Author's Notes:
Happy New Year, everyone!
Enjoy!
Chapter 28 - Trigger
"It's true" Matthias said, "your eyes do look different!"
Lisa got up and headed straight into the corridor. She placed herself in front of the wall mirror and took a close look at her own eyes. It was true. Their appearance had changed. Just as if they had been struck by lightning silver lines had appeared on the fir green iris of them. She turned around and headed straight back into the kitchen.
Jacqueline arose. "Whit things as they are," she said, "I will take my leave."
She walked by a seemingly clueless Lisa, took her cloak from the cloak hanger and was about to head out. Lisa grabbed her hand and stopped her. "Wait! What is going on?" she demandingly asked.
Jacqueline turned around to meet the Awakened Being's gaze. "Please refrain from touching me" she said expressionlessly. Intimidated by her mere look Lisa let go off her and cautiously stepped back. "I am sorry, but…" she began, as Jacqueline interrupted her: "Don't get the wrong idea. I see you as a monster, regardless of your situation. I will, however, only watch for now."
Lisa lowered her gaze. Argueing with Jacqueline was pointless. She did not understand what had happened and even though she wanted to know what was going on, she decided to be glad about being able to stay alive.
"May I ask something else, at least?"
"Go ahead, Lisa" the former Organization's warrior answered.
"How… is Hitomi?" she asked, smiling faintly.
Jacqueline turned around again. "Well" she answered.
"I see," Lisa answered, "that's good to hear."
She moved a little closer to Jacqueline, who regarded her warily. "Now that you are here, I will have you relay some information to her. Will that be possible?"
"I have neither intention nor time to meet her" she said and turned around again, ready to leave.
"Even if she dies?" Lisa shot back. Though Jacqueline's hand was already at the door handle she did not leave. She sighed. "Well, all right," she said, faint signs of her being on edge vibrating in her voice, "I'll just play along and ask: in what kind of danger is she and how would what you have to tell her save her?"
Lisa's face turned a little brighter. "Let us go for a walk, Jacqueline."
###
South of Arnea a warrior who had herself hidden iside the woods was looking towards the town in the north. "Rado will be interested in this" she whispered and then rushingly left.
###
The both of them had walked around Arnea two times and where standing in front of the town's gates. Lisa's facial expression had become stern. The tall woman did not face her anymore. Even though Lisa could not feel her former comrade's Yoki she was well aware how what she had said had influenced Jacqueline.
Lisa turned around to face Arnea and made a few steps. "I can not force you to do what I asked you to, but I think it is in your interest to act like I asked you to."
"Tell me but one thing, Lisa…" Jacqueline demanded.
"Sure" the Awakened Being answered.
"How reliable is that ability of yours? How likely is that what you said would happen actually will?"
Thruthfully Lisa answered: "Up until today it has never been wrong."
"I seee" Jacqueline answered, unconsciously stopping to completely suppress her Yoki. Lisa eyes widened instantly upon feeling Jacqueline's Yoki. The latter thanked for the information and in an instant was gone.
Lisa sunk to her knees and began to shiver all over her body. She, an Awakened Being, was filled with terror. It was not Jacqueline's Yoki that had scared her out of her skin. Lisa had been struck by her own special ability: It was for but an instant, but when Jacqueline stopped suppressing her Yoki she had seen her as a black, winged beast. The monster she had seen her as was an insanely towering creature. And at that creatures feet lay the remainders of Hitomi.
"What… What…" she stumbled. Realization began to fill her mind as she stumbled to herself: "Have… I… j-just… triggered… Jacqueline's Awakening?
###
'Liara!' Jacqueline was shouting inwardly.
'You will end today!'
###
Carefully she was placing a wine glass filled with a white wine on the table, in front of a well-dressed young man. As she was about to place the bottle the wine came from back onto the serving cart the man signalled her to place it on his table, instead.
She bowed down and placed the bottle on the table. "May I get you something else, Master Beteigeuze?"
He turned his gaze towards her and, brightly smiling, suggested: "I am in the mood for some music. Piano. Makarov, maybe?"
"My, you seem to be in a good mood today, Master Beteigeuze" she said while putting a record of the classical componist Makarov on the phonograph and began to play it.
"Does it seem like that?" he asked innocently. "Well, you might indeed be right."
"May I ask the reason, Master Beteigeuze?"
He took a sip of his wine. "Ah, it is nothing too big actually. But you could say that one of my beloved candidates' Awakening will take place just as I hoped it would. You should, by the way, know her, too, Sistina."
"My, you aren't talking about Jacqueline by any chance?"
"Why, yes! You could say that things are proceeding excellently!"
She placed herself right next to him and put her hand onto his shoulder. "I hope that she will be able to live up to the high hopes that you have put into her."
"Time will tell, Sistina, time will tell" he said before taking another sip of wine.
Author's notes:
What is it that Lisa has told Jacqueline? What is going to happen to Liara now? And what was Lisa's vision about? Stay tuned for the following updates and find out!
I thank you again for reading and reviewing.
kstefan88
