Swords and Fangs
Chapter 13: Hearts' Burden
By: Demosthenes
"Where there is love, there is pain."
~Spanish Proverb
The cobwebs caressed her hair, nearly looking brown from the lack of proper light. The atmosphere was humid, unbearably so, causing her to choke for want of air. She dared not move a muscle, lest her vocal cords beckon loudly and betray her position. She found that she trusted Ferio and his judgment, though he was supposed to be her enemy. "He doesn't truly know who I am," she thought, mind laying burden under the weight of guilt, "would he be caring as he does if he did know?" She was horrified by her own choice of words, "Caring? Is that it? Does he actually care about me? No. It's that I care about *him*." Her stomach flipped in anxiety, in terror, and in confusion; she was a slayer. With duties and obligations. And no time for the desires of the heart especially since the desire of her heart was her enemy. "The desire of my heart," she nearly whispered to herself, "Is that what he is?" Her mind didn't need to answer the question because her heart replied for her, and it said yes. Her brain retorted with a thousand reasons why such a love was insane. Why it was impossible and fanciful. And it brought back images from her childhood to make its point…
"Concentrate, Fuu. Concentrate on your enemy," the deep voice explained while situating her childish fingers on the bow. Only five and a bow already in her hand. She shot at the target. And hit her mark. There was a deep sigh of contentment, "Good girl. You're learning."
"Sir, why must I go through this every day?" she inquired in the honeyed voice of reason.
"Because very bad creatures called vampires are hurting everyone. And we need you to save us," the resonant voice answered.
"Like a superhero?" she asked, small emerald orbs gleaming.
"Yes. Like a superhero."
She sighed, "I sure don't feel like a superhero," she thought to herself. "Or maybe I do. Maybe like one of those tragic superheroes who fall in love with their greatest enemy." She closed her eyes, immersing her vision in utter darkness and then opened them again in hopes that they would have adjusted to the darkness. It was only a little bit easier to see now, not much, but enough. Her eyes spotted many objects that she could not identify on the other side of the room covered in blankets of cobwebs, but she had neither the strength nor courage to go and investigate.
* * *
"I said are you hiding something?" Clef repeated the question, while gripping his staff tighter.
"No," Ferio answered, golden eyes glimmering with defiance, "Of course not."
Clef raised an eyebrow and then motioned for Ferio to move aside, "Then you wouldn't mind if I took a look."
Ferio hesitated, and then moved aside, holding his breath, hoping, Clef would not see her. And if he did, maybe she could play dead or something along those lines. Clef glared at the door for a moment – the door once adorned with fanciful tapestry, not peeled and soiled, the once glorious testimony now killed by the hands of time and negligence.
* * *
"Then you wouldn't mind if I took a look." The words pounded through Fuu's veins, pushing her heart into her throat. There was only one thing that she could do, and that was to make her way to the back of the room. With a deep breath, she gathered all the mettle within her and let the adrenaline conquer her muscles. She felt similar to a squirrel about to be pounced on by a hawk, with the only option for escape was to jump into a bottomless pit of tar. But there was no time for assessing her options. She would have to run or risk getting caught. And her choice was running – her muscles took flight, carrying her to the other side of the room through curtains of sticky cobwebs. She had to bite her lip to keep from screaming as the webs embraced her and the air became as dense as lead. She stumbled, tripped, and finally, pressed herself behind an object that was rectangular like a coffin. And that was when the door swung open.
* * *
Clef peered into the darkness, at first glance it seemed that no one would be hiding in there. But then realization swept over him – cobwebs that had been intact over the duration the room had been abandoned were freshly broken. He held his staff high into the air and muttered an incantation, causing the orb on top of it to glow brightly with light. Behind the coffin, Fuu had to shield her eyes. "Come out, human," Clef nearly growled, the orb can sense your presence. "But not just any human. Come out SLAYER!"
Ferio's mouth fell wide open at his words, "Slayer? What do you mean Slayer?"
Fuu, having no other choice, stood up from her position, her green armor glittering in the orb light. She stood, clenching her fists, biting her lower lip, and nearly shivering in fear.
"Have I taught you nothing, Ferio? Look at her armor! Clearly that is the apparel of a slayer!" Clef shouted pointing to the glimmering emerald attire. Ferio looked at her in horror and realization. Clef was right. It indeed was a slayer. "What's your name?" Clef spat, "I have your friends so don't even think about lying."
"Fuu," she answered, eyes looking down to block out the look of horror on Ferio's face.
Ferio nearly snarled, "You lied to me. So, your intention all along was to kill me. I can't believe I was so stupid as to not see that!"
"No…" Fuu choked out, trying to hold back the tears that she couldn't believe were nearly flowing out.
I'm sorry that it was all Fuu/Ferio. I promise, I'm going to get L/H and A/U very very soon! ^_^ Don't you just love the cliff hanger? Anyway, if you want to know when the next chapter will be up just send me an email at ladydemosthenes9@yahoo.com. Ja ne!