Chapter 9:

The cobwebs were incredibly thick, and Eiko had to brush them out of the way just to be able to see anything.  She wasn't exactly sure why Talus wanted to meet there other than the place was abandoned.  However, firmly certain she was able to take care of herself, and perfectly willing to do anything to rescue little Jade, she trudged forward through the dust and the webs without a thought for herself, but rather thinking of Zidane's young daughter.

Eiko still loved Zidane in her own way, but adoring crush of a child had long since turned into sisterly admiration, and she thought of Zidane more as a close friend now than someone she could ever consider a lover.  Besides, her love of Garnet had grown with the years as well, and she wouldn't do anything to hurt the wonderful woman or her family.

At first, Eiko had felt like an outcast, living with Cid and Hilde away from all her friends in Alexandria and the other parts of the world.  But as she visited Garnet and Zidane and they came to visit her, she felt more and more a part of their family then alone without a family, a home, or a race of people to call her own.

Because of this, Eiko also had a firm love for all three of Zidane and Garnet's children, though she'd have to admit that she was torn between spending time with little Jade and spending time with Dagger.  The older girl was more mature and related to Eiko fairly well, even at her young age.  But Jade was willful, mischievous, and adorable, and there was no end to the boundless love that she poured over everyone she came in contact with.  This only hardened Eiko's resolve to save the young princess.

After she plodded along for a while, she heard a creak beside her, and she turned to see an open door with a light.  Jade stood in that doorway, her eyes fearful but determined.  She stepped forward and silently motioned for Eiko to come to her, but before Eiko could even move, two hands grabbed her shoulders from behind and pulled her down into the dust.

Desert Palace

Jade was awoken from an already fitful sleep by the sound of shouting and moaning.  She jumped up to see Skah rolling from side to side, his face twisted in disgust and pain.  He was obviously asleep, and she rushed over to shake him awake.  After a few moments of intense shaking and saying, "Skah!  Skah, wake up!", the genome finally awoke and stared at her with frightened eyes.

She brushed his face with her hand, feeling more like a mother than a little girl of six.  "Shh… It was just a bad dream.  Maybe If you tell me about it, I can make it better."

Skah stared at her, uncomprehending for a moment, then his face softened and he sighed.  Taking her little hand, he settled her in his lap, and she rested her head against his chest.  "If I hadn't mentioned it before… Talus and I are twins.  We aren't identical, as I'm sure you know, and our personalities are quite opposite as well.  But we do have a link to each other.  We can read each other's minds.  Not all the time, though.  Talus has found a way to block me out, but we usually do share each others dreams.  It's fairly rare for him to get one of mine, since he is the more powerful of the two of us, but I dream his dreams almost every night."

"That's awful!" Jade exclaimed, her eyes drooping back into sleepiness.  "What was the dream tonight?"

Not really wanting to tell her, but feeling an obligation, Skah continued.  "He often has dreams about revenge against Zidane and Garnet.  Sometimes against Vivi or Amarant or Qina.  He doesn't think very much about Freya, but he's hateful of Steiner.  He believes they should all be destroyed for ruining Kuja's master plan."

"But what about Eiko?  She was there, too…" Jade yawned.

"Yes, but she was just a child then.  At least, that's how he excuses her from his irrational revenge.  He thinks of her as a beautiful young woman that he must have…" Skah's voice turned dreamy.  "And she is beautiful.  Beautiful, strong, young, vivacious…"

Jade turned to look at him critically.  "You almost sound in love with her yourself!"

"No, I just admire her, that's all," Skah said quickly.  "I don't get contact with other people, other than you of course.  But I feel a link to Queen Eiko because she is the only person that I have ever seen in a fond light, if only from Talus' dreams."

"Do you think he will kill her?" Jade asked softly.

"No.  But he could do horrible, horrible things to her…" Skah sighed.  "My brother's love is a twisted, violent love.  He loves Eiko and thinks that she is beautiful, but he also thinks that she believes herself above him and must be brought down to his level.  He will never kill her, but he will probably abuse her like he abuses me…"

Jade had no response.  She was already asleep.  Skah was grateful for that, and he settled back against the wall, cradling the child in his arms.  Comforted by her small body being held in his, he fell back to a peaceful, dreamless sleep.

Meanwhile…

Eiko woke to find herself hanging naked by her wrists from a bar in the middle of one of the circular rooms she remembered being held in so long ago.  Her toes touched the floor, but she was not close enough to stand, and even though her hands were bound by silk, her wrists were getting very, very sore.

She turned in a circle to look at the door and saw the handsome young genome-summoner standing there with a twisted smile on his face.  He walked up to her and ran his hands over her body.  She shivered, out of repulsion or pleasure, she wasn't sure.

Grabbing her chin in his hand, he kissed her hard and cruelly.  "Ah, my beautiful Eiko, you are finally mine."

"Never!" she spat.

"Never say never, my dear," He warned her, tilting his head down to one of her breasts.  "I still have Princess Jade."

"Don't touch me!" She cried.

But his mouth was already on her, and there was nothing she could do…