Points of Authority Chapter 6: You have to act like you're someone ll you live what you learn, an escaflowne fanfic

A/N: If anyone lives in Oregon, and likes any of my fics, you should really tackle me, and make me update. None of my friends here fight me hard enough. Hell, half of them don't even like my stuff. Amazing how short these AN's get, ne?

Points of Authority

(Instrumental)

Celesi felt their coming. She came out, and smiled softly. "Larissa, you are as stubborn as always."

Ayanna nodded, fiercely determined. "We must hide her before the priests discover—"

"You are too late. The sacrifice has come at last."

Celesi glowered at the circling prophets. "Leave her alone. I command thee."

The lead prophet smiled condescendingly. "We do this for your own good, for your baptism—"

Celesi interrupted him, knocking him to the ground telepathically. As the fierce colors emptied from his head, the migraine emptying out, Celesi answered him bitterly. "You care nothing for me. Nothing. All you care is for your salvation, and so you've cared piously for me since I was first taken. And so you think your good works will be smiled on from the heavens, and your transgressions will be washed. Mine will be, oh yes. My hatred for you and your kind will surely be washed away. That is for sure; but your hidden cruelty and greed has been revealed. You will not be forgiven."

The priest looked horrified. "But we have the sacrifice, your excellence! Why is this not enough? Would the other two forgive us of our sins?"

Aidana slammed into him so fiercely this time that all the others were affected with a deep ache directly in the back of their heads. "These three I have no wish to kill!"

A lesser priest stepped forward. "Why do you not wish to follow the mission, Mistress?"

Celesi smiled tenderly at the little one. "Perhaps I can yet save you from the evil that they inflict you with, little one."

The older priest pushed the protégé back into line. "Little Jareth should be ignored, Your Excellency."

Celesi's eyes sparked fire. "Whose place is it to place judgement, little Amos?" she asked, with no small amount of scorn in her tone.

The chastened priest stepped back into his place.

Celesi walked up to Dillan. "He, whom you would kill for your entrance to Eternal Bliss, would deny you access. What good would it be if you killed the HiRyuu?"

Dillan tensed, as she'd seen through him so quickly.

She turned to Larissa. "The sacrifice you intend for me, is his one love. You would turn him against yourselves if I were to allow you to continue."

Larissa smiled, shaking her head. "But I—"

Celesi shook her head, stopping her vocal chords. "Let me finish before you declare your death sentence."

Celesi turned to Ayanna, sorrow in her eyes. "Why can I not win without death!" she cried, demanding an answer.

Ayanna's eyes watered, and she was overcome with empathy for her. "My Queen, it is the way of curses. They are not intended for pleasantness."

Celesi cried. "Will no one hate me? Will no one not give me a title for fear?"

Dillan stepped forward, glaring. "I hate you. Do not doubt that."

Celesi's eyes filled with hope. "Do you really?"

Maybe there is hope, yet.

"You would take Larissa from me."

Larissa stepped between them. "No. I leave you both for the hope you can both survive! If I die, there is an escape from both your curses! I do this for your good!"

Ayanna pulled her back. "No! You do this, for you were raised to. Step away from your teachings. Do you really wish death?"

Larissa yanked herself away, and threw herself at Celesi's feet. "Please listen to this, at least!"

there is no place for us in this turning world we're like the sadness of an ocean we're both the nearest waves and the farthest shores and they'll never ever really begin to understand there is no time for us on this spinning earth today, tomorrow is set in motion and though we might be living in our finest hour they could never ever really begin to understand the world is not in our hands to hold we are ultradust caught in this spin and flux all the while, revolving perpetual dreaming, waiting to break free there is no place for us in this turning world we're like the sadness of an ocean we're both the nearest waves and the farthest shores and they'll never ever really begin they could never ever really begin they will never ever really begin to understand

Larissa looked up at Celesi, her over-filled eyes spilling tears. "Remember this! I died that they could understand! Help them understand!"

Jareth looked at her in shock. "That's my prophecy…" he whispered, overcome.

Celesi hugged her friend fiercely. "Take Dillan and leave! He hates me, so it is not time yet. I'll find a sacrifice—somewhere..."

Chiyla drifted to the ground. "You won't. He will despise you for killing his love, but fall for you all the while." She quoth, smiling at the bitter irony. "There is no hope for either of you. Even Larissa's saving prophecy will drift from memory, and you will be sucked into the nothingness of your fate. And once you die, two lovers gone will drive Dillan to release the HiRyuu, and all will be lost."

Amos stepped forward. "Is the sacrifice willing?"

Both Celesi and Dillan screamed simultaneously for her to stop.

Larissa smiled, and nodded. "Willing and ready to give life for the Blood Baptism."

The priests drew around themselves cloaks of protection, and held the three in place as the altar was set.

Little Jareth chanted the spell to power the protection, his baby blue eyes sparkling with tears.

Chiyla watched the horror with a smile—her work of chaos was done. Now she could enjoy her labor.

Larissa knelt willingly before the wood as the ceremonial blades were sharpened and chanted to enchantment.

Dillan turned to the girl with tears rolling silently over her. "I hate your god, and hope your damn curse is inflicted with twice the pain mine is!" he snapped in a low hiss.

The knives began descend slowly.

"Wait!" Celesi screamed futilely.

The knives continued to fall evenly.

She inflicted the worst migraines upon every priest and prophet working the act, but other than fierce wobblings, the knives continued to drop.

Larissa smiled, closing her eyes. "The Blood Baptism is finished, Cel. You will suffer no more!"

Celesi almost screamed that she didn't understand, but bit her lip fiercely. There was no way she could stop it now, all she would do would bring terror of working for nothing to Larissa's mind. Dying for nothing would make it all the more futile.

The second the spell stopped(which was quite soon after the triple migraines inflicted), Ayanna ran to Celesi, and held her to herself. "Thank you...at least she didn't die thinking her work in vain."

Celesi sobbed openly. "She did not read enough! How could she not comprehend that I am the one to die? How could she miss the meaning!"

Chiyla laughed, mocking them all. "Yes, she read the wrong portion of the prophecy, but her death is INDEED predicted. In my alteration of it, in any case."

Celesi glared fiercely, screamed, and Chiyla shot several galaxies away.

Celesi stalked over to Amos, fought the blade from his hand, yanked a protective cloak from Jareth, and shoved both into Dillan's hands. "Kill me before I cause any more death."

And your sorrow.

Ayanna protested, "But Aidana had things to say—"

Celesi screamed—a human one this time—and transported Jareth, Ayanna, Dillan, and herself to Gaea.

"KILL ME, DAMMIT!"

A/N: And there is your chapter. Once Ash and I get on and RP it out, you'll have the his response. This fic could end very quickly depending on his choice…heh, maybe Celesi will finally get her wish of death. You never know where my twisted plot may take us if that occurs. Probably into a world where I have everyone die, including Folken. Won't he be happy. Nah, I'll leave him alive with the priests. Can't let anyone be happy when I kill all.