Chapter 21- Breaking Point

VAMP QUEEN

Third Person Perspective

Anyhoo, what's up, people? Hey, thanks for staying tuned so far through everything. Hey, I wanted to mention that if you like this story and Final Fantasy 7, then hopefully you'll like the story that myself and marsbar15 have been writing together. It's called "My Dear Puppet" and it's a lot like this. Anyways…

Tehe! Bisho'nen on the rampage! I'm addicted, how 'bout you? Check it out at PocketBisho'nen.com ok? Just click the little hyperlink, yes, that's a good person.

What, you're still here? Oh, you're going back later… ok, well, read on!

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Third Person Perspective

Raven awoke with a pounding headache and the feeling of being bound. She struggled against her bonds and felt the pain sear through her head. What had happened? Oh, yeah, she was captured.

She gently slumped against the wall behind her and allowed for her eyes to get used to the dim lighting. She was in a cave of some sort. It was cold, damp, and smelled horrible. Perfect for a rat like her.

She felt the air around her change as the two sisters entered her cell. "Ah, she's awake," the brunette one said. Vaguely, Raven remembered that this one was Aris. "Finally we can talk some sense into you, my child. Why won't you let us into your pretty little head?"

Without hesitation, Raven snapped back, "Because Dante' and Fredrick are in there and it's crowded enough already."

To her dismay, the two chuckled. The older blonde, Adel, turned to her shorter sister and said, "It seems like this one has a unique sense of humor, don't you agree?"

Aris smiled. "Ah, yes, but she won't be laughing when we're done with her."

The black haired girl's eyes widened as the two joined hands and began their magical torture that drove Raven to the breaking point.

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Three days later, once she was released from the med center, Terra was called to the headmaster's office. "Yes, Headmaster Cid?" she asked, stepping in and shutting the door. The old man wore a grave expression on his face and motioned for her to take a seat.

"A lot of things have happened since you came here," he began, once she was seated comfortably. "And I am afraid that I bear only the latest of it. Raven is missing and we have reason to believe that she was taken forcefully. There was a break-in three days ago, by a dark haired young woman who threw the security guard into a wall. Raven's weapon was left and so were all of her belongings."

"Now," he continued, getting up and pacing. "We normally wouldn't have said anything, seeing as though she seemed rather disturbed by everything and she wasn't getting along with people. In fact, we, meaning my wife and I, actually expected one of you to leave at one point or another, since you weren't getting along with each other. But, with the break-ins and everything, we have to watch you closer as each day goes by. It's plain that these sorceresses want you for your powers and bodies. Is there any way that you would be willing to try to help us find her? A scan or something? If you don't want to, it's understandable, but you must realize that if they do succeed in controlling her, it will be easier to get to you." He stopped and looked at her.

Terra was sitting with her hands in her lap, fighting a mental battle with her problems that just seemed to not stop piling up. She wasn't sure if she could trust Raven. Damn her! She couldn't believe that she was that stupid, to get herself captured.

She sighed and gave her consent. "I'll try to contact her tonight. Goodnight, Headmaster." Terra got up, turned, and walked away, cursing her partner and former best friend.

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Raven hung from the ring in the wall, her arms up behind her. The pain was dulling finally and each blow hurt less and less. She smiled grimly. Was it her life slipping from her, or just her consciousness?

She heard one of the sisters float in. It was strange. They didn't touch the ground, yet she heard every step that they took echo in her head. Her eyes had swollen shut from the torture so she couldn't tell which one it was. Though, in all honesty, it didn't matter.

"Are you ready to give yourself up, Raven? Or shall we have to kill your daughter, too? What will it be?"

Though she knew it would cost her, she gathered energy and voice and said, "If I give my body to you, I sacrifice my free will. If I sacrifice my free will, I give up my heart. If I give my heart to you, it will be always yours. It's all or none." She lifted her head defiantly and said, "It's all or none. And I gave my heart to someone already."

The witch cackled and said, "We shall see." Raven felt her leave the room and she fell to her knees yet again.

A familiar mental touch brought her out of her haze. She smiled serenely and whispered, "Soon it will be over." She sank into her trance and seemed to be blacked out.

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"Raven? Raven, are you there? Oh, come on, you idiot, say something!"

"It's so good to hear you. I need your help."

"Where are you? Shit, everyone's all wondering where you are."

". . . thought so. No one's worried right?" Raven's "voice" sounded almost hopeful.

"Well, no, I guess. Listen, where are you? We can't let those bitches get you."

"Too late."

"Huh? What are you talking about? You don't mean . . . ?"

"Yeah, they got me. I was going to just leave since suicide seems not an option for us. Besides, I wouldn't want anyone saying that I copied you." Her thoughts were their normal sarcastic tone, if only for a minute.

"So where are you? We need to get you."

"No."

"No what? No, you don't know or what?"

"No, you don't need to save me. Look, just do me two things."

"What?"

"Promise first."

"What is it?"

"PROMISE!"

". . . fine. Now, what is it?"

"First, tell Seifer that I'm sorry, that I wasn't able to protect her. And second . . ." there, Raven hesitated.

"What? And then what?" Terra, however, had a feeling that she knew.

"Then kill me."

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Vamp: Okay, there you go. That's where the quote from the summary comes from. Zelda, do you have anything to say?

Zelda: Oh, um, to those that are looking for the second Always Yours to be updated, I'm working on that! It takes a while for everything to get together – we weren't exactly prepared. So anyway, on to the next one!