Untitled
Chapter 6
By Maureen
"-get them out!"
"What the hell!"
"-can't believe you could do-"
Quistis groaned loudly.
"Quistis!" Adan exclaimed.
"Wha?"
"The Ellone machine has never malfunctioned like that before. It could only do so in the presence of…" the little boy's eyes widened.
"Get me the fuck out of here!" Seifer yelled groggily.
"SEIFER!" Fujin intoned.
Adan quickly wrenched Quistis out of the chair. "Are you ok?"
"Um…yeah. I jus had…a…weird…dr-" she shook her head to sort out the muddled thoughts. "I remember having a weird dream, but I don't remember what happened in it. What's going on?"
Adan looked releieved. "Well, somehow the Ellon machines malfunctioned. I'm not really sure what went wrong, but that little kid was watching a monitor and kept on muttering to himself, then the machines started beeping like crazy. I think he believes us now, though!"
"Ok…"
"You're both ok then?" Amie asked.
"Yeah…"
"Fuck, no!" Seifer snarled. He got up angrily and swung his gunblade around. "We're leaving this stupid fucking circus!"
"I cannot allow it!"
Everyone turned to look at the little boy.
"You were not lying and I apologize for not believing you. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Ezekiel Odine."
"What?!" Zell shook his head frustratedly as Amie patted him on the head.
"Please, allow me to meet with my advisors before we discuss your situation. My attendant will lead you to rooms where you may refresh yourself."
The attendant politely led them to two rooms. Seifer and posse instantly took one, leaving Quistis staring at the door, a funny feeling burning inside her. She sighed and walked in to the room with Adan.
As soon as Seifer, Fujin, and Raijin entered the room, Seifer plopped down on the bed.
"So, you're ok, ya know?" Raijin said.
"Yeah, yeah. Damn, can't believe we're stuck here."
"Did anything weird happen? While you were using the Ellone machine, ya know?"
"MEMORIES?"
Seifer contemplated. "Nah…don't really remember actually. I just remember it feeling like I was in the wrong place, but at the same time, it felt so…right."
"STRANGE."
"Fuj, we're alone. You can stop it."
Fujin glared at him and swung an angry foot at his shin.
"Ow."
"We should really get some sleep, ya know?"
"Yeah, yeah. Nighty night, all."
* * *
The blade swung upwards, and then came crashing down, meeting hard steel. The blade withdrew and readied again, taunting the opponent. The attacker gracefully leapt up, spun around and came at the opponent from the side.
"Gotcha," Seifur smirked.
The opponent angrily knocked the sword away.
"Watch it," he hissed.
"Whoa, whoa! We're just practicing! You wouldn't want to hurt me! Besides," he added, "we're practically family now!"
"What, just because you cast some little spell on my cousin, you think you're going to enter the family?!"
"Jeez, Arutha. I didn't seduce her and I don't think I'll marry her…yet," he grinned cockily.
Arutha fumed. "You lost me my inheritance, you stupid peasant."
Seifur started to seethe. "This is what it's about? I love Quistia, you spoiled brat. You don't deserve her…I don't deserve her."
"Yeah, you know what, you go think that. But she'll eventually leave you…she'll get sick of you. You're only there so that she can defy her parents. Once she's through with you, she'll have to marry me."
Seifur could feel his blood boiling. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he brought his sword up and thrust it towards Arutha. Arutha quickly jumped back, but no quickly enough. A stripe of blood appeared across his arm.
Grrrr…Arutha swung his sword will all he had; Seifur spun out of the sword's reach. Seifur felt his temper get the best of him and yelled. "Explodi!" he cast as he brought the wrath of his blade down on Arutha. The result was a loud BANG noise, a slice across Arutha's stomach, and a hole in his chest. He was dead.
Run, his brain automatically told him. Find Quistia, said his heart.
"Hey, what's the problem, boys?" the sword master called over. Then it clicked. Arutha's dead body. Seifur standing over it with a bloodied sword in his hand, the other hand raised from a casting.
"S-s-seifur…wh-" the sword master stumbled.
Seifur looked up to face his childhood teacher. And then he ran. Ran for what must have been 5 hours. The news had probably already reached Quistia by horse, but it didn't matter. He had to see her; she would stay by his side, no matter what.
Run. He ran until the warmth of the evening sun was no longer present. Night swept over the town and into the forest, which led to Seifur not being able to see very well. But he did see something…something that looked like…a person.
"Seifur? Is that you?" The sound of Quistia's voice was the healing in itself.
"Quistia," he gasped.
"Oh, Lord, Seifur…" she quickly rushed over and flung her arms around his neck, holding him so tightly it seemed like she forgot he needed to breathe.
"Quistia, you have to believe me, I'm so sorry."
"Of course I believe you, but Seifur…you have to go. The sheriff has already begun his hunt…"
"No, I can't leave you. Let me explain to them. And let me carry out the punishment…the sentence can't be that bad; I was acting in self-defense!"
Quistia seemed as if she were about to burst out. "Seifur, you need to run away," she said in a deadly firm voice, only betrayed by the slight tremble of her lips.
"Then come with me. You are the only thing I need, I have absolute faith in you."
"No, Seifur, I can't."
Seifur's eyes widened in shock. "What?! Don't we…love each other? I need you to be by my side…and we have to die together, remember?"
Quistia shook her head, hiding the fact that she was biting her lip to prevent herself from crying. "Seifur…it can't…be this way. This is my place…with my family. And you need to go; you're a criminal!"
And with that, understanding hit Seifur. "Oh, so that's what this is about. Family obligation." He laughed bitterly. "You really had me fooled. You really made me think that you were in love with me. Huh," he drifted off into silence, internally fuming and confused, but externally, he was angry. "You know what," he said quietly, "I think I'll do just that. I'll run away. Thanks for having faith in me."
"Seifur…" Quistia shivered.
"No, don't say anything. I know who, or rather, what you are now. And you know what? I don't want to die with you." Seifur spun around and started walking away. He never looked back. But he should have.
A/N: I know, the flashbacks are confusing, but all will reveal itself…
