---------------------------------------------Chapter 18---------------------------------------------------------
The Black Slayer
Confessions and Anger
Jessica
dilly_freak7_7@hotmail.com
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Rei?' the figure whispered.
Huh?' I asked. It was either Ryan or Mark. Who is it?' I asked, returning my dagger to its hiding spot.
It's me, Mark' he said as he conjured a ball of electricity to see by. He was in a pair of sleep pants and shirtless. Muscles. 'You couldn't seep either?' he asked. I shook my head no as he laid down next to me on top of the sheets.
Mark, I think I need to talk to you' I said slowly.
Okay' he answered, turning to face me.
Whenever you're.....no.....I...........oh agh.........Mark.....I don't know how to say this' I paused and took a deep breath. Mark, whenever you're around, I get the most magnificent feeling, like I'm floating on air. We've known each other for two years now, but I feel like every day I discover something new about you. You're everything I've every dreamed of in a man, and more. Basically, Mark? I think I'm in love with you' I whispered. Mark turned away from me and my worst fear came true.
Mark....you....y-you.....I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry' I started to get up but I was blocked by magic. I could've broken through, I really should've, but something told me no. So I sat back down and waited. Mark turned back to me, without an angry expression, without a sad face, but with a look of pure joy glittering in his eyes.
You have no idea how much this means to me' he smiled. I thought that you just wanted to be friends. But now....life couldn't be more perfect. You're the only one for me' I was so happy I was on the verge of tears. Mark hugged me tightly and I fell asleep in his arms. I dreamt again. The same dream that had showed me how my father had disappeared. Only this time, some things were different.
I felt like a ghost. I was standing in a medium sized room watching a six year old me play with my father. My mother was in a rocking chair, reading a book and occaisionally glancing up to me and my father. Suddenly, the door opened to reveal several strangely dressed soldiers. Music began to play in the background and I couldn't hear anything else.
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*I will remember you*
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The soldiers glanced around the room and approached my father. My dad passed me over to my mother who was looking confused. Daddy stood and seemed to be talking to the men.
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*Will you remember me?*
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My mother paled at their words and began crying and and pleading with the soldiers over something. Six year old me picked up on mommy's emotions and started looking around with sadness and confusion.
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*Don't let your life pass you by*
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Abruptly, The soldiers grabbed my father and he started protesting. Ghost me tried to reach out and stop the harsh men, but I was a bystander, there simply to observe. My mother was near screaming now, tears streamed down her cheeks, begging the men to leave daddy alone.
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*Weep not for the memories.*
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The men were gone now. The men were gone, and they had taken my daddy.
Mommy?' Six year old me looked upset. Where did they take Daddy?'
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*I will remember you*
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The song turned into words, in the voice of my father, comforting six year old me crying in my mother's arms, comforting my mother, wracked with sobs and clinging to her daughter, comforting my ghost, letting me know that he will always be with me.
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*Will you remember me?*
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The scene changed to the day I had met Mark. Once again, I was a ghost. Real me was at a counciling center to talk to some one about the constant anger that had driven many people away from me. I watched as fourteen year old me sat down in the waiting room and put my head in my hands. I glanced up at the sound of a voice.
Is this seat taken?' Mark asked.
No. I doubt it will be either'
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*Don't let your life pass you by*
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The scene changed again. It was a wedding now. I turned just as the bride started walking down the aisle. It was me, ten years from now, being escorted by my father. I was beautiful in a white gown with matching satin gloves and veil. Twenty-six year old me reached the altar and took Mark's hand.
Mark Murphy, I give you my daughter' Mark took my hand. My father smiled at me and disappeared. I started to cry.
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*Weep not for the memories*
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*Will you remember me?*
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This time it was my voice. I sounded tentative and quiet, unsure of myself. Another short vision struck me.
I saw my friend, Jason, working on homework or something. He opened the email I had sent him and read it carefully several times. Then he smiled slowly and sat back in his chair.
So this is what it meant'
The scene changed and I saw my other friend, Blade, reading the same email, printed out. She was lying in her bed and looked like she hadn't slept in quite a while. She folded it and set it on her nightstand next to the small statuette of a dolphin.
I hope it's true'
And with that, I felt someone shaking me and the vision ended. I opened my eyes to find Mark looking at my face a bit concerned. I stared at him a bit, wondering why he was in my bed shirtless when I remembered earlier. I blushed.
What's wrong?' I asked.
Well, you were asleep, but then your eyes opened, but it was like you couldn't see anything. You said something about your dad and you started crying. I woke you up. I think' he answered.
Oh. Nothing's wrong, it was just a dream' I glanced over at my clock. 2 am. I think we should get back to sleep' I mentioned, nodding at the digital display.
I agree' he replied. We fell asleep in each other's arms once again.
I woke up at about six in the morning. I didn't really feel like leaving Mark's warmth (i probably couldn't if I tried) so I just laid there and tried to go back to sleep. I was kept from another nap, however, by someone pounding on my door. I got up, cursing, and dragged myself over to the steel thing. I punched in the code and the door slid open to reveal a very pissed Dilandau.
What?' I snapped, already angry at him for waking me up.
You were supposed to report to Strategos an hour ago for breifing! We had to send Miguel and Jade instead! Do you reali-' he caught sight of Mark just sitting up in my bed. When I had gotten up, I had thrown the covers over him and of course, Dilandau got the wrong idea.
What the hell is he doing in your room?!' he hissed, obviously not happy.
Why should you care? It's not like we did anything!' I shot back. You have no right to charge me with any questions. Get out' I growled. He didn't budge. Instead, lucky bastard, he reached for his sword and because I had just woken up from two hours of sleep, I wasn't fast enough to catch the asshole. All that registered in my mind was the flash of steel and his words.
I'll kill you!!' He charged past me and jumped onto the bed, ready to plunge the sword into Mark, wherever it would. He drove it down and I heard the sound of ripping sheets. He had missed. Mark had rolled away and was now in a fighting postition, prepared to defend himself. Mark spotted my sword on the dresser and picked Iansha up, amazingly, his hand wasn't burnt off. I told my sword to let him use her, just this once, to let him have his life. The sword glowed in response, but complied. Dilandau and Mark began to spar. It was obvious that Dilandau was lost to rage. It was also obvious that he had the upper hand. Mark, armorless and less skilled, was not going to last long. I had to intervene.
I closed my eyes in concentration and stood up tall. I wove the words of the spell that would give me complete control over Dilandau's actions. It was completed just as Mark recieved a nasty gash on his shoulder. He created a shield of electricity that blinked and flickered as he wavered at the edge of unconiousness. Right when he would have delivered the final blow, Dilandau froze. The pure evil grin was wiped off his face and replaced with a look of fearful confusion. I made him turn and face me. My face was contorted with anger, rage, frustration, and pure, unadulterated, hate. Dilandau was scared. I held the spell just long enough to slam Dilandau into the wall on the opposite wall of the hall outside my room. I lost control and collapsed to one knee.
Go' I growled, in a voice as venomous as a dragon's poison. NOW' I hissed when he didn't budge. As stupid as he was, he still didn't leave. He was overcoming his fear and getting ready to slice my head off. Just before he began the stroke, I used up my remaining power to blast him into the wall again with a fireball. I said GO!!!' I yelled, my voice echoing through the dead silent hall. A few Slayers, slaves, and other people had gathered to witness the event and Chesta and Gatti now ran off with their battered and bruised leader. The last thing I noticed before I blacked out was the numerous stones missing from the wall.
When I woke up again, I was lying just inside my room on the floor with a HUGE headache. Emphasis on huge. It was nine in the morning, my guess the same day considering Mark was passed out on the floor next to my bed with a very poorly wrapped shoulder. Iansha was on the floor next to Mark and very small burns were on his sword hand. I dragged myself over to him (literally) and checked his wound. It had bled all over the place and he was very pale. I tore some of the sheet off and wondered how to go about this without my magic. I carefully removed his old bandages, and fresh blood poured out of the wound. I frantically held it closed with one hand and tore up the sheet with my teeth and other hand. I managed to tie the wound again before he lost too much more blood. I tore off more of the sheet and carefully wrapped up his shoulder again. Just as I finished, he groaned and woke up.
Ugh, what happened?' he asked groggily.
You fought Dilandau and got a gash on your shoulder. I was replacing the bandages you had put on not too long ago. Feel any better?' I queried.
Like my shoulder got run over by a train' he answered, trying to sit up. I pushed him back down.
You are not going anywhere until you feel better. That is either going to be when I have enough magic to put a healing spell on you, or when some sorcerors get here, or when Ryan gets back from wherever she went, or you learn to do a healing spell' I said holding him down. Just as he opened his mouth to protest, a felt the presence of another mind in mine. *HEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!* I almost blacked out again at the force of the cry. I glanced at Mark and noticed that he was trying to uncross his eyes. He gave up and shook his head to clear it.
Did you hear that?' he asked.
Loud and all too clear. Stay here and I'll see what I can figure out' I gave him a peck on the cheek and rose slowly. I struggled out into the hall and slowly made my way to Folken's study. Just outside the door, Ryan contacted me again, more calmy this time. *Rei, can you hear me?* *Yes, what happened?* *Me and Miguel are on the outskirts of Fanelia, we were captured* *Can you see who it is?* *Vaguely, one has dark hair, and a taller one has lighter hair, I never saw the faces. Rei, they know how to block magic! I can't do anything! Miguel's out cold and if I don't do something soon they're gonna kill him! Help!* *Okay, first calm down. I'm going to talk to Folken right now, so I can figure out the situation. I drained my magic last night fighting Dilandau, so I can't help you. What I suggest is that you let me do your talking, as in say whatever I tell you, alright?* *Okay. I contacted you now because they said they would come back in three hours. Tell me when you can talk. Bye* I lost her mind. I knocked on Folken's door and heard a muffled reply and the shuffling of feet just before the door slid open.
Folken, what assignment was Jade sent on?' I asked.
Um... she and Miguel were sent spying on Fanelia, why?' he questioned, confused.
Because they've been captured' I answered, running solutions through my head and eventually rejecting each one as invalid.
Wha? How do you know?' he asked, still confused.
I can form a telepathic link with Jade. Her captors blocked her magic. I need to know what normal negotiation terms are so I can tell her what to do' I replied. He looked like he was beginning to understand.
Uh.. yes, of course, come in' He lead me to a bookshelf and chose one very large one in particular.
Here. Chapter 2, paragraph six should cover the basics. Return it when you can and tell me if she contacts you again. I'll be in my study' he finished, obviously wanting to get rid of me as soon as possible. I nodded and walked back to my room. Mark was where I had left him, reading one of my books. He glanced up when I arrived.
You find out anything?'
Yea. Ryan and Miguel were sent spying on Fanelia. She contacted me again and told me what--'
I know' Mark cut me off. She told me too. What are we going to do?'
I'm gonna see what the rules of negotiation are so I can get them out of there. I'm going to tell Ryan exactly what to say. I don't know if we' are going to do anything. It's a delicate situation and you are in a delicate condition. I need to repower my magic, get some food, yadda, yadda, and we need to get you to a doctor. For now, we sit and wait' I finished as I sat on my bed and opened the book to the designated chapter and paragraph. About ten minutes later, I had read the passage and was looking for someone to help out Mark. When I got to the infirmary, I couldn't find anyone to help Mark, so I just went back to my room to do as much as I could for him.
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-Lil Pyro
