Leviathan's Daughter GoldenEagle
Author's Note: *rubs hands evily* I've been mondoly depressed lately, which is why the last four chapters sucked, but last night I got over it and now I can focus on torturing my vict- er, I mean *charecters* fully. Enjoy, enjoy! If the installments seem to be getting a bit longer, it's because there is so much happening that I need to get it all in. So... Again, read and review! And, yes, I do read reviews! They are one of my number one ispiration/writer's block destroyers out there!!
Chapter Thirty-Seven
"Where is that girl now?" Millerna asked as her, Gadeth, Hitomi, and Van approached the sitting form of Allen. Hitomi had managed to weasel her way into getting several things from the merchants and held a full satchel. Yet, her light mood darkened as she saw how hunched over the knight was, the defeated look that filled his eyes.
"She... Left." He said plainly as he glanced up. Exhaustion and pain lined his blue eyes, his golden hair shimmering in the fire light. Hitomi frowned at the look on his face.
"Allen, are you all right?" She asked, but before he could answer, Van's voice cut through the crisp air.
"Here she comes." The knight was quickly by his side and could also see the form of Persephone moving towards them, her head lowered ever so slightly, staring at the ground.
"Allen, I presume?" A voice made him turn, and he gave a quick bow as he recognized the King of Mirama. Though royalty stood in front of him, his mind was focused on the girl approaching from behind. Yet his attention was immediately drawn to the king, a dark look in his eyes.
"Your Highness, What's wrong?" He asked, a little bit of doubt and nervousness rushing through him.
"I'm afraid we've fallen to different sides." The brown haired, brown eyes king said serenely. Allen's eyes widened slightly as he saw two tall guards step up behind the man.
"King Sedrick...?" Allen's voice held the tone of confusion as more guards approached. Betrayal. He knew the act well.
It was then that he felt her move, felt her turn, felt her fear. It was Hitomi, behind him, her eyes dilated, her face pale. Her scream split through the air. "Persephone!"
The knight followed Hitomi's wide gaze and saw Persephone, only a few yards away. She had frozen at the younger girl's words. And then, with a sudden flash of movement, she spun, her hands reaching upwards and grasping the fists above her. The soldier pushed his arms down heavier as she gripped his wrists, the sharp, shining blade centimeters from biting into her forehead.
For a few frozen seconds, the two stared into each other's eyes, sweat beading on their foreheads. The people around were frozen, even those she had come with. But even if they had made a move, it would have been pointless. They were surrounded by soldiers carrying swords and wearing armor.
Persephone's thoughts were spinning as she felt the pressure above her increase, the blade pushing forward. She was forced to her knees. No. No. She had destroyed them. She shouldn't have come. They knew. They knew that she was the demon... The demon that destroyed Corinth...
With a wild war cry, Persephone pushed up on the man above her. With the sudden burst of strength, the man stumbled backwards and Persephone twisted his wrists. The sword fell from his grasp into hers, and she thrust it forward. The soldier's eyes grew wide in surprise as he was stabbed through by his own sword.
A small yelp issued from her lips as she felt a blunt object strike her on her back, forcing her down to her knees again. Her arms were shoved violently behind her back and she was lifted to face the King behind her. She saw the other's faces, their eyes dark and wide and questioning. It was Allen that snapped out of the shock first, his face going hard, his eyes burning.
He looked up at the king who stood with a stern look. "You betrayed us." His voice was low, menacing.
The man turned to the knight, his eyebrows raised in surprise and annoyance. "Me? I betrayed you?" A coarse, empty laugh escaped his lips. "You betrayed *me*, Allen Schezar."
"What are you talking about?" It was Van this time, his voice holding no true hate, only anger and fear and confusement.
"Please, let them go. They don't know what I've done. They don't know who I am, what I am..." Persephone's voice was soft, broken, deep. As if she didn't have the will to put up a fight any longer. Her night had been plagued with questions, and now an answer had come. All people had to pay for their sins. This was her fate. To face the consequences of the murder she had commited, of the blood spilled by both her and her ancestors.
Sedrick looked curiously at the girl, her crushed aurora flowing from her stance. He glanced at the others, genuine confusement in their eyes. So. Perhaps she was telling the truth. He stepped forward, his soldiers milling about to stand by his side and also to surround the five behind him. Gadeth was muttering something threatening, but Allen silenced him, too interested in what was going on before him to miss a word. But in the end, he could hear nothing of the two's whispers.
The man of royalty knelt before the girl, his brown eyes trying to catch her own, her head lowered. He pulled a long glove off of his hand, revealing scars of fire and, underneath those distinct ones, white lines. The scars were... bites? "Do you recognize me, Demon?" He said in a low voice with little or no emotion. Persephone looked down and caught sight of his arm. She was silent for a moment and the soldier holding her tightened his grip, warning her to answer. Her eyes widened slowly and she looked up at the man before her. A large scar covered nearly half his face. An obvious burn scar.
She moaned. "You're the lunatic. The one who kidnapped me from Zaibach's traveling party. I fought and bit you the entire way back to the camp." She was so tired, and it showed as she let her voice hold little emotion but annoyed realization.
A slight smile creased the older man's lips. "Very good, Guardian. Now, how do you think I got these scars?" He asked, indicating the pink, newer ones.
"I have no idea, unless it was from when I threw the liquor into the fire-"
A hard laugh interupted her words. "No, no! They are from Corinth. I was there, leading the attack. That is how I know it was you who destroyed my city, my family, my people. And, seeing your face twice in very important situations, I do recognize it. I know of the legends that warn of apocalypse at the last death of the Four, and I know you are the last." He looked sincerely at her then. "But my people must be avenged." He whispered. "If it brings all hell with it, so be it. You will pay for the blood shed at Corinth."
Chapter Thirty-Eight
"What's going on, Persephone?" Allen's voice was filled with a certain accusing tone he had never used on a lady before. But she was not just a lady. She was a warrior and, some part of his mind told him, a traitor.
The group had obviously not heard the conversation between the two before. Now they were all bound, being marched far away from the city, a small crowd following the mass of solemn soldiers and giant guymelefs. There was no discrimination between the six of them, except a little bit of knowledgeable fear of her. Even the Princess Millerna was dragged roughly along, even the trembling Hitomi was not given any sympathetic advantages. They were all outlaws. Because of her. Because of the "Demon".
"I'm sorry, Allen." She said quietly, her voice dry and completely defeated, just as her being was.
"Just tell me what's going on..." He growled as he was pushed forward by an impatient soldier.
"At Corinth. It was me. It was me that was behind the massacre." She said, staring at the ground.
Allen's eyes widened and he turned his head to look at her. "You..." It was half between a hate filled accusation and a shocked question.
"Sedrick will let you all live, but he will kill me. That's where we must be going. To my execution." The knight didn't know what to feel at her words. Had it only been a couple of hours ago that he had kissed her, showed her that he loved her...? No, it wasn't her. It was a mask. This was all revealing the truth of what she had been and what she had done. Yet she was only a woman... How could she have demolished that magnificent city, left it as only ash and smoke? He didn't know Persephone. He didn't know her at all.
"You're not human. You can't be if you destroyed Corinth." he said emotionlessly.
He heard her let out a bitter and soft laugh. "I am human and I am not. I don't even know what I am."
It was then that they reached the place they were going. Cliffs rose up on either side around the strip of rocky land that ended itself in a cliff. There was only one way out, and it was the way with which they came. They were on the edge of a mountain, and the drop of the cliff fell hundreds of feet below. Soldiers started to line the cliffs above them and Persephone took in their bows and readied arrows with indifference. She felt hollowed out. Empty. Devoid.
It was then that she was separated from the group and pushed violently forward. A lone tree stood at the edge of the cliff, crimson and orange leaves making it beautiful despite its barren surroundings. With unnecessary violence, the four soldiers that had pushed her to the tree pushed her back up against it and bound her there. As soon as they were done, she lowered her head, her blood red hair falling softly about her face.
She could save herself, she knew full well. Call on that flame and escape. Even kill all these men, if she felt the need. But an earlier threat kept floating through her mind. The king had warned that, if she caused trouble, that those who had traveled with her, innocents though they were, would be killed. 'And why should it matter?' She asked herself numbly. 'They are only distractions.' Though her head spoke the words, her heart made the decision to spill her blood for those five unfortunate people she had dragged into this.
The king spoke loudly and clearly, condemning her with confidence. "We come here to pay for the massacre of Corinth by the life of her destroyer. The blood of a god shall be shed for the blood of the hundreds of humans lost by her hand. Demon, do you wish to say anything before your execution is carried out?"
She looked up, her eyes a dark, troubled blue. She saw the group of five on their knees beside the king. Allen stared at the ground, avoiding any sight of her. Van looked at her coldly, no emotion on his face at all. Millerna looked terrified for her and kept glancing up at the archers above, knowing the sentence about to be carried out. Gadeth looked at her in hopeful, yet disappointed awe, knowing what kind of warrior she was and wondering why she wouldn't escape. As for the Old Worlder, she was staring straight at Persephone, tears falling from her eyes. A fleeting, old, forgotten and childish thought went through her mind and crossed her lips. She laughed out a real, though slightly sad, laugh. "You know, I never learned to drive?" She said, staring straight at Hitomi. "Never graduated Highschool, never had the chance to get a job. Little angel," She said, smiling motherly at the girl. Hitomi's eyes grew wide as she spoke, a memory of one Halloween night, so long ago, and a sad yet kind girl. "Do you know how much I envy the life and choices you have ahead of you?"
"No, stop! I know her! She's no murderer! Stop! Stop!" Hitomi cried out, even as the king nodded to his archers. They raised their bows, positioned their arrows, pulled back the string-
Persephone had closed her eyes in a strange anticipation before they snapped open, a presence floating over the entire scene, behind her. She threw her head to the side, desperate to see behind her with wide eyes the being she knew was there.
And the men above released their strings, the arrows flying with perfect persision at the girl bound below them.
Author's Note: *rubs hands evily* I've been mondoly depressed lately, which is why the last four chapters sucked, but last night I got over it and now I can focus on torturing my vict- er, I mean *charecters* fully. Enjoy, enjoy! If the installments seem to be getting a bit longer, it's because there is so much happening that I need to get it all in. So... Again, read and review! And, yes, I do read reviews! They are one of my number one ispiration/writer's block destroyers out there!!
Chapter Thirty-Seven
"Where is that girl now?" Millerna asked as her, Gadeth, Hitomi, and Van approached the sitting form of Allen. Hitomi had managed to weasel her way into getting several things from the merchants and held a full satchel. Yet, her light mood darkened as she saw how hunched over the knight was, the defeated look that filled his eyes.
"She... Left." He said plainly as he glanced up. Exhaustion and pain lined his blue eyes, his golden hair shimmering in the fire light. Hitomi frowned at the look on his face.
"Allen, are you all right?" She asked, but before he could answer, Van's voice cut through the crisp air.
"Here she comes." The knight was quickly by his side and could also see the form of Persephone moving towards them, her head lowered ever so slightly, staring at the ground.
"Allen, I presume?" A voice made him turn, and he gave a quick bow as he recognized the King of Mirama. Though royalty stood in front of him, his mind was focused on the girl approaching from behind. Yet his attention was immediately drawn to the king, a dark look in his eyes.
"Your Highness, What's wrong?" He asked, a little bit of doubt and nervousness rushing through him.
"I'm afraid we've fallen to different sides." The brown haired, brown eyes king said serenely. Allen's eyes widened slightly as he saw two tall guards step up behind the man.
"King Sedrick...?" Allen's voice held the tone of confusion as more guards approached. Betrayal. He knew the act well.
It was then that he felt her move, felt her turn, felt her fear. It was Hitomi, behind him, her eyes dilated, her face pale. Her scream split through the air. "Persephone!"
The knight followed Hitomi's wide gaze and saw Persephone, only a few yards away. She had frozen at the younger girl's words. And then, with a sudden flash of movement, she spun, her hands reaching upwards and grasping the fists above her. The soldier pushed his arms down heavier as she gripped his wrists, the sharp, shining blade centimeters from biting into her forehead.
For a few frozen seconds, the two stared into each other's eyes, sweat beading on their foreheads. The people around were frozen, even those she had come with. But even if they had made a move, it would have been pointless. They were surrounded by soldiers carrying swords and wearing armor.
Persephone's thoughts were spinning as she felt the pressure above her increase, the blade pushing forward. She was forced to her knees. No. No. She had destroyed them. She shouldn't have come. They knew. They knew that she was the demon... The demon that destroyed Corinth...
With a wild war cry, Persephone pushed up on the man above her. With the sudden burst of strength, the man stumbled backwards and Persephone twisted his wrists. The sword fell from his grasp into hers, and she thrust it forward. The soldier's eyes grew wide in surprise as he was stabbed through by his own sword.
A small yelp issued from her lips as she felt a blunt object strike her on her back, forcing her down to her knees again. Her arms were shoved violently behind her back and she was lifted to face the King behind her. She saw the other's faces, their eyes dark and wide and questioning. It was Allen that snapped out of the shock first, his face going hard, his eyes burning.
He looked up at the king who stood with a stern look. "You betrayed us." His voice was low, menacing.
The man turned to the knight, his eyebrows raised in surprise and annoyance. "Me? I betrayed you?" A coarse, empty laugh escaped his lips. "You betrayed *me*, Allen Schezar."
"What are you talking about?" It was Van this time, his voice holding no true hate, only anger and fear and confusement.
"Please, let them go. They don't know what I've done. They don't know who I am, what I am..." Persephone's voice was soft, broken, deep. As if she didn't have the will to put up a fight any longer. Her night had been plagued with questions, and now an answer had come. All people had to pay for their sins. This was her fate. To face the consequences of the murder she had commited, of the blood spilled by both her and her ancestors.
Sedrick looked curiously at the girl, her crushed aurora flowing from her stance. He glanced at the others, genuine confusement in their eyes. So. Perhaps she was telling the truth. He stepped forward, his soldiers milling about to stand by his side and also to surround the five behind him. Gadeth was muttering something threatening, but Allen silenced him, too interested in what was going on before him to miss a word. But in the end, he could hear nothing of the two's whispers.
The man of royalty knelt before the girl, his brown eyes trying to catch her own, her head lowered. He pulled a long glove off of his hand, revealing scars of fire and, underneath those distinct ones, white lines. The scars were... bites? "Do you recognize me, Demon?" He said in a low voice with little or no emotion. Persephone looked down and caught sight of his arm. She was silent for a moment and the soldier holding her tightened his grip, warning her to answer. Her eyes widened slowly and she looked up at the man before her. A large scar covered nearly half his face. An obvious burn scar.
She moaned. "You're the lunatic. The one who kidnapped me from Zaibach's traveling party. I fought and bit you the entire way back to the camp." She was so tired, and it showed as she let her voice hold little emotion but annoyed realization.
A slight smile creased the older man's lips. "Very good, Guardian. Now, how do you think I got these scars?" He asked, indicating the pink, newer ones.
"I have no idea, unless it was from when I threw the liquor into the fire-"
A hard laugh interupted her words. "No, no! They are from Corinth. I was there, leading the attack. That is how I know it was you who destroyed my city, my family, my people. And, seeing your face twice in very important situations, I do recognize it. I know of the legends that warn of apocalypse at the last death of the Four, and I know you are the last." He looked sincerely at her then. "But my people must be avenged." He whispered. "If it brings all hell with it, so be it. You will pay for the blood shed at Corinth."
Chapter Thirty-Eight
"What's going on, Persephone?" Allen's voice was filled with a certain accusing tone he had never used on a lady before. But she was not just a lady. She was a warrior and, some part of his mind told him, a traitor.
The group had obviously not heard the conversation between the two before. Now they were all bound, being marched far away from the city, a small crowd following the mass of solemn soldiers and giant guymelefs. There was no discrimination between the six of them, except a little bit of knowledgeable fear of her. Even the Princess Millerna was dragged roughly along, even the trembling Hitomi was not given any sympathetic advantages. They were all outlaws. Because of her. Because of the "Demon".
"I'm sorry, Allen." She said quietly, her voice dry and completely defeated, just as her being was.
"Just tell me what's going on..." He growled as he was pushed forward by an impatient soldier.
"At Corinth. It was me. It was me that was behind the massacre." She said, staring at the ground.
Allen's eyes widened and he turned his head to look at her. "You..." It was half between a hate filled accusation and a shocked question.
"Sedrick will let you all live, but he will kill me. That's where we must be going. To my execution." The knight didn't know what to feel at her words. Had it only been a couple of hours ago that he had kissed her, showed her that he loved her...? No, it wasn't her. It was a mask. This was all revealing the truth of what she had been and what she had done. Yet she was only a woman... How could she have demolished that magnificent city, left it as only ash and smoke? He didn't know Persephone. He didn't know her at all.
"You're not human. You can't be if you destroyed Corinth." he said emotionlessly.
He heard her let out a bitter and soft laugh. "I am human and I am not. I don't even know what I am."
It was then that they reached the place they were going. Cliffs rose up on either side around the strip of rocky land that ended itself in a cliff. There was only one way out, and it was the way with which they came. They were on the edge of a mountain, and the drop of the cliff fell hundreds of feet below. Soldiers started to line the cliffs above them and Persephone took in their bows and readied arrows with indifference. She felt hollowed out. Empty. Devoid.
It was then that she was separated from the group and pushed violently forward. A lone tree stood at the edge of the cliff, crimson and orange leaves making it beautiful despite its barren surroundings. With unnecessary violence, the four soldiers that had pushed her to the tree pushed her back up against it and bound her there. As soon as they were done, she lowered her head, her blood red hair falling softly about her face.
She could save herself, she knew full well. Call on that flame and escape. Even kill all these men, if she felt the need. But an earlier threat kept floating through her mind. The king had warned that, if she caused trouble, that those who had traveled with her, innocents though they were, would be killed. 'And why should it matter?' She asked herself numbly. 'They are only distractions.' Though her head spoke the words, her heart made the decision to spill her blood for those five unfortunate people she had dragged into this.
The king spoke loudly and clearly, condemning her with confidence. "We come here to pay for the massacre of Corinth by the life of her destroyer. The blood of a god shall be shed for the blood of the hundreds of humans lost by her hand. Demon, do you wish to say anything before your execution is carried out?"
She looked up, her eyes a dark, troubled blue. She saw the group of five on their knees beside the king. Allen stared at the ground, avoiding any sight of her. Van looked at her coldly, no emotion on his face at all. Millerna looked terrified for her and kept glancing up at the archers above, knowing the sentence about to be carried out. Gadeth looked at her in hopeful, yet disappointed awe, knowing what kind of warrior she was and wondering why she wouldn't escape. As for the Old Worlder, she was staring straight at Persephone, tears falling from her eyes. A fleeting, old, forgotten and childish thought went through her mind and crossed her lips. She laughed out a real, though slightly sad, laugh. "You know, I never learned to drive?" She said, staring straight at Hitomi. "Never graduated Highschool, never had the chance to get a job. Little angel," She said, smiling motherly at the girl. Hitomi's eyes grew wide as she spoke, a memory of one Halloween night, so long ago, and a sad yet kind girl. "Do you know how much I envy the life and choices you have ahead of you?"
"No, stop! I know her! She's no murderer! Stop! Stop!" Hitomi cried out, even as the king nodded to his archers. They raised their bows, positioned their arrows, pulled back the string-
Persephone had closed her eyes in a strange anticipation before they snapped open, a presence floating over the entire scene, behind her. She threw her head to the side, desperate to see behind her with wide eyes the being she knew was there.
And the men above released their strings, the arrows flying with perfect persision at the girl bound below them.