A/N: Thank you all for being so patient, it meant a lot to be able to take a break and work some things out. Well, here's the next chapter, and, oh look! It has DRAMA!! ^_^
Poles:
Vash/ Nicky 0
Vash/ Meryl 2
Knives/ Nicky 1 (it's official!!)
Vash/ Knives Discontinued (seems it would tick some ppl off if I did this…gomen nasai for those of you who wanted it ^_^ I'll so a one shot just for you Scott if you request it!)
Triangle 1(look, it's official this time too!! Some one asked!)
Alright, fine, here we go!
* * *
The suns beat down on her neck like hammers. Sweat coating her forehead like a second skin. She gripped the rocks with bloody hands, muscles straining with the stress of the climb. Reaching up once again, her hand finally grasping the edge of the top and pulled her sweat soaked body over the edge. Nicky crouched down against the 'ground', panting lightly. The wind blew gently around her, drying the sweat from her body and cooling her off. After her breathing was sufficiently evened out, Nicolae sat Indian-style on the top, looking out over the deceptive beauty of the desert planet.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." She whispered quietly.
And all I see is sand, sand and more sand. Oh, wait, there's a rock! It cried sarcastically.
Reaching underneath her shirts, the blond pulled out her tags, holding the cool metal between her hands. This was the only thing that connected her to her old life, much as she had hated it.
You loved it.
"No, you did. And that's precisely why I hate you."
Oh, and it just kills me that you feel that way!
The girl grunted in agitation, slipping the tags back under her shirts. She had business that needed attending. Closing her dual-hued eyes, she let the wind race around her body, calming her. Nicky faced the simple, flat door to her mind, wondering what she would encounter this time. She placed her hands upon it, still amazed by its cool metal feel after all these years. It opened easily under her touch, revealing a long, twisted corridor of shadows and doors.
She walked cautiously, not knowing what her inner workings had established since her last visit. The hall twisted, curved, dipped and spiked, several times retreating back on itself. But nothing ever appeared to challenge or hinder her progress. The only thing that remained the same, was the far off wailing that only got louder with each passing second, or whatever span of time passed in there, if there even was one. It never ceased to make her skin crawl. The doors that lined her walk stayed closed, none of her old daemons trying to make contact and tare her apart. Suddenly, the hallway ended, and before her stood a swirling void, amassed of shapes, shadows and darkness. This was the housing of the wailing. Of her hated past.
It echoed in the fathomless depths, racing down the hall and then returning 10 fold. The hairs on the back of the girl's neck stood as shivers etched themselves along her spine. And in the eye of the swirling tumult stood the epicenter and creator of this Hellish place. Her Other self.
"Indris." She did not raise her voice, knowing it would carry, even in this.
The figure stood, head thrown back, ecstasy lining every fiber of her being. The chaos of screams and wails was a symphony of murder she never tired of.
Upon hearing her formal name, the being slowly lifted its head from its thrown back position. Once it was fully erect, its eyes flashed open, destroying all its music in an instant.
It always frightened Nicky how much they looked alike. But her Other self's hair was long, hanging down to her waist and it was her eyes that drew the most attention. Indris' eyes were as cold and bleak as black ice. It wasn't right for anything alive to be so desolate. But, perhaps that was it; she wasn't living.
"Not anymore anyway." She hissed, the sound falling flat and lifeless in the shadowed expanse.
Nicky didn't answer, just strode toward the other, footsteps muffled. She stopped a yard from Indris, whose cold eyes narrowed to slits at the intrusion on her music.
"Why have you come, Nicolae Schneider?" sneering, large ivory canines glittering in the undefined light.
"Why do I ever come? I need to speak with you."
Indris grunted. "And what is it you want this time?" her discontent distorted the void, causing it to twist and roil.
Nicky flinched as the movement of her surroundings grated on her senses. She growled in discomfort. She transferred her feelings to the space, making it shimmer and hum slightly to cancel out her Other's transplanted emotions. Indris hissed as the combination of emotions fused to vibration and hum that neither really liked, but could stand.
"I came because I need to know if you know what happened with that mob in town, and back in the shooting range. What was that Other Voice? I've never heard it before."
The longhaired image of Nicky snorted in disdain. "How the Hell should I know what it was? I was affected too!" Her ire flared at the thought of being victim to some unknown being. She was stronger than that!
"I'm worried."
Indris rolled her eyes. "What reason do you have to be worried? I'll take care of it."
"Oh, like you 'took care' of it before? Besides, what do you care?"
The longhaired female's eyes flashed dangerously. "I may despise you, but this body is mine too, and I don't want some damn interloper fucking with it!"
The hatred from one and the distress from the other rolled together, melding and writhing, creating an even greater hum and vibration. The void quaked with the power of the emotions, which did nothing to assuage the creators. Suddenly, as the two stood contemplating what to do, another presence made itself known. It came from the side of the shadowed abyss opposite the mind corridor. The two aspects turned. A shadow had formed and was coming up to them, hand out stretched.
The females froze, the void stilling with them. The shadow stopped, radiating confusion. A single thought raced through their semi-shared minds.
Interloper!
Indris took a defensive stance in front of Nicky, such hatred directed at the intruder that she alone made the abyss thunder, roil and heave. The figure shuddered and doubled over in pain, sliding back into the darkness and disappearing. But not before they both caught a glimpse of ice-blue eyes.
Indris whirled to her counter part, a vicious snarl curling her lips. "Get back out there and find out what the fuck just happened."
She thrust her hand against the other's chest, propelling her away and back through the corridor, into the physical realm.
* * *
Nicolae blinked, reintroducing her eyes to natural light.
Find him!
The scream of rage echoed up through her mental barriers, such force behind it that the back of her eyes throbbed. Getting up, she walked to the edge of the spire, peering over at the ground far below. Her stomach turned a little at the drop. She'd never held any liking of heights.
Here, let me help.
Indris pushed at the barriers. Nicky let them down just enough so that her other self banished her inhibitions. She felt the tension in her shoulders ease, and her mind become centered on the task ahead.
She jumped.
The air fled from around her body, whistling in her ears and blasting at her eyes. It took less than 4 seconds for her to plummet all the way down, but it seemed like several minutes. Her shoes thudded to the ground, a small ring of sand billowing from around them. Two men looked up at her entrance. But all she could see was a set of surprised, ice colored orbs.
She stepped forward, watching his eyes closely for…there! Apprehension and maybe and hint of…fear? They frowned at him. He had no reason to fear them yet. As long as Vash was there, Knives was safe. Indris smirked from inside her counter part's eyes.
Of course, how long will you have him to hide behind?
* * *
Vash smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. Nicky watched him, mind reviewing what she had found out, and then returned to her previous activity of relaxing in the shade.
"Just tell me when you want to leave."
"Right. I'll go talk to Knives, maybe we can leave by tonight."
She didn't respond, only listened to his footsteps as he walked away.
* * *
A/N: Ah, it's done. Review please. Later Dayz & Tanx!!