The Next Morning...
Ciara's POV
Azure eyes slowly opened as I awoke from another dreamless, yet refreshing slumber. Even though my eyes opened, I was unable to tell what the time was within the confines of the cell. It only made me realize that I was still hear, and everything that had happened yesterday was a reality. Sighing, I rubbed my face to wake myself up and and moved into a sitting position on the cold bed.
Yesterday's events between Erol and I still lingered in my mind, as I had been thinking about it long after I drifted to sleep. Although I had thought about it for most of the night, not a single dream had come to me in my sleep, much to my surprise. It must not have been as important as I thought it was, I told myself as I pushed away the thin blanket that failed to keep me warm. If I did not dream of it, then it did not matter to me. That was what I believed, at least. Despite that, though, the moment I woke up, that single memory still came rushing back to my mind, bothering me and nagging at me to a point where I wanted to just go back to sleep and forget it ever happened. It would not leave me alone no matter how hard I tried to push it to the side for awhile and focus on the new day amongst the Krimzon Guards. What Erol and I had in the past, or at least what I thought we had, died off years ago. They were crushed when he decided to betray me and everything we lived up for, everything we promised to do, everything we promised to be some day.
Sighing in frustration, I swung my legs off the side of my bed and simply sat there, staring at the ground with a blank stare. But why, I wondered. Why would he even try to pull a stunt like that, especially when he was with Rachel? Things just did not add up. Knowing Erol, he was never the one to cause anyone to have mixed emotions about...well, anything, especially when it came to someone like me. He was always straightforward and to the point, never hiding how he felt about the little things, like people who tried to mess with him. When it came to feelings and relationships, though, I knew he was a completely different person altogether. Still, he seemed to feel uncomfortable to talk about it at first, but it was usually because he did not know how to word most things in the right way and 1) have make it make sense and 2) not have him sound like the arrogant asshole everyone knew. I could not blame him that much, for I was the same way when I first started talking about the more personal things of my past life.
Pursing my lips, I placed my face in my hands. Relationships are stupid, pointless...and a pain in my ass.
The sound of the prison doors opening echoed throughout my prison room, making me look up toward it to see who it was that was coming to see me at this time of day. It could not have been the Baron; only the Precursors knew what he was up to at this time of day...whatever the time was, seeing how this place never got any real sunlight that was not the light of the ones already here. As the door opened completely, the figure entered the room rather quickly, barely even saying a word to me at all. Suddenly, before I could get a word out, something was thrown right into my face, some soft material I presumed, that landed on my lap soon after. I frowned the moment the material fell upon my lap, and my brows furrowed as I looked up to find a very familiar, and actually wanted, face smiling innocently at me.
"A good morning would have been a little better, Casey," I said blandly as I picked up the pile and placed it next to me next to me.
The therapist giggled at my words.
"I was just getting to that, my dear fugitive," she responded in a matter-of-fact tone of voice as she placed a pair of black, knee high combat boots right next to my feet. "Good morning, sweetheart!"
My frown grew slightly as she lightly pat my cheek a few times.
"Don't call me sweetheart," I growled, pushing her hands away from my cheeks. "I hate that word."
She laughed at my angered and annoyed expression before saying, "Alright, alright. I'm just messing with you." Her head tilted to the side a moment as she observed me. "You look like a pouty little girl when you're annoyed."
Rolling my eyes, I ran a hand through my disheveled bangs and asked, "What are you doing here, anyway? I didn't think you would be up at this time of day."
She laughed again and placed her hands on her hips.
"It's only nine in the morning, Ciara," she stated. I blinked as she went on. "I usually wake up at eight in the morning on a normal schedule, and it takes me an hour to get ready for the day." She shrugged innocently. "Besides, I woke up at least a half an hour early to get ready and grab some clothes for you."
I raised an eyebrow with slight interest.
"Clothes?" She nodded as I glanced at the material next to me before looking back at her. "You mean you woke up a half an hour early, got ready, and came all this way down here...just to bring me...clothes?"
"Of course!" She smiled cheerfully. "We wouldn't want you wearing those all the time, now would we?"
Blinking again, I glanced down at my own attire, which was what I had worn back in Spargus before arriving under the custody of the Krimzon Guard. It was what I had worn all the time, granted I had taken the time before heading to bed to wash everything as thoroughly as possible. Not only that, but I did have other clothes to wear when I was not on the job. There is nothing wrong with my attire, I thought as I looked back at the clothes. Just because it was out of the normal within the palace walls did not mean I had to wear the same things that everyone else wore. However, this was Casey I was talking about, and she did not particularly enjoy listening to the Baron and his orders all that much to begin with. What did she have mind when picking out an outfit for me? Did she look for one that would best suit me while going against everything the Baron planned at the same time?
Pursing my lips, I looked back at her, noticing her glancing back and forth between me and the clothes. Well, I told myself as I outwardly sighed, I can't trust anyone else here, and Casey's the only person who is actually making an effort in...well, anything. What did I have to lose?
"Whatever..." I muttered as I rolled my eyes and picked up the first article of clothing, which happened to the be a shirt of sorts.
As I picked it up, I looked it over and realized that it was a grey colored tank top. My eyes widened a bit at the side, and I could have sworn I felt a blush creeping onto my face. Around the waist of the top was a blue colored waistband with rectangular buckle, which could be said to show off the few curves I might have had, if I could call them that since, according to Rachel back in the day, I was "as thin and curvaceous as a wooden plank." Looking down at the other clothes, I spotted a pair of dark colored fingerless gloves and a dark blue weapon strap, one that would go around my waist. For what weapons I would be carrying was beyond my knowledge. A pair of black shorts went with it, stopping several inches above the knees. A dark colored, button up vest lied on top of the clothes as well, probably to cover up what was showing of my shoulders.
I glared over at Casey, who had a sheepish and childlike expression on her face. It was as if she expected the expression on my face to appear, and the outfit was pretty much intentional.
"Is this some kind of a joke?" I hissed angrily, gripping the top to a point where it almost ripped in two. "Because as you can see, I'm not laughing." It was clear she had picked it out to poke fun at me, seeing as how I would be in a palace filled with mostly men added with the fact that she may or may not have been trying to restore what was left of my relationship with Erol.
"Nope," she responded. "No jokes here. I picked it out myself!"
I raised an eyebrow, not really impressed with her answer, before questioning, "You know, this almost makes it seem like I'm dressing up like some hooker?" When she continued smiling, I shook my head as I stood up. "Alright, whatever..." I murmured as I began taking off my armor and placing it on the metal bed.
"I'll keep this closed just in case," said Casey as she turned around and walked out of the cell. "Oh, and I made sure the cameras weren't recording, just in case there were any guards that happen to pass by while you were changing."
For the first time, a small, very small, smile graced my lips at her words as I began taking off my top and throwing it atop the armor.
"How...thoughtful...of you," I called out just as she began closing the door. It was at that point that, as I picked up the top and began slipping it on, it dawned on me all of a sudden.
Why was she being so...kind to me, I wondered. Why would she be so willing to speak to me and not even pretend to be afraid of what I was, what I had become? She was different in comparison to the other Krimzon Guards, that much I could easily. However, I never really knew anyone who was similar to her rebelliousness, other than Torn. If I could recall, he was very much similar to Casey in some aspects. The only difference between the two was that he actually had the guts to quit and join the Underground, let alone become their leader. Casey, not that she was afraid to do so, simply remained here and took it all, even though it was clear she did not like the Baron's dictatorship just as much as Torn. With that being said, why would she allow herself to deal with everything that was happening instead of leaving alongside Torn? Was she waiting for the right time to make her move? Probably when the Baron pulled – or planned to pull – something so drastic she would swoop in and put a stop to it, making herself into a traitor like Torn – in a good way.
Azure eyes lowered slightly as I finished putting on the top and locking the waistband in place at the front before moving toward the vest - a black, bleach studded vest. She truly is, I told myself as I slipped the vest on, one of the most confusing people I had ever met. Then, a small smile graced my lips. And yet, she is the most interesting as well.
After slipping on the vest and choosing to leave it open for the top to be seen, I moved on the shorts. I began stripping myself of the pair I had on, looking toward the door to be sure no one was peeking inside before continuing. It was an unconscious action, yet it was one I never questioned. Suddenly, the sound of another door within the prison was heard opening, making me pause again as if I were looking at whoever it was walking in sudden. Fortunately, I had Casey for that, and knowing her, she knew the definition of privacy.
"Oh, Erol! Good morning to you!" She spoke, making me curse under my breath. What the Hell is Erol doing here?! "I didn't expect to see you here, especially at such an early hour of the morning!"
"Casey? What are you doing here?" The voice of the Commander echoed as his boots began approaching my cell.
"Oh, not much. Just waiting for Ciara to get changed into a more appropriate attire for the day," she stated. I shook my head as I threw the shorts atop my discarded top, bandages, and armor before picking up the new shorts that were there.
"Changing?" Erol questioned. "Why would she be changing?"
"Well, she isn't going to be staying here with those clothes all of the time, now is she?"
A short moment of silence passed by before Erol muttered, "I guess not."
"What are you doing here, anyway?" Casey questioned as I slipped on the shorts before moving onto the gloves, realizing that they had metal plates on them along with an engraving of a Seal of Mar on both. "Usually, you're up by about nine in the morning. You know, when I have to wake your lazy ass up."
"I came to get Ciara." He stated, ignoring the last comment. "The Baron has requested her presence." His words made me stop just as I picked up the gloves and slowly looked over at the door.
"Alright," Casey responded just as I was looking at the door, "but...what do you want to see her for?"
"What are you talking about?" The Commander asked.
"You didn't come down here just to get her for the Baron, I know that much." She stated. "There's something else to it, something more than just what Praxis wants. And I want to know what it is." She paused for thought. "I'm curious, that's all. No need to give me that look."
It took a moment before the Commander sighed with defeat and responded with a low voice, "I just...want to see her..."
What's with him, I wondered to myself as I slowly began pulling off the brown gloves I had on. After a long moment of silence, I heard Casey laugh bit, mutter a small "Okay," and then the sound of the cell door – my cell door – opening. Cursing under my breath, I quickly finished putting on one of the gloves before I moved on to slip on the boots that were still residing next to my bed. Then, I pulled out the tan cloth that kept my hair back in it's low ponytail, shaking it out and running my hands through it as best as I could. Once that was out of the way, I removed my other brown glove and tossed the both of them with the other clothes before looking down at the necklace that still resided on my hand. Once again, it had begun glowing, and it bewildered me for just a moment before I chose against worrying about it. Instead, I clenched my hand to hide it before slipping on the black glove, hiding it from view, before looking over at the door, which opened completely to reveal both Casey and Erol. Right in the nick of time.
"Alright, Commander," said the therapist as she walked in, still looking over shoulder toward him. "You wanted to see her," She looked back at me, "well, here she-"
She stopped walking and speaking at that point just as she looked at me, looking over the attire she had given to me. Blinking, I glanced over at Erol, only to find that he, too, was staring at me, his mouth slightly ajar as his eyes scanned over me for just a moment. Not really sure as to what to say his expression, I returned my attention back to Casey, who now wore that mischievous smile on her face. My eyes narrowed slightly, not feeling very comfortable with people staring at me in such an odd way.
"Do you mind?" I spoke in a bit of a sarcastic tone, crossing my arms over my chest as if trying to hide something. "I'm very self-conscious about people staring at me, you know?"
"Wow..." Casey said, looking over me once more before placing my hands on my shoulders. "Ciara, you look...you look so-"
"Beautiful..." Eyes widened with surprise as my gaze immediately locked onto the amber orbs of the Commander, who was now staring into my azure ones with a bit of a dazed look. Casey also looked over at him, appearing surprised by his sudden choice of words. Silence enveloped the three of us as Casey and I stared at him, while he kept his eyes locked on me.
In that instant, something snapped, some strong, powerful memory that was locked away in my subconscious was immediately reawakened by that single word. It was a time when Erol and I were younger, many years ago, back before our relationship fell apart and we grew distant. It was one day, one single day that I, now, could not longer shake out of my head no matter how hard I tried. It stuck to me, and forced me to relive it over and over until it was engraved in my mind permanently. At that moment, I felt nothing at all. No other emotion seemed to enter my body, and I was just stuck on one single feeling. It was nothing but pure happiness. Happiness that actually made a small smile grace my lips. Unlike the others, this one that sent to Erol, of all the people in the world, was actually genuine. Not many people had been able to seen a genuine smile. Damas was one of the few exceptions that I could think of, since I greatly respected him and idolized him as a great leader, but to Erol? In my mind, I mentally kicked myself just as a smile graced the Commander's lips as well. He noticed my smile, and I knew for sure he was going to use it to his advantage in the coming future.
"Umm..." The both of us blinked as we looked at Casey, who was looking between the both of us with an odd expression. For a moment, she seemed confused as to what just happened, before realization struck her features and she smiled as if the fact was something she wanted. Not wanting her to say anything else, I cleared my throat, forcing away the blush that had formed on my cheeks.
"A-anyway," I looked over at Erol, but did not look him in the eye, "y-you said the Baron wanted to see me, correct?"
It took a moment for Erol to mutter a small, "Y-yeah..."
Trying not to worry about the previous events for a second time, I nodded once before swiftly moving past him, doing my best not to bump into him. Casey following close behind, and I kept my head low to avoid eye contact with him again. Oddly enough, a blush began to fill my cheeks as I, once again, recalled Erol's comment, yet I tried not to worry about it too much. However, as I was distracted by that, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Looking over my shoulder, I spotted Casey, who had a small smile on her face.
"Why don't you go on ahead and wait at the door, Ciara?" She told me in a low tone. "I've gotta talk to Erol about something...important."
Not in the mood to question her or wonder why, I nodded once before picking up my pace, wanting to get the Hell out of there as fast as I could. Just as I approached the doors leading out of the prison and into the fortress, I look over my shoulder for just a brief moment, a moment that I thought was bad timing. Just before the doors closed behind, I caught Erol's eyes looking me, and for a split second, a small, very noticeable smile appeared on my lips. It was the first time in years that he ever made me smile...even if it was a small one.