Disclaimer: Do you want to own ff8? I hear they're selling it for £1 on ebay…I bought it, but it was only the game, not the rights. Damn.

~*Chapter 13*~

A naked youth sat shivering in a corner on the cold, slate floor, hugging his knees up to his chest. Trying to make himself as small as possible. He rocked slowly, dry sobs escaping his chapped and bleeding lips. His brown hair hung limply around his face, frightened eyes not daring to peer from beneath the grease ridden tresses. The eyes were stormy grey, haunted by his fear. Fear of what? He didn't know. He was broken, defeated by this nameless, formless fear.

From the shaft of dusty light that penetrated his prison he could see no escape. All that furnished the dank, sparse cell was a strange weapon; a gunblade was what the man had called it. The man who promised to be his saviour, his salvation. A television flickered dimly in the hall outside of his cell, images and faces flashing rapidly. No names. No explanation. Only endless repetitions of the same faces, the same battle with the same woman. Screams of her agony as the last crimson lifeblood seeped from her veins reverberated through the vault and a lone tear snaked its way down his face. Why? Why was he here?

~*~*~

Rinoa padded downstairs gently to find the two most important men in her life sitting at the breakfast table sharing a pot of coffee; it was a shared weakness it would seem. Sunlight streamed into the quiet breakfast room, highlighting the crimson of Squall's blush as her old nanny fussed around him. The kindly white haired crone filled his cup constantly, brushing imaginary specks of dust from his jacket while her father looked on with sadistic amusement. She smiled and cleared her throat, both men turning to face her. Her father smiled and nodded slightly in Squall's direction to highlight his predicament, she raised her eyebrows and returned the smile before resting her eyes on her squirming boyfriend. He was mouthing for help. She pretended to ignore him, closing her eyes and sticking her hands over her ears before bursting into fits of giggles.

"Rosa!" Rinoa cried, deftly manoeuvring the elderly ladies attention away from Squall and onto herself. The woman's eyes lit with joy and unshed tears of happiness sprang to make her orbs glassy.

"My little princess has returned! Praise be to Hyne! Where have you been child? I have missed you so." Rinoa was pulled into a squeeze so tight she could hardly breathe.

"Nana Rosa, I was helping SeeD." She discretely pulled away from the embrace, pecking the withered cheek of Rosa.

"You saved the world? I can't believe you put yourself in that kind of danger! But I am proud of you, I always said you'd achieve great things." The older woman stepped back to look at Rinoa.

"You've grown up." It was a simple statement, but one which everyone in the room could comprehend the enormity of. Rinoa simply nodded and motioned to Squall, who was trying to covertly feed Angelo chunks of the bacon that Rosa had insisted on frying for him. He felt like there was half a damn pig on the plate.

"This is Squall Leonhart, Rosa. He's the commander of SeeD. He saved my life a coupla times and he's…"

"Your boyfriend?" Rosa teased, a smile playing about her lips. She regarded the boy in a new light. He was handsome and honest. He was a good man, perfect for her Rinoa. Unlike that Seifer, she thought with distaste. Rinoa coloured and giggled,

"Yeah, he's my boyfriend. He's also my knight. I'm a sorceress Rosa."

The older woman couldn't disguise her shock, "A sorceress?! Not my Rinoa, not my baby…you're too innocent, too pure. You can't be such a monster!"

"Not all sorceresses are monsters. I'm still the same Rinoa." She explained gently, touching the woman's arm. Rosa recoiled like it was flames licking at her arm, not the tender touch of a woman she had once looked upon as a daughter. She sunk heavily onto a chair, shaken by the news.

"A sorceress. A sorceress. Why?" She looked at Rinoa in despair. Rinoa looked at her, sadness etched on her face.

"It just…happened. I couldn't help it. The sorceress' died; they had to pass on their powers. I was just the unlucky one I guess." She shrugged.

"More than one?" Rosa was wide eyed with horror.

"Mmm hmm. Edea, Adel and Ultimecia's powers through Edea." She shook her head; she hadn't really understood the implications of this until now. The powers of the three most powerful sorceresses in history concentrated into one being. Her. It was enough to scare the sorceress herself, let alone anyone else.

"Rinoa, I…I just can't see how you can be the same child I nursed! The powers of evil are concentrated within you now. Mark my words, no good will come of this."

Rinoa took the elderly woman's hand and pressed it to her cheek. "But I am the same person! The same blood runs through my veins, I breathe the same air, my feeling's have not changed! I'm me. If you can't see that with your eyes, feel it with your heart."

Rosa closed her eyes smiling slightly, her hand caressing the cheek of her young charge. "She is the same child, she…" Her thoughts were interrupted by a flash of red behind her eyes. An image of her husband's death flashed before her eyes. Another needless death at the hands of the great sorceress Adel. Her eyes flew open. She pointed an accusing finger at Rinoa, seeing not the child she loved standing in front of her, but the sorceress that had deprived her of the love of a husband and a child. Adel still had power to torment her victims from beyond the grave.

"No! You, you killed my husband! Adel, you will pay for your crimes! Monster! Burn in hell and let Hyne strike you down for your crimes against us all."

Rinoa reached for the old woman, confused at her ranting, "It's not Adel, I'm Rinoa. Do you remember me?"

The crone drew back her hand and slapped Rinoa before spitting in her face. Rinoa recoiled nursing her face.

"Liar. What have you done with her? Where is my Rinoa?" The woman's eyes cleared suddenly and she calmed from her rage. Rinoa whimpered and held Squall's hand. Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Rosa? Are you ok?"

Rosa exhaled shakily, "I'll never again be ok with you here. The power of the sorceress runs in your veins; the power of the one that slew my husband. You are not my child any longer. You are of the race I despise. You are a monster in my eyes."

Caraway had drawn himself to his full height and was advancing dangerously on Rosa; Rinoa had collapsed into the arms of her knight, shaken by this betrayal.

"Now look here Rosa, I will hear no more of this nonsense, my daughter…" He was cut off by a weak whisper from Rinoa,

"Let her go Dad. You don't have to do this and I won't have her uncomfortable because of me."

"Ok. You see? My daughter the monster. The monster that still cares enough for someone she loves to save them after their ultimate betrayal. Get your things Rosa and leave, don't tell anyone of what transpired here today. And don't ever darken my doorstep." Caraway sighed and collapsed heavily on a chair, waving her away with a disdainful flick of his wrist.

Rinoa looked up tearfully into her lover's eyes, pleading silently. He sighed and drew her closer, "Not everyone is like that Rin. She was old; she still had the stupid misconceptions of a sorceress ingrained into her. She was hurt and she transferred the blame for that hurt onto you. I wish I could've protected you from that."

"It's ok, Squall. I know." She said softly, she pulled away with a kiss on his cheek and turned to her father. No words were needed. He knew of the relationship the two had shared and he knew how bitter a betrayal from Rosa would be. His heart ached for his child. He pulled her into his arms and felt her body shake from silent, choking sobs.

He smoothed her hair and sighed. "We keep your status on a need to know basis Rinny. Like Squall says, not everyone will react like that, but those who do may try and hurt you, and I can't bear to lose my little girl again."

She nodded into his chest and sniffled. He continued, "I think it's time you went back to Garden. You know you're welcome here anytime, but you need your friends around you to help you deal with this. Besides, won't Kramer be wanting to send his newest SeeD on a mission soon?"

She smiled though the tears, "Yeah, I guess. What d'you think Squall? Will we go back to Balamb now?"

"Sure. I'll gather the others, meet us at the Ragnarok when you're all set?"

"Sounds good, I'll be an hour."

"Oh, I don't know Ms. Heartilly. An hour? My busy schedule might not allow for that kind of delay. I may have to consider leaving you behind." He teased her gently, earning the smile he'd hoped for.

"Meanie!" She stuck out her tongue at him and laughed as he walked out. The smile faded as the door closed behind him and she looked at her hands.

"I'm no monster!" She whispered fiercely, a hot tear falling onto her outstretched hands. Angelo licked it away and she nuzzled into her, "I'm no monster."

~*~*~

The boy awoke with a start as he was dragged up by his hair till he was nose to nose with the shadowy man. His teeth chattered, both from the cold, damp air and fear. He was pressed roughly to the screen on which the images flickered and then dropped unceremoniously to the ground below.

The cabalistic figure growled. "Do you know who the woman is?"

The boys eyes widened in dread, "N, No. I, I'm sorry." He was stuttering he knew, but the words still did not come easily for one such as he.

"That is your mother. She is dead." A tear burned its way down the youth's face.

"How did she die?" He whispered.

"See the people? They killed her, they were jealous of her. She loved you very much. She wanted to rule the world with you. They put you here." The man started to flash the images more slowly in front of the boy, putting names to the faces.

"Zell Dincht, Irvine Kinneas, Quistis Trepe, Selphie Tilmitt, Rinoa Heartilly. They robbed you of your mother. How do you feel?"

"I'm angry. I, I want revenge." Rage burned in his eyes and the man laughed hollowly.

"I can help you achieve your revenge. But you need to do exactly as I say."

The lad nodded dumbly in agreement. A grin spread on the mans face, contorting it horribly.

"Excellent."