Chapter 29
Clare couldn't stand the way Priscilla wrapped her arms around her own waist, holding her like a child would hold its mother. She hated the way Priscilla stared at her, not with hatred or disgust, but with innocence and compassion. She tried her hardest to blank out the innocent looking girl that was before her, and instead, visualise that monster that took Teresa's head, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't do it and it infuriated her. She couldn't stand the fact that life had played such a cruel trick on her, making it almost impossible for her to fulfil her one goal in life, to kill Priscilla.
"G…et…off…me…" Clare grumbled in a voice that sounded as if the very action of communicating with Priscilla was physically painful for her.
Hearing this, Priscilla immediately let go of Clare's waist and got to her feet. She attempted to help Clare do the same, but a violent push from Clare immediately made it apparent that her help was not wanted.
The ghosts turned their attention on to Raki who began to approach Priscilla from behind, holding some sort of fabric in his arms. It became obvious that the fabric he held was actually the cape from his armor, which he must have ripped off.
"Clare…she was only trying to help…" Raki said as he wrapped the cape around Priscilla's naked body.
Clare couldn't find it in herself to respond to Raki. She was furious with him, furious at life, and furious with herself for not destroying Priscilla when she had the chance. Raki's heart sank when the only response he got from Clare was a cold shoulder as she tried to get to her feet. It was obvious to everyone that Clare was in much pain, and that she needed help to get to her feet, but none of them dared to interact with her in such an unpredictable and disturbed state. She eventually managed to stand, and turned her attention on to Teresa, who still lay against the cold ground.
"Are you strong enough to walk Teresa?" Clare asked concernedly as she approached her.
"I'll be fine Clare" she responded as she attempted to sit up, but her wounded body forced her to give up and lye back down.
Noticing this, Clare knelt down before Teresa, placing her arms underneath her. Before she could pick her up, Teresa's face turned to one of concern as she spoke:
"Clare…you're injured yourself…you can't lift me…"
"It's nothing" Clare brushed off as she proceeded to lift Teresa up in her arms. She held her in a bridal position, with one of her arms supporting Teresa's back and the other supporting her legs.
"Are you sure you're fine Clare? That wound on your abdomen is…"
"Teresa, I'm carrying you whether you want to be carried or not" Clare replied.
"I suppose there's no arguing with you now is there?" Teresa answered with a faint smile on her lips.
"We're leaving" Clare announced, as she turned her back towards the others, while holding Teresa in her arms, ready to continue the journey back towards Rabona.
"Clare is right, we cannot stay here for long Miria said in her commanding voice. She turned to face the rest of her squad as she added: "The organization might have picked up all the commotion, we leave immediately"
She turned to an injured Riful who was being held by Dauf as she spoke: "Are you alright Riful?"
"I've seen better days, but I'm fine" the little girl replied in Dauf's arms.
"Let's go" Miria finished, as she turned her back towards them and began to walk towards Clare.
"Clare…what do we do with Priscil…" Miria said, but abruptly cut her words short, realizing that Clare was in no mood of speaking to anyone.
"She won't hurt anyone…" Raki said from behind them.
An awkward silence set upon the group as he nervously waited for some sort of response, especially from Clare. However, Clare continued to stand defiantly where she stood, with her back coldly facing him, sending a clear message that his words meant nothing to her.
"Raki…" Clare suddenly announced, breaking the awkward silence, with her back still facing him. "I don't know exactly what Priscilla is to you...and I don't care. I only ask that if you continue to be with her…"
She paused for a moment, looking as if she thought deeply about her next words: "You stay away from me…"
The others could barely believe what Clare had just said, and the tone she used to go with it. Miria could see the shocked and distraught look on Raki's face. It was obvious that he also wasn't expecting anything like that from Clare. His face showed signs of guilt, and even some signs of betrayal as he continued to stare at his old friends' back. Miria was waiting for some sort of response from Raki, but after not hearing one, she walked up to Clare and gave her a nod, indicating that she was ready to leave.
"I'm going to follow you" Priscilla said from behind the rest of the ghosts, as they were about to leave.
"I suppose no one can stop you if you want to" Miria said confidently from the front of the pack, looking back at Priscilla who stood awkwardly by herself a small distance away from everyone.
Raki didn't know whether he should walk with Priscilla or with the ghosts. He wanted to walk with Priscilla mainly because he didn't want her to be by herself, but he knew that if he did, he might jeopardize his relationship with Clare permanently, and that was something he would never want. He decided to walk with the ghosts for now, but every so often he would glance back at the awakened being that he lived with for the past seven years.
The walk back to Rabona was rather long and uncomfortable for everyone. The group had been walking for a few hours already, and in that time, not even Helen could find the words to start even the smallest of conversations. Clare and Miria were at the front of the pack, while Priscilla stayed at the very back, lagging behind the rest of them.
"That's enough Clare…I can walk now," Teresa said softly from Clare's arms.
"Are you sure?" Clare asked, looking rather unconvinced.
"Put me down"
Clare reluctantly lowered Teresa's feet towards the ground, holding on to her tightly, making sure that she wouldn't fall over. At first it seemed that Teresa was strong enough to stand on her own, but almost fell over when she attempted to take a small step forward. Noticing this, Miria ghosted behind Teresa, gently breaking her fall.
"Teresa…don't be afraid to show weakness…we all know you cannot stand" Miria spoke.
Teresa lowered her face in sadness, knowing that she had been caught out. Indeed she was not used to being weak in front of others, and there was a part of her that still refused to believe that she barely had the strength to stand, yet alone walk. She especially wanted to be strong for Clare, and almost felt ashamed that it was Clare, the little girl who she saved from a yoma, that was taking care of her instead.
Clare could immediately see what Teresa was thinking just by looking at her face. She knew that Teresa was just as, if not more stubborn than herself. She gently grabbed Teresa from Miria's arms, holding her in the same bridal position as before.
"Teresa…you have taken care of me so many times…let me take care of you this time" Clare said warmly.
A little smile developed on Teresa's lips as the two stared into each other's eyes.
"Thank you…Clare" Teresa uttered softly as she closed her eyes and leant her head against Clare's shoulder, trying to get the rest her body so desperately craved.
"Teresa….you know you don't have to thank me" Clare replied gently.
Their short moment was interrupted by the arrival of Priscilla, who approached Clare and Teresa from behind. She began to walk closer towards the two, with a concerned look on her face as she eyed Teresa closely.
"What….do you want?" Clare grumbled furiously, lowering her head to avoid eye contact with Priscilla, as if the very action of looking at her made her sick.
"Teresa fell…and I want to make sure she's alright" Priscilla replied as she locked her eyes on Teresa, looking genuinely concerned.
"Your help is not wanted...get lost" Clare answered angrily.
"I'm glad to see that she is alright, is there anything you need me to do?"
Clare pretended that she didn't hear a word that Priscilla said, and chose to make that clear by taking a moment to scan her surroundings. She turned her attention to the edge of a steep cliff they had been walking by for a while now, and then returned her gaze back on to Priscilla.
"Jump off that cliff" Clare ordered coldly.
Priscilla took a moment to glance at the Cliffside Clare spoke of, and then returned her attention back on to her.
"Alright…" she said in a cheerless tone, sounding as if she was disappointed with what she had just heard.
After a short moment of hesitation, Priscilla began walking towards the edge of the Cliffside with a look of sadness on her face, but was stopped in her tracks as Raki stood in her way.
"You don't have to do that Priscilla," He said as he gave Clare an odd stare.
"Whatever" Clare brushed off with an annoyed look on her face, as she took a step forward, continuing the journey towards Rabona.
It was late at night when the ghosts finally arrived at Rabona, entering the great city through the usual secret southern side entrance. Priscilla continued to follow them the entire way, and Miria wasn't comfortable with the idea of such a monstrous awakened being following them back to their base of operations. It was obvious that Priscilla had no intentions on leaving the group any time soon, and there was nothing she, or anyone else in the group could do about it.
They walked through the streets under the cover of the darkness, until they finally arrived at the grand Cathedral, and proceeded towards the side of the great building, where the entrance to their secret base was hidden behind a thick bush. Miria, who lead the group, stopped at the bush and turned around, looking at all the faces that looked back at her. She eventually identified Priscilla standing all by herself a small distance away from the others as she out a large sigh. She didn't mind allowing Riful into their base, seeing as she had already proven herself and that she was injured, but Priscilla was another story altogether. Priscilla was even more powerful that Teresa, and the thought of being under the same roof as someone like that sent shivers down her spine.
The rest of the ghosts knew exactly what Miria was thinking, as they themselves were thinking the same thing. They nervously glanced at Priscilla who stood by herself a small distance away, then returned their gaze back to their captain, hoping that she would give them an answer to the question that plagued their minds.
"Just give Priscilla a chance…" Raki announced to the surprise of everyone, as he began to walk towards an astonished looking Priscilla, and putting a hand on her shoulder.
All eyes abruptly turned to Clare as they awaited for her response, but the short haired warrior seemed to ignore their curious gazes, and instead of responding to them, she gently lowered Teresa's feet against the ground, making sure that this time she wouldn't fall over. With a reassuring gesture from Teresa, telling her that she was all right to stand on her own, Clare released her grip from her as she set her gaze upon her comrades.
"I know that allowing Priscilla to be under the same roof as everyone is too much to ask right now, but are you alright with her staying on the rooftop overnight?" Raki asked.
"Whatever" Clare brushed off, sounding rather annoyed that she was forced to answer a question that involved Priscilla.
She then turned around and walked into the thick bushes, using her hands to move the leaves and branches out of her way as she opened the large door and entered the hideout, with Teresa closely following her from behind.
"Well I suppose that's the best response you can expect from Clare," Miria sighed as she turned to face Raki: "Just try not to push it too far alright? Clare can really be a handful…"
"I know…" Raki responded, lowering his head in sadness.
With that, all attention returned back on to Priscilla, whose body was still covered by the torn cloak Raki had given her. The cloak was barely large enough to cover her entire body, and the others knew that it must have been quite embarrassing and rather uncomfortable for her to continue wearing it like she did.
Miria let out another sigh as she turned her attention on to an embarrassed looking Priscilla as she spoke: "We can't just leave you out here with you wearing that… we have clothes inside that will be far more comfortable to wear."
The other ghosts could barely believe that Miria was brave enough to even speak to this monster that had defeated Riful and Teresa. They remained dead silent as they nervously awaited a response from her, not knowing what to expect.
Almost immediately after hearing those words from Miria, Priscilla's gloomy face changed to one of cheerfulness as she politely spoke:
"Thank you very much, I'm very sorry for inconveniencing you like that, and I don't mean to intrude"
Miria, like the others, were rather surprised to hear such a warm response from Priscilla, a response that made them question whether this individual standing before them was really the monster she was set out to be, or just another unfortunate fallen Claymore like themselves.
"You were a former number two is that correct?" Miria questioned.
"Yes…that is correct" Priscilla answered, lowering her head in sadness as if her rank reminded her of her dark past.
"My name is Miria, I am the captain of this rebellion, this is Helen, Deneve, Cynthia, Tabitha and Uma" she said as she pointed to each ghost: "and you already know Teresa and Clare obviously"
"A pleasure to meet you" Priscilla responded.
"Alright, you may briefly enter our premises, but only until we find you a new pair of clothes."
After finishing her sentence, Miria made her way towards the entrance of their secluded base, using her arms as a plough to move the leaves and branches that stood in her way. The rest of them immediately began to follow, With Raki and Priscilla staying at the very back, following the rest up the spiral staircase and entering a large room when they finally reached the top.
"Miria… I'm sure you don't need me to tell you exactly how powerful these awakened beings you brought back are" Galatea announced shakily as she sat against a table in the middle of the large room.
Clare immediately turned to face the direction of the newcomers, only to be disgusted seeing Priscilla standing among them.
"Thank you Galatea, but I am perfectly aware of how powerful these two are" Miria replied, sounding rather uncertain about herself.
"Tell me…that being with you…would that happen to be the one horned beast…Priscilla?" the blind warrior said with deathly fear evident in her voice.
"It just so happens to be…"
"I hope you know exactly what it is you are doing" Galatea informed in a wise, but doubtful voice.
"Raki, Priscilla, Audrey and Riful...This is our base of operations, and the place where we spend the night" Miria announced as she turned around to face them.
As expected, Clare, who sat next to Teresa on a table in the far corner of the room, hastily got to her feet and stormed towards the corridor, clearly disliking the idea that Priscilla was under the same roof as herself. Teresa, who now sat by herself, gave Priscilla, then Miria an odd stare as she spoke:
"Why did you allow Priscilla inside?" She sneered, with a tone that made it clear that she was also uncomfortable with Priscilla's presence.
"Only so we could give her an outfit, she only has a torn cape to cover her body." The captain replied.
"So now she wants to play dress ups? Teresa said crossly, folding her arms in incompliance.
Ignoring Teresa's obvious sarcasm, Miria walked towards the end of the room and opened a small compartment attached to the side of the wall. After scurrying through the contents, she eventually found a suit that matched Priscilla and pulled it out. The suit that she held in her hands was similar to the one Tabitha had given Teresa only a few days ago, with the exception of size of course. Priscilla was a smaller and thinner warrior that the former number one.
"This one should suit you fine," Miria said as she handed the suit over to Priscilla.
"Thank you" She responded as she grabbed the neatly folded suit with her right hand, while using her other hand to prevent Raki's torn cloak from falling off her body.
"Do you have a dressing room or something Miria?" Raki questioned, as he stood next to Priscilla.
"Yes, there is a room she can change in just down the hallway, second room to your right"
"Alright thanks, common Priscilla" he said as he gestured for Priscilla to follow him towards the hallway.
The two of them continued down the hallway until they arrived at the second door to their right. Raki turned to face Priscilla as he spoke:
"Go ahead Priscilla, I'll wait outside for you"
A nod from Priscilla made it clear that she understood what he had just said, as she walked towards the wooden door in front of her, giving it a slight budge to open it. She closed the door behind her as Raki let out a sigh, leaning against the side of the wall next to the entrance to the room.
Why did Priscilla have to kill Teresa?
Of all the warriors that Priscilla could have killed that time…why did she have to kill the one who saved Clare's life?
Is this just a cruel joke?
His thoughts were cut short as he noticed Clare walking down the hallway, looking as if she was returning to the others who resided in the main room. He found it strange that instead of feeling excited that she was near him, he felt rather uncomfortable and awkward. He could see her give him a strange stare as she began to approach him, walking towards him in such a manner, that he was expecting her to ignore him completely and walk right by him. He held his breath as Clare stopped to a halt next to him, turning her face to meet his. He could see that she was in a terrible mood, and he wasn't sure what she wanted, but he could only hope that she wasn't too angry with him.
"What do you think of the place?" she asked him in her ordinary tone, which was rather surprising to him as he expected something slightly more hostile.
"It's nice Clare…I never thought that you guys would be hiding in Rabona"
It was then when Clare gave him a serious look that indicated that her friendly nature was suddenly over. She gave him a serious stare, the same stare she gave him when she first realized that Priscilla and him had some sort of history together.
"Raki, you lied to me when you told me that little girl with you in Rabona was someone you saved from a village."
Raki didn't know how to respond to Clare's sudden change of tone. He wasn't naïve enough to think that there was anything he could say to make this situation any better, so he stood there, as silent as a statue, and let her do all the moves. He could see that she wasn't even expecting a response from him anyway as she turned her face away from his to meet the end of the corridor instead.
"The room which I came out from just now," she said in a surprisingly calm tone, while not even turning to face him: "is where we will be sleeping tonight, there is a bed for you"
"A…alright, thanks Clare" he said in a tone that made it obvious that he was quite nervous.
Noticing his nervousness in talking to her, Clare turned to face him, with the faintest evidence of a smile on her lips.
"Raki, don't ever think that I hate you" she said softly, flashing that smile one more time as she continued walking towards the others in the main room.
Raki knew in his heart that Clare didn't hate him, but hearing it from her felt as if a massive weight was being lifted off his shoulders. He watched her walk down the hallway until she finally turned a corner, then turned his gaze to the door where Priscilla resided behind.
The wooden door opened and Priscilla, wearing the clothes Miria had given her, walked out with a pleased look on her face. To Raki, she looked exactly like the other ghosts, but he knew that it would be tough to make them accept her into the group. This was especially true in Clare's case, and he hoped that he wouldn't have to eventually face a situation where he would be forced to make a decision whether to be with Priscilla or with Clare. He hoped that Clare would eventually let go of her hatred, and accept Priscilla for who she was, but he feared that might never happen, and that thought was always present in the back of his mind.
"You look nice Priscilla, you look good in it"
"Really? You think it suits me?" she said in a surprised tone, as she turned her gaze on to her own body, scanning every possible detail in the new clothes that covered it.
"You've changed for the better Priscilla, you seem more human than before"
"There's still a few things I cannot remember" she said as she placed her hands on her head: "But I remember most of it, including that time when we first met, and you pushed me out of the way of that falling rock."
"So you remember that?" he asked.
"I never thanked you for that Raki"
"Priscilla, you know you don't have to thank me" Raki replied with a smile.
"Not that the rock was going to hurt me anyway, I still appreciate it" she said cheekily.
Raki's face suddenly turned sour as he realized that Priscilla was overstaying her welcome. He knew that it was a privilege that Miria even allowed her to stay on the Cathedral's rooftops, and he didn't want to make the ghosts feel any more uncomfortable than they already were.
"Priscilla…" he muttered sadly.
"I know" she replied, knowing exactly what it is that he meant.
The two of them walked back to the main room where the others resided, only to be greeted with unfriendly, and even hostile looking gazes from the others. Clare returned to her seat next to Teresa, with the others sitting in other small groups near them. Miria calmly walked up to Raki and Priscilla, and pointed to a bookshelf at the far end of the room as she spoke:
"That bookshelf there is actually the entrance to the top of the cathedral. Behind It is a hidden door that leads to the top."
The two of them walked towards the bookshelf Miria pointed to, pulling it away from the wall to access the hidden door behind it.
"Good night Priscilla…" Raki said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
To the shock of everyone, Priscilla moved her face closer to a surprised looking Raki, and planted a soft kiss to the side of his face. She gave him one last smile as she left the room, entering the secret door in front of them, leaving him red faced as she shut the door behind herself.
Thanks for reading up to this point, and don't forget to review! It only motivates me further!
I would like to hear from all of you guys.
Thanks.
