Chapter 10 – THAT is the Great Mother?
Author's notes: God, you guys are the best people I've ever seen. Your reviews just keep me going and going… even as my fingers get numb from typing. Hehehe thanks Zell's Gaurdian Angelle… who says you're a pain in the ass? Far from it! If anyone criticises you for it, I swear I'll pulverise him/her/it with a badly imitated Final-Heaven!! Okay… not to keep you any longer from the story…
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Today is an important day. All of us wait eagerly for the appearance of the Great Mother. Of course, there were three in the herd who wanted her appearance for entirely different reasons, but up to this moment at least, none of our "fellow worshippers" had noticed it.
I suppose that's only because we were starting to look, no, become like them. It has a mind-numbing effect, and maybe this was what eventually fully converted those nutcases around us.
Fortunately, we three all had something to believe in. Or it might have been difficult to stay on as long as we did.
Ah… the harp and organ sounds, dry ice fogging up the altar area… which signals the entrance of the Great One… I really should tone down my sarcasm… but I really don't see how Great this person was!
And she stands there, arms outstretched, addressing her worshippers.
"Oh my loyal, precious darlings! I have come to bless you with eternal youth, great health, and all the best things in life. Bladity Blah Blah Blah Blah……"
I rolled my eyes at her words. Like anyone would really get all that just by following her?
I glanced at Seifer beside me. I always do that when I find myself wanting to give up and run… or when something unbelievably stupid happens, only to find a similar expression on his face. It keeps me grounded… ha.
Yeah, I know what you're thinking. Me too. He mouthed.
Lately, we had taken up lip-reading as a necessity for communication. Sometimes, I can even guess their thoughts, as they would mine. Quistis would occasionally try to sneak into the men's part of the hall… Hyne knows how she does it… only to be admonished by a stern Seifer.
What if you get caught! He mouthed, while I nodded in earnest agreement.
Ooops… it's time for the blessing of spirit water, where the Great Mother sprinkles foul-smelling jasmine (again!) water with a laurel branch on everyone's head, and staring them in the eye while chanting something.
One has gotta be careful not to be hypnotised by her! I reminded myself as we started queuing for it.
As I came up, I bowed at the waist, hands clasped together. Jasmine water fell upon my hair, which wasn't in its usual shape due to the lack of hair-shaping substances at my disposal. Anyway… it would have stood out a mile away amongst those other worshippers of the Great Mother, which is the last thing I wanted to happen.
"Amdoitongaoipowffjajzaa!" She muttered and looked at me in the eye. I dilated the pupils even more.
Well, on the surface, I did. I marvel at myself… being able to keep up with the appearance even as my mind registered the shock at seeing her.
Not what I expected? THAT is the understatement of the year!
Her eyes… where have I seen them before? The same shape, the exact shade, the identical degree of passion and calmness striking a perfect balance, and a "something" that hints at possibly the same nature.
And yet, she was also fundamentally different.
There was a sense of pull, seduction, sensuousness, evil even. Whatever you might call it, contrasting sharply against the other's innocence and grace.
"See me after the ceremony has ended." She whispered in my ear.
My heart skipped a beat. Can it be that she has seen through my deception?
Quite a large possibility, seeing that she was a master at it herself.
I nodded and intoned in a flat voice. "Yes, my Great Mother." And followed the others out of the hall.
I saw a visibly shaken Quisty outside, and weaved through the crowd towards her… quietly of course. It wouldn't do to draw attention unto us at such a crucial time! Turning back, I saw a just as shaken Seifer following closely behind. Well, he didn't show it too much, but from the way his eyes reflected confusion, so different from the usual proud look, and from his slightly trembling lower lip… I could tell.
"What do we do now? Did we do something wrong? What if she finds out? What will she do to us?" Quisty couldn't stop babbling, which shows just how out of control she had felt.
I just know that Seifer so wanted to step up and give her a big hug, but couldn't. His fist clenched tightly against his side at his helplessness.
Instead, he only said, "Calm down, baby. Maybe she just wants to enquire after the newcomers. There might not be any implication at all!"
She nodded softly.
"Besides, even if she finds out, she can't do anything to us. In fact, we might get a chance to find out what's going on! C'mon… let's go and see her before she comes lookin'… which is definitely not a good thing!" I added.
"Agreed."
"Let's go!"
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We wait patiently outside the Great Mother's chamber. For easy reference and time saving, we had decided to refer to her as the G.M. To tell the truth, I am sick and tired of the long one! In fact, we were gonna call this "Operation GM", which almost gets me laughing my guts out every time I think about it.
Her personal butler, Joinks, bowed to us and said respectfully,
"The Great Mother expects the three of you as her guests."
Surprise must have registered on our faces, for he continued to explain his behaviour.
"The G.M. does not treat her worshippers as guests. Only highly enlightened persons may get such treament."
"Oh. I guess that explains everything."
You could tell that this guy wasn't one of those hypnotised idiots, for his eyes were clear and full of intelligence…
Well, at least it looked that way. Beats me why anyone with a clear mind would follow this G.M.
Besides the promise of great wealth, you mean.
I decided not place too much meaning on that little voice. It must be my imagination again. I can't stand another disappointment like that previous one, no thank you.
We trooped in an orderly fashion into her chamber.
Well, she sure had profited from all the donations her worshippers had made as a habit every two weeks. Her chamber was nothing short of that found in a palace. Huge enough to fit a small house, plush red carpets, antique wood furniture in rich tones of mahogany, sky high ceilings with ornate trimmings, priceless looking paintings and such… I'm not brilliant at describing décor, so let's just say that we were impressed.
"So… my dear… is it them you were talking about?" She turned to look at someone standing behind her.
"As sure as the Estharian deserts have sand on their grounds." A dark figure came up beside her and spoke in a low voice.
"We are here, oh G.M. What do you wish to see us for?" Seifer spoke in monotone.
"You can cut the act. D over here has told me that you three are actually SeeDs in disguise."
"He does not speak the truth. I, as your humble servant, do not dare to deceive you." Quistis spoke in a tone similar to Seifer's.
"Zell Dintch, Seifer Almasy, and Quistis Trepe. Those are your real names." The mysterious dark one spoke.
We looked at each other in shock. How could he have known our real names? Even if our identity as worshippers were subject to suspicion, our names shouldn't have seen the light of the day at all!
"I must say, I'm rather impressed, though. You have managed to hide yourselves for more than a week. If not for D here, even I might have been fooled!" She smiled up at her lackey.
Yeah… lackey. That's what I call that D. It seems that he hangs on her every word like dog to its master. Yeesh… even if she doesn't look like a villianess… she was the one who cheated those poor folks of their hard-earned Gil and make them act like zombies!
"You flatter me, Great One."
Then she turned to us again.
"So… after all that you have seen in a week or so, have you decided to join us in the path to glory?"
"Who wants to join you in your so-called glory? Yer nothing but a gypsy woman concocting a big fat lie, and swimming in the millions you've cheated from ordinary, innocent folks!" I spat out in contempt.
"Watch your mouth, young man, or those will be your last words!" He grabbed the collar of my Estharian yellow garb.
"Let go of him, D." The G.M. drawled lazily. "It wouldn't do to sully your hands with his blood."
Only then did he release his hold, reluctantly.
As he did so, a feeling of déjà vu swam over my mind.
But as with most cases, I couldn't put a finger on it…
I was certain that I've seen him before… no… seen isn't the right word.
I caught him staring at my sapphire, and placed a palm protectively over it by instinct.
… No! Rather than say that I've seen him, I've sensed him watching me before! HE was the none-too-good-natured one who keeps spying on me for who knows what!
He started lunging towards me… aiming for the sapphire, probably.
"Guards, take these three to the jail and lock them up in chains." The G.M. buzzed the intercom, a tad too in sync to be a coincidence. And hence, my sapphire was still safe in my hands. I guess I should have thanked the G.M. for this little favour.
I tried to wriggle out of the grasps of those burly men who came in and tried to capture us… but I was stunned by an electric shock as something was jabbed at my spine.
"You…" I pointed at D as I fell to the ground, hand still clutching at the string around my neck…
*
Zell!!!
You're gonna get it from me, Damien!