Warnings: Contains some violence, future suicide and cussing, a bit of Link torture (^_^) and switching point of views (POVs). Angst. I'll accept constructive criticism, but any offensive flames will be deleted. And now, enjoy. Hope ya'll like it.
Disclaimer: Zelda and any related characters do not belong to me - they are owned by some very lucky people who are probably swimming in gold right now, while the only thing I do own are the original characters and the story plot.
Chapter 4 ~Link's POV~
I woke up back in the dungeon, covered in a cold sweat. My breathing was heavy, and every part of my body ached. I found myself wondering how long I had spent in this god forsaken place, but there seemed to be no answer to that question.
I heard a sound above me and looked up to find Gannondorf, Kayoé and a little girl stand above me.
"I hope you slept well," Gannondorf's yellow teeth flashed a grin. I could do nothing but glare in return. The little girl, who was standing beside him, was dressed in torn and battered rags. She had chains on her ankles and wrists, like me, but they were not connected to the wall. Her tired and old looking face revealed that she must have just undergone some kind of 'game' of Gannondorf's. Shivering slightly, her empty eyes searched the floor.
Then realization hit me. This was the little girl from before - the daughter of the woman who had just recently been murdered by the man standing above me. Let me correct that: not man - monster.
"I was bored, you know," Gannondorf started casually, "Ever since that kid of yours - Lea I believe her name was? Yes, Lea. Ever since she just lies there, doing nothing, I thought I might find other means of entertainment. Actually, judging from that girl's behaviour, I'd say she were dead!" He chuckled, fixing his eyes on my now shaking body. Could it be true? Lea... dead? No. NO. I couldn't - wouldn't believe it.
Suddenly, without even realizing what I was doing myself, I lunged at him, grabbing at anything that was caught in my grip. I got hold of his hair - or the hair that was left, and tore massive chunks of it from his scalp, and screamed in shear fury, trying to do as much damage as I possibly could. Gannondorf tried to peel me away in vain, and called Kayoé for help, who looked at us in amusement.
Once there wasn't anymore hair to grab onto, I lunged a fat smack in his face. Seeing the great effect of it, I tried again, but Gannondorf stepped back out of my reach just in time.
Both of us breathing heavily, glared at each other. Regaining his composure, Gannondorf thundered, "Kaltia!"
The door opened, and a girl of about the age of 13 or 14 stepped inside. Strangely, she looked nothing like her father, but had mouse brown hair, and amused eyes framed by a pair of spectacles that delicately balanced on her thin nose. She grinned as she saw her father's raw, bald scalp, but did not dare laugh out loud.
"Yes father?" she asked with forced politeness.
"Kill the girl," Gannondorf said icily, and pointed at the shrinking figure beside him.
Kaltia's grin was wiped away. She stared at the girl, then at her father, "But... why? What is the p-point of that? Wouldn't she be more useful as--"
"Just do it. Since when do I need a reason to kill? Now, obey me!" her father demanded, and offered her his dagger.
After long minutes of Kaltia's eyes darting between the ragged girl and Gannondorf, the old man cried, "Do it!... or she dies," he pointed at Kayoé, whose eyes widened, "Take your pick, dear daughter. Either way you kill someone. I will be satisfied."
~Kayoé's POV~ (0)
After a long time, she took the blade her father was offering her, and turned to the little girl who wasn't a lot younger than her.
Kaltia's expression softened as she took a good look at her first, and certainly not last, victim. Somehow, I was relieved and disappointed, at the same time, that she chose the orphan, instead of me.
"Hijou ni sumimasen,(1)" Kaltia said tonelessly, then whispered, "Kowai na watashi ga totemo desu yo!(2)" She was glad that Gannondorf did not understand what she was saying - I could sense that. But I understood every word, and I understood why she was afraid, as well. It was cruel of Gannondorf to decide that his daughter was to grow up like he did, disregarding life from a very early age. It was also cruel of him to do this in front of Link, who had enough to deal with, considering that he thought that his daughter was dead, instead of safe at home with her mum.
"Nani ga kowarete iru ka?" the orphan asked, "Tomodachi watashi ni oshieru(3)." Kaltia winced at the word 'friend'. She looked the girl into the eyes, and replied, toneless once again, "Hijou ni sumimasen." And she did it. Half-heartedly, she had stabbed the other in the heart, hoping to give her a quick death.
The girl fell to the floor, and started choking on her own blood. She struggled a bit, before finally becoming motionless and peaceful in an eerie way.
Kaltia threw the dagger into the corner, stared at her blood-stained hands, then up at her father in fury.
"You happy? 'Cause now I've become just like you! I hate you!" She pushed past him and his smug expression, out the door. I stared after her. A well of pity overcame me, tearing me up inside. Pity for the orphan, pity for Link... and pity for Kaltia, who had sacrificed part of her humanity to save what was left of mine.
~Link's POV~
I stared at the dead body.
Not again. Not again!
My mind started swimming, and it seemed as if I were about to drown. Was this supposed to be funny? Was it?
Fury took over.
"What was that for, you mother-fuck--" I stopped myself, getting a hold on my temper. This wasn't like me! This wasn't like me at all!
"My own private amusement," Gannondorf's eyes glittered with something one could only describe as insanity, "Besides, Kaltia has to become the perfect heir to my throne, and for that I must train her. But now, it is time for you to sleep, my dear Link."
Oh no! Not the hallucinations! NO!
I tried to resist, as his hand was placed on my head, and everything
around me went black. My screams had become unheard echoes in the darkness,
once again...
----
(0) I didn't quite know how to put Kalita's feelings into place, so
I did in from Kayoé's POV
(1) I'm very sorry.
(2) I am so afraid
(3) What is wrong? Tell me, my friend.