As the door creaked shut behind Sephiroth, the metal lock slid into place with a soft click, baring the troubles and problems which circulated through the chilled mountain town beneath his window. Turning his back to the wooden portal, a sleek black leather glove slid up to his lips. Teeth pulled at the cloth, freeing it from his fingertips and up along the rough skin covering his battle worn hands. Tossing the glove to the side, he began to unbutton the straps to his coat, glancing about the layout of his quarters for the first time. A roaring fire crackled in a fireplace at the south end of the room, directly across from the foot of his bed. Plush chairs lined with a faded pink velvet beckoned to be sat upon, the soft folds making sore muscles ache just at the promise of relaxation which they offered. A four poster bed covered in thick quilts and embroidered pillows whispered softly with enticing bribes of a peaceful slumber.
Tossing his coat to the floor, he slid onto the foot of the bed, stretching out and over and he begain to unlace his knee high boots, winding the thin strap of leather in and out of each eyelet. Slipping the grieves from his feet and placing them beside the bed, he finally let himself fall back amongst the cushioned mattress. Silky tresses spiraled about his head in a sliverly halo, betraying the hatred which burned deep within his intensely glowing green eyes. Staring up at the flickering shadows cast upon uneven ceiling by the fireplace, his fingers constricted about the layered blankets lining the bed, blood rushing down past his arm and into his clenched fist. His breathing began to slow as slumber finally won over the battle for his consciousness.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Small pudgy fingers tugged on the faded lace hem of his mother's dress. Innocent bright green eyes stared up at the woman as she swayed this way and that, ignoring the faint cries from the child at her side. A final tug was rewarded with a loud rip that tore it's way up along the hip of the dress, splitting open to reveal a dingy grey slip. Snapping out of her trance, the woman's violet eyes swiveling down upon the little boy, followed quickly with a swift backhand that reddened his cheek.
"You wretched little monster. Don't touch me. All you bring is destruction. You...you ruined my life!"
Emerald eyes filled with tears as chubby hands clutching the smarting cheek, mouth agape with pain and astonishment. Treading backwards, skinny knees began to shake before the child spun about, retreating into the dark corners of the lab before anyone could see the tears stream down his cheeks
The darkness of the corner spiraled with sliverly strips of light. A warm glow began to pulse in tune with the growing rays of light that cut through darkness like a beacon. The same child, without marks or bruises, was wrapped in the soft embrace of a loving woman. Her skin held a faint plum coloured hue, and was slightly cold to the touch. Cables and wires protruded from her back and skull, down her shoulders from beneath the thick metal visor that covered most of her face. Her cold, damp fingers stroked the child's sliver locks as he buried his face into her bosom. Soon the wires and metal began to melt away, replaced with a smooth warm skin of white ivory, covering in a light pink dress. Soft brown tresses cascaded down its sloping shoulders, twining into thick curls. The same green eyes glowed with a soft love, mimicking the child's shining eyes as he stared back up to her. Delicately tinted fingernail slid up through his sliverly locks with a warm loving smile. A soft pink blush crept over the child's cheeks as he stared up at woman, drunk with the feeling of acceptance and love. Her green eyes blinked slowly, long lashes draped across the starry irises before they languidly re-opened. Full lips pursed before splitting open to speak.
"Hello little one..."
Her lips curved into a friendly smile, fingertips caressing his scalp. A soft gasp escaped her lips as a red spot blossomed over her chest. Blood began to spurt out from a wound in her chest. The dress exploded in a mass of bloody feathers, leaving the women to sink to her knees, once bright eyes clouded over with pain. She slumped forwards against the boy, smearing blood across his face. Screaming. Crying. Blood...everywhere.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sephiroth bolted upright in bed, eyes darting this way and that before he recognized his surrounding. Perspiration beaded his forehead, running down across his temple. Bringing a hand forwards the brush away the salty sweat, the other appendage clutching at his chest, where a heart throbbing spastically. Drawing his gaze towards the frost covered glass window perched in the eastern wall of his room, the moon still hung overhead, shining with its mysterious white glow. Not more than an hour had passed. Sliding off the foot of the bed, he made his way towards the bathroom, turning on the sink. Starring at his sunken reflection in the mirror, he cupped his hands under the cool flow of water, bringing them up to splash the liquid across his face. Sighing as he grabbed the cotton towel to pat it across his face, he folded it slowly afterwards, staring at the white porcelain in the dark shadowed room.
Why had he been dreaming of the horrible past? Who were those two women...why...why did one of them die. She had almost resembled the girl in the photograph Zax had shown him so long ago. Grumbling in frustration, he walked back towards the main room, taking a seat on the bed. Pulling free one of the leather shoelaces, he slowly begins to wrap it about his long sliverly tresses, binding them back into a ponytail. Laying back down against the mattress, he pulled up the quilts this time, wriggling down beneath them. Pulling the blankets up under his chin, his a quick shiver before settling down and closing his eyes once more. This time his sleep was deep, and there were no painful memories
----------------
Tossing his coat to the floor, he slid onto the foot of the bed, stretching out and over and he begain to unlace his knee high boots, winding the thin strap of leather in and out of each eyelet. Slipping the grieves from his feet and placing them beside the bed, he finally let himself fall back amongst the cushioned mattress. Silky tresses spiraled about his head in a sliverly halo, betraying the hatred which burned deep within his intensely glowing green eyes. Staring up at the flickering shadows cast upon uneven ceiling by the fireplace, his fingers constricted about the layered blankets lining the bed, blood rushing down past his arm and into his clenched fist. His breathing began to slow as slumber finally won over the battle for his consciousness.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Small pudgy fingers tugged on the faded lace hem of his mother's dress. Innocent bright green eyes stared up at the woman as she swayed this way and that, ignoring the faint cries from the child at her side. A final tug was rewarded with a loud rip that tore it's way up along the hip of the dress, splitting open to reveal a dingy grey slip. Snapping out of her trance, the woman's violet eyes swiveling down upon the little boy, followed quickly with a swift backhand that reddened his cheek.
"You wretched little monster. Don't touch me. All you bring is destruction. You...you ruined my life!"
Emerald eyes filled with tears as chubby hands clutching the smarting cheek, mouth agape with pain and astonishment. Treading backwards, skinny knees began to shake before the child spun about, retreating into the dark corners of the lab before anyone could see the tears stream down his cheeks
The darkness of the corner spiraled with sliverly strips of light. A warm glow began to pulse in tune with the growing rays of light that cut through darkness like a beacon. The same child, without marks or bruises, was wrapped in the soft embrace of a loving woman. Her skin held a faint plum coloured hue, and was slightly cold to the touch. Cables and wires protruded from her back and skull, down her shoulders from beneath the thick metal visor that covered most of her face. Her cold, damp fingers stroked the child's sliver locks as he buried his face into her bosom. Soon the wires and metal began to melt away, replaced with a smooth warm skin of white ivory, covering in a light pink dress. Soft brown tresses cascaded down its sloping shoulders, twining into thick curls. The same green eyes glowed with a soft love, mimicking the child's shining eyes as he stared back up to her. Delicately tinted fingernail slid up through his sliverly locks with a warm loving smile. A soft pink blush crept over the child's cheeks as he stared up at woman, drunk with the feeling of acceptance and love. Her green eyes blinked slowly, long lashes draped across the starry irises before they languidly re-opened. Full lips pursed before splitting open to speak.
"Hello little one..."
Her lips curved into a friendly smile, fingertips caressing his scalp. A soft gasp escaped her lips as a red spot blossomed over her chest. Blood began to spurt out from a wound in her chest. The dress exploded in a mass of bloody feathers, leaving the women to sink to her knees, once bright eyes clouded over with pain. She slumped forwards against the boy, smearing blood across his face. Screaming. Crying. Blood...everywhere.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sephiroth bolted upright in bed, eyes darting this way and that before he recognized his surrounding. Perspiration beaded his forehead, running down across his temple. Bringing a hand forwards the brush away the salty sweat, the other appendage clutching at his chest, where a heart throbbing spastically. Drawing his gaze towards the frost covered glass window perched in the eastern wall of his room, the moon still hung overhead, shining with its mysterious white glow. Not more than an hour had passed. Sliding off the foot of the bed, he made his way towards the bathroom, turning on the sink. Starring at his sunken reflection in the mirror, he cupped his hands under the cool flow of water, bringing them up to splash the liquid across his face. Sighing as he grabbed the cotton towel to pat it across his face, he folded it slowly afterwards, staring at the white porcelain in the dark shadowed room.
Why had he been dreaming of the horrible past? Who were those two women...why...why did one of them die. She had almost resembled the girl in the photograph Zax had shown him so long ago. Grumbling in frustration, he walked back towards the main room, taking a seat on the bed. Pulling free one of the leather shoelaces, he slowly begins to wrap it about his long sliverly tresses, binding them back into a ponytail. Laying back down against the mattress, he pulled up the quilts this time, wriggling down beneath them. Pulling the blankets up under his chin, his a quick shiver before settling down and closing his eyes once more. This time his sleep was deep, and there were no painful memories
----------------
