********** VI – Abducted! **********
Rinoa found refuge in a little restaurant she always went to when in Timber, just on the other side of the street from the hotel. She sipped her Cappuccino milkshake, and remarked to herself, 'Drinkable coffee, the only good thing the Galbadians brought to Timber.'
Her thoughts went back to the scene she had witnessed earlier. She smiled as she remembered the peaceful, contented expressions on her friends' features. The tableau they had created had been beautiful by its tenderness, and primal simplicity. She pictured Squall and herself in that situation - sharing not in lust, but in love as the brunette and the cowboy had.
"Rinny, are you all right?" Inquired a small voice beside her.
"Selphie… huh, yes… I…"
The emerald-eyed woman sat in front of the sorceress, it was obvious that she had dressed in a hurry and her hair was rather disheveled. "Listen, there is nothing to be embarrassed about." Said the diminutive SeeD, "It was just an accident, and we don't want you to act all weird around us."
"It's all right, but seeing you guys like that was unexpected." Replied Rinoa.
Selphie laughed, "You know, it's quite funny when you think of it. The expression on your face was priceless!"
The raven-haired woman also laughed. Her spirited friend had a way of seeing the lighter side of situations, and she had to admit that what had happened was kind of humorous.
The girl's green eyes showed her relief, "I hoped you'd be here, this seems to be your favorite place to hang-out. I went to look for you in Zell's room first, and did you know that there's this really tall woman there?"
"Yes, I know. They're made for each other if you ask me." Said Rinoa with a mischievous grin.
"Listen, Rinny," Continued an amused Selphie, "Irvine has to leave soon, so you can come back to the room if you want."
"No, it's still early and I'll go for a walk." Answered the hazel-eyed woman "I give you guys two hours to 'tidy-up' the room. Understood?" – she accompanied this by a wink.
"Right." Said Selphie, obviously pleased and relieved. She then left, and Rinoa decided to check the sights - it must be pointed out that Timber had changed a lot in the past two years or so.
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A shadow detached itself from the darkness of an alley. This was a streak of pure luck, for now he could try to put his plans to work immediately. He had been wondering about how to lure the Owl-Princess outside, and seeing her simply walking away towards the commercial district made things a lot simpler.
"Lorgon," ordered the shadow, "Go get the car, plant the flowers in Brushwood Park and wait for me nearby."
After the other man had left, the stalker followed his prey. 'Princess, you are making this way too easy.' He thought merrily.
Rinoa wasn't in a shopping mood, but looking at the colorful displays on the street cheered her up. As she checked out the stores that had recently opened, a familiar voice made her turn, "Well, does anything catch your eye, Princess?"
"Chrislen, did you also get bored of the party?"
"Yes, I did." He acquiesced, "Kathrya's troop had to deal with a flat tire, and she decided to leave. I walked her to her hotel, and since the evening is so warm I wanted to take a healthy stroll."
"How come you know her?" Asked Rinoa.
"To make a long story short," Answered the man, "I was wounded while spying on a Galbadian convoy, I had lost a lot of blood and Kathrya found me in the woods near her village. The Moonbrook's hid me and took care of me, and since then I've been friends with her."
"I remember that," said the sorceress, "You disappeared for three weeks, and that was when Jek Thorson was killed."
"Yes…" continued the blond man, "He was a great operative, but I couldn't do a thing."
"Nobody blames you for it, Chrislen, it is fortunate that Kathrya found you."
"And also that I found her…"
"She seems to be a really special person." Remarked Rinoa.
"In more ways than you can fathom." Replied Chrislen cryptically, before offering, "Say, I was going to have a light dinner. Care to join me?"
As he had expected, she gratefully accepted the invitation. Rinoa was obviously upset at something, and those were the times when people wanted a friend's company. They went to a small restaurant and reminisced about the past. She was obviously avoiding the topic of her sadness, and so Chrislen just bid his time waiting for the right moment to put his plan to action.
"It's getting late, I better go back to my hotel." Announced the hazel-eyed woman after little over two hours.
"Please allow me to accompany you." Said Chrislen gallantly, "But I'd like to show you something before, it will only be a short detour."
She saw no harm in it and he led her away from the commercial district. They stopped in a little park, and he asked, "Do you remember this place?"
"Well, yes." Replied Rinoa, "You met me here with Zone and Watts the first time I came to Timber."
He looked behind a bench, and offered her a bouquet of white flowers streaked with orange. "Do you also remember these, Princess?"
"Snowblooms!" she exclaimed, "That was the sign to recognize each other, where did you get these so late in the season? And why were they here?"
"They import them from Trabia, and I was planning to stop by your hotel in the hopes that you would accept my invitation." Explained Chrislen, "Princess, there is also something that I have to confess to you…"
"Yes, what is it?" She prompted.
"Rinoa, I love you, I always had." He announced melodramatically, "During the occupation I had no time for romantic involvement, and afterwards you met Squall Leonhart. I know that this is sudden, but I just had to let you know my true feelings."
She was taken aback by his declaration, which was exactly what he wanted. "Squall and I are no longer together…" she said sadly.
He took her in his arms and kissed her expertly. After a moment of surprise she pushed him away gently. "I… I am sorry, but I am not ready for another relationship right now."
"I apologize for my impulsiveness." He replied, looking properly chastised, "Will you consider what I've told you? Maybe in time…"
Rinoa looked at him apologetically, "I am sorry, I am not the same person you knew. I have changed. I like you as a friend, but I don't think there could be more."
She was off-guard just as he had hoped and now he had to act fast. She was a sorceress after all, and would retaliate in a decisive way if he failed. Chrislen turned away, head bent as if he was pained. In reality, he didn't want her to see that he was donning a combat glove equipped with metal-knuckles.
"I am very sorry to hear that, Princess." He said in a low tone.
"Chrislen…" she started with concern in her voice, and then he turned rapidly and sent a vicious punch at her left jaw.
Rinoa was thrown backwards, she dropped the Snowblooms and she tasted blood in her mouth. She managed not to fall, but before she could react he was on her again, hammering her with punches. Another man ran to the scene, he was carrying a small fighting-stick and he used it to hit her repeatedly.
She felt the hits to her face, legs, back, arms and head. Had she not been taken by surprise, and with her hands occupied by the flowers, she would have fought back efficiently. Unfortunately, Chrislen was well trained in the forbidden art of the Ninjutsu, but he was still having a hard time bringing her down.
In spite of all that punishment, and her dazed state, she was still trying to flee while blocking the blows. Chrislen finally connected his armored fist with the side of her head, and she saw flashes in front of her eyes before passing out.
The two men stood sweating and panting from the exertion, looking down on her. "Phew! She's a tough one, I'd been knocked out long before her." Said the man named Lorgon.
"I didn't expect her to be this resistant either." Agreed Chrislen, "Now, put the armlet on her and lets get out of here."
They put a bracelet adorned with rare stones, secured by a small but sturdy lock, around her wrist. The two men then lifted her and brought her to a car waiting nearby, and they rode out of Timber in the night.
"Chrislen, what about Kathrya? Our men brought her to the Old Brewery, but will she cooperate?" Asked Lorgon Seldon.
"Just leave it to me," answered the blue-eyed man, "And I learned that Rinoa and the Commander split up, so our plan will be even easier to apply."
"Good, and I'll have that letter sent to her friends at the hotel." Said Lorgon, "Say, she looks in pretty bad shape, maybe we should have a healer look at her."
"It doesn't matter, we only need her alive long enough for Kathrya to do her trick."
"I don't trust that woman, she makes me uneasy."
"We also only need her long enough for her to do her trick, and allow me to win the election." Replied Chrislen, "Don't worry, Lorgon, I have everything under control."
'And that is exactly what worries me…' thought Mr.Seldon. He was fully aware of the consequences if they got caught, and that he was deeper in this conspiracy than he felt comfortable with.
The Old Brewery soon came into view. It was now too late to step back, and Lorgon wished that he'd never gotten involved with Chrislen Khosgrove. The man suddenly realized the prize for greed, one's own soul – he had made a pact with the Devil itself.
And now he would have to pay the bill.
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~ To Be Continued ~