A big thank you for Yandere Shoujo, doudouchinois, PromiseDreamLife and Suaad for reviewing to the last chapter. Reading your reviews made me extremely happy! *.*
Useless side note: did you notice that, last chapter, I managed to count exactly 30.000 words for my ten first chapters? Really, what's the odds of that happening? XD
Music sugesttion: Come Undone – Duran Duran
Gritting his teeth in anger, Feitan forced himself to stand up on his feet, but he didn't remain in that position for long. His mind was too numb and his legs were too wobbly to support his body, leading the short man to fall back down.
Feitan heard a 'thump' sound and felt a slight pain on the back of his head.
Then he was out.
There were bells ringing in the back of Senritsu's mind. Many, deafening bells that should've made someone with a hearing as sensitive as hers to halt everything that was she was doing, close her eyes and think about her situation carefully.
However, she managed to ignore those warning bells and, for the first time in years, focus more on what she was seeing instead of what she was hearing. And what she saw was her original face and body reflected on the ceiling's mirror, staring back at her lovingly. She was laying on her back, on the silken sheets of the bed with Narcissus beside her, laying on his side and facing her with adoring eyes that she did not truly notice.
The NPC finally raised his hand to caress her arm softly. The bells grew even louder, but they still didn't manage to retrieve Senritsu from her trance.
"I don't want this to end, lovely." Narcissus purred, approaching his mouth to the woman's ear. "Stay here with me. Forever."
Senritsu's jaw dropped slightly and her eyes widened. She was about to turn her face to the NPC, but he quickly grabbed her chin, keeping her eyes turned to the ceiling's mirror.
"Don't turn away from the mirror. You're too beautiful not to look at." Narcissus spoke. "Just listening to me is enough. This is good, isn't it?"
"Yes."
Had Senritsu been paying attention to anything besides her own reflection, she would've seen Narcisus' mouth stretch in a disturbingly wide smile.
"So, why end it? Forget the sonata and stay here. Here, you have what you've always wanted. I gave your true body back to you."
"But-"
"But? Don't you like your true body?"
"Yes, b-"
"No. No buts. Nothing is worth sacrificing this accomplishment. Nothing is worth giving up such beauty." Narcissus spoke firmly. "Stay here. You are worthy more than the sonata, are-"
Thump.
Out of reflex, Senritsu grabbed her flute and sat up quickly as she fixed her eyes on the room's door, from where that soft thumping sound had come from. For the first time since she was served that glass of champagne, she broke her gaze from the mirror's reflection of herself. Head turned to the door and away from Narcissus, she didn't see the almost fearful look in the NPC's eyes as he stared at her back.
"What was-"
Senritsu stopped talking and blinked as she rotated the flute in her hand; her very small and plump hand. Painstakingly slowly, the Music Hunter raised her other hand in front of her face. They were not her true hands. Those hands rose even higher, caressing a fat face with long front teeth, no eyebrows and a bald top of head.
"-that?"
"What are you doing, Miss? Don't waste your precious time like that." Narcissus tried, jumping so he could sit in front of Senritsu on the bed. "Let's go back to admiring yo-"
"Be quiet."
The NPC stopped talking immediately, watching in helplessness as the woman before him closed her eyes and took deep, calming breaths.
I didn't recover my true body for a second. It was all an illusion kept by these mirrors… How could I not see through it before? Senritsu thought, forcing herself to keep calm. The choice of a swingers' club, the interaction with the seductive couple… it was all so I'd believe that Nocturnal intended to use sex to distract me from the Sonata of Darkness when, in truth, he wanted me to lose myself in my own selfish desire of reacquiring my body.
"To forget my objectives because of my own image. How very narcissist of me." Senritsu breathed out with an acid smile on her face; the dark humour behind the choice of the NPC's name was not lost on her.
"Miss, I-"
"Where is the Sonata of Darkness, Narcissus?" The Music Hunter demanded, never once opening her eyes. "Just answer the question. I'm tired of this game."
"Please, Miss, don't-"
Without any kind of warning, Senritsu delivered a punch on the NPC's face, making him fly and hit the opposite wall.
The Music Hunter never focused much on improving her Enhancement Nen, but, as an Emitter, she had a good affinity with it, something that allowed her to hold her own in a fistfight, when the situation demanded it of her.
Eyes still closed, the woman jumped off the bed and walked slowly towards Narcissus, using the sound of his movements to guide her around the room. All the while praying that he wouldn't fight back; she was too tired and Nen-drained to play her Aura-emitting songs and she did not excel or enjoy physical fights.
"The sonata, Narcissus."
Senritsu heard the NPC sigh in defeat as he stood up from the ground. Body tense and ready to fight, she listened attentively as he marched to the bed and moved the pillows a bit. Soon, he was standing right in front of her, offering her a card.
"Take this, Miss." She heard Narcissus speak softly and raised her right arm, moving it a bit in front of her until her fingers met the cool surface of the card. "You'll find the Sonata of Darkness there."
Her eyes were still closed, so Senritsu didn't know where 'there' was. But she could guess that the card she had received was just like the Free Pass to Masadora's Museum of Music; an entrance to the next stage of the quest.
Senritsu summoned her binder and put the card into one of the unnumbered slots. She preferred to check her next destination later than to risk opening her eyes and get caught in the mirror's magic. Again.
"I won't oppose you leaving this place to retrieve the sonata, but Aurora might not be so understanding." Narcissus warned. "She tends to grow attached to the neophytes that come her way. I don't think she'll let your companion go so easily."
"Feitan can handle himself."
"I don't doubt his strength and neither does Aurora. She'll have him out before he notices what is happening." The NPC continued, sitting on the bed. "Her music has a strange effect on people."
The Music Hunter felt something cold grab at her heart. She was worried.
"I see…" Senritsu spoke after some seconds in silence, smiling up at Narcissus' general direction. "Thank you for the warning, Narcissus."
She moved to the door, but stopped.
"… and thank you for what you showed me here." The Music Hunter added as an after-thought. "Years of dwelling in a body such as mine made me forget what vanity was. It also made me forget how dangerous egocentrism actually is. You gave me a good lesson."
With that, Senritsu laid her hand on the doorknob, not seeing the shocked the NPC had been programmed to show.
On Aurora's garden, Feitan's predicament justified Senritsu's concern for him. Not only was the thief out cold due to the plants' sleeping powder, he was also suspended in the air by them. His whole body was entwined by thick vines, full of thorns that pressed deep enough to draw droplets of blood from the thief's arms, legs, torso and neck.
Aurora remained on her spot at the lovers' seat and never stopped playing her harp.
"It seems Narcissus couldn't win his little Missy over." The NPC mused in a melodious voice, observing Feitan's unconscious body with hungry and predatory eyes. "But it doesn't matter, handsome. I won't let her take you from me."
As soon as those words left the NPC's lips, the door of the mirrored room opened, revealing Senritsu's short figure. The Music Hunter's eyes doubled their size as she took what was happening in front of her. Aurora noticed this and smiled sadistically to her.
"Leave now, Missy." Aurora ordered. "I have no interest in you, but he-" The NPC nodded towards Feitan. "-is staying with me."
Senritsu didn't pay attention to the woman's words. Instead, she focused her attention in finding a way around this. Her Aura was exhausted, her foot was throbbing, Feitan was a hostage and the air around her had an odd vanilla-scent that made her hold her breath as a precaution. She was at a great disadvantage and she did not have much time before having to resume breathing.
"Didn't you hear me?" Aurora asked and increased the tempo of her melody. Suddenly, vines started to move around her, ready to attack. "Leave. Now."
The short woman's eyes narrowed when she understood Aurora's power - she was just like that Pianist of Flames, using music to control her surroundings. If only she had a little more Aura, she'd be able to use Winter's Freeze to keep her still for 10 seconds; more than enough time for her to destroy the harp.
Her jaw dropped slightly and her hand tightened around her flute when a sudden thought came to mind.
What if… she left Feitan? She had what she had come to get, after all. She didn't need - didn't want - the thief to accompany her in this quest. His possessiveness had a scary dimension by itself; what if spending more time with him increased it? He may want to keep her as his possession, as some sort of human music box. He may never allow her to leave. But now… now she had the chance to leave him; forever maybe, depending on how Aurora was programmed to act.
Senritsu's grip on her flute tightened even more when realization hit her. She could do more than just leave the thief; she could actually kill him. She could rid Kurapika of one of his demons and pursuers. She could rid the world of a thief and a murder - a Spider.
All it would take was a Nen-enhanced punch to the throat. Unconscious, Feitan wouldn't be able to defend himself with Ken, so even someone as unskilled in Enhancement as Senritsu could kill him.
She should kill him. For the world. For Kurapika.
Suddenly, one of the vines whipped Senritsu across the face, leaving an angry red mark on her cheek and she understood what that action meant all too well. Time was up; she had to make her decision.
Feeling cold sweat streak down her back, Senritsu used Ko to concentrate her Nen in her right fist, and attacked.
Please, forgive me.
Well, another mean cliffhanger... I think I'm starting to develop a sadistic writer's side. -.- Sorry, everyone... =.=
Well, it was a short chapter, but I still hope you enjoyed Senritsu reflections and last second indecision. ;)
Kisses,
RedVoid