Disclaimer: I own nothing.
I was looking for names for our Sphinx friend, when I decided to look up the meanings of FMA character's names.
Edward: Guardian
Alphonse: Eager
Elrich : ( they didn't have Elric) ghastly, prenatural
Roy: King
Trisha: Of Noble Descent
Jean: (no matter how I typed it, it came out female, lol) Gracious
Elysia: Oath of God
Nina: Girl
Denny: Wild
Maria: Sea of Bitterness (ain't that the truth)
Lisa: (that be my name) Consecrated from God (is that a good thing, or a bad thing?)
I thought Roy's and Ed's suited them --;
Howdy folks! I got braces and now my mouth feels awful. It's sooo sore. Ugh. Whatever. Enjoy the fourth chapter of the Three Sided Sphinx!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Amnesia?" Edward asked.
"I'm no doctor, but that's my impression. Speaking of which, we should take her to the hospital," responded Alphonse.
"Hell no!" growled Edward. He still was convinced that she was the chimera. The same chimera that had almost killed him. The same chimera that wrecked his automail and sent him to Winry only to be whacked on the head with a wrench!
The girl started backing up, trying to escape. Ed noticed and jumped in front f her, shouting "Oh no you don't!"
"Please, just leave me alone!"
Alphonse tried reasoning with the girl, but she was too petrified. He didn't want to have to force her to a doctor's, but he didn't want to just leave her there. What should he do?
"Excuse me, miss. I'm just trying to help you. We will take you to a hospital to be examined. That's all."
She looked at Al, undecidedly. "What about him? Is he going to hurt me?" She was nodding towards Ed who was pouting like a child. Why wouldn't Alphonse listen to him? That was the man-eating chimera! She was going to tear them to shreds at the first chance!
The girl nodded her head, agreeing to come with the Al to the doctor. Alphonse turned to Edward and gave him an 'if you touch her one time...' look. Ed looked away, disgusted. Of course, Al had to be all chivalrous and help the damsel in distress. But, what would become of it?
"Big Brother, are you following?"
"I guess. But it better be quick. If I give Mustang one more late report, he said he'd assign me to paperwork. And I don't want to do paperwork!"
Al laughed and turned to continue, talking calmly to the girl as if he were her parent or something. She seemed to ease up and talk a little more freely. Not that she had much to talk about. She didn't even know her own name.
Following slowly behind, Ed was sulking. The same question kept popping up in his mind, making him angrier and angrier. Why hadn't Alphonse listened to him? He knew what he was talking about. Why hadn't Alphonse listened to him? He knew what he was talking about.
It took twenty-five minutes to walk across town to the hospital. It was the smallest in Central, but Alphonse had intended that, in case what Edward said was true. He didn't want to cause a stir.
Like many of the buildings in Central City, it was two stories, constructed of brick. A sign with a red cross in it was swinging just above the door. No name was visible the sign, which further indicated that it was a small hospital.
Once inside, the threesome was greeted by a homely set-up; there was a fireplace on the right wall with plush chairs all around it. The floors were made of wood and the walls were brick all the way through. And a high counter serving as the front desk on the wall directly in front of Ed, Al, and the chimera. Behind the counter stood a petite woman with brown hair, writing something on a planner. She looked up to see the three standing in front of the desk, a seemingly perpetual smile on her face.
She asked in a kind voice, "May I help you?"
Al stepped forward and said, "Yeah, um, I know we don't have an appointment or anything, but-."
She laughed, "We need all the business we can get. There are two people working here. Well, unless you count the doctor's daughter. She likes to help a lot. I am the nurse and secretary, so I'll get you signed in and then I'll need to know your problem. What's the first name?"
"Me, or her? She's the one that needs to be examined," said Al.
"Her name is fine."
"That's the problem. She doesn't know it. I believe she had amnesia."
The secretary/nurse looked at the girl thoughtfully. "Well, that is a problem, now isn't it? Why don't I take your name, young man." She nodded towards the suit of armor.
"It's Alphonse Elric, ma'am."
The nurse looked at him warmly. "What a nice name. My name is Maria Redford."
If Al could have blushed, he would have. He would be the color of a strawberry. He turned away from Maria, and let her talk to the chimera. Though, he wasn't sure if she was really chimera. Ed had said so, and that should have been proof enough. But, she just seemed so helpless... there wasn't any possible way she could be part lion. And definitely not a killer!
Maria pushed back a lock of brown hair and turned to the girl, her smile never leaving her face. It was a very wholesome smile, reassuring in a way. And it made the girl all that much easier. She smiled back.
"You have very pretty eyes. And your hair is so cute! I wish my hair was that color. Then I'd be cute too," cooed the nurse. Which wasn't true. Maria looked good as a brunette. But she had to calm the girl down, who had been very frightened.
"Thank-you. I think you're fine the way you are, though," said the girl.
Steps could be heard coming down the stairs and everyone turned to see a teenager helping an old lady down. She looked a lot like the nurse, but younger and with freckles. Her hair was in two long braids going down her back, bouncing around her hips. She reached the landing and the elderly lady grabbed the girl's arms and finished the descent.
"Thank-you so much. These stairs are very frightening; every time I come I think I'm going to fall." The old lady patted the girl on the head.
"I'll never let you fall. I'll never let anyone fall," the girl responded.
Then the old woman made her way to the counter to make her next appointment. Maria held up a finger, telling them to wait. "I'll be back with you in a moment. I have to go help this nice lady with her appointment. Okay?" She turned to the girl who had helped the woman down the stairs and said, "Kate? Will you take these people into the second room? That would really be wonderful."
"Sure, Maria!" She turned to Edward, Alphonse, and the chimera. "Come on, guys! Follow me."
Kate practically skipped up the stairs, extremely hyper for a teenager. Her enthusiasm spread throughout the threesome and they were filled with unknown eagerness. Edward was even grinning, though he didn't know why. Maybe it was because this place seemed so joyful. Everyone was smiling here, being kind and polite to one another. It was contagious.
Kate pushed open the second wooden door, leading into a small room with an examination table, counter filled with bottles of medicine, and a sink. The room was painted a rusty red, being made of plaster instead of bricks. Ed deducted that the second floor was newer, not being in the original planning.
The room was dimly lit by two candles and a large window. Kate reached in her pocket, retrieved a book of matches, and lit seven more. She explained, "Electricity is so expensive. And besides, we can make our own candles. My dad says that it doesn't matter how you get light, just as long as it's bright. Pops will be with you soon."
Then she closed the door. Ed listened to her steps as she tromped down the staircase. He sighed when she was out of earshot.
"We're going to have to give you some name," Edward said to the chimera. "Can't just call you 'girl', now can we?"
"I... I guess not."
"Well, do you have a preference?" Al joined in the conversation.
"I like the name Melanie."
"I don't!" Exclaimed Ed. "How about Mel. I can live with that. At least until you get your real name. If you even have one... Sphinx..."
"What was that?" Mel asked.
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
"If you know something, Big Brother, you should tell her. Help her remember."
"I was just mumbling!"
"Big Brother! You were not!"
"Nothing I haven't already told you, Alphonse!"
"What does that mean," cried Al.
"She's the chimera! The chimera claimed that it was a Sphinx! I'm not sure what a Sphinx is, but it spoke of another world. That world was called Earth! It talked about going there and coming back. But I'm not sure if it was speaking in riddles or not. It was part lion," Ed turned to Mel. "You're part lion."
Mel backed up, shaking her head. "I- I don't know! I can't remember!"
Edward almost screamed, "You don't want to remember!"
The door opened and there stood a man wearing a white coat. He had a questioning look on his face and glanced back and forth between Ed and Mel. He cleared his throat.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Edward turned towards the window, peering out. He folded his arms against his chest and sighed. "No, you aren't interrupting anything, doctor. I just finished."
The doctor nodded.
"I see."
There was a pause.
"Well, I'll introduce myself. I'm doctor Redford, owner and doctor of this establishment. I went to medical school for six years, then worked a job in the army as a surgeon to get some money. I had my first marriage seventeen years ago, had my first and only child fourteen years ago. You've met her. She's Kate. My first wife died abruptly a year ago. I don't know why, even though I am a doctor. We don't know everything... yes, sorry! Um, I got married to my nurse three months ago, and I just got back from our honeymoon. Can I help you?"
"Do I have to give that much information?" asked Al.
"Oh, no, no! I just like to do that so my patients know that I will be open and honest with them, so they return the favor. It's very hard to cure someone if they don't tell you where it hurts."
"Well, my name is Alphonse Elric, and that's my Big Brother, Edward."
"You don't drink milk, do you sprout," said doctor Redford, addressing Ed.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SPROUT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T DRINK WHITE LIQUID THAT LOOKS LIKE FOAM FROM A RABID DOG THAT WAS ACTUALLY SECRETED FROM A COW!"
"Maybe if you drank milk, you wouldn't be such a bean," replied the doctor, not intending to make Edward angry again. However, he did.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO BEAN-LIKE THAT PEOPLE PUT HIM IN BEAN SOUP AND COOKME AT THREE HUNDRED DEGREES!"
"Big Brother! He never said any of that!"
"He might as well have! We should have gone to a different hospital. This doesn't even look like a hospital! It looks more like a house!"
The doctor sighed. "Yes, it is a house. But I couldn't afford an office and a home, so I combined them."
"Excuse me, doctor Redford," whispered Mel. "I have a problem with my memory."
"So you're the patient? Happy to finally meet you! Your name is...?"
Mel shrugged. "I don't know. I can't remember. But those two have dubbed me Mel."
Redford considered the name, a thoughtful look on his face. There seemed to be a calm air about him. The Dad was calm, the wife was amiable, the daughter was hyper. A perfect combination. "Yeah, Mel works for now. So, Mel, when did you first have these memory problems?"
"About an hour ago."
"What is your first memory?"
"Lying under some rubble, wondering why I was covered in blood."
"Yes, I was a little worried that you were seriously injured when I first saw you. I'm glad to hear that you're physically a-ok. But one hour ago is the line that divides remembrance and forgetting, right?"
"Yeah..."
"And you were under rubble, so head injury is the probable cause. If it was head injury, I'm going to diagnose you with retrograde amnesia. I'm not a neurologist or anything, but I briefly covered the brain and luckily studied how memory works."
"Well is there a cure?" asked Al.
"Time is the only cure I can prescribe."
"How long until I can remember again?"
"Depends. From seconds to years. The most common thing is to get older memories back first. I know I haven't been much help, but at least you know something."
"Yeah. Thanks, doc," muttered Edward, who was still facing the window.
Everyone glanced at him. The rest of the building was cheery, but Ed was like his own little rain cloud, thundering over everyone else. He turned and they all looked away.
"Thank-you for seeing me, Dr. Redford. I appreciate it." Mel smiled.
"Not a problem. Now, go down the stairs and fill out the paperwork and pay for the bill and you're free to go."
Ed stared at the doctor. "Bill? You didn't do anything!"
He smiled. "Yes I did. I explained what was wrong with Mel."
All of a sudden, the door burst open. Kate was standing there panting. She straightened up a little and cried, "We got a situation downstairs, Pops. Some guy accidently dropped a knife on his foot. By the looks of it, amputation is necessary. Better hurry up!"
Doctor Redford left without another word. Screams of pain echoed throughout the building, making Edward, Alphonse, and Mel cover their ears. It was a horrible sound; it was like a death scream.
Mel looked pale, her face ghostly white. She seemed to stumble a little, then she fell. Al caught her before she hit the ground. Then, with her limp body in his arms, he descended the stairs, preparing for a gruesome scene.
A man was lying on the floor, holding his bloody foot. Kate, Dr. Redford, and Nurse Redford were all trying to slip a stretcher below him so he could be carried up the steps. They weren't having much luck. The blood made everything warm and slippery.
Edward dashed over to help, clapping his hands, deconstructed the stretcher, and reconstructed it underneath the man. Al carefully placed Mel on a chair and went to help carry the stretcher up the steps. With the Elric brothers' help, the man was in a bed getting treated in no time.
When the two returned to the first floor, Mel was awake, but barley. She was still pale and trembling, threatening to throw-up. The nurse came and got her a glass of water, talking to her about rehydrating herself and taking it easy until she felt better.
Alphonse pulled Edward aside and whispered, "Look, Big Brother. No killer is going to faint if they see blood. And you called her a man-eater! An apology is in order."
"Nah. I am, after all, paying for her medical bill."
"It would make me happy."
"Fine, fine," Ed turned to Mel. "Hey, look I'm-."
Edward never got to finish. Mel puked all over him, stopping him mid-sentence.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heavy footsteps pounded on the sidewalk. They were followed by hollow metal footsteps, which were in turn followed by quick light steps. Edward, Alphonse and Mel were walking towards Central Headquarters. The girl had been apologizing over and over about how sorry she was about the puke and the bill and how sorry she was that he was late because of her.
Ed ignored her apologies, storming down the sidewalk, people moving out of his way. He wasn't completely cleaned off from the earlier incident, and the smell hadn't gotten any better. But the rain had helped a little bit. Just a little bit.
At last, the trio reached Central HQ. They were all damp, except for Alphonse who was metal made. Ed stepped into the building, the rest following suit. The building's interior was warm in contrast to the outside. All of the lights were on and it had a bright look about it.
Edward began down the left hallway. He took a right, climbed some stairs, took a left, left, right, left, right. He came to a door with a golden name plate on it: Brigadier General Roy Mustang.
Shouting could be heard coming from inside of the office.
"-late again! If that damn kid is late, it could cost me my job!"
"Calm down, sir," ordered a female voice. "You know he just takes his time-."
"Time is of the essence, Hawkeye! If he doesn't come in this door right now, I swear, I'll shoot myself!"
"Can I do it for you, Chief?"
"Stay out of this Havoc!"
"Sheesh, someone's in a bad mood."
Edward opened the door with a big smile on his face. He tried his best to look peppy and overly cheerful. "Hi, guys! What's up?"
"Fullmetal! Where have you been?" screamed Mustang.
"Sorry, sir,"began Edward sarcastically. "The chimera busted my automail so I-."
"You killed it? I may be saved yet!" cried Mustang.
"Nah. She's on the other side of the door." Ed turned to towards the door. "Hey, Mel! Come in her for a second!"
The girl entered, still apologizing to Ed. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Try to act like you're my prisoner or something."
Mel nodded. It was the least she could do after all the trouble she had puthim through. A little embarrassment wouldn't hurt. She gave Edward a fake death-glare, hissing like a cat. Surprisingly, the hiss felt normal, not embarrassing at all.
Mustang laughed. "You almost had me worried there for a moment, Elric."
Mel let out a real roar and Edward looked at her carefully. Her eyes seemed to be changing. They had been gold, but not cat-like at all. Now they changed, becoming more feline-like every second. Mel was the chimera. He was sure of it.
Ed transmuted his arm into a blade and pointed it at the chimera. She was staring at him with her mesmorizing eyes. It growled, "I now know my name."
"Yeah, what is it?" yelled Edward.
"My name was Adelina Rose Aldridge. Over two thousand years ago. I am part lion."
"How did you become part lion?" Ed inquired, with a softer tone.
"I... I..." Her eyes became human again and they welled up with tears. "I don't know! All I know is that you and Al arethe only ones I know right now, and I want to be your friend!"
She stood up and ran over to Ed, embracing him, just sobbing. He changed his arm back to normal and gave her a hug back. He hugged the chimera.
Everyone was quiet. The only sound was the chimera's crying. Edward pulled away from the hug and held her at arms distance. He looked at her golden eyes, normal human, golden eyes. He sighed. "Do you remember anything else? Anything at all?"
"I-I remember that I had two brothers. An older one and a younger one. The younger one was weak and sickly, but I loved them both dearly," she murmured. "I remember that we had only our father, and then he left for war and died. I was only seven. But my big brother was sixteen, so he cared for us. I... I think his name was Peter. Yes, it was Peter. He always took care of me. An my younger brother, his name was Callum! I remember! Our father didn't name us right away; he waited until he knew our personalities. The meaning of Peter is stone,because he was the eldest and was supposed to help take care of us. I was named Adelina because it means sweet and noble; my father used to call me his sweet flower. And Callum means dove, because he was just so kind and peaceful. I remember my brothers!"
Edward smiled softly to her. "I bet your brothers were the world to you. I bet they treated you very kindly."
"Oh, yes," cried the chimera, "Peter even taught me alchemy. That's right! I'm an alchemist!" Her eyes became feline again. Her voice was lower, angrier. "He's the one that did this. He was a fool. An idiot. A traitor!"
Edward's eyes grew large. "Your big brother made you into a chimera?"
"Heh. That's not even the half of it. I remember everything now. Perfectly. You answered my riddle correctly, Edward. I remember almost killing you. And... I also remembered the kindness you showed me when I was at your mercy. Exact opposite of my brother."
"What happened to you?" Edward was truly interested now.
"I was sixteen when it happened. Peter was twenty-four. Callum was fifteen. It had been raining, with lightning flashing and thunder booming. Callum had been sick, and was in bed resting. Peter was in his room, doing who knows what. I was reading in my room. Peter had entered my room and asked for me to follow him. I did so, never suspecting... We went into the basement, and I began to question my brother's motives. When I asked what we were doing, he said he was going to give me the ultimate alchemy lesson. I believed him. Once down the stairs, he pushed me against the wall and bound my hands, gagging me too. Then, I saw Callum, who was bound and gagged as well. I tried to reach out to him, but I couldn't get there.
"Peter, meanwhile, had a transmutation circle drawn around Callum and was putting other things inside of it; dogs, cats, all of them drugged. I managed to spit my gag out and shouted 'Peter! What madness is this?' He grinned at me, and then I could tell he was insane. He shouted back 'I will finally see Father again! All I need is the Philosophers'Stone!' Before activating the array, he walked over to Callum and pat him on the head. 'Don't worry, little Brother. You'll finally get to see Mother.' Then, he stepped out of the circle and put his hands to it.
"My eyes were blinded by the light. It was gone in a few seconds, and so was Callum. Instead of him, a small red stone was in the middle of the array. Peter crawled over to it, screaming 'it's mine! I have the stone!' He reached out for it, but it burst, like it was too full.
"My big brother raged, shouting that all this work was for nothing. That it most not have been stable with so few souls, and only one human. He turned to me, saying that it was my fault. He said that I'd pay, and he left the basement, leaving me in the dark for two days.
"Peter came back and said that he'd thought of a suitable punishment. Make me a chimera. It was torture, he said. Your body is always in pain and no one accepts you. He had bought a male lion, telling me he how kind he was for picking a lion versus a cockroach. I could have cared less. I no longer had the will to live. I had no parents, my little brother Callum was killed by my older brother, who was now trying to kill me as well. Life was already over for me.
"I was thrown into a transmutation circle with a drugged lion. I kissed the beast on the cheek, telling it how sorry I felt for it. Peter activated the circle and I felt my body being torn in two, regrouping, and being torn again. I lost consciousness.
"When I awoke, I noticed large paws instead of hands. I had a tail and a relentless wave of pain. There stood Peter, laughing manically. Without hesitation, I pounced on him and tore him limb from limb. I had no regret, remorse, or pain while doing it. Only anger. Blind fury. I wanted to rip the bastard's very soul out of his wretched body! Show him what it felt like.
"When he could not be ripped up any more, I walked to the other side of the basement, and began to cry. As I did, I noticed my body became human again. It pained my to transform, but I didn't care. I could still look human.
"Then, I remembered poor Callum. Being an alchemist, and his older sister, it was my duty to try anything to bring him back. Even the forbidden science. I made a transmutation circle as quickly as I could. Then I put several transmutation circles all over my body. My head, my chest, my arms, my legs, my stomach. Equivalency could have me, just so long as they gave my brother back." Here she stopped the story, turning to Edward. "You know the sense of duty I felt. The need to try and bring back your loved one." Then she continued her story. "I saw a gate, with darkness inside of it. Eyes watched me and hands reached for me. I almost gave up, when I saw a light. I pulled towards it, fighting the grasp of Equivalence.
"I had reached the other side of the gate. I saw desert and more desert. After wandering for a day, a caravan picked me up and took me to the next city. They were kind enough to give me water, food, and a little money," Adelina Rose stopped telling her tale and turned to the door, shouting, "Alphonse Elric! If you're going t listen, stop eavesdropping and come in here!"
The door creaked open and the suit of armor stepped in, laughing sheepishly. He shut the door behind him. "Sorry."
Adelina Rose sighed and began again. "I made a bit of money with petty jobs, enough to board a merchant ship heading from Alexandria, Egypt, to Rome. I didn't care where in Rome, but it was said that it twas the best place to go."
"Is Rome on the Earth you were talking about?" asked Edward.
"Yes, and so is Egypt." She closed her eyes, as if remembering something painful. "The next few events I couldn't control. I had a hunger for flesh. While on the boat, I turned into the Sphinx and ate the crew;a shpinx is the chimera form you know. When we docked, the Romans saw a lion with a woman's head, eating corpses on the deck of the boat. They fled, shouting the gods had sent their wrath in the form of a lion. The next few years, I ran about the land, feasting on people. I always gave them a riddle before eating them, however. If they answered correctly, I let them live. Two people did that, Oedipus and Edward. So I-."
Mustang interrupted. "So you're saying that when you look like a chimera, you lose control?"
"Sometimes. But most of the time-."
"Hawkeye, keep your gun on it. I don't want any of our men hurt. If it makes any funny movements, blow its brains out."
"I have a name and gender!" shouted Adelina Rose.
Mustang snarled, "Shut-up, chimera. You've killed nine people in Central City, my city! I want you to pay."
The wind rattled the windows and pushed the shutters around. Mustang was breathing heavy, his face filled with hate and revenge. A venom that pierced Adelina Rose's heart. She had seen that very look before. It was the look of hatred that Peter had given her when he convinced himself that everything was her fault. That look said everything that didn't need to be said.
"I didn't kill those people; my brother did," she said, grinding her teeth.
"He couldn't be living after you ripped him up-," began Havoc.
"No! He made me a chimera! He killed my little brother! It's not my fault! It's not!"
Adelina Rose looked up in Mustangs eyes. They were like walls, something hiding behind them. She looked further and saw behind the hatred, regret. Something Peter did not have. She laughed. "You have done something awful, and don't you ever deny it. You are sorry and wish you could take it back, but you know that you never can. So now, you wish to kill me for doing the exact same thing you did?"
"...Lower your weapon, Hawkeye," Mustang muttered.
"Sir?"
"Just do it."He sighed, defeated.
"After Oedipus solved my riddle, I went back to Africa, the continent that held Egypt. I stayed in the east, peacefully living as a lion. In the 1800s, some hunters captured me and tried bringing me to America, the most powerful country in the world at the time. Half-way there, we passed into a raging storm, that nearly tore the boat in two. I was locked in my cage, unable to see what was happening. But somehow I knew. I was going home.
"I could feel the boat plummeting. It hit the ground and shattered like glass. Everyone but a few other animals and myself died. Once I felt good enough to travel, I headed west, the other animals following me. I thought they were following me, but the sad truth was that they were starving and had decided to hunt me. I couldn't stop to rest, or I would be eaten. I walked for six days straight until I reached a town. An elderly couple helped me inside their barn, where I collapsed. They didn't seem too concerned that me, a lion, would eat them. In fact, they brought me food, and actually let me out. I didn't turn human around them; I was too afraid of what they'd do.
"For some unknown reason, the couple died and their son inherited me. He had no use for a lion, so he soldme to a family in Central. I was shipped there, and in my small wooden crate, I turned back into a girl. When I was unloaded, and uncrated, the family saw that I was a girl, not a lion. They housed me and treated me like family."
"You haven't aged, then?" queried Mustang.
"No. Not since the fateful day I was made into a chimera." she paused, looking at her audience. "I learned the family's last name, but I thought it was probably just a coincidence. They were Aldridge. The father and the daughter were alchemists. I once asked them if the name Callum rang a bell, but they said no. Even if they were my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great nieces and nephews, they weren't going to know their ancestors' names from two thousand years ago. Either that, or they were lying to me.
"Well, I found a family tree they had hidden in a bookcase. It went back sixty generations. Sure enough, Callum was at the bottom. He had started the tree. And my name was right next to it. I cried out of joy that day. Callum, my little brother, had lived, gotten married, had children and grandchildren. And I was seeing them.
"One day, my family went shopping together. I stayed behind, studying everything I had forgotten about alchemy. They said to me that they'd be back in an hour. They never returned. A drunken man attacked them with a knife, killing them all. They were defenseless. The alchemy they knew was cutesy, not enough to help.
"I cried again, but out of sorrow. According to the family tree, I was the last surviving member of the Aldridge family. My Sphinx side took over, and I stayed hidden until recently. I became very hungry. I had to feast. I attempted to eat Edward, but he solved the riddle in time. He left and I stayed in the mansion." She stopped again and spoke to Ed. "That was the residence of my late family. They left it to Adelina Rose Tilem in their will. I used that name in front of them. To protect them from the ugly truth. An ugly truth that'sbeencovered up with a pretty liefor two thousand years.
"I rested in the mansion for two days. I was about to leave when it just collapsed on me. I became human just before I lost consciousness so if anyone found me unawares, they would not suspect. So now you have the truth. The Sphinx ofEarth has just spilled its guts for you. Sometimes, I wished Peter had just killed me."
Everyone was silent. A tear steamed down Edward's face. During the story, he had been remembering his mother. How she died, how they tried to bring her back. Why they had tried to bring her back. How they had failed. He had remembered Nina. How he had failed to see Tucker's madness. Why they had let Nina out of their sight. Why they hadn't split Nina and Alexander apart. He had remember Alphonse, who suffered armor as a body. How did Alphonse put up with him? Why did he not blame him?
Tears flowed down Edward's cheek now. He openly cried. Alphonse came over, concerned. "What's wrong, Big Brother?"
Edward only cried harder, leaning into the suit of armor. Such a cold body for such a warm soul. He stuttered, "Al... H-how can you n-not blame me f-for what ha-happened? How ca-can you be so k-kind to me?"
Alphonse hugged his brother. "I could never blame you, Big Brother. I could never in a million years blame you."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, now ya know the Sphinxes story. I tried to write a span of two thousand years as quickly as I could, but it still turned out like three pages long, so pardon me.
When I first saw the name Callum, I was like, "That's the one!" And when I learned that it meant dove, I was like, "This is perfect!" So there you go.
Please R&R. I think this extra long chapter deserves it.
THREAT: IF I DON'T GET AT LEAST A REVIEW ON EACH OF MY CHAPTERS, I'LL STOP WRITING THIS STORY!