Here's chapter 4. Things start getting a lot more interesting toward the end.
-Celestial Lady
A Power Within
Chapter 4
The Warning
About a week later, Tess was well enough to go return to her training. Kylee was so relieved to have her best friend back. It felt like old times as the sat in the cafeteria during lunch, studying and catching up on gossip.
Kylee wasn't quite sure if she should tell Tess what was going on. She had thought about it for several days and after careful consideration, decided to wait. After all, Tess was still recuperating and Kylee didn't want to give her more to worry about. Kylee was worried enough for everybody but after all her SeeD training, she easily concealed it within her playful, fun-loving exterior.
"Hey, Ky. Check out that guy. He's sooo hot! I've also heard he's one of the best. He passed the field test yesterday," Tess exclaimed pointing across the cafeteria. Kylee followed her friend's gaze until she figured out whom she was referring to: Andrew Almasy.
Kylee rolled her eyes, "Sure, if you like the arrogant, conceited type. He's definitely got a major ego problem. I can't stand him."
"I think he likes you, Kylee. He's always staring at you," Tess replied mischievously.
"Whatever," Kylee said repeating her father's favorite word. "I think you were lying in the infirmary way too long, Kinneas. It must have softened your brain."
Tess just grinned back in response as Kylee playfully swatted at her. Kylee looked down at her watch, "Well, Tess looks like we got go. We have places to go and people to see."
"Where are we going and who are we seeing?" Tess asked.
"It's just a saying. Sorry, you had to miss the field test yesterday; you were doing so well. I know you would have passed." Kylee said. She still felt extremely responsible for Tess's injury.
"That's about the seventh time you apologized. There's always another test. Besides, we still get to go to the SeeD party tonight. What time are you coming to my room to get ready?"
"Around seven. Mom insists I come. She even bought me a new dress and I hate wearing anything formal. I guess I have to be social every once in awhile." Kylee said.
"Well, this time don't get us into trouble by 'making the party more lively' as you put it. Wasn't it last time when you switched the classical music CD with a heavy metal one." Tess mused.
"Guilty as charged! I guess I'll have to abandon the silly string and water balloons this time. You know it would be more fun if we had a 'casual party' every now and then," Kylee laughed.
That afternoon, Kylee wondered if her grandfather might have found out anything more. She opened the door of her dad's office, and poked her head in.
"Hey, Dad. Are you busy?" she asked.
Squall looked up at her and smiled, "No not really, what do you need?"
"Has Grandpa found out anything new about you-know-what?"
"No, he hasn't. Why, what's wrong?" he frowned.
"Nothing, really. I was just wondering," she reassured him.
"Is your mother making you come tonight?" he asked.
"Of course, do you really think she let me miss it? It's not really my scene but I know it's not yours either. I guess if you can suffer through it, so can I."
"Well, see you tonight then. I have to get all this done before the party," he motioned to a stack of papers.
"Oh, before I forget, who all passed the field test yesterday?" she asked before she left.
"Andrew Almasy, Megan Barnaby, Chad Dincht, Christy Mullins, and Timothy Streeter." He read off the list.
She nodded and left the office. As the clock chimed, she gasped and headed to Tess's room.
Sitting on Tess's bed, she looked at herself in the mirror.
"Wow, I don't even look like me." She mused out loud. She was wearing a forest green dress that tied around her neck, came to mid-thigh and accented her dark tan. Tess was a wizard with the curling iron; however, Kylee's hair was straight as a board and wouldn't hold a curl. It also didn't help that it was extremely thick. She had decided to leave her waistlength, chocolate-colored hair down, something she rarely did. At Tess's insistence, she was wearing make up. She hardly ever wore makeup since she didn't really need to.
"Right, you don't look like a tom-boy. Here I have some shoes that will go with your dress. It's a good thing we wear the same size." Tess said. She was thrilled that she had gotten Kylee to cooperate with her make over.
"You look great, Tess." Kylee said as she tried on the shoes. "We should be going now, don't you think. Mom will have kittens if I'm five minutes late."
Tess and Kylee walked out onto the ballroom floor as soft melodies of music drifted through the air. Tess ran off to talk to somebody, so Kylee searched the floor for someone to talk to. She located her father in a corner and went over to talk to him.
He looked at her in surprise, "Whoa, is that you Kylee? You clean up well."
She chuckled, "You too, Dad. So where's mom? I showed up and she's not even here to see it."
"She's somewhere around. She seems to know everybody, but if I see her I'll tell her you're here. Go try to enjoy yourself."
"Will do," Kylee replied as she headed over to the refreshment table. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Andrew there. Kylee quickly turned and walked the other way, hoping he hadn't seen her. Unfortunately, he had and came over to talk to her. Seeing she was trapped, she sighed and hoped he wouldn't want to talk long.
"So I guess I'm now a SeeD too," were his first words. She inwardly groaned knowing she would not be able to get away from this conversation as she had hoped.
"Congratulations, Andrew," she said in exasperation.
Andrew grew more serious, "Listen, Kylee. I know you hate me and you've always hated me."
"I don't hate you Andrew; I just don't like you very much." Kylee cut in.
"I know I've been a jerk lately…" Andrew trailed off.
This was not what Kylee was expecting to hear. She looked at him in amazement.
He continued, "…but I'll try to work on that. Would you care to dance?"
Kylee almost fell over. Andrew Almasy… was asking her to dance? She looked up at the skylights to see if there was a blue moon. All she could see was a star filled sky. Not letting her say 'no' Andrew took her hand and pulled out on to the dance floor. She stood there in amazement, but didn't get to stand there to long. The music began and she knew she would like an idiot if she continued to stand there. They danced softly across the floor. She would have never believed he could dance that well if she hadn't seen it for herself.
Andrew couldn't believe he was dancing with Kylee Leonhart. He couldn't believe he had asked her. He didn't know what had come over him. Maybe it was because she looked so different without her jeans and sneakers. He smiled to himself. He knew his father would flip out if he knew whom he was dancing with. Kylee seemed to float, light as a feather, as she danced. Andrew's world seemed to be spinning, and it was all he could do to keep from getting lost in her emerald green eyes.
'Wow,' Kylee thought. 'I could swear that this is a completely different person than the one that I beat last weak. He's so gentle and proper.' She was surprised that as strong as he was, he could dance softly to classical music. Tess was right. He really was good looking with his sandy, blonde hair and deep blue eyes. It had always been his attitude that had turned her off. For some reason, she felt as though they were the only two on the dance floor, although it was packed. Suddenly, she realized she was losing control. She stopped and gasped. Andrew snapped out of his trance as she excused her self and fled from the party, leaving her puzzled partner out on the floor alone.
Kylee ran past her parents and didn't seem to even notice when her dad called her name. She ran up the stairs to the elevator and went to her room. As she shut the door, she looked in the mirror and scowled. She was getting as bad as Tess. What was wrong with her? She changed out of her dress and pulled on a pair of her faded blue jeans. She put on an oversized sweatshirt, and pulled her hair back in a ponytail. She looked in the mirror with relief when she saw that she was starting to look more like herself. After she tied her shoes she decided to go for a walk. It wasn't too late so some places would still be open. Besides everyone was at the party so she could enjoy the peace and quiet. She left a note for her parents, so in case they were to actually come back early, they would know where she was.
The sweet sound of crickets serenading filled the crisp night air as she walked onto the Quad. She stopped and stared at the sky as a shooting star streaked across.
She sighed as she could feel herself relax.
Suddenly, she could sense something strange. All her senses went on alert as her fears were confirmed. A cold, dark mist gathered around Kylee and seemed to envelop her. 'Great,' Kylee thought, 'and I'm unarmed.'
"Kylee" the wind seemed to whisper her name. The mist started to take shape and formed a creepy looking woman.
Kylee took a step back in disgust.
"Kylee Leonhart, I bring a message from the Lady of Darkness. And this is it!" she said as lightning split the sky and the wind howled. The Lady's minion formed a long chain in her hands with a ring on the end. She threw it at Kylee who tried to dodge it but she wasn't quick enough. The ring locked itself around her neck. Kylee's hands flew up to her throat as she tried to tug at the ring. The evil creature laughed as she jerked on the chain, sending Kylee to the ground.
"Heel!" she hissed as she started to pull the struggling girl across the ground. "It would be so much easier for you just to submit. The Lady of Darkness would love for you to be on her side."
"As if!" Kylee growled. She wished she hadn't come out alone. Then she remembered there was a way to get out of this. She closed her eyes and started to concentrate. She could feel the power she had felt the night the darkness had first revealed itself to her. The creature gasped in surprise as Kylee started to glow. A halo of light outlined her body as the metal ring around her neck shattered. In confusion, the being stopped and stared. Kylee took the opportunity. She put her hands together, forming a huge ball of energy, which she directed at the black evil. The creature shrieked in outrage and tried to counter attack but it was too late. Kylee had been too strong and it dissipated. Kylee breathed a sigh of relief, but her relief turned into amazement. She didn't know she could be so strong. Then, she realized whoever this Lady of Darkness was; she wouldn't give up so easily. She would try again.
A tall woman with black eyes and long, black hair looked into her power globe. She had seen the battle and growled in disgust. 'Why is it I surround myself with idiots?' She wondered. She would have to send someone more formidable next time, and she knew exactly who it would be. The Lady of Darkness smiled an evil smile and laughed a hideous cackle, which echoed through her dimension. She was tired of her prison and vowed to get revenge on the people who had sent her there.
****Suggestions? Comments? Let me know. How do you like it so far? Anything I need to change?**** -Celestial Lady
