Forever Means Always
(Part 8- Soulless)
By Alria
Disclaimer: You know the gig. I do not own any of the FF 9 characters or settings.
Author's Note: Hello. I know the ending of the last past SUCKEDbut oh well. At least it gets the story moving. Anyway, you'll probably like this chapter; everything starts to come together. Ha haI'll bet you're getting tired of me by now J ! Oh wellI'll live. Just remember; I do soooo love reviews, so if you read this storyplease? Okay; shutting up. Hope you like it!
~
"Are you sure this is safe!?" Zidane cried as Liana flew through the bowels of the underworld.
"For me; of course! For you I'm not so sure," she called back, a hint of amusement in her voice. Zidane shut his eyes tight.
"Oh god, oh god, oh god! I'm gonna die!" he cried.
When Zidane's eyes were open (which was about half the time), his eyes took in the full monstrosity of the underworld. Everything was pitch black, except for the millions of glowing, luminescent spirits the floated aimlessly about. Each resembled a person; be it an old woman or a child. Everything about their features looked humanexcept their faces. God, Zidane couldn't stand to look into those hideous mournful faces. Every ghostly face turned to him as Liana flew by, and each made him shudder. The entire face was completely blank and void of featuresexcept for the eyes. Those eyesit was almost as if every fear, every feeling of sorrow or hate, was packed into the eyes of the spirits. Zidane felt his throat clench. Was Dagger just the same as these faceless monsters? Zidane shook his head to try and clear his mind of the thought. It was too much to bear.
Liana flew Zidane through the twists and turns of the underworld for what seemed like hours. For nearly the entire time Zidane shook with fear; the living weren't meant to be in a place such as this. He began to fear that the long ride would never be over, that Liana was only taking him deeper into the depths of the dead. Maybe he would never even get to see Dagger
But, to his great relief, Liana soon landed softly on solid ground. Without a word, Zidane slid off of her back, his two feet touching the firm ground. Zidane felt his tension ease considerably. He was never, ever going to leave the ground again unless it was ABSOLUTELY necessary. You never know how good firm ground feels until you've flown through the under world.
Zidane began to look around at the place where they had landed. It was a small ledge, leading into an elaborate door cut right into the cliff. Liana smiled.
"That's the sorkin's domain. Karten is in there,' she said. Zidane nodded absent-mindedly, still staring at the door. Whatever happened, he WOULD get Dagger back. He had tooPlucking up his courage, Zidane bit his lower lip, pushed open the great door, and walked inside.
The sight that met him was so different form the glum and darkness of the rest of the underworld that it nearly took his breath away. Inside, there were beautiful lights and elegant painting all around the room. A neatly polished tile floor glistened under Zidane's feet, and carpets depicting battling lions and dragons rested everywhere. Not to mention the elegant inhabitants of the room. There were at least twelve sorkins, beautiful black wings contrasting neatly against the white garments. And, strangely enough, they were all women. Allexcept one.
The moment Zidane stepped into the room, the head of every sorkin there shot up. Deadly red eyes fixed hungrily on him from all sides.
"A human!" one of them hissed.
"A humanfilled with life," leered another.
"Master Karten, mortals do not belong in our domain. May I dispose of him?" asked another, licking her blood-red lips. If Zidane's heart had been beating any harder, he was sure it would have shot out of his chest. This was really not looking good.
"No, you may not. I wish to question this young mortaland Liana's reason for bringing him here," came the booming voice of the only male sorkin, Karten. Zidane felt as if his legs were moving on their own as he approached the tall, pale man. Karten had thick, black hair, leering red eyes, and feathered black wings just like the rest of the sorkins. He looked exactly like them in everywhereexcept for the fact that he had pointed ears. Zidane looked up at the tall, muscular being with a sense of awe. No WONER Karten was the leader.
"Liana, you know the rules. Why did you bring this mortal to us?" he asked. Liana, head bowed, shook her head.
"I brought him because he asked, master Karten. He has a request to ask you," she said quietly. Karten frowned.
"Very well. You, Liana, will not be allowed to go to the realm of the living for some time. I hope that teaches you something," he hissed. Liana bowed her head lower, and stepped into the crowd of sorkins. Suddenly, Karten's gaze turned to Zidane.
"Well, mortal? What is it you wish to ask me?" he asked. Normally, if something as big and powerful had looked at him like that, Zidane would have turned and ran the other way. But, his undying love for Dagger fueled him with new courage, and he stepped boldly up to Karten.
"I am here because a loved one of mine was taken away. I was told you could help me," he said. Karten grinned, showing pointed teeth.
"You've got a lot of spunk to come to me. I suppose I could listen to your petty request. Who is this loved one,'" he asked with a godly air. Zidane was not intimidated.
"Her name is Garnet. But everyone calls her Dagger," he explained. Suddenly, Karten's eyes shot open, and a thin sneer curled on his lips.
"Dagger? You mean, this Dagger?" he asked, stepping to the right. Zidane's eyes widened when he saw the familiar figure Karten had been hiding. Dagger! Choking on his emotions, Zidane rushed forward. Tears of joy streaming down his face, Zidane wrapped his arms around his precious Dagger, and kissed her soft forhead. It was warm again; filled with life. Softly, he rested his head on her chest, and to his utter happiness, felt the familiar beat of Dagger's heart. It was almost too good to be true. Dagger was back!
"Oh Dagger! I thought I had lost you forever! I'm never going to let you go again!" he cried. But, instead of hugging him back, Dagger just stood there, eyes fixed past him. A cold horror began to creep in on Zidane's happiness. What was going on?
"Dagger? What's wrong? Dagger, look at me! Dagger? Dagger!?" he cried, panicking. And suddenly, Zidane saw it. Pulling her close, Zidane gazed into the eyes he had seen so oftenthe eyes so filled with love and kindness. But nowthey were different. Dagger's eyes were completely empty, no emotion or feeling in them. They were cold, likelike sorkin eyes. Suddenly, Karten's taunting laughter filled Zidane's ears. In a fiery rage, Zidane turned to Karten, hands clenched so tight that the knuckles were pure white.
"What have you done to her?" he growled. Karten only smiled.
"It's quite simple, really. I've just locked her soul away. How could I make a sorkin out of her if her soul was running free?" he asked. Zidane's eyes widened in terror. Make a sorkin?
"What?" he asked, a mixture of anger and shock boiling within him. Karten shook his head.
"I suppose you don't know much about sorkins, do you? Well, every woman you see here was once a foolish mortal like yourself. I, a true demon, destroyed their souls and replaced them with power and immortality," he explained.
Zidane's eyes narrowed. So, that was why Liana's were always so blank. She had no soul. No soulbut if that were true, why had he seen that glimmer of emotion earlier? Zidane shook his head. It didn't matter. Karten was going to take Dagger's soul away. If that happenedhe would lose her for good. He couldn't let that happen!
"I'm not going to let you do this!" he roared, whipping out he dagger at his belt. Karten only sneered.
"Oh, really? And you're going to stop me? How do you plan to do that?" he asked. Zidane made a dramatic slice through the air with his dagger.
"The only way I know how. With this," he growled. Karten chuckled.
"Hmmyou wish to fight me? Interesting. WellI accept you challenge," he said. Zidane looked up at him with a scowl.
"Okay! Bring it on, angel-boy!" he hissed. Karten rolled his eyes.
"Not here, you idiot. In the world of the living. That way, you're friends can help, too," he explained. Zidane's eyes widened.
"My friends? You leave them out of this!" he growled. Karten shook his head.
"No, no; your friends MUST fight. I'll bring my twelve sorkins to keep them busy while you and I fight," he explained. Zidane shook his head.
"You know my friends can't stand against your death angels!" he cried. Karten sighed.
"It's not my problem they're mortal. You know, you could always back down if you wantof course that means I'll get Dagger, but at least your friends will be safe," he said. Zidane shook his head.
"I'll never back down. Not when I can save her," he said firmly. Karten smiled.
"Very well. It's your choice. I'll give yousix hours to prepare for us, and then I'll meet you at the plains in front of Alexandria. If you're lateDagger is mine," he sneered. Zidane snorted.
"I won't be," he said. Karten sneered.
"Excellent. I'll see you then, mortal." He snickered, red eyes glowing devilishly.
~
I'm DONE! YEAH! I know it's taken awhile, and I'm glad you've been patient. Will Zidane get Dagger's soul back? How will everyone react to this sudden change? Find out in chapter nine!