Mal-Kirio's Mark
A couple of weeks have passed since the movie incident and things sort of feel as though they're in a rut…no surprise tests, no incidents of any kind…no nothing. Just regular classes and normal lunches and I'm starting to think I'm not the only one who thinks that. Looking around the room I find Kim Balancing a pencil on her nose, Amber is fixing her make up for the third time and the twins look as though their both about to fall asleep. You know something's really boring when Armin can't even play his game. Our beastiary class teacher Miss Holiday is using a pointer while pointing of a diagram on the overboard. I'm finding it hard myself to pay attention, and I look out the window at the passing clouds. Oh what I wouldn't give to just have one exciting thing happen right now…
The bell rings letting us go to lunch and everyone starts to gather their things,
"Oh wait a minute i miei figli (My children)," She has a thick Italian accent and sometimes switches between two English and Italian. "You all have next week off from school starting Monday-" everyone starts cheering and shouting at the news. Miss Holday claps her hands above her head, "Zittire, zittire! (Silence)" everyone stands still some frozen in cheerful poses and what not. "Now you may have the week off but during this week you shall be working a project with your partner. This project will consist with you preserving a sample you retrieve from a beast that you must find and defeat." Of course there's a catch… "It does not matter where you go to take on this beast but you must find and get the sample before the start of class when school reconvenes. Godere i miei student(Enjoy my students)!" with that we're released for lunch.
"Sooo it's like an independent study?" I ask Kim as we head for the cafeteria.
"Yeah I guess you could call it that…but I guess it's just another way for them to test our power."
"They focus way too much on that…"
"Well…it could be because of the rumors that have been floating around lately." I turn to look at her profile.
"I haven't heard any in particular but they all seem to be centered on Kirio." I can't help but let out a gasp at the name.
"Y-you…you don't mean MAL- Kirio do you?"
"They're just rumors but yeah that one…I haven't heard anything specific. But you know he's the one that caused the World Wide Calamity right?"
"That's pretty much common knowledge…a bout a hundred years ago a rift opening into a dark world was opened up letting loose the monsters in our world today, the Lazu-Lai."
"Yeah…apparently there have been some strange things happening lately, their small but still. I bet we're getting the week off so they can look into the rumors."
"Hang on though…I thought he was sealed back into that world when the rift was closed back up again?"
"That's correct." Our attention goes to a blonde haired boy, Nathaniel or Nathan the known bookworm in the school, "it was about ten years after the Calamity; he was sealed away by a group of sages that some how were from that world as well but fought to save our world. Apparently they still remain asleep forever keeping the seal on the rift from opening again to this day. No one knows where they are though."
"And the bookworm gives his knowledge of the day…" Kim quips laughing at him.
"Hey Nathan." I wave at him.
"So you guys heard about the rumors too huh?"
"I did. But I don't think Fae has." I shake my head no confirming what she said.
"Actually one of the rumors is that some people have gone missing."
"Gone missing…like they were kidnaped?" I ask.
"No more along the lines of that they vanished. No one ever seems to know what happened to them and when some of them come back they act as if nothing happened."
"But how?"
"They think there's a connection to Kirio. It's been confirmed that these people are who disappear come back with a mark. A red X with an infinity sign in the middle." The description of the mark makes me tense, T-that can't be…! "They think it's his mark…Mal- Kirio's mark." I look down at the floor hoping to hide my paling face.
"Mark of Mal-Kirio…that's not good." Kim says.
"It's said that these people have become his servants…he somehow curses them by placing that mark on them." Nathan's words only make me secretly shiver. The air becomes really heavy as it remains silent. My throat is completely dry as if all the moisture from my body has been taken from me. I try swallowing to moisten it but it doesn't work.
"Hey dragon boy you giving them a lesson or are you trying to scare them." a threatening tone comes from down the hall and I see Castiel with Lysander by his side. He sighs as he picks up his pace,
"I'll see you later Castiel…try not to get in trouble." Castiel stops by our small group arms folded as he glares at Nathan.
"Dragon boy?" I whisper to Kim.
"Nate's a Dragon Born."
"But isn't Amber a mage?"
"Mom: Dragon Born; Dad: Mage."
"Oh…"
The two boys stare at each other eyes narrowing…and changing. Both of their eyes change into cat like eyes but Castiels start to glow red and Nathan's change color almost to a white hot blue like a flame. The sparks between these two are practically visible like the air between them could ignite at any moment.
"Last time I checked you weren't part of this conversation."
"Well I'm making myself apart of it. They're just rumors, gossip that people like to start up."
"And how would you know that?"
"He's been gone for years you idiot; how would anyone know for sure if he was back?"
"Well…you would know if Kirio was doing something…wouldn't you Castiel?" That seems to strike a nerve in Castiel as markings appear under his eyes, the white of his eyes changes black and his canines suddenly sharpen. He steps forward reaching out for Nathan; reflexively I step in between in between them facing Castiel. My hands gently collide with his chest as I stop him he looks down at me. The markings start to disappear and his eyes start to return to normal along with the rest of him. In a huff he grabs my wrist and starts to walk off dragging me behind him. Leading me along I nearly trip a few times behind him due to his long stride but it seems to be more that he's trying to run from Nathan or rather his words. We head up a few flights of stairs before he continues to drag me along behind him.
"Castiel…! Slow down would you? You're going to make me twist and ankle!" he ignores me still walking along. Sigh…by the time this is all over lunch will have been done and over with…
…
By the time he's done dragging me all over the school Castiel has for some strange reason led me out of school and into town. Tried telling him but he still seemed to be out of it. I ended up having to phone the principal and tell her that I wasn't feeling good and that Castiel was helping me get home. Although I think it's the other way around at the moment the only thing is, is that I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING! He seems to be lost in thought so I'm not too sure if I'll be able to get ahold of him…he seems so far away… Nathan seemed to have really struck a nerve with what he said before Castiel snapped. I'm not sure what it is but I need to tell him…that Mark that Nathan had described…
I take a deep breath and open my mouth but nothing comes out. Instead I pull out my cell phone and start texting him,
Hey space case, can you come back to earth now? :) I try to make it seem like I'm joking with him. A few seconds later his phone beeps and miraculously gets his attention. He stops walking and turns to me a small smile on his face,
"Who's the space case you're talking about?"
"You know exactly who…"
"Yeah sorry…" ok not the reaction I was expecting. "Look…about me losing it back there…"
"Don't worry about it…but why would it bother you so much?" his shoulders twitch slightly causing me to bite my lip. "You hardly ever let anything anyone says about you bother you so…"
"Later…" is all I'm able to get out of him for the time being so I drop it for the moment. I can always ask him later…right now I need to tell him about that mark. "you hear about the week we get off of school?" he tries to change the subject.
"Yeah…" but how do I even tell him?
"It'll be a pain that we have to track down that monster but at least we can relax for most of the time right?"
"…Yeah." But that face he made when Nathan said something will he do the same?
*Flick* "Ow!" Castiel looks at me suspicious about something, "What was that for?"
"Who's the space case now?" I don't fight back this time as I look away from him. "Hey…what's up with you?"
"You have to promise you won't get mad…like you did at school."
"Why would I get mad?"
"Just promise you won't." suddenly there's a loud rumble that interrupts the seriousness of the conversation. My cheeks feel hot. My stomach has the worst timing…
"Damn it…your stomach has the worst timing you know that?"
"Well I haven't eaten anything since someone dragged me out of school during lunch." I quip. "and not to mention I covered for that certain someone at school since he made me skip with him and that someone owes me food."
"hmpf…you trying to blackmail me? Heh fine I'll get you something, c'mon." we head to a café and some food before walking around again. Somehow we end up back in the public garden that I had waited for him at. No one is around so I try to work up the courage again to tell him about the mark but he beats me to it. "So what was it you wanted to talk about?" he sits on a bench and waits for me to start talking. I take a seat next to him and start,
"I think what Nathan said about the mark was true."
"Not this…Fae I told you it's just a rumor…stop spazzing."
"But I've SEEN it." his eyes widen as he looks at me stunned. He rubs a temple before standing up. He paces back and forth for a moment before standing still. He turns facing me with a serious expression on his face.
"This isn't the place to talk about this…c'mon." I stand following him heading back to his home. The second we enter he closes and locks the door. He remains there with his back turned to me, "What happened? Where do you think you-"
"I don't think Castiel…I know I saw it."
"Fae, you know who Kirio is; what he did to our world. If there's even the slightest doubt that you think you saw wrong-"
"I didn't! I know what I saw!" he turns looking me in the eye. "I wish I hadn't but I did." I start hugging myself rubbing my arms; Castiel silently walks closer to me before pulling me into his chest holding my head gently as if trying to protect me. "I didn't think anything of it at the time…I thought it was just some gang trying to mug me or something…" my tensed up muscles start to relax as he silently listens to my words.
"What happened Fae?"
"It happened back when I was out of the country…still living with my Aunt. It was just before I had made the final preparations to move back." The images start to replay in my mind as I remember, "I was walking home from school finishing up some paper work. I started hearing a voice behind me so I stopped for a second to check what was there. But I didn't see anything so I kept walking. As soon as I started walking I started hearing the voice again along with footsteps; I could tell right off they were following me. Soon it wasn't just behind me it was all around me. I tried to out run it but it only seemed to close in on me. soon people started surrounding me on all sides only giving me a pathway into an ally way. They backed me into it forcing me into a corner like a mouse. As the came closer to me I tried to fight them off; some of them I froze to death others were blown away but they still kept advancing. The eventually got a hold of me and started dragging me off somewhere in the allies. When I looked in front of me a couple of them was opening a black hole of some sort. There were weird symbols drifting out from the hole and the air suddenly became very thick; it almost felt like I couldn't breathe. I knew that if I let them take me in there I most likely wouldn't have come back. In last ditch effort I used every thing I had in order to freeze them all and it seemed to work. The hole closed and the all looked to be frozen solid. I remember before I picked myself up one of the guys that was dragging me along; although he was ice I saw the mark on his neck. When I wiped the frost away it was a red X with an infinity sign in the center...the same that Nathan described. I didn't think anything about it so I left; I haven't thought about it since." Castiel remains quiet for a long while still holding onto me. After what seems like an eternity he lets go of me and skulks over to the couch with heavy footsteps and sits. He runs a hand through his locks remaining uncharacteristically quiet. The look in his eyes from his profile seems familiar; it's the same distant look and cold eyes I saw when I first met him again. Something about this seems to be stirring up something in him. It's like he' wanting all this to stay quiet but what is it he's hiding. Does it have anything to do with what Nathan brought up? "Maybe I should tell the principal about this…"
"No."
"But-"
"It was just one group…that doesn't mean anything. for all we know it could have just been a coincidence with the mark." His tone is sharp and dark, not anything I'm used to with the Castiel I know. Something is definitely bothering him.
"Castiel what's wrong…?"I walk over and sit next to him placing a hand on his shoulder, "Ever since this whole Mark of Kirio thing with Nathan…you've been different. And just a moment ago you looked like you were remembering something. you were pretending to have fun earlier; what Nathan said seem to really get to you. You don't have to pretend…I think I told you this before but you can be yourself around me…nothing you say or do is going to make me change what or how I see you Castiel." My hand on his shoulder moves to his hand on his knee. I know I love him…but this isn't about that right now. Something is seriously bothering him; I need to let him know that I'm here for him. Some one that he can count on like he does Lysander…please Castiel…please see that. He remains motionless for a bit before moving his hand from under mine and stands his back turned to me.
"Listen…I get you're trying to help and I appreciate it. However it's not something worth bringing up; the past is the past…you can't change it."
"But-"
"Second, what happens between me and that book worm is none of your business so butt out." Castiel…
"W-why are you pushing me away…you don't have to act strong if something is bothering you Castiel. Please tell me…what did Nathan mean by what he said to you? What have you been thinking about Castiel? Please Castiel don't shut me out." In a flash Castiel turns and pushes me down on the sofa pinning down my arms. He glares down at me eyes glowing red.
"I said DROP IT. What part of that don't you get? Stop being a pest and leave it alone!" he seems so unfamiliar to me I don't know what to say. The doorbell suddenly rings making us both look at the door.
"Hey Castiel you in there?" Lysander tries to turn the doorknob but, "What gives…he hardly ever locks the door. Hey, you in there?" he knocks on the door. Castiel seems to be in a daze almost confused as to what to do but at the moment I don't really care. There was no reason for him to say it like that…
" …off…" I murmur
"Huh?" with all my might I push him off me
"I said get off…!"
"Whoa…!" I gather my purse before stomping to the door and unlocking it. "Hey h-hold on a second." The door swings open as I let Lysander in.
"Fae what are you doing here?"
"Nothing…just leaving." I pass by him heading down the hallway.
"Fae wait a second!" Castiel yanks on my arm but instead of listening to him,
"Get off you jerk!" my outburst makes him go quiet, "You've never…done that before. I don't know what to think right now; so could you just let me go so I can clear my head and think…" his grip tightens for a second before he lets go, "I'm not mad…"
"Then what are you…"
"Confused." I say sternly before I leave.
…
The next day I scramble around in the morning finishing homework that I had no choice but to leave behind yesterday. Bringing my lunch today I have to spend it finishing up homework for my afternoon classes. The library seems to be the only quiet place so I sit down and start on it. It takes me the most of the lunch period to finish it all and I'm left ten minutes to scarf my lunch down. as I take the last bite of mac and cheese a shadow looms over me and I look up to see Lysander. Well this is awkward… quickly I chew the mouthful and swallow.
"Can I talk to you?"
"Look if it's about what you saw yesterday I'm sorry you had to-"
"I'm not mad about."
"Then…"
"I need to talk to you about Castiel."
"I'm having a strange sense of déjà vu…" I say remembering the phone conversation but he doesn't seem to smile at the thought.
"It's about what you two were talking about yesterday." Realizing he means business I get up and head out with him. We end up one the roof of the school so we won't be bothered. He waits a moment thinking about his words for a moment before speaking, "Castiel told me what happened yesterday but from your point of view what happened to him?" I go through the events in general explaining from what happened with Nathan to his arrival. "I see…well I can see why he would act the way he did if that's what happened."
"I'm not mad at him really I'm not…but he's never shut me out before like that. He and I always tell each other everything. But yesterday…"
"When you knew him as a child he may have been like that but now… I'm afraid that's far from the case…at least concerning his past."
"What happened to him Lysander…after I left? why is it that he doesn't want to talk about it?" Lysander seems to grimace somewhat as he picks his words,
"Castiel…is rather complicated to understand now when it comes to his past. I'm afraid I can't just tell you about it; even though you are is friend, the closest one in fact."
"Why?"
"it's not my story to tell for one thing and more importantly I don't think he would like me just rambling on about his personal business." True…
"Fae, I don't think it's that he didn't want to tell you…I think it was more that he was afraid to tell you."
"Afraid?"
"As I said his past is really complicated but at the same time it's very dark, darker than you could imagine and it's linked to Mal-Kirio."
"What?! What do you mean? H-how"
"I'm afraid that all I can say at the moment; any more and I would most likely be overstepping my boundaries." I let the information sink in stunned by the connection. "He's got many scars Fae…more mentally than physically. Although I guess that's now become obvious…"
"I shouldn't have pushed him so hard to tell me…"
"It wasn't your fault you didn't know. Fae I'm not just telling you this so you know I have a favor to ask you." He calmly looks me in the eye not allowing me to look away. "You much closer to Castiel than I ever was more than what you think." He holds up his free hand that isn't holding his notebook and a mystical aura enshrouds it, "my abilities allow me to do many things that involve the mind one such thing is being able to see their mental state." He lowers his hand, "when I first met Castiel his mind was dark and wounded most of those wounds healed with time but the scars still remained. But more so there was always the threat that he could lose his sanity at any moment…I sometimes find myself wondering how he was able to pull that off. But that threat has vanished and some of the scars on his psyche have disappeared as well. This has only happened recently."
"Recently?"
"When you returned…I believe that somehow you've brought him back from the edge he was about to fall over. Figuratively speaking you're the light that's guiding him back to reality and giving him hope again. You may not believe me but ever since you came back he's been happier. The favor I want to ask you is to please continue to be there for him; don't leave him…please."
"But…"
"I don't expect for you to understand all this but please do this."
"Yeah I had no intention of not being his friend so don't worry…I don't care about his past but if there is anything I can do to help him I want to do it."
"hm…you really are loyal to your friends." He says with a knowing smile.
"I'll take that as a compliment." I turn around and head back inside.
…
School finally lets out and I wait by my locker hoping to run into Castiel. Soon 5 minutes turn into 15 and 15 into 30. Soon and hour goes by until finally I see Castiel walking down the hallway. He notices me right off and seems surprised that I'm here.
"How long have you been here?"
"An hour."
"Why?" I smile at him
"Dummy… I was waiting for you." My smile doesn't fade, "Sorry about before I shouldn't have pushed so hard."
*Flick* "Ow!" as I rub my forehead Castiel smirks at the sight,
"Pfft…you have way too many mood swings pixie."
"Yeah…you're one to talk…" Good he's not mad…we exit the school walking in a comfortable silence, "Hey Castiel…"
"Hm?"
"Whenever you're ready to talk…I'm here ok?"
"What?" I stop turning towards him,
"When that time comes I want you to be completely honest with me though ok? Nothing you say or do will change what I think about you ok?" his eyes widen, "so…thanks to you yesterday I had to spend my morning and lunch time finishing up homework and I gotta say I'm not a big fan of it." as I walk away from him I try to pretend nothing happened but he suddenly holds me from behind and places his lips on my ear, he said only one word quietly,
"Thanks…"
I promise next chapter will be a little more exciting than this…^^ RXR please.
