Obey or not obey?
This Kida made it perfectly clear, Jim had to leave for Melody's sake. Normally there would be no question in Jim's mind about the matter. He would leave when he outlived his welcome and not bother about other's problems, but something had changed. Jim doubted his departure would do Melody any good, although Kida seems to think it would.
Jim knew what his brother Dimitri would do, he would forget his own wishes and do what would be best for the people he wanted to protect. He had done that before, back in Russia when he almost left Anya so that she could live with her long lost family. In the end he learned that she wanted to be with him instead, but otherwise he would still have walked away. Jim never was such a hero and no one ever needed him for that matter, but he also didn't like to lose. He wouldn't give Eris the satisfaction of watching another human do her bidding. Not on his live!
"Oh really?" Grinned Eris to her glass ball in her dark realm of Tartarus. "I can see your thoughts, Jim. Who knew you were such fun." She grinned. "You want to challenge me?"
Like chaos can come from every corner, Eris appeared and disappeared wherever she liked and like chaos she could take on every shape she fancied. Eris lay on her belly on her pitch black bottomless bed with her head in her hands. Amused she observed the boy in her glass ball and while she childishly swung with her feet, she took the form of a little child. "He's even cuter than Sinbad." She said with a dreamy high voice. "Ha ha, he wants to prove himself and completely forgets about the princess, how fun." Eris grinned even wider. "Melody is not going to like that." She sang happily. "Would it not be fun if she found out? Time for some tears and misfortune."
Jim strode down the street towards the palace, in his own typical way. Hands in his pockets and eyes on the road, kicking an potential flint aside. "I will watch Melody." He decided out loud. It was late at noon and everyone in the village was indoors for diner. Jim entered the long brick road to the castle.
Milo probably wants to know more too. Jim thought. He and Audrey surely will team up to find things out for themselves. I figure it out myself, I don't need others. "Oh great" He added out loud when he saw someone standing in the doorway of the castle. It was Tiana, he was late for diner.
Grumpy he walked on till he stood right in front of her.
"Oh good, you are just in time."Tiana said smiling. "The gumbo is just served, come on in." She pushed Jim enthusiastic through the doorway. At first Jim was confused, then he began to understand that Tiana was a hardworking, kind natured woman with great patience, she was not like his mother or Captain Amelia.
"Why are you so happy?" He asked to her grinning face.
"Gumbo is my specialty. I made it all myself, no need for the chef's assistance." Jim let her drag him to the dining room. All the guests plus Melody were already eating.
"Jim, where were you?" Called Audrey from her place at the table. "Come sit down. You have to try this, it's delicious."
Jim sat down and like magic, Tiana had a bowl of steaming gumbo ready for him. Jim carefully took a sip of soup from his spoon, it was indeed delicious. Silently he ate his diner and no one else felt like talking either. When diner was finished and Jim joined Audrey and Dimitri in Milo's room, the gathering for information began.
"What I like to know is who that Kida really is, what exactly does she know about the goddess of chaos?" Said Milo after a short time of silence.
"Yes can we trust her? She appears very suspicious to me. Maybe she is the goddess herself in disguise." Interrupted Dimitri.
"I don't think so, she was really worried when I spoke to her. I think she really wants to help Melody." Replied Milo, clearly convinced of Kida's innocence.
"So what do you think? Should we leave?" Asked Audrey and she looked at both the men in turn.
"I say we stay a little longer and find out what we can." Suggested Milo. Dimitri kept silent, but shook his head. After a while he said:
"I think you are right to suspect this place of evil, but what if we are the cause of that? Maybe we shouldn't push our luck."
"Look guys, I am the only one who is supposed to leave, but I won't." Said Jim suddenly and all the eyes in the room were immediately directed at him. "I met Eris once and from what I've heard from Melody I know that my departure won't change a thing and I won't simply obey Eris's orders. Eris doesn't play fair like that."
"But Kida was obviously desperate to help Melody, maybe you should follow her advice." Tried Audrey concerned.
"If I leave, I let her win." Jim Said simply.
"Jim, don't be so stubborn!" Yelled Audrey frustrated. But Jim was clear, he had made his decision.
That evening he didn't see the princess anymore. He presumed she had gone to bed early, but he was not entirely happy with that. He wanted to talk to her, ask her opinion about Kida. Jim was not tired at all and so he went out for a walk by the sea. It was peaceful outside, just a cooling wind in his face and the little light from the new moon. The sand looked gray and the houses almost black. When Jim reached the end of the village he sat himself down on the beach where he first talked to Melody. The beach where Eris appeared…
Jim sat back and allowed himself to grin, he kind of wanted Eris to appear so he could tell her he would not obey her. Of course that wouldn't be a good idea. As he watched the quiet houses, Jim noticed a faint light moving through the streets of the village. Quickly Jim sat up straight to get a better look. Yes there was something in the village, it moved between the houses and then disappeared from time to time. The little light seemed to go inside the houses, visiting them all from the front of the village to the back. It was a rather slow process and yet Jim couldn't stop watching. In fact he couldn't wait till the light reached the last two houses and come into his full view.
The light came closer, it was now clear to see. Jim stared at it, or her. He could not believe his eyes.
It was the Melody's ghost …
AN: Hi, I am so sorry it took so long. I tried to write, but I also had my sister's costume for a festival to think of. I tried to come up with ideas for the chapter, but all I got were costume ideas, my bad!
But I finally succeeded, Yeah! Thank you all for the reviews! I hope you like this chapter too. Please Review!
