True Love's Song

Part 4- Revenge

By Alria

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the ff9 characters or settings.

Author's Note: I found this 4th chapter nearly completed in my hardrive, so I finished it up and posted it. Enjoy!

~ * ~

6 years later

Jane moaned softly as a beam of warm sunlight washed across her face, arosing her from a comfortable sleep. On instinct, she reached her arm over to the other side of the bed, and sure enough she could make out the familiar contours of Devin's bare back. She smiled contentedly and snuggled closer to him as the warmth from his strong body radiated through her. She heard him sigh happily as he wrapped his arm comfortingly around her shoulder. She opened her cinnamon eyes and saw Devin smiling lovingly down at her. She grinned happily and placed a light kiss on his forhead.

"Good morning, darling," she cooed. Devin sighed and gently tucked a strand of Jane's dark brown hair behind her ear.

"You know, we met nearly seven years ago, and you're still just as beautiful. How do you manage it?" he asked playfully. Jane chuckled and gave him and loving punch on the shoulder.

"Don't spoil me like that! You know it goes straight to my head," she giggled.

"Mommy! Daddy!"

Devin and Jane both looked over at the doorway as the sound of tiny footsteps echoed down the hallway. Sure enough, it was only a matter of seconds before a tiny head peeped out form behind the door. Dark brown hair that was just a shade lighter than black was croped off below the shoulders and chestnut eyes the same color as her mother's glistened in the early morning light. Jane smiled as she gazed lovingly at her little daughter.

"Sarah, do you want to come up here with Mommy and Daddy?" she asked. The little girl nodded eagerly and in nearly an instant the five-year-old was snuggled in between her parents.

"Jane? Sarah? Are you in here?" came another voice, high-pitched and squeaky. Sarah's head shot up like a cannon, a wide grin on her face.

"Bahamet! We're in here! Come on!" she called. The tiny red dragon flew into the room, saw the three sitting on the bed, and let out a high trill for joy. He raced over to his family and curled up on the blanket. Sarah giggled and gently scratched behind his red ears.

Devin, Jane, and Sarah had been living in a small cottage just outside of Madain Sari ever since the wedding. Devin was still the leader of the Black Mage Village (which had grown considerably in the past six years), and all the mages there loved and welcomed Jane and Sarah as if they were their own. The Summoners, however, were much less keen about having a black mage mingled into their family tree. They were never flat out cruel to the warm-hearted mage, but they were none the less very clear about wanting to see him as little as possible. So, they shortened the family reunions to as few as possible, and it seemed to make everyone moderately happy. Everything was as perfect as it had ever been, and it looked as if it were going to stay that way for a long time.

Meanwhile

13, his pointed hat resting on the counter beside him, glared at no one in particular as he took a giant gulp of beer from his mug. 6 years ago he had vowed to destroy the summoners of Madain Sari, and for six years he had tried his best to devise a plan. But try as he might, nothing he thought up ever seemed to be good enough. And enough was enough. He was going to give up his obsession. Besides, drinking liquer at pubs was much more entertaining. To hell with Devin; he had better things to do.

And that's when He walked in.

A tall, silver-haired man in a long black cape walked into the bar. His red eyes darted this way and that, until they finally locked with 13's. The black mage gasped in shock. As he stared in those crimson eyes it was as if someone had knocked him in the chest with a mallet. Eyes still locked with 13's, the strange man walked up to him. When he was only a few feet from the black mage, the man broke the powerful gaze and sat down beside him. 13 gasped for breath. Who WAS this quire man, anyway?

"You're what they call a black mage, aren't you?" the man asked bluntly. Normally, 13 would never have responded to a human, but this was obviously no ordinary man. Still gasping for air, he simply nodded. The man grinned menacingly.

"Excellent. My name is Garland, and perhaps you could be of assistance to me," he said. 13, his breathing returned almost to normal, looked up at the quire cloaked man in front of him.

"What do you want?" he asked shakily. Garland's grin widened.

"I'm looking for Madain Sari, the summoner's village. Perhaps you've heard of it?" he asked. 13 rolled his eyes. Of COURSE he had heard of it. Life wasn't fair. Why did it always have to be about 6 and his stupid Madain Sari?

"Why do you want to know?" 13 asked. Garland clapped his hands together as he knitted his long white fingers.

"The summoners are becoming a bit of a nuisance to me andwell, lets just say I'm going to exterminate the pests," he said slyly. 13, eyes wide in surprise stared at Garland in amazement. This man was going to destroy the entire village of Madain Sari!? If it had been any other person he would have been positive it wouldn't succeedbut there was something about Garland, a sort of uncanny power.

"You're going to wipe out Madain Sari?"

"Just tell me where it is."

13's lips curled into a wicked sneer as he could already taste the sweet revenge on his tongue.

"Alright, Garland, I think I can help you after all"

~

Sarah, a wide grin on her face, burst into the small house with a small piece of paper in her hands. Jane, who had been busy washing a load of dishes, looked up from her work to watch her daughter.

"What is that, Sarah?" she asked. The little girl held the folded paper up to her mother so that the front was facing Jane. And much to her surprise, the number "6" was scribbled on it. Jane stared at the paper, eyes wide with shock. No one called Devin by that anymore. What could it possibly be?

"Look, Mommy, I found a piece of paper! Can I draw on it?" Sarah asked hopefully. Jane slowly shook her head.

"II'm sorry, dear, but not on that piece of paper. Can I see it?" she asked. Sarah sighed in defeat and handed the paper over to her mother. Jane took the paper in her hands and, still marveling at the mystery, tucked it into her apron pocket. She had to find Devin; maybe he could clear this whole thing up.

Still curious and somewhat nervous, Jane walked swiftly outside into the yard. Devin, still in his royal blue cloak, was busy chopping timber for the fire when Jane walked up to him and gently tapped him on the shoulder. Wiping the sweat from his forhead with an old washcloth, he smiled down at her. He was about to say something witty, but when he saw the concerned look on her face Devin quickly became solemn.

"Jane? What's wrong?" he asked nervously. Jane, chestnut eyes filled with worry, held up the small piece of paper. Devin took it from her hand and gasped when he saw the number. His wide amber eyes shifted slowly from the paper to his wife's face.

"Where" he stammered. Jane sighed.

"I was washing the dishes when Sarah brought it to me. Do you have any idea what it could be?" she asked. Devin shook his head.

"No. But I'm going to find out," and with that, Devin carefully unfolded the paper and began to read:

My Dearest Foe,

For years I've hidden behind the shadows of the night, trying to come up with the most ingenious and ideal death for you and your pathetic family, only to have to admit defeatuntil now. Yesterday, I met up with a man called Garland. The details of the conversation are of no concern to you; the only thing you need to know is that I am coming. Death runs with winged sandels, and come the next full moon, my revenge will be complete. Enjoy your precious family while you can.

13