Chapter 9 – Succumbing to darkness
"My handsome angel… you who have abandoned the great Angel Land. I have come to deliver some good news, and some bad news to you. Which do you want to hear first?"
That voice again. It was gravelly, matching the appearance of its serpent-like owner with her forked-tongue, razor teeth and reptilian eyes. All the works for a classic villianess.
"I do not want to hear a word from you! Did I not warn you not to appear in front of me again, you Snake-woman?"
"Ahh… what a nice name you have given me… Snake-woman! I like it!" She draped her body on mine… as I tried to pull her away, she clung on even harder… to the point of almost crushing my bones in the tight grip.
"What do you want?" I hissed.
"Oh, but you know very well what it is I desire!" She grinned evilly.
"I refuse to comply, as I have done numerous times before!" Another attempt to push her away… another failed one, that is.
"Doesn't matter… I'll let you hear this whether you want to or not!" Her tongue shot out and flicked at my left cheek, leaving a tiny wound on it.
"Hmmph!" I tried to turn away, but her grip was just unbreakable.
"The good news is… your beloved will soon awake." She hissed, waiting for my reaction.
"I don't want to hea… what did you just say? Are you certain of it?"
"You heard me. But the bad news is… she will belong to that Dintch boy, and not you…. HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"I don't believe you!" I shot a murderous glare at her.
"Oh, but you know it very well. Do not deceive yourself. She has loved that boy ever since she chose him as her Master. YOU should know how deep her feelings run."
"You're… lying! She's mine!" I started to deny whatever she had just said… but maybe there's a small truth in what she said? No!! She's an evil one! I mustn't trust her words!
And yet… she DID love him. He was the reason for her death.
Something poisonous rapidly fills my mind, my heart and my soul. A cross between despair, resentment, and most of all… hate.
"Wouldn't it feel good if she were yours? All yours?"
I look at her face, expecting a gloating one.
Instead, her expression was kind, maybe soft, and sympathetic.
Why had I succumbed to it? Was it because of the look in her eyes?
Slowly nodding, I looked into them.
"Good boy. Now come, and I shall comfort you with my touch." She gathered me into her arms and gave a soft, reassuring hug. Her hands smoothed my long hair, which had turned dark along with my wings ever since Celestine's death. The act reminded me so much of a mother comforting a bawling baby.
"Rest, and you shall have the energy to travel further.
Dream, and you shall meet your long-lost lover.
You're safe in my arms,
For I will let nothing hurt you.
Sleep well… sleep well… sleep well……"
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Foolish… how could you fall so easily in her trap?
I tried to wake you… but did you listen to me?
Silly, silly Damien!
For what do I cry; shed these bitter tears?
For someone whom I've always thought of as a brother?
Someone who doesn't even sense what I've been trying to tell him?
Wasted, wasted!
Wake up! Or I can't save you from her anymore!
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Another intermission
A game of Triple Triad cards where the players were Water Lily and Celestine. Zell was the Game Master.
WL: Today's wager… whoever wins Zell's card gets to spend a night with him!
C: It's already with me, but you're on! I'm gonna beat you at it until you beg for mercy!
WL: What rules, then?
C: Ask the Rule Observer. YURI!
Yuri: Elemental and Direct are the rules.
WL: Okay! Yee ker Zo!! (I think it means let's go!)
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
5 NE 7 2
3 Diablos A A Cerebrus 7 9 Sacred 1
(poison)
8 6 9
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
7 8 8
8 Ultima 7 8 Celestine A 9 Snake- A
Weapon Woman
2 5 1
--------------------- --------------------- --------------------
9 8 9
2 Quistis 6 1 Damien A 9 Minotaur 5
9 7 2
-------------------- -------------------- ---------------------
1.Water Lily places Diablos card, whose A turns 9 due to no element against Poison in that position.
2.Celestine turns Diablos card with Cerebrus card.
3.WL turns Cerebrus card with Sacred card.
4.Celestine places Ultima weapon card under Diablos card.
5.Water Lily turns Ultima Weapon card with Quistis card.
6.Celestine turns Ultima Weapon card with Celestine card.
7.Water lily places Minotaur in lower right corner.
8.Celestine places Damien card under Celestine card (how apt…*snigger*)
9. Water lily places Snake-woman card beside Celestine card.
Blue cards (Water Lily): Cerebrus, Sacred, Quistis, Minotaur, Snake-woman
Red cards (Celestine): Diablos, Ultima Weapon, Celestine, Damien, and unused Zell card.
WL: Unfair! You didn't use Zell's card!
C: I just didn't feel like using it, and that's that!
WL: Grrr… I was so stupid! I could have won easily!
C: As I could…
WL: So… who wins in the end?
Z: A draw, which means…
Yuri: I get the card!
WL&C: FAT HOPE!
Next change~~~
A/N: I hope the above diagram doesn't get all out of alignment… I spent so much effort on it! Otherwise I'll just have to draw it out and upload on some external site…