.
TBC…
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Thank you all so much for your reviews.
Flora.