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(a/n: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Hey, just wanted to warn some readers that this chapter contains violence -not the funny kind- and swearing -hot, not mild.)

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Chapter Five: Black For A Bride

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The cell was dank, dark and drippy. The three 'D's that Selphie despised greatly. She twisted the bottom half of her body but it didn't help. She was still irritated and wanted to smash something. The water was now dripping in a steady rhythm and now she knew why all those days ago, Seifer had been annoyed by her heel clicking.

Drip

Ugh.

Drip

Ugh.

Drip

" What did I do to deserve this?!" Selphie had meant for her voice to project over the entire building, but it barely went across the room. She must have put up a semi-decent fight when they had captured her. Not that she remembered, but there was still evidence, such as the hoarseness of her voice (perhaps the result of shouting either swears, summons, or magic) and by the bruises on her body.

Well, just be happy that your dress didn't rip in inappropriate places, Selphie thought while examining the convenient placing of the tears. One on the bottom of her dress, one in the small of her back, one on her stomach but there was one right above her breast. She growled and kicked a bone lying near her, left behind by someone who went to a better place. Lucky bastard.

Selphie shot another hopeful glance at Seifer who was hanging beside her right side, his hands bound to chains on the wall just like hers. He still was unconscious. She assumed that he battled better than her since his hands were bruised and burned from his Hyperion. He had a cut across his cheek and his black jacket was gone, his shirt in literal tatters.

Oh, how she was going to kill that jerk, Salman. She couldn't believe that she had even shaken hands with him. Or that she had thought of him as good looking. Well, it was a known fact that most villains -or the ones she knew- were handsome in their own way. Selphie blushed at her stupidity. How could she have been so blind? Now Sir Laguna was as good as dead. Cid had obviously underestimated the power of these assassins. They wanted the President out of the picture, and they didn't care about who they killed along the way.

Shivering, Selphie began to twist her body again in an attempt to free herself. The metal chains cut into her skin and she was disgusted to feel a drop of blood running down her arm.

The creaking of the trap door above them made Selphie stop writhing and she watched as a man in a dark cloak jumped down, landing perfectly on his feet. Salman.

" Ah, so you've awakened," he said, sounding anything but happy.

" You're a worthless, pathetic, son of a bitch who should be blown into little pieces and fed to Grendel!" Selphie shouted, pulling at her chains and wishing for them to break so that she could tear off the man's face.

He smiled. He actually smiled and walked up to Selphie where she noticed a small box in his hand. It was made of a sort of ivory, from something probably rare and most likely endangered. The dark skinned man noticed where her eyes were looking and he raised the box in front of her.

" Selphie Timlett, you have forgotten something during your battle with us." He opened the box that Selphie was eying wearily and inside were two golden rings laying on top of a piece of paper and a long white ribbon. " Your wedding ring."

Selphie stared at the man as if he were wearing makeup. Wedding ring? She wasn't married...well...not that she recalled but still...

" Ah, I understand. I never knew that the effect of the Powdered Moonstone would be so strong."

He had slipped something into the drink, Selphie realized. She didn't remember anything since she had taken a sip of the green liquid, only vague images of her fighting against people she assumed worked for Salman. Now regarding the powdered Moonstone, she remembered how only a few months ago it was found to be able to control living beings. It could cause people to act solely on emotion, their hearts being stronger than the mind momentarily before becoming completely under the control of whoever fed them the stone.

What had she done after in taking the Moonstone? Selphie hoped that she hadn't said anything mortifying, but Seifer wouldn't remember either, would he? He did have more than she did. But she had more important reasons to be worried. She was married (or going to be), and to whom she had no idea.

" I think we ought to wake the boy up now," Salman said, walking to where Seifer was. With his free hand he grabbed Seifer by his short hair and shook his head roughly. Seifer's eyes fluttered before he opened them fully and winced.

" You..." Seifer whispered. The man slammed Seifer's head against the wall and when he pulled it back, Selphie could see a blotch of blood remaining. Enraged, Selphie turned her body as far right as it would go and kicked the man repeatedly with her bare feet. His attention was focused on Seifer no longer as he moved to Selphie.

" SeeD bitch," he hissed and slapped her. It stung but she refused to allow him to see her pain. Instead, she spat at him but he moved out of the way. For a few minutes he studied the pair carefully before opening the box once more. He pulled out both rings and placed the box on the cement floor.

" They will be coming for your bodies soon, so I ought to make this quick," he said. Something glimmered in his left hand: a key. Selphie took in a sharp breath as he came towards her and unchained her from the wall. Quickly, she punched him in the nose and bent down beside him to retrieve the key. Fumbling in the darkness, she managed to find the small object and she ran to where Seifer was, her hands trembling.

" Selphie!"

Her name sounded so foreign coming from Seifer's mouth that she wasn't quick enough to react to his warning. An arm wrapped around her neck and she felt the cool press of a shot gun against her temple.

" I will free you, Seifer Almasy, and you will listen to my instructions or else I will kill the girl."

These were unquestionably not empty threats. Selphie could smell blood on the man and she shuddered involuntarily. The man managed to drag Selphie with him up to Seifer where he let go of her neck (not the gun, unfortunately) and unlocked Seifer's wrists. Seifer rubbed his reddened hands and glanced at Selphie with an unreadable look.

" Your magic has been un-Junctioned, so don't trouble yourself," Salman said, his hand now on Selphie's arm. He jerked her coarsely against Seifer, let go of her arm and opened his free palm. Inside were the two rings.

" You will place the rings on one another's finger, as a bond of love-" he smirked malevolently. " -and possession."

" Never!" Selphie shouted. " You can't force us to marry one another! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Seifer was silent, but he looked equally irked judging from the way his eyes were enflamed. Salman clicked the gun once and dug the muzzle deeper into Selphie's skin. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out and considered what to do. If she lived, she would be married to Seifer but there would be a possibility that she could manage to stop Salman from killing Laguna. If she died, then there would be no hope for anyone. Seifer would most likely follow, then Laguna and ending with the collapse of peace in Esthar.

Selphie picked up the ring from the man's outstretched hand, purposefully digging her nail into the flesh of his palm. In reaction to this assault, he slapped her with the end of the gun and she fell into Seifer's arms. Inhaling deeply, Selphie had a strong urge to spit out the blood coming from the inside of her mouth, but she thought better of it, not wanting to give Salman any satisfaction. Instead, she forced herself to swallow the blood and struggled not to gag. A nasty bruise was already forming on her jaw but the pain was beginning to dull. Selphie never allowed herself to linger on pain.

" Don't fuck around with me," Salman said, pulling Selphie away from Seifer. " Just put on the damn ring."

" You disgust me," Seifer growled, clenching his fists. " Do you enjoy hurting people?"

" Just as much as you do." Salman ran his hand through his dark hair and then stroked his chin. " I remember you were the one who betrayed Adel."

Seifer was silent; it was strange to see him so reserved while Salman was treating them so wretchedly. Selphie guessed that he may be controlling his emotions in an attempt to keep her alive. It didn't matter anyway. If Salman continued to beat her the way he had in the past few minutes, then her limit break would be set and ready to kick some Esthar Assassin ass.

Wondering about what to do to piss the man off more, Selphie decided on a childish, yet effective way. She picked up the ring intended for Seifer and rolled it between her fingers for an agonizing two minutes before throwing it in Salman's face. His reflexes were good and he caught it before it was even close to the desired destination.

As she expected, he hit her. But not in the way she had hoped him to. The gun shot rang through the stone built room and Selphie cried out in anguish as she collapsed onto the floor, holding onto her left calf. She watched in horror as blood pooled out of her wound and trickled down the drain nearby them. Quickly, Seifer ripped a long shred from what was left of his shirt and wrapped the cloth around her throbbing leg.

After that he stood up and walked to Salman where he took both rings and knelt beside Selphie. Gently, he took her left hand and slipped the golden ring onto her ring finger. Then he opened her palm and placed the other ring. Morosely, Selphie reached for Seifer's hand and did the same with the ring she held. Almost automatically, they both held out their hand adorned with their wedding ring and Salman knelt down as well near them. He opened the box (Hyne, she wanted to smash that box) and drew the white ribbon out. He tied their hands together with the ribbon and announced, " Man and wife."

The sheet in the box was extracted as well and he handed Seifer a pen from his shirt pocket. Seifer signed it hastily and then handed both objects to Selphie. She balanced the paper on their united hands and she realized that it was a marriage certificate. She glanced at Seifer, whose expression was unreadable. He was simply staring at her with intent, as if urging her to hurry and sign it. So she did.

Salman snapped up the certificate and placed it back into the box carefully. He then went to Selphie and yanked her injured leg roughly, causing her to cry out despite herself. His hand hovered above her wound and then she screamed deafeningly. But before Seifer could react, a small bullet ripped through the bandage and the bleeding began once more.

" Why did you do that?" Seifer yelled. He ran up to the other man and punched his jaw, then stomach. About to lay another one, Salman stopped him by pulling out his gun once more.

" You're a coward," Seifer hissed, retaliating. His hands dropped uselessly to his sides.

" I can't have any evidence of her being associated with me," Salman said, his dark eyes locked on Seifer's. " and tomorrow her body will be so badly mangled that no one will be able to detect the wound on her leg."

They watched in silence as the trap door opened and a ladder was thrown down to Salman. Then he was gone.

The moment the wooden door slammed shut, Selphie burst into tears. She didn't care if Seifer thought of her as weak, or if it wasn't proper conduct for SeeD. For this one moment, she just wanted to be what she was -a human being. As her tears spilled forth, she was surprised to feel two arms encase her protectively. She didn't bother to ask Seifer why he was bestowing kindness on her, but she did finger the ribbon thoughtfully before ripping it off of their hands. Then she buried herself deeper into Seifer's chest. Her cries were muffled and she was certain that her tears were beginning to soak his shredded shirt but if he wasn't bothered by it, then neither was she.

It was like she were detached as she continued being held against Seifer, someone who was once a colleague, a classmate, and an enemy; now her husband, perhaps even her friend. It was certain that they would die tomorrow; their marriage being a part of the assassins plan. Perhaps they would pass their bodies off as a missing couples...she didn't know.

Selphie always loved life. It was a never ending adventure and whatever turn one took, something new would be waiting around the corner. She felt that the hard times made one stronger, and would make someone appreciate the gift of life when something good happened. But death...even though she was SeeD, the subject of the after life never crossed her mind. She always expected to come out victorious; even in the Missile Base, she secretly knew that they would survive. If it wasn't for her determination to live, then she never would have thought to hide in the machine and by now, not only would she be dead but Quistis and Irvine as well.

But how could they escape now? There was no way out of this god forsaken cell and even if there was, she was too battered to even find it.

" Seifer...is there any hope?"

A pause.

" I don't know."

" I...really don't want to die. It's a total mega bummer..."

Seifer laughed. It was genuine and not mocking. Maybe with a touch of sadness, but it was a laugh from the heart.

" I can't believe that out of all the women in the world, you ended up being Mrs. Almasy."

" Hey!" Selphie leaned back to glare at Seifer playfully. " Who said I was Mrs. Almasy? I intend to keep my maiden name, thank you!"

" But didn't you read the form?" Seifer asked. " It was printed clearly: ' Seifer and Selphie Almasy'."

Selphie groaned and fell back into the blond man's hold.

" Wait a second." Seifer pushed Selphie lightly on the shoulder so that he could talk directly to her. " Remember those deaths that had been occurring ever since... Ultimecia had been defeated?"

Seifer still stumbled over the name of the sorceress, hating her for manipulating him and turning him against the world. It had taken a long time for trust to be placed in him once more.

" Yeah...the couples that committed suicide--Holy Hyne! They weren't suicides, they were murders!"

" Obviously," Seifer said, dryly. " You're a quick one, aren't you?"

Selphie punched Seifer in the shoulder but regretted it after he winced. She apologized and began to spill out the information she had on the homicides.

" Hmm...that does explain a lot. The ones that I knew about were people who were in the army. Never a SeeD but Galbadian, Esthar and Dollet soldiers. You know how people can't have a relationship with one of their comrades so the people who are hiring the assassins must know this and use it against them..."

" But why do they want to kill us?" Seifer asked. Choosing not to answer him (the last thing she wanted was to be in a fight with her husband the day before she died) she changed the subject.

" So... who did you have in mind for the title of Mrs. Almasy?" Selphie asked with a small smile. She gave him a sly look. " Rinoa?"

" Hardly," Seifer said but something told her that he was lying. He had, in fact, broken Garden rules to help Rinoa by attempting to gain Timber's independence. Why did Rinoa care about Timber, anyway? She was from Deling and the daughter of a General. Maybe she wanted to defy her father while helping out a small town. It could be. Selphie made a note to herself that if she came out of this alive, she would ask.

" I guess I always imagined someone who needed me more than anything. Beautiful, smart, and kind...the typical stereotype." He stopped and yawned, stretching out his arms. Selphie wondered how long they had been held in the dungeon. Most likely a day or two, considering that Seifer had stubble on his face. It made him look like a biker of some sort, or maybe a sailor. Well, he certainly had the vocabulary for it. She giggled.

" What?"

" Nothing...but have you ever considered being a sailor?"

" No. What the fuck are you on?"

That only made Selphie laugh more and she clutched her sides that were beginning to stitch.

Once she had finished, Seifer asked her who she had in mind for her husband. Selphie was a bit shocked that Seifer would actually care about her opinion, but she told him anyway.

" Maybe someone who's handsome yet not conceited, brave yet sensitive and loves Garden Festivals. He should be serious and make me laugh...not flirty like Irvine, or hyper like Zell..."

" But you're hyper," Seifer pointed out.

" I know...but it's Zell!" Selphie exclaimed. " The guy needs, like, a tranquilizer. But I dunno if you give tranquillizers to chickens..."

A laugh escaped Seifer again and he had to prop himself up on his hands to keep from falling backward. Selphie had to admit that he was adorable when he laughed. His eyes crinkled and glittered and he seemed so innocent, like a child. It was the same when Squall smiled. He was relaxed for once and didn't scare off people by one look.

Selphie felt her face go red. How could she think about Squall at a time like this?

It's because he was everything you expected your husband to be, a small voice told her. But Seifer wasn't so bad. He was mean, yes, and had social problems but...lately he had changed. Selphie didn't know if this was his true self or if he was just being nice because of his SeeD rank, which hovered unsteadily, yet she liked Seifer this way. Hell, she liked Seifer even when he was a jerk. He was a challenge and that was exactly what Selphie wanted.

" Seifer?"

" Yeah."

" Uhm...just thought that you might want to know that...I think you're a nice guy. Deep inside."

" Really?" Seifer raised his brows and gave Selphie a look of uncertainty. " Are you just sayin' this since we're gonna die, cause I'll tell you now, we won't."

Her throat closed up as the realization that Seifer still had hope when she lost it came down upon her. His determination was sad sometimes, but it was commendable how he managed to stay alive after all that had happened.

I feel that each time you make it out of a battle alive, you're one step closer to fulfilling your dream.

Hadn't his dream been to hold the position as Knight to the Sorceress?

Someday I'll tell ya about my ROMANTIC dream!

But he couldn't have been in love with Edea...certainly not Ultimecia. The woman most likely wanted to destroy the Earth since she couldn't get a date, especially with a face like that. Selphie stifled a giggle by burying her face against Seifer's chest and taking in a deep breath. Hyne, he had some distinct scent to him, mixed with blood, yes, but it seemed so...him. Overpowering, intoxicating, and defiant.

Selphie cautiously pulled herself away from him, wanting to deny what had overcome her. It wasn't possible for her to have feelings for Seifer, was it? He wasn't her type! But, then again, there was always a first time for everything. She looked up and met with Seifer's intense eyes, which seemed to be eating at her. She was falling into them, but she didn't want to get out. The knight -her knight- gently stroked the outline of her jaw, then her bottom lip. She had expected it to hurt due to her injuries, but instead it felt so right. His hand moved to her neck where he held the back of it, sending shivers through her and slowly pushed her face to his. But the moment his lips brushed against hers, she pulled away and stood up.

Pain ripped through her wounded leg and she shifted so that she was only exterting pressure lightly onto it from the toe. It became a dull throb and she decided to bear with it. She was going to be dead tomorrow anyway, so what was a little pain? Besides, this was nothing in regards to how she was feeling emotionally. Seifer was still staring at her with his haunting eyes but Selphie looked away, deciding to focus on a large crack in the stone wall behind Seifer. It snaked up to the ceiling, where the water had been dripping from and branched off into three separate cracks. Like a demented tree.

Selphie couldn't help but to think that she was like that stupid crack. A part of her wanting Seifer, another denying it and the last one being confused, saying that she should love another. Her denial screamed louder than the others, saying that she only wanted Seifer because she was going to die. That she wanted him because since she was united in marriage with him, she forced herself to desire her husband and live out the last moments of her life in distortion of what she claimed to be truth. No, she wouldn't allow herself to do that to him.

" ...Something wrong?"

Seifer got up with a slight groan, stretching his long legs and fingering his tattered shirt. He walked to where Selphie was, a bit unnerved by how she kept backing away from him. Her feet continued to move backward until she collided with the wall and had no means for escape. Seifer was not smiling when he cornered her, but he didn't seem threatening either.

" I know that you think that this is our last night on Earth," he said. " but believe me when I say that we will make it out of here alive. Here-" he reached behind his neck and unhooked his silver choker. She bit her bottom lip as his fingers lightly touched her neck while he clasped the choker onto her. It was cool to the touch when she ran her finger over it and she felt the small scrapes over the silver plate. " -this kept me alive 'till now. I planned on giving it to the woman I fell in love with but, you're my wife and as good as any." His eyes remained fixed on the jewellery on Selphie's neck, but then lingered down. Selphie felt her face go hot and she was about to smack him when he spoke first.

" Selphie, what's that gold thing on your..."

She didn't allow him to finish as she reached down the front of her dress and felt a small chip, roughly the size of a one coin Gil in the bosom of it. She yanked it off, ripping a piece of her dress in the process but she didn't care. If her assumption was correct then the object between her fingers was--

" A transmitter," Selphie murmured. Cid must have had the person who delivered her the dress place it in the bosom. He knew well that Selphie was a technological genius, but he perhaps should have told her earlier about the helpful device. What was he thinking putting the object in a place like this? It was not as if she went feeling around her dresses daily and by now the transmitter must be broken. She turned it around and sighed. " It's no good now."

" Just try it out," Seifer said gruffly. He grabbed her by the wrist and scrutinized the small golden disc. " It has a button on the side."

Once he had let go, Selphie stuck her tongue out at him and searched for the button. There was one but she needed something sharp to prod it with.

" Here, hold this for a sec," Selphie said, handing Seifer the disc. She reached up and unscrewed her earring from her ear lobe, then held out her hand for the disc. Seifer obliged, placing the gold object in her hand and she inserted the sharp end of her earring into the button. Static filled their ears and suddenly, she could hear what sounded like Cid talking to someone.

" Booyaka!" she cried out, thrusting one hand into the air in triumph. " It worked!"

" Selphie?" Cid's voice crackled through the transmitter, filled with concern. " Where are you? You were to contact Garden three days ago!"

" Cid, Seifer and I are held captive by who I assume is the assassin... I don't know where, you know how easily he could have transported us. I know for sure that we're in a city. Where we are is dark and made of stone, a basement of some sort maybe. It really looks like a dungeon, though."

" You mean to tell me that the assassin may well be on his way to kill President Loire right now?" His voice held the slightest hint of annoyance, but it was nothing in relation to Selphie's.

" NOT BEFORE HE KILLS US FIRST!" Selphie shouted into the transmitter.

" Listen, he's got everything worked out fairly well, so if I were you, I would get someone's ass up here quick," Seifer informed.

" Use a tracker," Selphie piped, her rage diminished quickly.

" All right. Try to hold off the man and I'll send someone."

A sharp 'beep' was heard and then, silence. Inside, Selphie was anything but quiet. They would be saved! She would be able to live out her life, plan a decent Garden Festival, have a baby, maybe even persuade love, peace and happiness on the world! She trilled and hugged herself in joy. She moved to hug Seifer as well, but he held out his arm, keeping her at bay.

" Don't." His voice was eerily cold, emotionless even. Never had she heard Seifer speak in such a way, he was always crowing in triumph, arrogance and confidence. It caused a chill to run through her.

" What's wrong?"

He sent her an equally dead look and she took a step back.

" What's this about an assassin?" he questioned, narrowing his eyes. " Sent to assassinate President Loire? That would explain your behaviour at the Gala."

" I...I wasn't supposed to tell you!" Selphie protested. " It was strictly business for a higher class SeeD!"

" You mean to tell me that I'm not worthy of SeeD business?" Seifer demanded, taking a deadly step towards her. " Perhaps because you and Cid felt that I was not trustworthy. I knew there was something wrong with the mission I was assigned."

" Seifer, you don't know how sorry I am--"

" Save it, Timlett." He held up a hand as if to ward her off. "I just can't believe that I even trusted you ... Why did you keep me on this mission when I wasn't even supposed to be a part of it?"

Selphie shook her head, not knowing why. SeeDs were never to question 'why'.

" Testing my loyalty...that could be a possibility."

" I wouldn't know. Just let it go--"

" No!"

Selphie jumped in shock and could feel her heart practically carving a path out of her throat. She almost felt that if she opened her mouth, it would pop out. Seifer had never sacred her, but his words from when they were riding to Balamb City rang in her ears like an insufferable siren, red lights flashing.

" If anyone should be worried, it's you."

Well, she was. Very, very worried as Seifer continued to vent out his anger at her. Part of his anger rubbed off on her, and she wanted to kill Cid for his big mouth. Who had recommended her for this mission, anyway? That person would be severely harmed as well. But right now, she had other things to worry about, such as Seifer. Despite her cajoling and pleas, he refused to listen and went to the other side of the room. Selphie watched him wearily before sitting down on the cold floor, then laying down completely.

When she fell asleep, she had a dream that she was in a wedding gown and Seifer was her groom, tall and handsome as ever in his black suit. She ran up to him, bouquet in hand but instead of bringing her into his arms, he pulled out a knife with Griever's illustration engraved on it and stabbed himself in the chest. The hot liquid splashed onto Selphie's dress and burned her face and when she looked down shakily, her dress had become black.

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(a/n: Long chapter, I know! I think I made Seifer totally OOC *cries* Forgive me! I just needed to break him down a bit...O.o, the necklace thingie was in tiger_of_the_wind's story as well…I never knew she had the same thing when I integrated it into my fic, so I hope no one thinks I'm plagiarizing her. I think that's since it's in both fics, it's something that Seifer is likely to do, non? Thanks again to everyone who is reading this! Heh, but I won't be changing the rating any time soon...unless you think that it's necessary! Why don't you guys give me ideas of situations you want our wonderful protagonists to be in.? Review and tell me!)

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