chapter 3
*****************************************************************
'HOW CAN I TELL HER? SHE'LL FREAK OUT. I PROMISED NOT TO TELL BUT HOW CAN I KEEP IT A SECRET. I COULD PROBABLY TELL HER SOMETHING THOUGH. LIKE BEAT AROUND THE BUSH MAYBE. GODS I HOPE SHE ISN'T MAD AT ME.' ALL THIS WAS GOING THROUGH REI'S HEAD TO FAST. SHE WAS STARTING TO FEEL DIZZY AND SAT DOWN ON THE TEMPLE STEPS.
"REI? WHAT'S WRONG? I KNOW YOU PROMISED NOT TELL WHAT YOU KNOW, SO I WON'T PRESSURE YOU FOR IT. I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF YOU KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN. CAN YOU TELL ME AT LEAST THAT?
"YES, I KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN."
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL THE REST OF US?"
"I PROMISED I WOULDN'T AND I PLAN TO KEEP THAT PROMISE. AS SHOULD YOU."
"BUT I HAVE TO TELL THE OTHERS ABOUT THE GENERALS."
"NO, YOU CAN'T."
"WHY NOT? WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT IT?"
"OUR GENERALS ARE BACK FROM THE DEAD, AND YOU HAVE TO ASK WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT IT? THEY'RE BACK FROM THE DEAD."
"HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN?"
"WHAT?"
"HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN THEY WERE BACK?"
"ABOUT A MONTH NOW."
"I THOUGHT YOU COULD TRUST US WITH ANYTHING."
"LITA, PROMISE ME YOU WON'T TELL THE OTHERS. NOT JUST YET. I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE TO REMEMBER ON THEIR OWN, WE CAN'T INTERFERE. THEY'LL KNOW SOON ENOUGH. I PROMISE YOU. THEN WE CAN ALL GET TOGETHER AND DISCUSS IT PROPERLY. RIGHT NOW I HAVE TO GO, BUT PROMISE ME YOU'LL BE QUIET, AT LEAST FOR A LITTLE WHILE."
"ALRIGHT REI. I TRUST YOU TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION ABOUT THIS, BUT IT'S HARD TO ACCEPT THEY'RE BACK AFTER WHAT THEY DID TO US."
" I KNOW IT IS, BUT IT WASN'T REALLY THEM THAT KILLED US, REMEMBER? THEY WERE UNDER BERYL'S CONTROL, SO IT WAS JUST A SHELL OF THEM THAT HURT US. YOU DON'T BELIEVE THEY WOULD REALLY HURT US ON THEIR OWN ACCOUNT DO YOU?"
" I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE."
"LITA! YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE THEM. THEY WOULDN'T HURT US. YOU HAVE TO KNOW IT'S TRUE IN YOUR HEART. LITA, THEY LOVED US, AND IF I'M CORRECT, THEY STILL DO.
"WE'LL TLK MORE LATER. BYE LITA."
"BYE REI."
*****************************************************************
"HELLO AGAIN JEDITE."
"HELLO FIREFLY."
"SHE KNOWS."
"WHO?"
"LITA."
"WHEN DID SHE FIND OUT?"
"ON HER DATE WITH NEPHRITE EARLIER TONIGHT."
"HE TOLD HER?!"
"NO, SHE REMEMBERED."
"FIREFLY, WHAT'S WRONG?"
"SHE SAID THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT YOU GUYS WOULDN'T HURT US ON YOUR OWN ACCORD NOW THAT YOU'RE BACK. SHE DIDN'T BELIEVE NEPHRITE WAS BACK TO HIMSELF AND WASN'T GOING TO HURT HER AGAIN."
"WHY WOULD SHE SAY SUCH A THING REI?"
"I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE. IT MAY BE THAT SINCE SHE IS THE ONE WHO KILLED HIM SHE FEELS GUILTY OR MAYBE SHE'S AFRAID OF REMEMBERING THE PAST. I JUST DON'T KNOW."
"IS SHE GOING TO TELL THE OTHERS?"
"NO I MADE HER PROMISE TO STAY QUIET, AT LEAST FOR A WHILE."
"DO YOU THINK SHE CAN DO IT?"
"SHE HAS A LOT TO THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW SO, YES I THINK SHE CAN DO IT."
"IS THIS WHAT YOU FELT THE FIRST TIME YOU KNEW I WAS BACK FOR SURE?"
"NO, I KNEW WHEN YOU CAME BACKI WOULD KEEP THE PROMISE I MADE TO YOU THE DAY I KILLED YOU. AND I HAVE. I PROMISED TO FORGIVE YOU AND I DID."
"DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT LITA SAID IS TRUE?"
"WHAT?! HOW CAN YOU ASK THAT? OF COURSE I DON'T BELIEVE IT. HOW COULD I? I KNEW YOU LOVED ME THEN JUST AS I KOW YOU LOVE ME NOW."
"GOMEN NASAI REI, I DIDN'T MEAN TO UPSET YOU. IT'S JUST I COULD NEVER HURT YOU AGAIN. I DOUBT ANY OF US COULD HURT OUR SCOUTS AGAIN. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME."
"I BELIEVE YOU, BUT I THINK IT WILL TAKE LITA A WHILE TO ACCEPT IT."
"CAN YOU STAY TONIGHT?" REI ASKS PULLING BACK THE COVERS.
"WHAT? YOU WANT ME TO STAY? HERE?"
"YES, I WANT YOU TO STAY HERE. WHY IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT?"
"NO, NOT AT ALL." HE SAID CLIMBING INTO THE BED NEXT TO HER. THAT WAS THE FIRST NIGHT HE HELD HER AGAIN SINCE HE CAME BACK. HE WOULD NEVER FORGET IT. THEY SLEPT SOUNDLY TOGETHER THAT NIGHT. NEITHER HAD BAD DREAMS, ONLY THE SLEEP OF THE CONTENTED IS EVER THAT PEACEFUL.
JEDITE WOKE EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, SO EARLY IN FACT THE SUN HAD YET TO COME UP. HE STOOD NEXT TO THE BED STARING AT HIS FIREFLY. SHE SLEPT SO PEACEFULLY HE DIDN'T WANT TO WAKE HER. "REI? I HAVE TO GO FOR NOW. I'LL BE BACK TONIGHT."
"JED?"
"YES FIREFLY?"
"PLEASE DON'T LET ME GO AGAIN. PROMISE ME YOU WON'T LET ME GO AGAIN." "I PROMISE FIREFLY. I WILL NEVER LET YOU GO AGAIN. I LOVE YOU TO MUCH." HE SAID WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES GLAD SHE COULDN'T SEE THEM.
"THANK YOU JED. I LOVE YOU TOO. I PROMISE TO NEVER LEAVE YOU ALONE."
HE LEANED DOWN TO KISS HER FOREHEAD AND SAY GOODBYE. 'IT'S JUST FOR A LITTLE WHILE, I'LL BE BACK TONIGHT. GODS, I LOVE HER DO DAMN MUCH.' WITH THAT HE LEFT HER THERE SLEEPING ON THE BED.
REI WOKE WITH A START A FEW HOURS LATER LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM FOR SOMETHING. SEARCHING FOR IT REALLY.
"WHO'S THERE?" SHE ASKED THE DARKNESS. FOR SHE HAD YET TO OPEN THE CURTAINS. NO ONE ANSWERED.
"IT'S ONLY ME FIREFLY. NO NEED TO FREAK OUT."
"YOU'RE NOT JEDITE. WHO ARE YOU."
"YOU'RE RIGHT, I'M NOT. HOW CLEVER OF YOU MY PET."
"YOU MAY NOT BE JEDITE, BUT I AM." SOUNDED A VOICE FROM BEHIND HER. SHE TURNED TO SEE JEDITE BALANCED ON THE POST OF HER BED JUST A FEW FEET ABOVE HER.
"BLAST YOU GENERAL. I'LL GET HER YET. YOU JUST WAIT." SAID THE CREATURE IN THE SHADOWS.
"ARE YOU ALRIGHT FIREFLY?"
"I THOUGHT. BUT I REMEMBER YOU LEAVING."
"YES I DID, BUT ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. I HAD A STRONG SENSE THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE, SO I CAME BACK."
"BUT HOW DID YOU GET IN AGAIN? THE WINDOW IS LOCKED."
"I WENT THROUGH THE FRONT. HOW DID YOU KNOW IT WASN'T ME?"
"I'M NOT SURE. IT'S JUST NOT LIKE YOU TO STAY TO THE SHADOWS AND TRY TO TALK TO ME FROM THEM. IT JUST WASN'T RIGHT."
"I LOVE THE WAY YOU NOTICE THE SLIGHTEST THIGNS. I BET IT KEEPS YOU OUT OF A LOT OF TROUBLE."
"IT DEPENDS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES."
"AT LEAST IT'D MAKE YOU AND EXCELLENT WITNESS IN A CROUT."
THEY BOTH LAUGHED AT THAT, THEN SAID THEIR GOODBYES FOR A SECOND TIME AND HE LEFT. HE PROMISED TO COME BACK AGAIN TONIGHT IF HE COULD. HE TOLD HER THAT THE NEGAVERSE KNEW WHO HE WAS AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO ENDANGER HER MORE THAN HE ALREADY HAD.
"I HATE HAVING TO WAIT, YOU KNOW IT TARA?" SHE SAID AS SHE WENT ABOUT HER DAILY CHORES TO PASS THE TIME. "WELL, I GUESS I CAN WAIT FOR HIM. UNLESS SOMETHING COMES UP THAT IS." MANY POSSIBLE THINGS RAN THROUGH HER HEAD AND SHE SHOOK THEM OFF DETERMINED TO WAIT UNTIL TONIGHT, WHEN JEDITE WOULD COME BACK.
'HOW CAN I TELL HER? SHE'LL FREAK OUT. I PROMISED NOT TO TELL BUT HOW CAN I KEEP IT A SECRET. I COULD PROBABLY TELL HER SOMETHING THOUGH. LIKE BEAT AROUND THE BUSH MAYBE. GODS I HOPE SHE ISN'T MAD AT ME.' ALL THIS WAS GOING THROUGH REI'S HEAD TO FAST. SHE WAS STARTING TO FEEL DIZZY AND SAT DOWN ON THE TEMPLE STEPS.
"REI? WHAT'S WRONG? I KNOW YOU PROMISED NOT TELL WHAT YOU KNOW, SO I WON'T PRESSURE YOU FOR IT. I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF YOU KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN. CAN YOU TELL ME AT LEAST THAT?
"YES, I KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN."
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL THE REST OF US?"
"I PROMISED I WOULDN'T AND I PLAN TO KEEP THAT PROMISE. AS SHOULD YOU."
"BUT I HAVE TO TELL THE OTHERS ABOUT THE GENERALS."
"NO, YOU CAN'T."
"WHY NOT? WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT IT?"
"OUR GENERALS ARE BACK FROM THE DEAD, AND YOU HAVE TO ASK WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT IT? THEY'RE BACK FROM THE DEAD."
"HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN?"
"WHAT?"
"HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN THEY WERE BACK?"
"ABOUT A MONTH NOW."
"I THOUGHT YOU COULD TRUST US WITH ANYTHING."
"LITA, PROMISE ME YOU WON'T TELL THE OTHERS. NOT JUST YET. I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE TO REMEMBER ON THEIR OWN, WE CAN'T INTERFERE. THEY'LL KNOW SOON ENOUGH. I PROMISE YOU. THEN WE CAN ALL GET TOGETHER AND DISCUSS IT PROPERLY. RIGHT NOW I HAVE TO GO, BUT PROMISE ME YOU'LL BE QUIET, AT LEAST FOR A LITTLE WHILE."
"ALRIGHT REI. I TRUST YOU TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION ABOUT THIS, BUT IT'S HARD TO ACCEPT THEY'RE BACK AFTER WHAT THEY DID TO US."
" I KNOW IT IS, BUT IT WASN'T REALLY THEM THAT KILLED US, REMEMBER? THEY WERE UNDER BERYL'S CONTROL, SO IT WAS JUST A SHELL OF THEM THAT HURT US. YOU DON'T BELIEVE THEY WOULD REALLY HURT US ON THEIR OWN ACCOUNT DO YOU?"
" I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE."
"LITA! YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE THEM. THEY WOULDN'T HURT US. YOU HAVE TO KNOW IT'S TRUE IN YOUR HEART. LITA, THEY LOVED US, AND IF I'M CORRECT, THEY STILL DO.
"WE'LL TLK MORE LATER. BYE LITA."
"BYE REI."
*****************************************************************
"HELLO AGAIN JEDITE."
"HELLO FIREFLY."
"SHE KNOWS."
"WHO?"
"LITA."
"WHEN DID SHE FIND OUT?"
"ON HER DATE WITH NEPHRITE EARLIER TONIGHT."
"HE TOLD HER?!"
"NO, SHE REMEMBERED."
"FIREFLY, WHAT'S WRONG?"
"SHE SAID THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT YOU GUYS WOULDN'T HURT US ON YOUR OWN ACCORD NOW THAT YOU'RE BACK. SHE DIDN'T BELIEVE NEPHRITE WAS BACK TO HIMSELF AND WASN'T GOING TO HURT HER AGAIN."
"WHY WOULD SHE SAY SUCH A THING REI?"
"I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE. IT MAY BE THAT SINCE SHE IS THE ONE WHO KILLED HIM SHE FEELS GUILTY OR MAYBE SHE'S AFRAID OF REMEMBERING THE PAST. I JUST DON'T KNOW."
"IS SHE GOING TO TELL THE OTHERS?"
"NO I MADE HER PROMISE TO STAY QUIET, AT LEAST FOR A WHILE."
"DO YOU THINK SHE CAN DO IT?"
"SHE HAS A LOT TO THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW SO, YES I THINK SHE CAN DO IT."
"IS THIS WHAT YOU FELT THE FIRST TIME YOU KNEW I WAS BACK FOR SURE?"
"NO, I KNEW WHEN YOU CAME BACKI WOULD KEEP THE PROMISE I MADE TO YOU THE DAY I KILLED YOU. AND I HAVE. I PROMISED TO FORGIVE YOU AND I DID."
"DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT LITA SAID IS TRUE?"
"WHAT?! HOW CAN YOU ASK THAT? OF COURSE I DON'T BELIEVE IT. HOW COULD I? I KNEW YOU LOVED ME THEN JUST AS I KOW YOU LOVE ME NOW."
"GOMEN NASAI REI, I DIDN'T MEAN TO UPSET YOU. IT'S JUST I COULD NEVER HURT YOU AGAIN. I DOUBT ANY OF US COULD HURT OUR SCOUTS AGAIN. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME."
"I BELIEVE YOU, BUT I THINK IT WILL TAKE LITA A WHILE TO ACCEPT IT."
"CAN YOU STAY TONIGHT?" REI ASKS PULLING BACK THE COVERS.
"WHAT? YOU WANT ME TO STAY? HERE?"
"YES, I WANT YOU TO STAY HERE. WHY IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT?"
"NO, NOT AT ALL." HE SAID CLIMBING INTO THE BED NEXT TO HER. THAT WAS THE FIRST NIGHT HE HELD HER AGAIN SINCE HE CAME BACK. HE WOULD NEVER FORGET IT. THEY SLEPT SOUNDLY TOGETHER THAT NIGHT. NEITHER HAD BAD DREAMS, ONLY THE SLEEP OF THE CONTENTED IS EVER THAT PEACEFUL.
JEDITE WOKE EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, SO EARLY IN FACT THE SUN HAD YET TO COME UP. HE STOOD NEXT TO THE BED STARING AT HIS FIREFLY. SHE SLEPT SO PEACEFULLY HE DIDN'T WANT TO WAKE HER. "REI? I HAVE TO GO FOR NOW. I'LL BE BACK TONIGHT."
"JED?"
"YES FIREFLY?"
"PLEASE DON'T LET ME GO AGAIN. PROMISE ME YOU WON'T LET ME GO AGAIN." "I PROMISE FIREFLY. I WILL NEVER LET YOU GO AGAIN. I LOVE YOU TO MUCH." HE SAID WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES GLAD SHE COULDN'T SEE THEM.
"THANK YOU JED. I LOVE YOU TOO. I PROMISE TO NEVER LEAVE YOU ALONE."
HE LEANED DOWN TO KISS HER FOREHEAD AND SAY GOODBYE. 'IT'S JUST FOR A LITTLE WHILE, I'LL BE BACK TONIGHT. GODS, I LOVE HER DO DAMN MUCH.' WITH THAT HE LEFT HER THERE SLEEPING ON THE BED.
REI WOKE WITH A START A FEW HOURS LATER LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM FOR SOMETHING. SEARCHING FOR IT REALLY.
"WHO'S THERE?" SHE ASKED THE DARKNESS. FOR SHE HAD YET TO OPEN THE CURTAINS. NO ONE ANSWERED.
"IT'S ONLY ME FIREFLY. NO NEED TO FREAK OUT."
"YOU'RE NOT JEDITE. WHO ARE YOU."
"YOU'RE RIGHT, I'M NOT. HOW CLEVER OF YOU MY PET."
"YOU MAY NOT BE JEDITE, BUT I AM." SOUNDED A VOICE FROM BEHIND HER. SHE TURNED TO SEE JEDITE BALANCED ON THE POST OF HER BED JUST A FEW FEET ABOVE HER.
"BLAST YOU GENERAL. I'LL GET HER YET. YOU JUST WAIT." SAID THE CREATURE IN THE SHADOWS.
"ARE YOU ALRIGHT FIREFLY?"
"I THOUGHT. BUT I REMEMBER YOU LEAVING."
"YES I DID, BUT ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. I HAD A STRONG SENSE THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE, SO I CAME BACK."
"BUT HOW DID YOU GET IN AGAIN? THE WINDOW IS LOCKED."
"I WENT THROUGH THE FRONT. HOW DID YOU KNOW IT WASN'T ME?"
"I'M NOT SURE. IT'S JUST NOT LIKE YOU TO STAY TO THE SHADOWS AND TRY TO TALK TO ME FROM THEM. IT JUST WASN'T RIGHT."
"I LOVE THE WAY YOU NOTICE THE SLIGHTEST THIGNS. I BET IT KEEPS YOU OUT OF A LOT OF TROUBLE."
"IT DEPENDS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES."
"AT LEAST IT'D MAKE YOU AND EXCELLENT WITNESS IN A CROUT."
THEY BOTH LAUGHED AT THAT, THEN SAID THEIR GOODBYES FOR A SECOND TIME AND HE LEFT. HE PROMISED TO COME BACK AGAIN TONIGHT IF HE COULD. HE TOLD HER THAT THE NEGAVERSE KNEW WHO HE WAS AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO ENDANGER HER MORE THAN HE ALREADY HAD.
"I HATE HAVING TO WAIT, YOU KNOW IT TARA?" SHE SAID AS SHE WENT ABOUT HER DAILY CHORES TO PASS THE TIME. "WELL, I GUESS I CAN WAIT FOR HIM. UNLESS SOMETHING COMES UP THAT IS." MANY POSSIBLE THINGS RAN THROUGH HER HEAD AND SHE SHOOK THEM OFF DETERMINED TO WAIT UNTIL TONIGHT, WHEN JEDITE WOULD COME BACK.