Cruel Fates
Chapter 6
By: Kiana Darkk
AN: Okay, this time we are going to go into the mind of... *dun dun dun* Gabrielle! And maybe Chaosti too, if he's extra special good!
Chaosti: I do not want you in my head, you manipulative bitch.
KD: But I'm the author, Chaosti...That's what authors do. Go into peoples heads and find out what makes them tick.
Chaosti: Would you not listen to someone's heart to find out how they tick?
KD: .; No, Chaosti, you wouldn't. That's what doctors are for.
Chaosti: But you just said...
KD: Bup, bup, bup.
Chaosti: But...
KD: Ah!
Chaosti: But you...
KD: Zip it!
Chaosti: B...
KD: Shut up!!!! I am right, you are wrong! Get over it!
Editor: **looking alarmed** You both frighten me very deeply, and if you don't cut it out I'm leaving.
Disclaimer: I do not own BJT. Um... yeah and new characters are all mine. Mine, mine, mine! Like huggable, lovable Damien! ::gushes:: (I think I'm becoming obsessed with my own character. Is that okay?)
Last time: Jade went to her old house and bought it.
This time:
~Kaeleer, Realm of Shadow~ *Gabrielle's POV*
It has now been two years since I have last seen my child. I miss her dearly, and regret...so much. If only I had known. If only I had not been so blind. That fateful day thirteen years ago changed the course that I would take in raising my child. Affected my judgment. Made me blind with possession and jealousy.
A journeymaid had been spending the night while a severe storm raged outside. Silvara was seated on my lap, weaving strands of my hair into complicated knots. Chaosti was in the parlor, drinking brandy with a few of his friends. It was just me, Silvara, and the journeymaid, and of course, a few servants.
The Black Widow had been quiet awhile now, weaving her web in the corner of the room. Suddenly I heard a gasp. I turned quickly towards her, "What? What is it?" She shook her head minutely, then broke the news. "It says here that the silver-haired one will one day take the Dea al Mon Queen's throne before it is her time to step down."
I shot up, dumping Silvara onto the floor unceremoniously. She didn't even whimper. The journeymaid let me study her web, and I found that yes, it was true. Silvara, my only child, was going to steal my throne from me. I guess I panicked and henceforth treated her like dirt.
I knew my husband didn't understand. How could he? It wasn't his throne that was about to be taken away. Of course, I never told him about the prophecy. It would only give him more to worry about. I also knew that he was mad, on some level, with me, which was also understandable. Hell's Fire, I was mad at myself!
So I watched her grow from toddler to teenager, ever fearing her as she grew. I tried to control her by breaking her spirit, only it didn't work. Thank the Darkness. I don't know what I would've done.
Now that she has gone, I pray that she is happy and well, as I cannot have those things myself. Why, you ask? I am ill. Yes, ill. It is a very subtle illness, one that has just shown up recently. We know that it is no attack of any kind, no spell. It is also unidentifiable. So as I waste away I send my love on the wings of those landen-devised creatures called angels, and hope that it may reach my daughter, wherever she is.
*Chaosti's POV*
I stood near the glass patio doors, waiting for the right moment to intervene. I knew she was reflecting on something, something serious by the looks of it. Her brow was creased ever-so-slightly and she was nibbling on her nail.
Once she stopped and put her hand back in her lap, I knocked on the door jamb, and as she turned, walked outside and set down a tray with both of our lunches on it. She looked faintly surprised, then disgusted by the food. "I'm not hungry," she said decidedly. "I know," I told her, and I did know. She hadn't had much of an appetite for the past three months. She'd thinned down too because of it. "But you have to eat something."
She looked down at the food and sighed, and then dutifully picked up her fork. There was a new submissiveness to her that hadn't been there before. She used to be angry all the time, now it was like sadness and acceptance had replaced the anger. After a few bites of fruit salad, she set down her fork, and pushed her plate back. Then she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. Even eating tired her, as so many things did now.
I forced myself to stop watching her, like if I took my eyes away from her, she'd die, and ate my own fruit salad, then started on my sandwich. It was peanut butter and banana, my favorite. It tasted good, but somehow I couldn't make myself enjoy it. It was like I was going through a sympathy illness. I knew I wasn't, it was just my own worry kept me from thinking about anything else.
I finished my lunch, and pushed Gabrielle's aside, resting my hand on top of hers. She turned her hand over so I could hold it, but otherwise, didn't move, didn't flinch. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her cheekbones were more pronounced. The skin on her hands and arms looked fragile, easily breakable, and the bones beneath felt that same way.
In addition to the physical ailments, there were also magickal ones. She couldn't work Craft that much anymore, and when she did it had to be smaller things, with a period of resting in between. No big, large spells or concoctions.
This thing --whatever it was-- was slowly killing her. She knew it too, and so did I, although we never spoke of it. It was too painful to think about the 'maybe's. We'd deal with it when the time came. Until then, we'd just try to live as best we could.
"Chaosti?"
"What is it, Gabrielle?"
"Do you think I'll ever get the chance to apologize?" The question caught me unawares. This was the first time Gabrielle had ever opened up about Silvara. It was a touchy subject.
"I don't know, sweetie. I really don't know. All we can do is hope." I knew my words weren't exactly comforting, but I wasn't going to lie to her. That would just be plain wrong.
She nodded her head, and opened her eyes to stare at me with gray-blue orbs. I found myself drowning in them, and leaning over the table, I carefully kissed her. Darkness, I loved her. I didn't want to lose her too.
*Titian's POV*
After the Offering, I was left with an Opal Jewel. I knew that this was what would be mine, but you have to admit, with everyone around you being darker Jeweled, it's a bit disappointing. Aren't children supposed to be stronger than their parents? Oh well, not me.
That's in the past. Once the Offering was over, Daemonar took me out to dinner to celebrate. Lately he'd been very nice to me. I wonder why? Well, I knew why, and that wasn't the first time either. It's more like....we're a non-item. Like we see each other, but not publicly. In fact, the only person that knows is Damien. And he's not telling anyone because if he does Daemonar will hunt him down, and I'll kill him.
I was feeling very melancholy today. After all, today was a special day. Today was the anniversary of the day Silvara ran away. I had planned to go on a ride with Fleet-Foot and Wind Chaser, her two favorite Kindred. I was packing a lunch too. Carrots, sugar cubes, and buttermints for the horses, and a chicken-pasta combo thingy for me. (Really good. Silvie and I invented it years ago.)
After vanishing the picnic basket, I hopped on the Winds to the Dea al Mon forest. Gabrielle and Chaosti's front door soon loomed in front of me. I was about to just walk in, but then thought better of it and knocked. A servant opened the door a moment later. He was older, probably near one-hundred and something. I asked to see Gabrielle. He led me down the main hallway, and through another one out onto a patio.
There was Gabrielle, sitting in a chair, near the table, and Chaosti was sitting across from her. They were holding hands. I thought that was cute because usually people who have been married awhile lose that sort of loving glow to them. I cleared my throat and they both turned to look at me.
I smiled widely and said, "Hello, Gabrielle, hello, Chaosti. How are you today?"
Gabrielle smiled wearily and patted the chair next to her, an indication to join them. "I'm just fine, Titian. How are you?"
I took the invitation, and plopped into the chair, being careful of my wings. "Oh, you know me. I just keep on going." I noted that Chaosti hadn't answered my question. "Chaosti," his attention snapped to me, "How are you this fine, sunshiney day?"
He sighed, and smiled slightly. "I'm okay. A little sick of paperwork, but okay."
"Doesn't everybody hate paperwork? In fact, I think the only person I know who actually enjoys it is Uncle Saetan. The freak." I added extra emphasis on this by rolling my eyes.
Chaosti let out a good-natured chuckle and said he'd have to agree with me on that one. "Well," I began, "I'm off with Wind Chaser and Fleet-foot. Is there any specific time you'd like them back?" I asked Gabrielle. She shook her head. "No, keep them out as long as you'd like. Just give them a good run, okay? They need it."
"Alright then. Ta for now." I got up and kissed both of the adults on their cheeks, then went out to the stable. Fleet-foot and Wind Chaser were already waiting for me. Unsaddled, like I'd asked.
*It is good to see you, Lady Titian.* Wind Chaser sent me.
*As it is you, Lord Wind Chaser.*
Fleet-foot sent me a more informal message. *Sister, a pleasure, as always. Now what are we celebrating?*
I sent it so they both could hear. *The anniversary of Silvara's escape.*
*To her, then.* Wind Chaser replied. *We shall be off?*
*Yes.* I sent back, and then clambered onto Fleet-foot's back.
We raced through the woods at lightning speed. I could feel Fleet-foot's muscles moving beneath her thick hide, her ribs pulsing in and out with each breath, and I was exhilarated. This was almost as much fun as flying.
Then we were slowing down, stopping at a clearing on the bank of the river. I leapt onto the ground, and began setting up the picnic while the horses drank their fill of water. So we ate, and talked, and by the time I got them home it was nightfall. Quickly I went back to my house, and worked myself out into exhaustion, then fell blearily into bed and a blissful sleep.
*Damien's POV*
I can't believe it. Two years. Two years and not a peep. Not one letter, one visit, nothing, nada, not even a message over a thread. It feels like an eternity. But it's just been two years.
Who'd have thought? If anyone had told me four years ago that I would miss Silvara if something happened to her, I'd have laughed them into the next realm. I mean, me miss Silvara --that annoying witch-- yeah right! But now it's four years later, and we were friends before she left, and I did miss her.
The worst part was I knew she came to my house, my room the night she left. She wanted to say goodbye, but didn't want to wake me up. So instead she just sat down by me and said her goodbye silently, over a very long period of time. On some level, I knew she was there. I could see her somehow, feel her presence, and if I'd snapped out of my lovely daze, I could've talked her out of leaving, I could've stopped her, gone with her, done something! Something other than just continuing!
I was on my eighth gravedigger by the time things turned into a heavy fuzz, and on my eleventh by the time I saw her. She walked through the door of the tavern, and I saw long, silver hair, and stunning indigo eyes. Then the veil parted and it was just a girl, not her, a girl with long, almost-white hair, and big blue eyes. She sat down next to me and ordered a drink.
While she was waiting she studied me. "You're thinking about a girl, right?"
"Um...well, yeah, sort of."
"Let me guess, you love her but you can't tell her?" She shook her head.
I smiled wryly. "Yeah, that's it."
"That's too bad. People waste too much time waiting for things to happen."
"I guess," I looked at my drink and slammed the rest of it down. Just then her drink came and she took a dainty sip. She set it down then, and put her hand on my arm, and tried to look into my eyes.
"What's the matter? Don't you like me?" It was then I noticed her attire. Low-cut shirt, short skirt, painful looking high heels. She was a prostitute. Suddenly my drunken mind came up with a great idea.
"Yeah, sure, I like you. Come on, let's go." I tossed some marks onto the counter, enough to pay for both my drinks and hers, then left for the evening to go and lose myself in some stranger.
AN: Well that was depressing, ne? We've now been in the minds of Damien, Titian, Gabrielle, and Chaosti. What did you think? I bet you're asking why I had Damien go off with that two-bit slut. The answer is, I thought it was a good scene to have. I got the idea from a movie I watched. An anime flick called Tekkaman-Blade II: Stage I: The New Generation. Good movie. Ya'll should go see it if you like anime. Anyway, back to the subject, please REVIEW and tell me what you think.