Blue Magic:
Chapter 2: Dormire (Sleep)
"In the locust wind comes a rattle and hum
Where Jacob wrestled the angel and the angel was over come
You plant this demon seed; you raise a flower of fire
You see them burning crosses; you see the flames higher and higher"
-P.O.D's "Bullet the Blue Sky"
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She was silent as the elderly man across the table studied her with rude eyes. Judging her, weighing her as it seemed given the situation and seriousness of the conversation around her. Quistis shifted uncomfortably in her blue evening gown and fought off a scowl from her face.
"So this is your child, my Lady," spoke the rude man at last. "She seems to have your fire and pride. However, she is still to young to bear the full weight of the Gift. You barely survived at receiving it at 14, let alone Quistis at 6. What you plan is a death sentence and the end of your line."
The goddess of beauty made flesh gave her terrible smile. A false look of demure and wistful entered her features as she replied, "I know what I am doing. Quistis has a very unique heritage from both sides of her family, while I only had mine from my father. She will survive, this I know for a fact."
The old man bristled as Quistis frowned at the tone of the conversation changed from latest chocoboo races to her and this 'gift'. The golden hair child sat up straighter in chair and opened her ears. Quistis could be a good listener when she wanted to be.
"Oh? What would happen when she hits puberty? You had already cross the threshold into adulthood, she is not even near it." The old man rubbed his chin in frustration. "Think of what could happen. It would tear her apart with the overload of emotions, bodily, and magical changes within her body! You almost burned down your father's hunting cabin."
Quistis' mother sat back against the plush, oak dinner seat. "I have thought of that and created measures to make sure that doesn't happen. In fact, the maturing the body and soul is key part of my plan. There will be no other way. The sooner, the better. I feel the darkness coming. False prophets and clashes across Time itself. The Old Ones are stirring."
Sapphire eyes of the child widened as her Mother bowed her head with a look of absolute remorse over taking the normal predatory beauty features. Single starlight pearl from the layered jade eyes fell and shattered upon the armrest of the seat. Never had Quistis seen her mother show such vivid emotion besides anger. Especially in company of a man.
White hair washed over the wrinkling features of the man as he, too, bowed his head. Regret was strong in his eyes too. "When shall we attempt this, then? When shall we sacrifice the child of ancient bloodlines to your mad visions?"
"We shall not 'attempt', we shall 'do'." Snapped the Lady Mother. "No sacrifices, merely the preservation of the bloodlines and the safety of the world. They are waking up again too, you know. Not just my line, but also others; crueler, darker, and completely of the darkness. We have no choice, we must do this. It will be a sentence of death for this world. Corrupted Sorceresses are not the only wicked in existence."
Twisting her hands in her lap, Quistis was afraid. Sacrificing her? Darkness? Mad visions? Receiving a gift and preserving a bloodline? The 6-year child wanted none of this. Yes, she was born different and developed differently, but Quistis was still a child. Things in the night that went "boom" still sometimes scared her, she still had her stuff unicorn, Alma, and…
And her imaginary friend that has been with since she learned the harshness of loneliness from her nanny. Allowed no friends, merely her own thoughts until a voice spoke to her in the garden before a lesson when she was 4 years old. A voice and shimmering figure that now stood in corner of the room, watching her intently. Quistis felt her friend's name upon her lips. She felt beckoned to call it.
Slowly, she opened her mouth to whisper it. To call him to her, to chase away the bad thoughts and negative words her mother and the old man spoke. Peach petal lips parted and child began to whisper, "Come to me--"
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"Get me an IV and her records, we need to see what blood type she is!" Snapped Doctor Kadowaki at a nurse. Her strides powerful as the doctor cross the room the ruined figure of the world's strongest warriors as she lay upon a gurney. "Good Hyne, what the hell happened to cause this?"
The Treppies who found her paled as one stammered, "we found her in the Quad and there was these-"
"Was there any type of monster, lingering magic auras, or poisonous plants near her?" Interjected the Doctor.
"No, but-"
"Then make your report to the Headmaster and let me stabilize Miss Trepe here!" Bellowed Kadowaki, as she was clearly annoyed with the sniveling students. Quistis was in bad shaped and that worried her. No one as strong and experienced as the Head Instructor should be in this shape without her putting up a fight.
The two Treppies backed away, clearly frighten beyond their youthful wits. Several nurses scooted them out the door, making it clear they were to go to the headmaster and make their report there. The Emergency Room section of the Clinic was not for jabbering, witless students to make reports while a victim was being treated. The nurses closed off the area where Quistis was from other prying eyes.
Mumbling to themselves, the students went to the Head Master's office to call on him and make their report. Maybe they might earn a rank for their good deed, as well as recognition from the Quistis Trepe… if she woke up.
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Deep, chocolate brown hair spilled over a slightly golden hue forehead as Squall Leonheart cocked his head sideways, studying the starlight sky. His deep, blue eyes reflected his name as the wind around him stirred and scent of roses flooded around him. Exotic and strong, the scent seemed to attempt to lure him, lead him. Like a distant dream wishing to claim him and whisper secrets in his ear. The Commander of SeeD in Balamb Garden frowned and pulled back away from the railing in the 'Secret Area'.
Why he came out here was beyond him. Usually, even when he felt restless, he was able to force himself to sleep.
But not this time.
No, this time was different. It was almost like someone was calling to him, waiting for him. Never a weird sensation as this had over taken him; even with Rinoa. Disturbed by this, he had to answer to the summoning, only to find the place empty. Devoid. It was unsettling. Squall knew something was a miss on this night. He ran a ungloved hand through his satin tresses in frustration.
"What is calling me?" Muttered the boy in a husky voice. "Or who?"
Silence gave no reply.
Cursing at himself being trifle enough to expect an answer, the Commander left in Secret Area, the Lionheart in hand when he entered the Training Area. Cutting down Grats that were foolish enough to get in his way, Squall felt the hairs on the back of neck go on end. Trembling, he let out a soft hiss when he felt a flash of fear on the borderline of pain shot through his body. Something was terribly wrong.
Rushing forward, he existed the Training Area and smashed into something solid, which fell into something solid again.
"You two! What are you doing out so late?" Demanded the Elite SeeD when he realized it was students.
"S-s-sorry s-sir," Cried out the girls. "W-w-we're on our w-way to the H-head Master's Office!"
Arching an eyebrow, Squall recomposed himself. Just because one was frustrated, over tried, and unsettled did not give the right to be loud and obnoxious. Sighing, he inquired half-heartedly, "why?"
"I-it's about M-m-miss Trepe, sir!"
"What?" Time seemed to slow down.
"She had a accident, sir! She's in bad shape and-" Before the student could finish, the Commander brushed past them. Boots hitting the ground sound and silently, he ran full speed to the infirmary.
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Author's Notes:
I'm back!! ^^; Ya for ya'll! Tee hee. I know some of
you 'l33t' Quistis fans are like, "wazzn't she in the Orphanage till she was
like 5?" Keekekeke. That shall be answered. The first several chapters are just merely a
prelude to the real story. Just setting
a stage. I did have up chapter 7 done,
but my computer crashed and I lost everything but these chapters. I still have my outline, so it'll be easier
to finish chapters. Expect a chapter
every 1-2 weeks. ^^ BTW, I did fix that typo in the last
chapter. Sorry, I typed most of this in
Notepad and plugged it into Word.
I'll pick through the chapters in a bit for errors and typos later.
-Akira