Disclaimer: I Do Not OWN Any Rights To FF7! Is that succinct enough?
A Beginning
He looked around the small kitchen and blinked his eyes at the scintillating silver light that could be seen through the windows. This was his first trip outside of his…no, it belongs to Lady Kiv, I'm just borrowing it…room. The trip had been hard, his body was whole but his strength was not on par. The simple task of standing erect was a chore, much less walking. But here he was, proud and tall, in a small kitchen…ten steps from the room.
The light confused him…it was too steady to be the light of twilight, to bright to be night, to dim to be day…but still something interesting to concentrate on as his weakness and labored breathing passed. He set his sights on reaching the room beyond, another agonizing fifteen steps…Only force of will made him complete those steps.
Here the light was the same, there seemed to be no artificial lights in the whole house. It showed him a small table, bare for the moment, and racks upon racks of drying herbs. On the back wall was a shelf dedicated completely to vials and potions of every color…a small fireplace sat cold and unused to his left, and to his right, the door to outside. Cool air blew from the door; tantalizing scents were crisp on the breeze. And yet, there was not a single sound besides the wind.
The door drew him, promised freedom, safety…not for himself, but for the gracious Lady Kiv, who didn't know what she blithely harbored. I could leave now, take my sword and disappear, spare her what ever I may do…I know I was not a kind man…I could lose myself out there…Then the voices, those hated voices intruded.
"Thinking of leaving? And so soon? One would think you didn't like this place, and the people here…"
"No, indeed. We will stay; there is much to be learned here."
"Perhaps he needs a break mother? He is, after all, recuperating…"
"Perhaps"
The cold voices terrified him. He glanced desperately at the door, yearning for a miracle…hoping they would not turn their cruelty upon…
"And where is that delightful girl? Kiv?"
He felt despair creeping in, horror rising in his mind. He offered a weak protest…a mental whimper…
"Ah, so you don't like where my thoughts turn? I think we shall seek her out" the voice said with a malicious edge "Mother and I wish to…speak with her…"
"Yesssss….we must seek her help….but first; I think her thinking must be…modified?"
"Yes, perhaps we could prod her a bit, make her more open to our…influence"
"No. You will leave her be. So I say, and you live in me. I rule here…"
"Is that so?" A rushing darkness descended upon his mind, a torrent as irresistible as a spring flood. He was washed away, helplessly, and locked in a small corner. The voices chuckled around him.
Sephiroth flexed his shoulders and smiled a small, predatory grin. It was so good to be back. Now to find Kiv…
* * * * *
He searched the three rooms diligently, shifting bedding, cooking ware and herbs…and still there was no Kiv. The open door beckoned. Squaring his shoulders, he stepped outside…and was shocked. The sky was one solid, waving aurora of silver and black…the light danced hypnotically…and beyond that, there was nothing. No stars, no sun, nothing. It was slightly unnerving.
He dragged his eyes from the void beyond the light and resolutely drew his gaze to the ground. There was time enough for such puzzles later. He was standing on a simple wooden porch. There was no railing, and only a slight scrap of roof. And there, at the very end of the rough planks, curled up in a blanket, and sleeping peacefully, was Kiv.
Her hair was pooled alluringly around her sleeping body, the breeze playing gently with the strands…and for a moment, just a moment, Sephiroth stared. In the dark recesses of his mind he felt both his mother and the weakling Hio'La stir. He sat by her body and watched her breathe…
"Mother…she is indeed exquisite."
"Yes. She is. But we must begin…"
Shrugging to himself, he placed a single finger on Kiv's forehead. Then he whispered "Blood, pain, truth. Dream of what you deny is in you. Dream of what you will be…"
* * * * *
Kiv stirred in her sleep…
She was in her home, her glass tube if existence. Her eyes scanned the room and saw her other sisters, safe in their tanks. All was well with the world. Today she had learned much, the programming that filtered through the wires in the tank had taught her of death, of killing, and of protecting. This is what she was to be…a necessary tool of the company. She stretched slightly and was shocked when her shoulders brushed the edges of her tank.
This did not bode well, she had seen others of her sisters grow, and eventually outgrow their homes. They were taken out into the air…escorted away. She had never seen them again…their empty tanks were prepped again, and new sisters were created. She felt odd, an emotion she didn't recognize boiled up within her…her lessons identified it as fear…an emotion of weakness. She curled up tightly, attempting to reduce her size, to stay longer, but her lab technician saw her. He glanced both ways looking for other lab techs, then came to her tank to do what he never did to any of her sisters...he spoke to her, only to her. "Hello nineteen…I see you are growing…don't be afraid, it is natural, but it does mean our time with each other is growing short…there is much you still need to learn. You will be different, I promise." He touched the buttons that controlled her existence, and new knowledge began to flood her…there was blood, weapons, hatred…and in one small packet, honor. His gift to her…
* * * * *
She curled tighter in her blankets, the dream continued.
A shiver ran down her spine…and salty water dripped from her like a mild rain shower. The man who had breached her tank and ordered her out wrote something on his clipboard and gestured to her. Meekly she followed. A voice sighed through her mind "See what they were? Evil men using their purloined knowledge to create toys…" He led her to a practice arena where another woman stood. Her silver hair was cut close to her head, and she was older, but she still looked like every girl in the tank. The woman began to teach her. "And such economic cruelty, rather impersonal wasn't it? The self teaching the self…while all the greed of the world looked on…" To her intense delight, she knew the lessons cold, front to back, it was easy. She began to think…a way to prove herself…she was, after all created to be a weapon….
She licked the blood from her claws, the body of her teacher laid at her feet…then she heard clapping, and of all things, bidding. Her young self looked around and spotted the windows where several men stood, all with heavy, panting expressions and disturbing arrogance…the voice continued "How completely…evil…they are bidding on your body. That is slavery…even if you were created…" Anger began to boil in her breast; bestiality began to color her vision. She sprang, and the glass shattered. The men were like cattle to the slaughter. Their blood was sweet, their terror sweeter. All her lessons were well used, except one that was subsumed in the rush of blood and terror…She happily licked blood from her claws and found herself purring…The voice, her comrade in arms, was pleased "Oh yes, you'll do nicely" She smiled.
* * * * *
She began to settle once more into peaceful slumber, her body relaxed…then she felt a brush of fingers across her forehead…her body reacted, struck out…and once more settled into sleep.
Sephiroth leaned back from Kiv, a pained expression on his face she struck me! He gingerly touched the four deep furrows that her claws had torn in his chest…they bled sluggishly. He glanced at Kiv with a great deal more respect, and then he leaned back on his heels, happy with the effect of his dream. "She will do quite nicely mother, it shouldn't be hard at all to manipulate this little beast."
"Oh yes, this was a good beginning"
"Why do I feel there is more in store for her than you are telling me? You know I hate secrets…"
"It should be obvious, son of my blood, she is perfect. A wondrous body, a weapon, something you desire…and no soul, by her own admission. I tire of living in your body… and this one…could be enjoyable for us both."
Sephiroth looked down once more at Kiv, taking in every curve, every exotic feature, and smiled. "Oh yes mother, quite pleasurable." Then he walked silently back to his room.
In a deep, dark corner of his mind, Hio'La shivered at the cruel tone of voice… "Gods help us both Kiv"
* * * * *
Kiv awoke to the gentle breeze of the Nexus…disturbing thoughts chased themselves around and around in her mind…her dreams had been, disturbing I know that is not how things happened…she sat in confusion, trying to figure out her sudden dreams of blood…she flexed her hands in a small stretch and fell a wetness…her claws were covered in blood…
* * * * *
And that does it for chapter four. Thank you, loyal readers, for bearing with me this long.