Me: I… have no idea what so ever. Sothar: I'm still mad at you, you know. Anna: Awww! Is the big, bad nephil worried about his mommy? Sothar: As a matter of fact, I am! Let's just get chapter eight going. Bright Wingy owns me and nothing else. Now, get off of my back! Me: I know how you feel, demon-boy, I know how you feel…
Mithos stared at the ocean beneath him, he was worried about his best friend… his brother. He had grown to like the half-angel very much, almost like he was a younger brother.
It had been a few years ago the symptoms, that had evaded the others, had begun showing… and they were still going good.
Mithos was fourteen and Sothar twelve, making them almost double as old as they'd been when they'd met.
Sothar was getting very annoyed, he snapped very often at people, glared, and… lately he had begun acting like he heard voices and simply spaced out at times, ignoring people no matter what they told him.
He also seemed incredibly sad about something and kept muttering things like 'Mommy, I'm sorry I disappointed you' and 'Daddy… I miss you' in his sleep… but once, he mumbled something that was truly disturbing: 'Stop talking to me, stupid, inferior beings! Demons have no right to be talking to me!' (Me: Now we know where Mithos got that from.)
Oh, and… his wings looked different. They were often red and terribly sharp. Though he couldn't pull them in, they could still change colour and shape.
And that could be scaring. (Imagine a Raine with sugar-shock in a ruin.) The half-angel had once sat quietly with a book in his hands, his teal wings wafting peacefully behind him when he suddenly sprang to his feet yelling something I didn't understand, though I think it was elven. His wings blood-coloured.
"Mithos, what's wrong?" the half-angel/demon-to-be had laid his hand on the Summoner's shoulder. "You seem very sad."
Mithos looked up at his friend, relieved to find his eyes golden and friendly… and the wings are their normal teal, which meant absolutely nothing's wrong.
"It's nothing." the blonde smiled reassuringly. "Hey, wanna play tag? We haven't done that in a long time."
"Sure!" the younger of the boys grin.
"Heh! You're it!" the Mithos ran off.
Martel's pov.
I'm worried.
About all of us. Some time ago we ran into this elf called Abigal who instantly started hitting on Kratos, Mithos didn't understand half of her very grown references, but Sothar looked like he did; he was smirking and sniggering the entire time.
Suddenly the elf seemed to notice him… she looked very shocked at the boy, then her eyes narrowed. She hissed something along the lines of… 'I see, Aisling's bastard kid! He is indeed alive.'
Of course, we all had angelic senses, so we heard her.
'Who?' we all asked.
'Nothing, nothing at all!' she had answered. 'Now, if you'll excuse me, Krats.' she then winked and walked off.
'I hate that already.' Yuan had mumbled. Kratos had been too affected by the very physical contact to actually say something coherent.
I had… had barfed into a bush. 'What was she NOT wearing?' I had asked disgusted.
'Clothes?' Sothar had suggested, laughing.
'What's so funny?' Mithos had asked confused.
'Just remembered something, though I'm afraid it's pretty much an insider-joke.'
So we had went on and now had camped for the night, we had succeeded in calming the war, though it would still take some time before we could actually finish it.
"Here." a cup of hot chocolate was given to me.
I took it with a grateful smile, it was a cold night with clear stars. "Thanks." I muttered, sending Yuan a small smile.
"No problem, I figured you might need some." he said, ruffling up my hair. "Besides, it's a good excuse for spending some time with you."
I smiled warmly at him, fingering with the ring he had found Spirits know where. "Mithos still not warming to you?" I asked.
"Nope, called me ponytail before he stomped off. I think Sothar followed him to see if he could cheer the boy up somewhat." Yuan frowned. "It's odd with his sudden personality changes. at one point he's the sweet, little kid we all know and love, but suddenly he acts like a drunk teenage with temper problems." he shook his head, a few strands of cobalt landing in his face.
I sighed before brushing the hairs out off his face in habit. "It's sad, really. And it's odd how the Summon Spirits behave around him. Fenrir tried to kill him and Aska wouldn't leave him alone until he fled the tower." I bit my lip worriedly. "And they all seem so mad at him, as though they blame him for something… like humans blame us for simply being half-elves." I chewed on the air for a moment, then took a sip of my drink, there was a reason I had it. "I can't for my death picture what they should have against him."
"Neither can I." Yuan chuckled. "I mean, how much can they have against an orphan half-elf? He has wings, but so have we."
"It's odd, though. I think I heard Fenrir mutter something about him killing us…" I trailed staring off into space.
"Sothar? Kill us? He can barely get himself to kill monsters!" my fiancé laughed. "That's a good laugh. Thanks, love." he ruffled my hair and kissed my brow. I hugged him.
… Something still didn't add up.
If Aisling had wandered amidst them… as a ghost! (Insert evil laughter.)
This is not nice.
I'm a ghost who sit and watch my son and friends camping! When I get my hands on my husband I swear I'll slap him senseless! … Then kiss him back to his senses and out off them again… Damn! I missed my angel.
I saw Abigal's meeting with the group and laughed my rear off. She had been mocking me for marrying a human angel, but when she shortly afterward met one herself, she flirted even more shamelessly than she did with elves. What can I say? Human angels are HOT!
Uh… you didn't hear that! And if you did, it was from a human, understood? Or I'll treat you like Abigal!
That little whore…
Anyway! The reason I'm not happy… my son is turning into a demon! And the people around him don't know! Life sucks.
If any of you sarcastic teenagers think: 'It took an elf a hundred years to figure that out? I can see why they are known for their intelligence.' I'll split you in half using a dull knife and flyswatter.
Right now my son is acting as he would normally do, his sweet self. His ADORABLE self!
Sorry, had a Mom-moment there.
Sothar is playing tag with that Mithos kid and their protozoan… what's that shape called again? Aerio? No, that doesn't sound right. It hardly matters… that Kratos guy is taking care of the dinner and the fire… which he had started with a fireball. Yuan is talking with his Fiancée, Martel if I'm not mistaken, about my son.
There's one good thing about being a ghost, no one can see it when you trip. Woot!
… I am insane. Take me to your leader! That means I can finally get to break the nose on a leader! My sole purpose in life! … My life suck!
I trip and fall face first into the fire. Good thing I'm a ghost or that would have hurt! Badly… huh? A flashback?
With a yelp I trip and fall so that I barely miss the fire, my nose bare inches from the licking flames. "Aisling! You have to be more careful. I don't want you to get hurt." Selor cries, helping me up. "Sure." I roll my eyes. "You're just a worrywart." I say, getting up the rest of the way myself. "Maybe I am, but I really don't want you to get hurt. What if something happened to you?" "Then you'd simply live on… like nothing had happened." I whispered the last part. I turned to leave, but slipped and fell backwards before I had taken one full step. "I think I'll just have to always grab you, Fairytale." he grins as I stare up into his beautiful green eyes. Damn those eyes! They're just so damn… gentle. I sigh. "Stupid you. I should be able to take care of myself." I mumble. "Oh, so it's your pride that hurts?" he raise an eyebrow. "Well if that's the case…" he then lets go off me. I land on the ground, hard. "Ow…" I moan, suddenly stopping on my way into a sitting position when a smirking angel-face hovers right in front of my own. "Selor, what are you doing?" I ask. "Nothing, I'm not even here to take care of you." he whispers, then kiss me very affectionately. "I will always grab you when you fall, that is a fact… but I'm not here to watch out for you. I'm here because I want to take care of you, Fairytale." "Why do you call me that anyway?" I ask, pulling my head slightly back. "Because both elves and love at first sight belongs in fairytales, but you are both to me, so you are my fairytale." he grins. "That is nauseating romantic." I pull a face of disgust. "I thought you had more sense than that." "I'm an angel, what exactly did you expect?" "That you would have flown over the forest?" I suggest. "You're cold." he whines. "Ice Queen." "Ice Queen?" I snap. "I am not an Ice Queen!" just to get my point across, I kiss him very much like he kissed me before. "What? Your brain poured out your ears?" I ask seeing his face. It looks like his brain had a major shut-down. "It might as well have." he smiled like an idiot. "I take back my former sentence." he tries to kiss me again, but my fingers gets in the way. "Selor, I don't think this is such a good idea." I sigh. I don't think he means anymore with it than Abigal would. … That thought is so wrong… I close my eyes. "This is not a good idea." "Why not?" he asks, moving back into a sitting position. "Because we probably won't see each other again. We might have made the mistake of our lives." "Who says we won't see each other again?" he laughed. That stupid laugh! It was so… so nice. I wish he would laugh more often. "Who says we will?" I retort bitterly. I am very well aware that I'm not behaving my best today, but a guy I'm in love with is doing his best to flirt with me (it works!) and since I probably won't see him again, I can't let him. "This one says we will." he smiles as he hands me a ring… a marriage ring. "If you says yes, that is." he smiles that thrice damned smile I'd wish he'd never take off his face. "Says… YES!" I jump at him, hugging him tightly, crying tears of joy while I can feel him smiling against my neck, that sweet, blissful smile that I will love and cherish forever.
EWWWW! That moment was really that romantic? Ew! Yuck! Bah! I would have barfed if I could, but I can't.
I get out off the flames, it's no use remembering such things.
I stare at my beautiful son. For a twelve year old, that is. His father's sharp and clear features, my hair, and his own eyes.
If just he didn't turn into a demon. Oh my god! What the hell am I doing thinking like that? What happened to me? MWAHHHH! I'm not myself anymore!
Excuse me while I go cry in a corner. Sniff
I'm okay now.
Mithos and Sothar has stopped their game of tag… stop laughing at me, you stupid bird! That damn protozoan is laughing, and I know it's laughing at me.
I try to hit it, but my arm goes right through its beak. Stupid Airo. What the hell is it?! I should have heard enough about these to know!
I'm trying to throttle the damn bird, but it's just laughing harder, the group is staring at u… er… him in confusion.
"Noishe, what are you laughing at?" Kratos ask.
"Arrrrk!" he says, hopping over to them. His neck just went trough my hands, I'm sad.
"Stupid, arrogant, fluffy, featherbrained, green bird." I mutter.
Noishe looks amused at me, then surprises me greatly. "You are terrible at insulting, are you aware of that?" he said. Funny, his voice sounded very feminine though it was clearly a male by the sole feel of him.
"I was not. How come I can understand you, feather-ball?" I inquired, sitting next to the very odd bird.
"Because you are in the spirit-realm. There's different rules to the people there. They can talk with animals, though not to other livings, they can go wherever they want, they have the ability to x-ray things… somehow…"
"Really? Cool! I wish I'd had that ability twelve years ago!" I suddenly blushed profusely. "Uhm… how come you can see me?"
"I can because you've 'touched' me. That breaks the 'invisibility' on you."
"What if I did that to someone else?" I asked hopefully.
"Nope. It only works on animals." Noishe looked away. "There's some good news, though."
"Like?" I muttered darkly.
"If I choose to let you, you can touch me and you can be heard just as a whisper in the wind by people who has a connection to you."
"That's good?" I asked, very surprised.
"Not really, now that you mention it."
I sighed and rose. Why was I here again? Oh yeah, because Origin said I could come out as a ghost every thirtieth year. What good was that going to do?
A hiss from the fire made me look up. It was raining.
"Oh butter nuggets." I murmured.
"What are you so mad about? It's not going to affect you." Noishe grumbled, spreading his wings so the two youngest could use them as cover for the rain. The three grownups just got a 'here we go again' look on their faces… it would have been great if one of them opened an umbrella at that exact moment.
"I'm singin' in the raisin…" I mumbled, using the word 'raisin' on purpose.
(Me: Sure…)
Stupid teens. Inferior humans! I swear I'll get at you!
(Me: Now we know where Sothar got that from… his family suck.)
We don't suck! … Wait a second! I'm yelling at a voice from the heavens. That explains why Noishe looks at me like I'm crazy. I'm not crazy, you damned bird! I'm an oddball!
"Return to your slumber, Vision of Death." Origin said.
"Okay." I thought happily, then slowly faded.
Sothar's pov… I need something serious!
The voices… are driving me insane.
In the quiet moments, I feel like I'm myself and in control. I can even play with Mithos. But, everything only lasts that long, and I soon hear them again.
It's odd, though. They've started telling me about the good things about being a demon. The best one so far, is there's no pain.
There might be some pain when you're hurt in battle, but not really that much else. No pain from my wings, no more pain from people talking, no more pain from their mana, no more pain from their smells, no more pain from… you get the drift!
But aside from that, they insult me and laugh at me, making me wish I could kick their sorry asses to the moon and further on.
"You can if you become a full nephil." one of them laughs. "Stupid demon-kid."
I stand up on my own two feet. "Excuse me for a moment." I say. "I need to be a bit alone."
I stalk off before I can hear what anyone say. Sometimes, they're just as annoying as the voices.
"…" I seat myself underneath a tree, rubbing my eyes tiredly. "This is not good." I murmur.
"What isn't good?" those infernal voices ask again.
"That I'm going crazy. What's going to happen next? A teenage-monkey in green followed by a flying puffball running by?"
A monkey wearing green ran by, a puffball flying just a little bit behind him.
"Link, we have to hurry and break the curse put on you!" the puffball cried.
Then they were gone.
"Okay… where did they come from?" I asked, looking confused after the odd pair.
"Hyrule? Legend of Zelda?" the voices suggested.
"What the he…? Are you guys drunk or something?" I ask, feeling just slightly… disturbed.
"Or something."
"Crack?"
"No! What is it, by the way?"
"… None of your concern…"
I sighed rubbing my temples. It was so hard to believe I really only were eleven. I can't believe it.
The only good thing that sprang to mind was that we would make a pact with Origin soon.
… What would happen after that? What would happen to me? Would they think I could take care of myself and leave me alone? Would one of them adopt me? Probably not.
I slammed my hand full-force into a tree; no reason to say that it split in half upon impact.
I grab the trunk and throw it far into the forest. Did I just hear a howl of pain? Yes? Good.
It's no use sitting in the rain getting drenched, might as well go back.
I rise to go back to camp, but hear the sound of something snarling. I turn around slowly.
I will wager my face looks like snow by now. "Oh crap." I think.
Before me, stands the chimera's cousin. A big thing with two jaws, a wolf-like head, emerald eyes, rusty teeth, enormous batwings, horse hind legs, stag antlers, scorpion tail, tiger body, and gigantic squirrel forelegs.
I… am… jelly. If it had been a wolf, it would have been so dead. But this creature of nightmares? I'm so dead!
Its tail rise, ready to dig deep into my frail body.
"That thing's sharp." one of the voices comment.
"No really?" I snap.
The dual set of teeth grins, a glint in the pupil-less eyes.
The tail starts moving faster than my mind should be able to grasp, yet it isn't that hard…
"INDIGNATION!"
The beast shriek in agony, heaving its tail back in convulsions of pain.
Did I… just cast a very difficult spell?
I gaped for a few moments, while the beast laid stunned on the ground, then I snapped back to my senses and turned tail.
I ran as fast as my legs would carry me into the camp, then stopped abruptly.
Yuan and Kratos were on their feet, their weapons in hand.
"Sothar, where did that shriek come from?" Yuan asked, not letting go off his… what did he call it again? Swallow-sabre?
"From the forest. From a very big thing."
"Do you think it might prove a threat?" Kratos asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I don't know, but there's always a chance." I gulped. The voices were silent.
The two men looked at each other, then nodded.
"Where is it?" Yuan asked, his gaze settling on me.
"In that direction." I said, pointing where I had come from. "I ran in a straight line."
The friends were gone.
"Hey, Sothar?" Mithos asked.
"Hm?"
"What did that thing look like?" he inquired.
I sat down and described the hideous beast for him and Martel.
"This isn't good…" one of the voices mumbled.
"What's not good?" it was my turn to ask, but I received no answer.
Me: Good enough for ya? Ow…
Sothar: What?
Me: Nothing.
Sothar: You sound like Colette. (Rolls eyes.)
Me: I'm sorry.
Sothar: (Runs screaming around in circles.)
Anna: You did that on purpose, right?
Me: Yup! But I am sorry, this chapter's not the best yet. I promise that the next one will be better. And Aisling was a bit OOC, since I was really too depressed to make a proper her. She is normally much more like she was last chapter.
Anna and Sothar: Review.