Chapter 10
When Vakama entered the clearing, alone, he found Talin on her knees. A red Visorak's head lay still in her lap. She was humming to it as it slowly faded away into the black aura surrounding them. Vakama stared at her, then at the other Visorak lying in the clearing. Shock was stamped across his features.
As the Visorak finally disappeared, Talin sighed. The long, slow sigh seemed to follow the dead Visorak and the darkness into the next realms.
He walked towards her, slowly. Her arms were wrapped around herself, and she was rocking back and forth. He fell to his knees in front of her. Her green eyes, usually a dark emerald, were a pale teal. Resignation seemed to dominate her features.
He slowly, hesitantly, reached forward to touch her hands. They were freezing. It was hard to speak.
"What happened?"
Talin didn't answer at first. She just stared at him, as though not quite sure he was there.
"I destroyed them Vakama. I destroyed them all." She whispered.
He swallowed. "Why?"
Her eyes drifted closed, and then snapped open to bore into his. "The Toa have three virtues: Unity, Duty, and Destiny. The Hordika have only one virtue: Destruction." She sighed again, turning her head slightly away and allowing tears to flow. "Such is the way of Talin Hordika."
Vakama couldn't seem to answer. And so he settled for reaching out and pulling her close, simply feeling her tears drip and burn like fire on his heart light.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
When her young prodigies returned the next day, Roodaka called them to her personal chambers. There, she listened to their story. It seemed that during the onslaught of rain the night before, the one called Nuju had escaped. Along the way, he slew a team of Visorak Sidorak had sent to "help out". He was lying through his mask of course, but that wasn't what really bothered Roodaka.
She dismissed the two Hordika and sat on her private throne to brood. Gently picking up an ornately carved figurine of Sidorak off the chess board beside her, she caressed it in her claws. She had not been told about this "mercy mission" the "king" had sent. She had not authorized it. Obviously, the King of the Hordes was forgetting that Roodaka wanted the yellow Hordika alive, not that she'd bothered to explain why.
The fool will bungle things if he isn't more careful. If I'M not more careful. She sighed, irritated. I will simply have to find a way to draw his attention away from Talin, and fortify the Hordika in Vakama.
She walked to the window and glanced down at the Coliseum grounds far below. If only the Rahaga had not interfered that first day. The Toa would be dead, their elements hers, and her Master would be free to rule this wretched place. Still, at least the Rahaga were too busy helping her victims search for Turaga-tales to interfere with the Horde directly.
She touched the gleaming heart stone at her neck. Her brilliant blue eyes narrowed to slits. A smirk curved her lips as she flipped the Sidorak figurine high into the air. She didn't bother to catch it as she turned to leave. Maybe there was a way to slay all her birds with one red stone.
It was hard to distinguish which was sharper, the shattering crystal or Roodaka's cruel laughter.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won't see
That I want and I'm needing everything that we should be
I'll bet she's beautiful, that girl he talks about
And she's got everything that I have to live without…
"Vakama?"
"Hm?"
"Were you ever in love?"
He was so tired of lying. The memory of Talin's helpless screams, Nuju's desperate eyes…his decision to let go. It was all catching up to him. He nodded, curtly.
Drew talks to me, I laugh because it's so funny
That I can't even see anyone when he's with me
He says he's so in love, he's finally got it right,
I wonder if he knows he's all I think about at night…
"What was she like?"
His eyes drifted shut. "I…" they opened again, wide with shock. "I don't remember."
Talin's small, delicate hands covered his eyes. "Try."
He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only one who's got enough of me to break my heart
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do
He's the time taken up, but there's never enough
And he's all that I need to fall into…
He struggled. Soft blue eyes. A laugh. That was all.
"I can't. I can't…" He whispered.
She placed a hand on his heart light and laid her head against it. With his eyes closed, he could almost imagine…
"Try."
Her warmth beside him. A tear. Worry, happiness, sorrow, fear, thousands of emotions flashed across the mask of a being long forgotten. Their adventures, their trials, their arguments.
He opened his mouth, trying to describe everything he was feeling. His eyes remained shut, but he could almost feel Talin's smile. "Don't bother. I can see it on your face." She whispered.
Then she moved away. His eyes opened to find her meek and subdued in the corner of his room. He glanced up as the handle of his door turned.
Roodaka entered with a warm smile. She nodded briefly to Talin and beckoned to Vakama. "Come. There is much to be discussed."
He leapt to his feet, the Hordika in him already struggling to rid itself of the wonder felt moments before. Talin tried to follow, but Roodaka made a staying motion with her hand. "Not this time Talin. I want to see you in my room later tonight, though. I have a special assignment for you."
For a moment, Vakama glanced back in confusion. Then he shrugged and continued on. Talin bowed her head. "I serve Master." She whispered, quiet.
Drew walks by me, can he tell that I can't breathe?
And there he goes, so perfectly,
the kind of flawless I wish I could be
she'd better hold him tight, give him all her love
Look in those beautiful eyes and know she's lucky cause…
As the door shut, Talin found herself wondering why she wanted to say goodbye.
He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
the only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do…
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A/N Anyway, was sup guys? Did you think I forgot? Not happening! Song is Teardrops on my Guitar-Taylor Swift
Merry Christmas! I hope you like it! Reviews will be VERY appreciated!