This is it folks. The end of the first part of Fire and Ice. And damn, am I proud it. Thanks to all my reviewers and friends that supported me and gave me confidence and courage. This is not the end, though. Part two is in the making and it should be to your liking as well. Special thanks to:
Dragon Fairy: I'm glad to know that my humble writing makes you happy. It really makes my day.
Naria: I know you want it quicker! I'm still trying! I NEED A MUSE!!
Salieiya: I apologize for the delay in mentioning you. I didn't check me reviews till after I had posted chapter nine. Gomen and thank you for checking my stuff.
Rad: Yes, the Gatty thing was VERY important. And, it's explained in this chapter… kind of. And yes, Dakini has a thing for Folken. That's explained too…
Michelle: You deserve to feel loved! You reviewed AND you know what a viola is!
Kai: I'm glad you still like this story ^_^
Fai: Dun worry! I'm sorry this came up so slow for you but all I can say is you have to kinda get used to the cliffhangers. I use them a lot O.o
Fire and Ice
Chapter 10: Death and Deceit
Cerise had lasted through the night, but barely. Twice, had her heart slowed to a dangerous rate, another time it had become dangerously fast. In the morning, though alive, she was still unconscious and pale.
But she was alive.
Dilandau had sat by her side the entire night, one hand on the bed, the other resting on the hilt of his sword. Rage burned inside him; rage at the hopelessness he felt, rage at those that had hurt his love.
Gloved fingers tightened almost painfully around the hilt of his sword, imagining the blood of the one who had caused him this pain on the silver blade.
"Dilandau." Smoldering ruby eyes snapped up to meet dull red ones. Folken looked at him rather blankly. "The one you seek is in the hidden cell down in the prison bay."
Dilandau stared up at the taller man, contemplating his words. Slowly, joints protesting form the lack of movement, he stood up, hand even tighter around his sword.
"Watch her." The Fanelian wasn't sure if it was a command or a plea but sat down beside the sterile bed anyway. Dilandau walked out of the room at a furious pace, snarling when the few remaining Dragon Slayers questioned him.
Folken watched his retreating back, knowing that when Dilandau came back, Cerise wouldn't be there.
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Dakini woke with a low groan, black eyes clouded with confusion, pale hand pressed to her head. Where was she? How had she gotten here? He looked around the room at the blank steel walls, confused. She looked for anyplace where her shadow form could slip out. There was none.
Panic began to set in. Why am I here? Folken-sama… Folken-sama hit me on the head! But… why would he hurt me? He must… he must have wanted to keep me safe. So he put me in here. Yes of course… The shadow was disillusioned, mind gone from years of abuse and tests preformed by the sorcerers.
Footsteps echoed and the door began to move. Dakini sat up straighter, a smile lighting up her features. It was Folken-sama, come to tell her it was safe to come out now.
Her joyous look faded into one of horror as the door opened to reveal an enraged Dilandau.
Those ruby eyes opened and began even darker seeing who the occupant of the room was. Dakini shrank against a corner, terrified, knowing she had pushed the general too far.
Obsidian met garnet and a strangled sob escaped the Shadows lips. Her mind, so clouded by fear did not even realize the door was open for a perfect escape.
"I should have known." Dilandau hissed, the sound of his sword being drawn echoing off the bare walls. And still… Dakini could not tear her eyes away from his.
Even when the gleaming silver blade drove itself through her stomach and out through her back, her eyes remained fixed on Dilandau, albeit slightly wider.
A small cry escaped her lips as the sword was removed and she fell on her hands a knees, black blood dripping onto the floor. Her mouth gasped for air, blood sliding out of her stained lips.
She heard Dilandau's boots click on the floor as he headed towards the door. An oily rag landed in front of her face, and her eyes focused blearily on the silver haired boy once more. As if in slow motion, the match arced through the air towards that piece of cloth.
"Burn in hell Dakini. I'll see you there."
The steel door muffled her screams as it was closed.
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Dilandau, feeling mildly better, knowing that the damned shadow was dead, pushed opened the doors to the medical ward—only to find an empty bed.
His whole body froze, eyes opening wide, breath catching in his throat. A mistake, it had to be a mistake… She had just been here, not twenty minutes ago. Pale, breath erratic, but Cerise had been here alive. She couldn't be dead. She just couldn't…. could she?
"I'm sorry Dilandau. She died minutes after you had left." Folken's voice was quiet, sadness laced through it. Dilandau hadn't noticed him in the room, let alone the inflections in his voice.
Slowly, he turned his eyes to the taller man, body trembling. "Sorry? That's all you can say? IS THAT ALL YOU CAN SAY?!" With a scream of rage and hurt the boy threw himself at Folken, who was surprised by the ferocity he felt in the young man.
Fists pounded brutally on his chest but it did not last for long. They slowly stopped; hollow sobs echoing around the sterile room. Dilandau collapsed against the older man's chest, emotions long suppressed forcing themselves out.
Folken could not help but look at the boy with compassion. "I loved her… I loved her Folken… .why did they have to take her away…" Broken words that twisted the Fanelian's heart.
One hand pulled the limp body to him, the mechanical one sliding around his neck. A small needle appeared from one of the fingers, inserting itself into the pale skin of Dilandau's neck.
Dilandau stiffened then went limp in his arms and Folken easily stood with the thin boy. His eyes lid over.
Tears slid down Cerise's face unashamedly, hands clasped over her mouth to muffle any sound she might make.
"Say goodbye to him. I don't think you'll ever see him again." Folken said softly, watching her silver eyes.
To his surprise she turned away from him, turning her eyes to the floor. "Just go. It hurts already as it is."
Folken nodded and left, walking down the hall to Dilandau's room.
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Cerise waited silently by a large window in Folken's room, knowing that the half draconian would return soon to explain this whole mess to her.
" I don't know if the answers I give will explain what you want to know, Cerise."
She turned at his voice, fingers resting on the bandages under her soft shirt. "Then tell me the best you can."
Folken sat at a wooden table, eyes serious, face sad. "The sorcerers obviously knew about you and Dilandau. And in an effort to keep him the perfect fighting machine, you had to be eliminated. Hence Dakini's intervention."
"And if I had lived, like I did, they would have just kept trying, right? That's why we had to make it look like I really did die." Cerise stared out the window once more, gaze unfocused. "But other things don't make sense. Like why the Slayers barely reacted when my death was announced. I know them; I know at least some of them would react more. And why Dilandau is so important to the sorcerers… who is he really?"
Cerise's eyes met Folken's and she knew he would tell the truth. "The Slayers did not react because it isn't really them."
"Nani?"
Folken looked at her. "Do you know what a clone is?"
"An exact copy of something." Cerise answered instantly. "They were working on it in… Cretia I think."
Folken nodded. " Exactly. The sorcerers used it on the Slayers. They didn't want them, to have such a close relationship with their commander. The originals may be dead or alive."
"So… they're replicas?" Cerise said slowly, feeling bile rise in her throat as Folken nodded. "That is disgusting. They're insane."
"It only gets worse." Came the quiet reply. "Dilandau isn't who you think his is. He may be a boy, with all the right parts and such, but his real name is Celena Schezar. She was kidnapped by the sorcerers and turned into Dilandau."
Cerise narrowed her eyes. "But.. the only share a body. Technically they are separate entities."
"I suppose so…" Folken answered thoughtfully at her reply.
"The there has to be a way to separate them." Cerise noted the surprised look on her former commanders face. "What? You think I'd be stunned? I knew something was wrong with him. I think the sorcerers do have a way to separate them but I think they won't. He's more unstable this way."
Folken just stared at her. "I'm frightened to say, you are probably right. But… you have to go. You cannot stay here."
Cerise looked down. "I know. But whatever form he's in, you are aware I will protect him, as long as I'm alive and I will look for that cure."
Folken nodded.
Taking a shuddery breath, Cerise straightened and made sure she had all her knives. A small sack was slung over her shoulder, holding all she had ever truly owned. Silver eyes met ruby and she bowed, ignoring the pain it caused. "Good luck Folken-sama. I hope we meet again some day."
A sad smile met her words. "So do I… but I fear it will not happen. The twins will take you down. Goodbye Slayer Cerise. It was an honor to know you."
Cerise nodded to him then turned and followed the cat twins out.
It was the last time Folken ever saw her again.
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Dilandau screamed out the Slayers names, strapped down on this cold table, wanting some comfort. Where were they? Cruel faces looked down at him, gleaming needles held.
He screamed again as one spoke. "Commence the memory wipe."
Pain, a needle, in his arm! He thrashed, still screaming, trying to dislodge it to no avail. Memories, faces, they began to fade. Why had he been screaming? Who had he wanted again.
One thing didn't fade though, stubbornly it remained.
One of soft skin, gleaming in firelight and silver eyes gazing up at his, entrancing him. Cerise…
He would not forget her.
Because the end… is merely the beginning.