Chapter 9 - One for One
Waterlily's grudges: Let me tell you something. I hate all those worms, trojans, viruses, hackers with a blood-lusty vengeance! All because of the stupid W32/SirCam Worm/cyber-parasitic scum-of-the-internet-world, I had to waste soooo much of my time trying to fix the problems to my hard disk! In the end... I had to spend close to US$100.00 to buy a new Windows XP OS... or the US$200+ on the Microsoft Office.... grrr... give me back my money!!! More importantly, give me back all those hours of FFVII playtime!!! What about the precious nights I could have used to update oodles of chapters of my beloved fic? Please join my fight against these sadistic destroyers of our hard work! *Flashes a bird sign*
Celestine: Thank you, Waterlily, for your...Ummm... very passionate speech.
Up next, we have the continuing installment of "Lead Me to the Light".
When you last read about us……
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Quistis held her Save the Queen poised in her hand, ready to bring it upon Celestine. In one fluid stroke, she lashed it upon the Angel, evidently intending to cause great bodily harm to the latter.
However, just as it was about to reach Celestine's side, a wonderful sapphire-toned light glowed from her, creating an invisible barrier that deflected the whip away.
Celestine looked up towards Quistis with a pained look.
Why, Quis? Why do you want to strike me? Do you blame me for bringing this upon you?
It was only when she stared into Quistis' face that she understood.
For that was not the Quistis she had known.
Her warm eyes, so different from the ones before she fell in love with Seifer, had reverted to their original state, and much worse.
Turning into a dull, flat grey, the eyes seemed to have turned into stone... as if she had been a victim of Snake-Maiden Medusa's powerful gaze.
"What did you do to her?" Celestine cried out at Redrumiel, who was simply standing in a corner and laughing quietly at them.
"Nothing much... just planted a seed of manipulation in her, that's all."
"It would do you well to destroy that seed, or else I shall rip you to pieces!" Celestine threatened, her eyes flashing and voice shaking with rage while maintaining the barrier erect to protect herself against the vicious lashes of Quistis' weapon.
"Not before I take her life. You are in no position for negotiation! Do you even comprehend whom you're up against?"
"What do you want, then? Why this elaborate scheme... involving Quis, who is totally unrelated to this personal grudge you seem to be bearing against me!? AHHHHH!!!!"
She gave a loud cry, for one of Quistis' attacks had eroded the barrier, creating a long, thick wound that stretched across the entire length of Celestine's side while several of her white feathers floated through the air in protest.
"This, is just a sample of what I am capable of. I can give her the power to break through the 'ever-invincible' Angel's Barrier." For a second, his face reflected a hint of sorrow, but was back to the smirking one before anyone could catch a glimpse of it.
"So what is it you desire?" She held onto her side, gasping to keep her consciousness from fading as a result of the intense, burning sensation that devoured her flesh.
"You... Simply you."
"Why do you go all the way to trick me here?"
"Honestly, would you have come otherwise?"
Admittedly, what he said was true. She thought to herself.
"But still, that doesn't justify the cruelty you've dealt to her by inflicting that disease on her!"
"Oh, you knew? I'm surprised."
"It was only a hunch at the beginning, but now I'm certain of it!"
She glanced at Quistis with a mixture of pity, regret and guilt, only to be returned with an apathetic glance.
"All I can say is... I will do whatever it takes to get you within my clutches."
"Including harming the countless people along the way? Not only her... her lover, her friends, even Damien and myself! We were all seriously affected, worried to the marrow of our bones only because of your irresponsible actions! You're SICK!!!" She clenched her fist again; the number of times of which she had stopped counting ever since she stepped into the place.
"Me, sick? Maybe I am, but for what reason should I care about these self-delusional humans and their worthless well being? Don't even get me started on them! I can't even begin to comprehend WHY in the first place an otherwise exceptional one such as yourself would choose one of them over a highly ranked Angel?"
He shook his head in a display of mock disbelief and disapproval.
"...…You wouldn't understand even if I were to drill it forcefully into that non-existent brain of yours... for you appear to be incapable of knowing what true love can do for anyone......" She muttered, while shooting a glance at Redrumiel, expecting a retort of some sort.
Instead, she came face to face with a rather grave expression... one might even describe it as a sad one.
An awkward hush hung heavily in the room, with neither of them willing to exchange another word.
After a minute's time, however, she broke the tense atmosphere with a dry cough, for she was not usually accustomed to long periods of stifling silence.
"Okay... what if I were to make you a proposition? Since it's me you want, let HER go... I'll stay, and you can do whatever you want with me!"
"Fine with me! Absolutely fine! I'm glad that you have shown great maturity and understanding, despite being one of the rebellious third-liners."
Celestine only stared blankly into space, trying not to get a rise out of his words... which was a difficult task considering that she usually could not hold in her temper when it was at the boiling point.
His entire mien was transformed into one of uncharacteristic calmness as he prepared for the necessary to lift the veil of hypnosis on Quistis.
Placing his left palm lightly on top of her head, he performed a series of chants that sounded foreign even to Celestine's ear on Quistis.
Immediately, she slumped onto the marbled floor, as his hold on her was lifted, even before Celestine could react and rush to her side.
"Now... I'm going to return her to her rightful place." He carried Quistis in his arms with a tad of reluctance to touch her, and headed for the entrance of the tunnel.
"WAIT!"
He stopped abruptly, turning his head a little to look at her.
"I have something to pass to her."
"Be quick then."
"Do you mind leaving us for a moment?"
He gave an impossibly irritating laugh - the kind designed to grate on one's nerves.
"Of course... engaging in little girl's talk, are we? I'll leave. Call for me when you're ready."
He left Quistis lying on the couch she had previously sat in, and left the chamber.
Slowly, Celestine approached her lying form.
"I'm sorry, Quis, for all you've suffered all this while... but it'll be over soon. Tell them I'll be back, for whatever it takes. I promise..." She whispered into the flaxen-haired girl's ear.
She slipped the small sachet Damien had given her into Quistis' cardigan pocket. Taking a moment to compose herself, she hung her head in silence while shutting her eyes and attempting to curb the trembling eyelids from giving way to the wave that threatened to overcome her.
You know you can do it, girl. You just need a little more confidence, and strength of will. Show them just how resilient you are... especially towards that Redrumiel. And don't forget about your promise to Zell...
"That's right! I shouldn't let it get me down, not especially since it would mean succumbing to that loser! Buck up, Angelwing. Let nothing deter you!"
After that, she seemed to have made up her mind, and called out for Redrumiel.
"Anymore last requests?" He enquired with a tone that was obviously aimed at provocation.
"No thank you. Based on my assumption on your behavioral patterns thus far, you wouldn't have agreed to them anyway!" She snorted, her nose held rather high in the air... a none-too-subtle attempt to snub and mock her enemy.
"Ahh... a defiant one... no matter. You shall come to regret the disrespect you've repeatedly shown me."
He left the room while carrying his unconscious victim in his arms, still as rough in handling her as he did when he had first "rescued" her.
"Alone in the huge dwelling, Celestine looked about her, trying to spot any other exits or openings from the place, apart from the front door, which was clearly under the control of Redrumiel.
Just as expected, there were none.
She knew that she couldn't deceive herself any longer with the false front of boldness, as her shivering limbs told her explicitly.
Shivering... from the frigid fear that snaked up from the very tips of her toes to the brow that was covered with sticky sweat.
What does he want with me? I do not remember having seen him in all my living years! Not even a trace of an impression... so why does he act like I owe him a huge debt, personal or otherwise?
Maybe the Lord would have some idea on this... but I am hardly in the position to consult him...
Please, Hyne... tell me that what I'm doing is right......
She did not want to even think about the darkest possibility that lurked in a corner, waiting to pounce on her.
The possibility that she would retrace the steps of her kin-less brother, Damien so many months back...
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Wake up... my useless puppets. The time has come for you to do the necessary. Time to destroy the false sense of peace your former comrades are clinging onto. Time to hold the world by its axis and change its direction, its history forever….
Yes... Master Redrumiel...