Forever Means Always
(Part 5- Sorkin)
By Alria
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the FF 9 characters or settings in this story.
Author's Note: WOOOOOOW!!!! LOT O' REVIEWS! THANK U THANK U THANK U!!!! (Sniff) I love you guys! Oh, I need a tissue! You like me! You really like me! (beams). Anyway, now that I know ya'll R readin', I'm all too happy to continue. Thanx 4 boosting my confidence. YA ALL ROCK!!!! Well, enough of my chatter. On with the story!!!!
~
Zidane sat up bolt right, eyes wide with terror. He was mildly aware that he was screaming at the top of his lungs, but the sudden awareness of Liana's secret had left his mind numbed. He could barely believe itbut now that he had seen with his own two eyes what she really was he couldn't ignore the truth. That's why her eyes had looked so familiar. He had been looking into the eyes of a demon the whole timeand he had been totally clueless. Liana was a monster. Liana had tried to kill him.
Suddenly, the door to the small room burst open, revealing a winded Liana. The young woman's eyes were fixed in a mixture of terror and curiosity on Zidane. Zidane, eyes never moving away from the young woman in the doorway, stood up quickly and started to back away. Liana looked at him with a nervous smile, her eyes etched with worry.
"UmZidane! I wasn't expecting you to wake up so soon," she said in her sickeningly sweet voice. Zidane, glaring angrily at her, continued to step away from the woman.
"Get away from me! Don't come any closer!" he warned. Liana cocked her head in a confused fashion.
"Zidanewhat's going on? Why are you backing away from me?" Zidane's scowl only deepened.
"I know what you are! You're thatthing I saw! The thing that crashed my ship!" he growled. At this Liana stepped back a few paces herself, her face completely white.
"WHAT? Where did you get that idea?" she asked shakily. Zidane snorted.
"You're such a bad liar. When I first met you, I thought there was something funny about your eyes. Now, I know what it is! You'rea demon or something!" he cried. Liana looked like she was about to protest, but when she saw the anger and hate radiating from Zidane's eyes, she closed her mouth abruptly. A thin sneer curled on her lips, and her eyes flashed back to their original blood red. If Zidane hadn't been pressed up against the wall as it was, he would have leapt back another yard. It was one thing to know she was a demonit was completely different to see her blood-red eyes gazing back at him.
"You're right, Zidane. I am, as you so crudely but it, a demon. Actually, we're called Sorkins; so if you're going to insult me, you might as well use a proper name. Now, I'm not sure how you found outbut it doesn't matter right now. What I want to know is, how did you wake up?" she asked. Zidane looked at her quizzically.
"What do you mean? I was asleep for a few hours, then I woke up. What, don't you sorkins sleep?" he growled. Liana snorted.
"A few hours? Is that what you think?" she said. Zidane's glare deepened.
"How long have I been asleep?" he asked. Without emotion, Liana answered.
"Two weeks."
Zidane felt his mouth go dry, and his eyes widened with shock. TWO WEEKS!? He had slept for tow weeks!?
"What? How!" he cried. Liana crossed her arms, looking as if she had better things to do then answer Zidane's petty questions.
"Remember the tea I gave you? There was a powerful herb mixed in with it. That plant is so strong, it could knock out a horse for months. Yet here you are, standing pressed up against a wall. How did you over-come the stimulant?" she asked.
If Zidane had had his dagger at hand, he would have leapt at Liana right then. She had poisoned himin a sense. It was because of this that Zidane wasn't in is loving Dagger's arms. Now, she probably thought he was dead; gone forever. Oh, he could picture exactly what it was like at home right now. Stiener would be clumsily trying to console the grief-stricken Dagger, only ending up making it worse. Then Beatrix would come, and things would get a little betterbut not much. Just the thought of Dagger with glistening tears in her eyes made him feel like his heart was about to burst. Liana was going to pay for going that to the two of them.
"You're angry with me, aren't you? You mortals have such limited vision," she muttered. Zidane shook his head.
"Of course I'm angry! You took me away from the only person I love!" he yelled, tears starting to well in his deep blue eyes. Liana sighed.
"Her name is Dagger?" she asked. Zidane stepped forward.
"How did you know that!? If you harmed a hair on her head" he warned. Liana smiled skeptically.
"My, aren't we feisty? I know her name because you kept saying it in your sleep. And I haven't hurt her," she said. Zidane hesitated.
"oh. Well good. Umwhat is a sorkin, anyway?" he asked. Liana sighed.
"Hmm. I've never explained it to anyone beforethey're usually dead before they get the chance to ask. WellI'm not of this world. I mean, the world of the living; I'm of this planet," she explained. Zidane's eyes widened with fear.
"You'rea ghost?" he asked. Liana rolled her eyes.
"Please. Is that all your puny mind can come up with? No, I'm not a ghost. I'moh, how could I word this so you'll understandsomewhat of an Black Angel.' Instead of bringing life, I cause death. With a touch," she sneered. Zidane had to bite his lower lip to keep from crying out.
"You can kill with a touch? Butyou touched me earlier. Shouldn't I bedead?" he asked. Liana shook her head.
"We sorkins aren't idiots; we've learned to hold back our power until we wish to use it," she explained. Zidane looked at her skeptically.
"Why didn't you just kill me earlier? Wouldn't it have been easier?" he asked.
"Yes; lots. But you were a very handsome stranger, and since most men who see me run away in fearI figured I might try to feel what you call love. But it soon grew so tiresome having you around; feeding you and such, that I decided it was too much of a hassle. I was going to kill you soon, but it will be so much more fun to kill you while you're awake," she sneered.
"Wait! I'm not done with my questions!" he cried, though it came out as a hoarse squeak. Liana paused for a moment, thinking this over.
"Oh, very well. This question/answer session is somewhat amusing. What is your question?" she asked.
"Why did you look so hideous when I first saw you in the airship?" he asked. Liana smiled.
"I have more powers then you can imagine. Shape-shifting is only one of them," she explained.
"Thenwhat do you really look like?" he asked. Liana, turning her back to him, closed her eyes and lifted her arms towards the sky. She muttered something under her breath, and began to glow in an almost blinding light. Zidane, unable to look away, stared in awe at Liana and the brilliant light. He watched as her long, blond hair darkened, and then grew down to her dainty feet. Her crude, country clothes suddenly morphed into a long, flowing white gown that looked as regal as any of Dagger's. Zidane's mouth hung open in pure awe. Was this the power of the underworld?
All at once the light disappeared, and Liana turned to face him. Zidane gasped. Instead of the poor, blond-haired country girl that he was used to, there now stood a tall, elegant woman. Her pitch-black hair brushed the ground, and her blood-red eyes were the same color as her ruby lips. She was now least a head or two taller than Zidane, which made him feel quite insignificant compared to her glory. But the most shocking thing about Liana were the two, strong black wings that jutted out of her back. They were enormous and could have easily lifted her and Zidane off the ground. Silky feathers coated them, and they glistened despite the lack of sunlight in the room. She was the most beautifuland deadlycreature he had ever seen.
"I see you are speechless. I suppose I am I bit muchbut you did ask. And now, if you don't have anymore silly questions, I am becoming bored. I am going to put an end to your puny life right now," she leered, and started to advance on Zidane.
Zidane felt his body go numb with fear. Was this it? Was he going to die right here; never to see his Dagger again? Never to hold her in his arms; see her smiling face? No. He wouldn't let that happen! He had to think fast; for as soon as Liana's pale hand touched him, it was over.
Trying his best to block the growing fear from his mind; Zidane looked around him to see if there was anything he could use. The only thing near him was a small end table. On it was a wooden hairbrush, the old cup he had drunk he tea from, andpraise the good spiritsa lit candle. Without a second thought, Zidane reached for the candlestick and grabbed it. He thrust it with all his might at Liana. Her shrill scream pierced his ears as the flame caught onto Liana's flowing sleeve; burning her arm. Zidane, wasting no time at all, dropped the candle to the ground and ran as fast as he could past Liana who was busy putting out the fire and nursing her arm. He ran through the small kitchen, and out into the open air. Normally, after being cooped up for two weeks he would have stopped to enjoy the fresh air, but his terror drove him on. As he ran, Zidane began to recognize certain things; a certain signpost, a group of trees. His heart leapt with joy. He knew where he was! It was only about an hour's walk from here! In little more then an hour he would be holding Dagger in his arms again.
"When I get back, I'm never leaving you alone. And I'm never, ever going to look at another woman again! I swear it!" he shouted, adrenaline pumping through him.
"I love you!"
Liana scowled out of her window at Zidane running off in the distance. Her red eyes were narrowed into deep slits; and the expression on her face was of pure and utter loathing.
"Run away, huh? Fine. I'll see to it you get back to your wonderful Alexandria and precious Dagger. Though I'm afraid you won't like what you find," she hissed. She began to beat her beautiful black wings, eyes not fixed on the running Zidane, but on the castle Alexandria. As she beat harder, her light body rose up into the air. With a furious burst of power, she smashed the small window into tiny glass shards, which landed with a small ring as they hit the bedroom floor. Liana soared through the window, a most deadly messenger of death.
"Just you wait, Zidane. We'll see who has the last laugh."
~
Okay, I finally finished. Whoo! Anyway, thanx again for the reviews! I luv ya all! And by the way, I posted my instant messenger SN, so please, IM me! I want to talk to you! What is Liana willing to do to get back at Zidane?Can't think of another question! Find out, on Chapter 6- Deadly Revenge!!!!!!! ; )