A/N: OHAI. Wow. Lookie. I'm alive. (Which is more than I can say for Ragnarok itself... :c ) Erm. Anyways. Yeah. This chapter has been sitting in my hardrive for like a year now. Figured I might as well upload it...
I'd love some C&C if anyone still reads this stuff. xD Or just something to let me know I'm not typing to an empty internet... o_O
"Y-You!" Ninya's eyes widened as she stumbled backwards, tripping over the lid of the crate that she was supposed to be delivering. Instinctively, she put her hands out to break her fall, causing the cut in her dress to fall open again, her skirts flying as she fell.
Oh, heck.
The priestess inched backwards, a few whimpers escaping her. What on earth had she done to deserve this? She quickly flattened her skirt out again, covering herself back up with her hands, looking at the stalker as if he were a bomb—she wanted, needed, to get away. But on the other hand, if she moved she feared that she might trigger the explosion. So Ninya simply sat there, still and stiff as one of the statues that could be found in Juno's library.
The man looked at her, an eyebrow raised, but he didn't move forward. He was just standing there, looking at her. Not even in a 'bad' way, either. He was just… looking, trying to figure out what she was doing, and why.
"What the-?" The stalker crossed his arms, a cross between a smirk and a look of disbelief on his face. "What the hell are you doing, priestess?"
"D-don't play dumb!" Ninya half shrieked, half sobbed, glaring daggers at the man. "Like I'm really going to believe that you forgot what you did? What you tried to do? You're no better than them!" She jabbed a shaking finger in the direction of the three unconscious men, her voice rising a few octaves with every word she threw at them man, finally splintering with the last word.
The man called Vaider hadn't moved at all. He was still standing there, his arms crossed in the same way, and the same irritating, mocking smirk plastered on his face.
"Say something!" Ninya screeched, obvious tear-streaks covering her cheeks, her eyes and face red.
"Like what?" The stalker looked at her, bringing his arms back to his side and taking a small step forward. "Like I remember, like I know what the hell you're talking about?" He looked down at her, his piercing golden eyes meeting her swollen emerald ones as a small frown crossed his features. "Sorry to say, girl, but I honestly have no clue."
Ninya could feel herself shaking, but she met his gaze all the same, "You're… you're such a liar."
The man took another step forward, causing the priestess to shudder involuntarily. He was less than a foot away from her now, something that she knew had happened before. The difference now, though? She couldn't smell any liquor, and his hands stayed on his knees and he knelt down in front of her.
"What are you doing?" Vaider scoffed, his brow partially furrowed. He was watching Ninya's eyes as they constantly, nervously flickered from the man's face to the man's hands.
"Calm down, okay? Look," He held his hands up in position of surrender, causing the priestess to flinch at his movement, "I'm not going to hurt you, okay? How about you just get up?" He rose, backing away a few feet, "You seriously look like a mess."
Even thought her panic, Ninya could feel her face redden slightly as she stiffened, looking away. Well was it her fault that those creeps had just tried to attack her? She didn't think so. But then again—she chanced a glance at Vaider, who caught her eye and smirked—that was the key word: tried. She still wasn't sure that the man was telling the truth, if she could trust him, but he had saved her… this time. Ninya got to her feet, her arms wrapped guardedly around herself.
"Fine," she muttered, forcing herself to look at him. "Thank you very much for your help, Mr. Vaider. If you'll excuse me I have a…" Her gaze wandered in defeat to the broken crate, "…a delivery to finish…"
Ninya walked over to the box, looking sadly down at the many shattered bottles and the multi-colored liquids. Sighing, she bent down and placed the lid back on the crate, picking it up. Might as well deliver what was left… How much money had she caused the Shop to lose? Oh boy, was she in for it now…
"Hey, wait!"
Ninya turned from a few feet away, a dull gaze landing on the stalker. "Yes?"
"So, what? You just gonna leave me here or something?" He frowned, looking at her.
"Well," Ninya said, a straining to keep a smile, though the tone of her voice clearly gave her away, "I don't see any more reason for you to keep me company; nor vice-versa. I have to finish what I started, Mr. Vaider, and I'm sure you have some business to attend to as well." She turned again, starting to walk towards the Tool Shop.
"Damn it!"
She could hear the stalker jogging to catch up. He wasn't exactly as silent as what would be expected from someone who supposedly made their living though, well, stalking—though he was doing a very good job of harassing her so far.
This time she didn't stop, didn't turn around. Ninya just kept walked towards the tool shop. Only about forty feet more, then she could get rid of him…. She bit her lip, trying to talk herself out of simply throwing the rest of her delivery straight at the man's obnoxiously spiky head.
"Mr. Vaider," she half-shouted, exasperated, "Please! I have to finish this. I was expected back at the Church before dusk! I'm running very la—" Ninya froze as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned, her heart skipping a good number of beats, seeing the stalker just inches away from her. "M-Mr. Vai—"
"Would you please stop calling me that?" He glared, "Just Vaider, okay? Sheesh. And look," he took his hand off her shoulder, his voice quieting, "What in Baldr's name were you talking about back there? What do you mean 'I'm no better than them'? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Ninya looked at him reproachfully, watching his expression. She was looking for that smirk, that grin that she had already come to expect. It didn't show. Wait. He was… serious? Did he really not remember? The priestess frowned slightly. She had heard of blackouts before, but seriously? She took a small step backward, out of perspective this time rather than fear. Her gaze was unwavering. He had seemed pretty together when she had met him in the alleyway. Sure, it was obvious he was drunk, but he had stood steadily, and he had spoken more or less coherently. Should she be scared? Insulted, even? The guy had molested her, after all, and here he was claiming no remembrance.
"You're serious, aren't you." It was a statement, not a question. Ninya half glared, half gawked at him, "You don't remember me? You don't even remember what you did? It was two weeks ago, in Morroc."
Vaider rose and eyebrow, shaking his head.
"Near the pub."
Another shake of the head.
She could feel herself shaking again. This time, however, it wasn't because of fright, but anger. He didn't remember? How could he not remember? She knew that this was the same man! Those eyes—like she could forget them. Focused or not, she knew they were the same eyes; a bright, beautiful gold, but frightening at the same time, something unknown lurking just beneath their metallic surface. Did he have any idea how scared she had been? How panicked? She still wasn't sleeping properly! It was a good thing she was carrying this crate, otherwise Ninya would have slapped him silly by now.
"Hey, are you oka—" Vaider reached a hand out, a perfect mimic of that same awkward gesture that she had seen just nights ago.
"Don't touch me!" Ninya shrieked, shoving the stalker backwards with the crate she was holding. Again, her face was flushed, her breathing heavy, and her heartbeat increasing in response to the rage she felt building up inside of her.
She didn't know she could feel this furious. Especially at someone that she had only just met! Normally, Ninya Cruze was a calm, level-headed girl. But not now. This was just too much.
Vaider, caught off-guard by the girl's sudden hostility, stumbled backwards for a second, his eyes wide. He caught himself quickly and straightened up but did nothing else. He simply stood there, staring at the fuming priestess.
"Do you remember?" She glared, her voice cold.
Slowly, the man nodded, his expression unreadable as he backed away slowly like a shadow threatened with a torch.
Ninya watched him, her expression and voice slowly softening as the haze of fury began to subside. "Wait" She muttered, " Mr.— I mean, Vaider—" She set the box down quickly, "I didn't mean—well, I mean, you did save me from those guys after all, and— Wait!"
It was pointless, though. He didn't wait. The stalker had disappeared in a blur, quickly and silently, and just as suddenly as he had appeared, leaving Ninya alone with nothing but the crate and its broken contents for company in the middle of the Albertan streets.
Looking back, it hadn't been as bad as she had thought it would be. The man behind the counter had been very forgiving. Of course, the fact that Ninya's eyes were still slightly red, her face was still stained from the tears, there was a nice red cut on her cheek, and that there was a poorly hidden hole in her dress's top may have had something to do with it, but he hadn't demanded she pay him back. He hadn't even yelled at her. It was obvious just looking at the girl that she had just gone through something unpleasant, even if he didn't know what it was.
She had returned to the Church through a Warp Portal, sneaking up to the second floor before anyone had gotten a chance to corner her and bombard her with questions. The next morning after a shower, change of clothes, and healing the cut on her face and bruises on her wrists and legs, she had assured her Sisters that she was fine.
It had taken a bit of protesting, light arguing, and a lot of patience on either partys' part, but finally Ninya had managed to convince the Church that there was 'no harm done, honestly!' Which, was actually true more or less.
She had gotten a few now healed bruises and scrapes but otherwise the priestess's physical state was pretty good. Not only that, but she had actually been able to fall asleep for the past few nights. She didn't know why, but for some reason she hadn't been as scarring this time. Then again, the reality of something like that happening to her—to anyone—twice in less than a month probably hadn't quite sunk in yet. Or maybe she had somehow managed to disconnect herself somehow. Either way, Ninya still couldn't figure it out. And honestly, she couldn't be bothered to.
True to her promise to herself Ninya had not set foot beyond her Church's Holy Grounds after the sky had darkened. Maybe it was caution. Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was just pure cowardice, but the fact remained that Ninya Cruze hadn't stepped out into the night for nearly a week.
It was beginning to interfere with her work.
Before, Ninya had busied herself with cleaning. The Sanctuary, was, after all a very big place. It had furniture to be dusted, rooms to be cleaned, storage to be sorted and inventoried, and even gravestones to be polished and weeded. But even the Church only had so much to do—and Ninya had done it all.
At first they thought Ninya was simply taking an extra interest in the church's upkeep, and for that they were grateful. It way only after the seventh day when Mother Faust caught Ninya polishing a brand new shipment of rosaries that she began to worry.
"Ninya, dear…" The elderly woman approached her, her voice and expression gentle, "Ninya, we just got those in two days ago. I don't think they need to be cleaned, dear."
The younger priestess jumped, abruptly yanked out of her obsessive trace, attempting to rid the silver cross in her hand of an invisible tarnish. She turned around, the motion causing the candle light to flicker and the shadows to dance on the wall. "Oh! Mother Faust. Ah, I'm sorry. You uh—startled me."
She nodded apologetically, "Yes, I'm sorry dear, but you seem tired." She looked Ninya over, the young priestess's dark circles under her eyes appearing even more pronounced in the current lighting. "Have you been sleeping well?"
"Yes, yes." Ninya muttered, unconsciously twisting the stained cloth in her hands, "I suppose I'm just a little stressed."
"Stressed?" Faust looked down at her, candlelight dancing in her eyes, "How so, dear?'
"Um—" Ninya froze for a moment, "The um, Assassin's Guild," she improvised, hoping that she sounded believable, "It's uh, just that I haven't heard from Father Bamph lately and I was wondering if everything way going okay with them."
The elder smiled, apparently seeing no hint of a reason to question the girl's words. "No need to worry, dear. I'm sure everything is just fine. These things take time, you know. Please don't get yourself too worked up over it, alright? I'll make sure that he contacts you as soon as he needs you."
"R-right…" Ninya said, smiling, "Thank you."
Mother Faust nodded, "Absolutely, dear. Why don't you head upstairs? It's late; you need to get some sleep. I'll put these away." She nodded to the small crate of rosaries.
"Oh, okay." Ninya stood up and dropped the one she was holding into the box, unaware of the imprint she had given herself from clutching the cross so tightly. "Thank you."
"Not at all, Ninya. Good night."
"Ninya?"
She looked over her shoulder at the sound of a familiar voice calling her name. "Oh, hello, Father Bamph."
He smiled and "Mother Faust spoke to me earlier this morning."
"Oh," Ninya blinked for a moment, "I didn't mean for her to—I mean, she didn't—"
The priest nodded, "Yes, yes, I know. But she was worried, Ninya, and so am I." He smiled, his mustache and lips curling upwards, "But be assured that things are going quite well. In fact it just so happened that the Assassin guild contacted us late last night. They requested a representative of the Church to meet a few of their higher-ups and answer questions. Namely you, Ninya."
The priestess blinked, taken aback. "Why me?"
Father Bamph gave the slightest hint of a shrug, "I suppose it's a matter of trust; you're the only one who they've had any measure of face-to-face contact with. You must have made a good impression on them, Ninya." He smiled, "An assassin's trust is not an easy thing to gain."
She nodded hesitantly, "Y-yes… All right, I'll do it."
Father Bamph's smile broke out into a full-on grin. "Excellent! I believe your travel partner will meet you in the middle of Morroc. The letter specified that you be there at exactly five o'clock."
"F-five…?" Ninya echoed, "You mean in the evening? At night?"
Bamph nodded, "Yes… is there a problem, Ninya?" His voice held no trace of vexation; it was a mere inquiry, curious as to why the young girl seemed to object.
The priestess frowned slightly, biting back her desire to protest. "N-no, there's not. I'll be happy to meet them."
After all, if one of the members of the Assassin Guild is going to guide me, I'll be okay, right…?
Father Bamph nodded, but still looked somewhat doubtful, "Okay, Ninya. I think you'll be spending the night with the Guild, perhaps two, so please pack accordingly!"
She had finished packing with half an hour to spare. With her knapsack carrying only a small dinner, one extra set of clothes and undergarments, a nightgown, some potions, a good number of gems, and, of course a Bible, it was a fairly light load. And hopefully sufficient. Ninya didn't plan on being away for more than two nights, max. And that included the time it would take to go from Morroc to wherever the Assassins' Guild was located. With about twenty minutes left, Ninya then double, triple, and quadruple-checked her possessions. She was not exactly keen on the idea of spending any amount of time outside once the sun had gone down—especially not in Morroc.
Finally, no longer able to convince herself that she had 'misplaced' or 'forgotten' something or other, Ninya headed downstairs, her traveling cloak wrapped around her. Quickly, she bode farewell to Father Bamph, said a silent prayer at the Church's doors, and opened a Warp Portal on the cobblestone walk. When she opened her eyes again the solid stone had turned to packed-in dirt and sand. She was once again standing in Morroc.
