I am back! Sore, tired and bruised, but alive. My canoe trip was pretty good until I was coming back and what started with a headwind, led to a rain/wind storm, being stranded on an island, huge waves; water in the canoe, cramped legs and very sore arms. But it was great! Got to love the outdoors.
Anyway on with the story!
Disclaimer: Namco owns Tales of Symphonia.
Chapter 9:
She stood unmoving, but her eyes shifted from his and looked beyond him, Lloyd glanced back, "The person I need to kill." Lloyd looked back at her as she spoke again. "Colette Brunel."
Lloyd stared at the woman blankly as gasps of astonishment came from behind him. He had known; he had seen her in the room, the glint of the knife catching the sliver of moonlight falling on to Colette's bed. He had seen the shadow lurking around their campsites and inns. But what he didn't know, what confused him was why she hadn't killed her already.
Lloyd barely jumped back in time as Sheena jumped towards him, trying to stick some piece of paper on him. He was about to reach for his swords when he remembered his 'hurt' arm.
Damn! He ducked as she lunged at him again and he rolled across the ground, hoping to get behind her, but as he looked up he saw her hazel eyes staring at him before an exploding force erupted across his chest throwing him back into one of the pillars.
"Lloyd!" he shook his head as he cleared his vision and saw Genis looking at him anxiously, rising to his feet. He lifted his one hand to show he was alright, but then he saw Kratos rush past him as Sheena drew another card-like piece of paper.
Slightly dazed, Lloyd watched as Kratos slammed the hilt of his sword into her stomach, causing her to lurch. In the same motion he slid his sword back into its sheath before spinning and kicking his foot into her stomach.
A grunt escaped the woman's mouth as she flew back, but astonishingly she flipped up in mid-air, landing fluidly on her feet before leaping backwards, doing a series of back flips before stopping at the edge of the platform.
Lloyd watched as she made some quick motions with her fingers then a number of cards sped around her, forming a circle around her. He glanced over to where Kratos stood and saw static flickering from his finger tips. Suddenly a bright flash lit up the room and bolts of lightning struck around Sheena, instantly dissolving the card barrier, leaving her unscathed.
Then Kratos was gone and flipping over her, causing Sheena to whirl, attempting to pull out another card, but Kratos was already spinning bring his foot up and catching her beneath the chin slamming her to the ground. Then Kratos was standing, sword pointing at her neck as she panted heavily.
"Sheena!" Lloyd heard the little fox call out. Lloyd saw the fear filling the hazel eyes of the woman and pushed himself up and hurried forward.
"Kratos, wait." Lloyd stopped behind the mercenary staring at the back of his head. "She saved our lives earlier, let her go."
Kratos lifted his sword slightly, before turning and looked at Lloyd. "You are too soft."
Lloyd stared back at him, "A life for a life." Lloyd knew the Sage siblings were staring at him, but he didn't shift his eyes from his father.
"Very well." the scraping of his sword sliding back into its sheath was the only sound in the small enclosure, followed back the soft taps of Kratos walking back to the others.
Lloyd let his gaze fall on Sheena as she watched him, unmoving from the ground. He didn't say anything, only turned around and followed his father back. He listened and heard her shuffle and get up. The small jingle of a bell and the slight splash of water told him that she was leaving.
He looked up to see Genis looking at him, a smile on his face. He didn't smile back but went and stiffly sat down next to the pillar, his eyes distant.
He didn't understand why he had stopped Kratos from killing her. He knew they would meet again and she may try and kill them again, yet he couldn't allow his father to kill her.
He glanced over to where Colette was sitting and he jolted at what he saw. Her entire face was pale, a pasty white. Her lips slightly blue, but more grayish and her eyes were still dull and lifeless.
It seemed as if someone took a knife and plunged it into his heart. He felt cold and empty as if something in him had died at seeing Colette like this. He had never felt that way before and he grew confused and slightly scared.
He shook his head and looked away, trying to erase the strange emotions that flowed through him. He closed his eyes, but all he saw were the strange flicker of hazel eyes then they shifted and changed the sparkling sky blue ones. He sighed and opened his eyes and stared at his reflection in the water. He was so confused.
Lloyd quickly averted his gaze from the blonde hair girl beside him as she turned slightly. He mentally cursed for staring at her—again. It had been occurring more and more often ever since she had recovered from her angel side affects. He couldn't stop watching her.
He glanced over to see the familiar pink tint that occasionally accompanied the young Chosen's cheeks. Her head was bent slightly so her golden hair slid like a silken curtain over her eyes, hiding them.
He smiled lightly and looked away. He focused his attention to the tree line to the one side, wary for any creatures and monsters that may try and charge from the cover of the forest.
Three days had passed since they had escaped from the Wind Temple and the fight with the mysterious assassin. He occasionally thought of her, but his thoughts would get jumbled and he would find himself confused again. He was curious about this woman, though she was their enemy and he couldn't help but want to meet her again.
He didn't know what was happening to him.
"Lloyd?" he glanced up at his name to see Raine walking beside him, Colette having moved on ahead with Genis. Kratos was ahead as usual.
"Yes?" Lloyd never enjoyed the serious private talks he received from the Professor. The always left him feeling awkward.
"You have been awfully quiet since we left Asgard, what's bothering you?" Raine wasn't looking at him; her eyes were watching her younger brother as he let Colette try out his kendama.
Lloyd shrugged, "Just thinking of stuff." He didn't want to get into another conversation about Colette like before.
Raine nodded then she said, "About your family? You haven't mentioned them for awhile."
Lloyd flinched; he hadn't been expecting her to mention this subject as he had forgotten about it. He lowered his head, "In a way, I am just confused slightly."
Raine smiled gently as Colette attempted to flip the kendama and nearly hit Kratos who dodged at the last second. She nodded, "I am not surprised, especially with Kratos as your dad."
Kratos stopped completely, causing Genis and Colette to collide and fall to the ground in attempts not to run into him. Lloyd had stopped and he stared wide-eyed at Raine. "What-t-t did you say?" Oh crap!
Raine was now facing him, "Don't think you actually expect me to believe that you are not related?"
Genis and Colette were staring at Lloyd then glanced to where Kratos stood. "Lloyd, is that true?" Colette's soft voice caused him to flinch again. He couldn't lie to her again.
Kratos turned around, "Miss Sage, I believe I informed you earlier that—"
"I know what you told me before, but I don't believe for a moment." Raine's eyes were inflamed, "Can you honestly say that two people who look nearly identical in appearance and attitudes can be a coincidence? And don't think I haven't noticed the way you act around each other."
Lloyd looked away, his bandaged arm hanging limply on his side. He knew Kratos would never admit to it. As if reading his mind the mercenary spoke, "You must be logical Raine. Consider our ages; it is impossible for Lloyd to be my son and I have no living relations."
The words stung and Lloyd couldn't help but feel as if his father had said those words to him instead. He couldn't understand why, if Raine had already assumed it, that he couldn't just allow them to know.
Raine folded her arms, "I know perfectly well that you proclaim your age as twenty-eight, however, I can see no other explanation." Lloyd could see by the look in her eyes she was not giving up easily.
Lloyd shifted his eyes to Kratos, who was glaring right back at the elf. He looked sadly at his cold eyes and expressionless face. He was not going to break, he would never admit it.
Lloyd didn't know what happened next, but he turned and ran, trees branches slashing across his face, snagging on his clothes. He heard something rip, but he didn't stop. He thought he heard his name being called faintly; he couldn't tell who it was. Then he let his wings burst from his back in a flash of light and he was rising into the canopy, his aqua wings blending with the emerald and jade leaves of the canopy as he erupted through the leaves and branches hovering above the forest.
He waited to feel the cool breeze of wind that would normal brush against his hot skin, but only his hair shifted, waving gently as the sensation was lost on his skin. He longed to feel the warmth of the sun, the tickle of wind, the sting from the cuts on his face made from the branches; but he couldn't.
Lloyd glanced up to where the sun hovered above the horizon. He watched the large golden, burning sphere of heat and light, gradually making its way down to the distant hills. The sky was beginning to darken and change colors.
Lloyd couldn't tell whether or not he should be crying; whether or not he could. So much had been taken from him and he hadn't realized it, being trapped within the tall, foreboding walls of the ranch.
One split second Lloyd almost considered whether he had made the right choice in leaving the ranch. Nothing there had been as painful as what he was experiencing now.
He heard his name being called from below, but he ignored it and flew away from the calling voices. He wanted to be alone.
Lloyd flew long after the sun had slipped beyond the horizon. The sky was now blanketed with a black carpet filled with stars, but he barely saw them. The only sound was the occasional howl of a wolf below and the gentle flap of his wings. His eyes were unseeing as he passed the forest, until he caught a glimpse of Luin. He came to a stop, hovering as he stared at the darkened city. He remembered Kratos telling him about his mother and how they first met.
Perhaps someone down there remembered her too. Maybe she had relatives down there. Lloyd's mind was a turbulence of confusing emotions and thoughts, but in the end he managed to decide to go to the city.
He landed outside the gate, noticing no one standing guard. The entire area was silent, all the buildings dark. Lloyd wandered down the road, a silent shadow gliding across the moonlight houses. The sound of trickling water reaches his ears and unconsciously makes his way over to the fountain.
He stared into the curtain of water as it flowed from the fountains spout. It made him feel so frustrated that his father wouldn't admit to being his father. What was he hiding that was more important than him?
Lloyd stared down into the water, his reflection gazing back at him, his father's reflection. He sighed and turned away, instead turned his attention to his bandaged arm. He pulled on the fabric, slowly letting it unravel from around his arm. He looked at the perfectly healed skin. It had been like that for nearly two days, but he had refrained from allowing the Professor to change the bandage, saying he was fine.
He let the white material drop to the ground, falling like a coiled snake in a small heap next to the fountain. His eyes drifted from the pile to the stone wall that made the exterior of the fountain base. He narrowed his eyes and leaned forward as he saw small carvings in the stone. He let his fingers trace the markings and he said, "Anna."
Lloyd let his hand drop, but continued to stare at the crudely carved letters. It was ironic that he should find his mother's name on the side of the fountain where he was sitting. "Mom." The single word slipped from his mouth.
Then an explosion from the other end of town shook the ground, the water in the fountain rippled. Lloyd's head snapped up, as screams and the sound of swords rang through the once silent air. Another explosion erupted and Lloyd caught sight of flames licking high above the houses. Sparks danced across the black sky and quickly ignited the wooden buildings.
Lloyd's eyes reflected the fiery scene, staring unbelieving at the chaos that now spread through the streets. A woman was running towards him, she had long, brown hair and she was holding a small child in her arms. Lloyd stood up and was starting towards her, when a Desian leapt from behind a building, thrusting his sword through her back. She screamed once and fell forwards, the child flying from her arms.
Lloyd faltered for a second as he watched the Desian pull his sword from the woman's back. She looked like his mother, the picture in the locket Kratos had shown him. He shook his head and then darted forward, swords unsheathed, an unearthly shout flew from his lips as he charged at the Desian who was moving towards the small child with his sword upraised.
Okay, I think that is a nice place to stop.
I need to work on my other stories, so… heh.
Review Please!!
