Re-Creating Hell
Chapter Twelve: Turning Point
By PasifiKStar

*All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own Final Fantasy or it's characters.

"Rinoa!" Quistis gasped as the dark haired sorceress fell back against the cushions of the chair. The card board box fell from her lap as everyone moved in around her.

Squall was the first by her side and looked up at her unconscious face with worry written all over his. "Rinoa..." he called softly. One hand was placed on her shoulder and the other gently touched her cheek. "Rinoa?"

"She must be having another one of her blackouts," Quistis said. She knelt down next to the chair and felt for Rinoa's pulse. "She'll be fine..."

"Oh Hyne..." Selphie whimpered as she ran her hand down her face. "How can this be happening? General Caraway was the leader of Rinoa's clan! He's not weak!"

"That's why he was targeted, Selphie," Quistis said quietly. She gently picked up the box that fell from Rinoa's lap and looked at it. "Who the hell sent this...?"

"The same bastard who killed Rinoa's father, that's who!" Seifer said. He snatched the box from Quistis' hands and looked it over. He held it over his nose. "No magic signature on it."

"Whoever killed him wasn't using magic..." Quistis said.

"Raijin, smell this..." Seifer said, tossing the box to the other lycan. "Is that what I think it is?"

Raijin slowly lifted the box to his nose to try to detect the smell. He narrowed his eyes. "A blood scent, ya know..."

"Give me that," Squall said. Raijin handed the brunette the box and Squall inspected it. A faint, but familiar scent was detected and his fingers crushed into the box. His eyes narrowed as sharp fang peeked from under his lips. "Vampire...I know that scent...it was back at the lab."

"Is it Adel?" Selphie asked quietly.

"No," Squall hissed. "I know her blood scent and that's not it."

Quistis narrowed her eyes. "Selphie! Start packing! Get some of Rinoa's things together, too."

"Why?" Selphie asked, her green eyes wide with confusion as the blond gave the order.

"We're getting out of here!" Quistis asserted as she stood up.

"We're leaving?" Zell asked. "Why?"

"Use your head, chicken-wuss," Seifer said as he walked past him. "Whoever sent that obviously knows where Rin lives."

"Meaning she's in danger," Selphie said as raced up the stairs. "Fujin! Help me get some stuff!!"

"Coming!" Fujin shouted.

"I'll go back up the books and equipment I'll need," Quistis said, walking by them. "Seifer, can you get Angelo and his food?"

"Why do I have to get the dog!?" Seifer scowled.

"Just do it!" Quistis shouted as she turned the corner.

"Squall," Irvine said as he stood behind the vampire who was still kneeling in front of the sorceress. "Where are they going to go? They can't just go hide out a hotel."

Squall understood completely. Irvine lived in a one bedroom apartment, so they couldn't go there. Anywhere else would be easy to find. What mattered wasn't where they could hide, but where they could be protected. He narrowed his eyes. "Zell! Get Ellone on the phone now!" he barked without turning around. "Irvine, start loading your car with their things."

Irvine smirked. "Thought so..."

"Hello, can I speak to Ellone please?" Zell asked as he held the cordless phone to his ear. "Zell Dincht..." He was standing in the kitchen, waiting for someone to answer the phone as Raijin began to clean up the kitchen around him.

At the stair way, Selphie yelled for Irvine to catch several bags belonging to her and the girls. After that, she dashed past him to the closet and nearly tore the door open. Before she opened it, he never even noticed the door there.

"Hyne..." Irvine said as he eyes went wide. Selphie moved aside several coats and jackets belonging to the three of them, revealing another panel. She pushed the panel to the side and began to dig things out.

Seifer was behind her, collecting the things she was carrying out. There were about half a dozen large metal cases and a dozen hand held ones. "This is all you have?" Seifer snorted.

"The rest is in storage!" Selphie exclaimed. She stood in front of the closet door way and jumped up, her hand raised in the air. She seemed to grab something that was on the top of the door way and opened her hand. There was a small silver key in her fingers and she began to open the first case.

Irvine's eyes nearly fell out of his sockets as he beheld the rows of hand guns that had been stashed away. She seemed to be taking a quick inventory of the guns, bullets, and other equipment as she opened each case.

"What are you staring at!?" Seifer growled to the side. He had been checking the other cases. "Get your ass to the car and start putting this shit away!"

The cowboy nodded and rushed out the door, carrying four duffle bags in his arms. Zell was still in the kitchen, waiting for someone to answer. "Sis? Yeah..." Zell said as he looked over at arm chair where Rinoa was laying. Squall was gently moving her to a more comfortable position. "Do we have some extra rooms?"

Ellone laughed. "Of course we do! Why? Is Irvine staying over again?"

"Something like that..." Zell trailed off, unsure of how to explain it.

"Give me the phone." Squall ordered.

"Hold on a second, Squall wants to talk to you," he told her. He handed the phone to the vampire. "Here you go."

Squall took it and brought it up to his ear quickly. "I need several rooms in the guest level cleared. Also, I need one of the old laboratory rooms cleaned out."

"Squall?" Ellone asked. On the other side of the phone, she furrowed her eyebrows. "Squall, what's wrong?"

Squall swallowed and closed his eyes. "Someone sent Rinoa her father's wedding ring," Squall said as he looked over at the sorcereress' body. "His body was found this morning and they don't think it's safe for her to be at the pent house."

"You're at her pent house?!" Ellone gasped, surprised.

"Sis, please," Squall said, rubbing his forehead with his free hand. "Just get us these rooms. They're going to stay over until this mess is over. If they stay here, whoever killed Rinoa's father will come after her."

"Hold on a second..." Ellone said. Squall rolled his eyes.

*She's always doing this...* he thought to himself. Irvine rushed back in and asked Raijin to help him start carrying the metal cases down to the garage on the basement level. Squall pushed Zell forward motioned to help them.

Through the phone, Squall heard someone else pick up. "Squall? What's wrong? Are you all right!?" a frantic voice asked worriedly.

Squall closed his eyes. *Not him...anyone but him...*

"Squall? Squall!?"

"I'm here!" Squall nearly yelled into the phone. "Listen, Laguna, will you get those rooms ready?"

"Of course! I'll send a armed convoy to get you-"

"We don't need an armed guard to get us-"

"Kiros! Kiros, take your team out and go to Rinoa's pent house!" There was a pause and Laguna seemed to be listening to what Kiros was saying. "Ask Ellone for it then!" Another long pause and Squall contemplated hanging up. "Hold on then! Squall, what's the address?"

"We'll be there in a few minutes." Squall pressed the 'end' button the phone and put it down on the counter, shaking his head. *I must've been adopted. Yes...that's right. I cannot possibly be related to that man.* He took a deep breath.

"Squall," Quistis said a few minutes later as she came out of the hall way. "Is it possible for us to-"

"I've already called the palace," Squall said. "It's all set up."

Quistis looked at him with a questioningly look and nodded slowly. "Thank you...but I was wondering if we could use your car to bring some of our things...?"

"Oh..." Squall nodded. "That's fine."

"So we'll be staying at the palace?" Quistis asked. Squall nodded and she let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you, Squall. I feel much safer with her there."

"My clan will make sure no one will get to her or any of us," Squall assured the blond. He tossed Quistis the keys. "I'll stay here with Rinoa. My car's the dark-"

"I know which one," Quistis said. She picked up a rolling suitcase filled with books with Fujin behind her, carrying other equipment in a box. "We'll be back for the rest."

"Seifer! Get Angelo's food and put it and him in your car!" Selphie told her brother. She whistled. "Angelo! Angelo, follow the big meany and get in his car okay? Mommy and Auntie Selphie and Auntie Quisty will be coming down soon!"

Angelo barked and lifted up his chew toy in his mouth and followed Seifer, who was carrying his food bowl in his hand and a sack of dog food over his shoulder. "Damn dog...you're staying in my trunk for snapping at me the other day..." Seifer grumbled.

Selphie ran back up the stairs. "Watch her, Squall!! I'll be right back!" she shouted over her shoulder.

Squall nodded and walked back over to Rinoa. He knelt down by her side and gently caressed her face. "Rin...Rin, wake up..." He frown. "Hyne..." He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers.

"Squall!" a voice said from the entry way. Zell huffing and puffing as put his hand on the wall. "Kiros is waiting downstairs with several cars."

"I told him we didn't NEED any..." Squall hissed. "It'll just draw more attention-"

"It'll be a little safer," Zell assured him. "For Rinoa."

Squall took a deep breath and nodded. "Have him check the cars for any threats. Explosives or the like. We'll come down there in a few minutes."

"Right!" Zell said. He ran back out the door as Selphie ran down the stairs, a big black bag on her shoulders.

Quistis, Fujin, and Seifer walked back up to get the rest of their things. "Thank Hyne your father sent over some vans," Quistis said. "I was worried that all our things wouldn't fit."

"Let's just get the rest of your things and get out of here." Seifer snorted. They went around the corner to the hall.

"Let's head down," Selphie said. "Can you get Rinoa?"

Squall nodded and stood up. He bent down and picked up the body of the young sorceress. She was limp in his arms as he put one arm under her knees and the other under her back to support her. Her head was leaning in, against his chest. Selphie moved Rinoa's hand up on her stomach and heard something fall to the ground.

She knelt down and picked up the ring that had fallen. Examining it, she looked inside the band. *Julia Heartilly - I will always love you.* She looked up as Squall walked past her, carrying the sorceress in his arms. Quietly, she put the ring in her pocket and headed out the door.

The room was dark. Heavy drapes were held up around a tall canopy of a large bed. Tiredly, the sorceress squinted into the darkness, trying to get her eyes used to the lack of the light. From the corner of her eye, she saw a wall nearly filled by a large window with French doors leading out to a small balcony.

The doors were opened and there was a chair against the door frame, two legs in the room and two legs in the balcony. Sitting on the chair was a young man. He was slumped over slightly with his left leg raised and pressed against the door frame opposite where he sat. His other leg was down, bent lazily at the knees as he held a crystal glass with a little bit of dark red liquid swirling inside.

His head was tilted outside, looking out at the crescent moon that let it's hazy white glow wash over his shirtless figure as tight black pants hugged his hips. Even from where she was, she could see that the top button of his pants was undone.

She blinked slowly. "Where am I?" she whispered.

"The Presidential Palace," he replied. He put his left leg down and stood up gracefully. Every move he made reminded her of a panther stalking it's pray. They were smooth, calculated movements. He passed a small table that was by the window and placed his glass there. "You're in my room."

She tried to smile softly as her eyes grew watery. "I recognized the bed..."

Squall sat down at the edge of his bed, next to where Rinoa was laying and gently caressed her face with the back of his hands. "I'm sorry, Rinoa..." he whispered quietly.

Her lips were trembling and she closed her eyes. Tears slipped past her dark lashes as she remembered all that happened. She felt arms go around her and hold her body against his as she cried.

"I told him I hated him..." she whispered tearfully against Squall's chest. "I never said good-bye...I just...walked out..." Her fingers pressed against his skin as he closed his eyes and held her tightly. His hand slowly caressed her head, trying to sooth her.

"He loved you, Rinoa..." Squall assured her. "When I actually spoke to him that time, every word he said might have sounded selfish and unreasonable...but when he looked at you, I could tell he was truly concerned."

"I always hoped..." Rinoa stammered in broken sobs. "I always PRAYED that one day we could go back to the way things were, you know?" she cried. "Back to how we were like before my mom died..."

Squall nodded slowly. Against him, Rinoa's body had curled into a sort of fetal position. She had pulled away slightly and was now on her side, her head resting against a pillow as her warm, salty tears were absorbed into the cloth. *I don't know what to do...* Squall heard himself think. *What am I supposed to say?*

"We used to be so close..." Rinoa said. "I wanted to be close to him like that again..."

"I think he felt the same way..."

"And now he's gone," Rinoa said. She closed her eyes tightly. "They're both gone...and I never got a chance to tell them good-bye..."

Squall felt his heart churn in his chest as she let out quiet, muffled sobs that echoed off the walls of the dark room. He closed his eyes and held her tighter. There was nothing else he really could do. As that realization dawned on him, Squall felt, for the first time, completely helpless.

"Don't DROP that!"

"If you keep yelling like that, I will!"

"Just put it on the table, Seifer!"

"WHAT table, QUISTIS!?"

"THAT TABLE!"

"I can't see over this stack of books you're making me carrying, you bossy pain the-"

"Quisty, where do you want this?"

"Huh? Oh, down over on that side, Selphie. Thank you."

"What does SHE get a thank you and all I get is 'Seifer move this' and 'Seifer hurry up'?"

"Because she knows what she's doing and you look like you'll tip over at any minute, Mr. 'I can carry ALL the books'!"

"It's not my fault that you are such a damn nerd that you need all these books!" Seifer exclaimed.

"No one held a gun blade to your head and said 'carrying them all at once'." Quistis retorted matter of factly.

They were in a bedroom on the second floor of the Presidential Palace. Quistis asked for a room where she could put her research equipment and Ellone said that a room had been prepared just for that in a bedroom. Up the stairs, they had entered a large bedroom with a large desk, several book shelves, and decent sized walk in room where she could set up any chemicals she might need.

Selphie exclaimed that it was perfect, since Quistis now had a place to sleep so close by to her things and they wouldn't need Seifer to carry her room any more. Strangely enough, both Quistis and Seifer seemed to looked some what disappointed at that fact.

After Squall ignored all questions and carried Rinoa to bed, Angelo following behind him, the rest of the group had begun to unload all their things.

Selphie and Fujin were sharing a room across from Quistis and their things were easy to put away. Raijin had gone back to the apartment he shared with Fujin and Seifer to get some of their things after Irvine said it would be best if all of them were there, just in case something were to happen, they would all have easy access to each other.

"Unless someone blows up the palace." Zell had commented. But with the security now raised around the building, it was very unlikely to happen.

Irvine had his own room, as did Seifer and Raijin and were down the all, across from each other, despite Seifer's request to have his room next to Selphie's for 'Irvine watch'.

Now, they were helping Quistis move in and set up her things. She did most of the setting up and had just come out of the smaller room were she finished setting up her lab and computer. Her laptop was on the desk, along with several heavy books. Seifer was bringing in the last of them.

"Is that all, Quistis?" Irvine said as he took off his hat and wiped the sweat off his brow. He looked around the room. By the sitting area were the cases of weapons. He still wasn't sure how they ended up with them. Or better yet, WHY they ended up with them.

"Yes, thank you," Quistis said. Seifer finally put the books on the desk and sent the other blond a nasty glare. "You, too."

"Damn right..." he grumbled. He looked around the room. "I don't like it here..."

"It's perfectly safe, Seifer," Quistis assured him. "No one is going to drink your blood."

"No one WANTS to drink your blood..." Selphie snickered. Irvine let out a quick chuckle before Seifer turned his head sharply and sent him a glare.

"Food?" a voice said from the door way. Selphie, Irvine, Quistis, and Seifer turned and saw Fujin standing there. "Ready."

"Whoo! Thank Hyne!" Irvine said as he grinned. "I'm starvin! What did ol' Raijin cook this time?"

"Not Raijin," Fujin said. "Ma Dincht."

"Quisty, you coming?" Selphie said as she headed out the door. She looked back at the blond.

"I'll be down later," she said. "I need to finish setting up my equipment."

"I'll stay with her," Seifer said. "Don't know when one of them might want to drink our little Quisty dry."

"For the millionth time, Seifer," Quistis said as she turned around and headed for her desk. "No one is going to drink my blood."

"I think you're forgetting where we are."

"And I think YOU'RE forgetting who allowed us to stay here in the first place." Quistis sighed. She began to plug her lap top in and spread out the books that were on the table.

Seifer sat on the edge of her bed. "Think Rin's awake yet?"

"I felt some mental waves with her signature a few seconds ago," Quistis said. She sat on the chair by her desk and turned it to face the male lycan-witch. She frowned. "I can't understand what she's thinking...she's too far away."

"I can't believe General Caraway is dead..." Seifer said truthfully. "I mean... we just saw him the other day..."

"I can't believe that work that fast," Quistis added. She looked over some notes she had written. "Why so many murders in a few days time? That's drawing too much attention..."

"Maybe they don't care any more," Seifer answered. "As long as they get the power necessary to open Hell's Gates."

"I feel like this lunar month is passing by like a summer breeze..." Quistis admitted. She put her glasses on the table and ran her hand down her face. She took a deep breath.

"When do you think they'll strike?" Seifer asked.

Quistis looked up at him, surprised that he had asked that question. "What do you mean?"

"When do you think they'll go after Rinoa?" Seifer asked. "It's not a question of IF...we already got that. It's a question of WHEN."

"I don't know," Quistis admitted. "Hyne, I hope it's not soon."

"I think it'll be soon." Seifer admitted.

"Why do you say that?"

"Everything you told us..." he mumbled. "It all seems to me that Adel has been slowly accumulating power up until this point and that Rinoa is the final surge. And I think she'll want to get her hands on Rinoa soon just so she can get a hang of Rinoa's powers by the time the Blood Moon comes. It looks like a lot of power must be used and used correctly."

Quistis stared at him in awe for a moment before smirking. "Hmm...looks like you grew a brain all of a sudden."

He rolled his eyes. "Are you done with your 'setting up', yet, Miss Trepe?"

"Just about," Quistis said. She looked back her notes. "I'll be done with these books soon..."

"Thank you...Yes, I'll be there..." Rinoa sat in Laguna's office, holding the phone to her ear as she tapped the end of a pen on a note pad. She closed her eyes and nodded. "I understand. Yes...tomorrow night...I'll be there. Good-bye."

She hung up the phone and let out a heavy sigh. Selphie looked up from where she was sitting across from Rinoa. "Have you told Squall yet?"

"No," Rinoa replied quietly. "He'll freak out...or do as close to freaking out as Squall can get."

Selphie frowned and shook her head. "You have to tell him, Rin...you can't just leave without telling him."

"What am I supposed to tell him, Selphie?" Rinoa asked. "Squall, I'm going to Deling City for my father's funeral. Don't try to stop me?"

"That would be a start."

Rinoa's head jerked up and saw the object of their conversation entering his father's study. "Squall..."

"I'm not going to stop you, you know," Squall told her as he walked in. He looked at Selphie and she looked back at him. He jerked his head to the door. Selphie continued to look at him blankly. "Ahem..." He eyed the door once more.

"Oh!" Selphie said. She nodded and stood up. Squall took her seat and the door closed.

"When were you...Selphie, why are you still here?" Squall and Rinoa both eyed the petite brunette who stood smiling by the door innocently.

"I thought you wanted me to close the door?" Selphie asked. The two by the desk stared at her. "Okay, okay! Sheez..." Rolling her eyes she opened the door and slipped through it, closing it behind her.

Rinoa sighed. "Selphie! I know you're still there!!"

"Damn!" Selphie mumbled. They heard her stomp away and Squall turned back to Rinoa.

"When were going to tell me?"

"Right before I left?" she offered. Squall shook his head.

"If you want to go that's fine, but you're not going alone," he told her sternly. "Some of us will come with you."

Rinoa let out a sigh of relief. "I thought you weren't going to let me go."

"I won't stop you from attending your own father's funeral," Squall told her. "We'll take the next train to Deling."

"I'll tell the others," Rinoa nodded. She stood up, followed by Squall. "Thank you."

Just as they stood up, someone knocked on the door. Squall let out a low groan. "Come in." he grumbled hesitantly. Slowly the door opened and Laguna peeked in, almost childishly.

"Just being cautious this time..." Laguna mumbled. He came in and looked at Rinoa. "Did you call your clan?"

"Yes..." Rinoa nodded. "Everything has been arranged. The ceremony, the site...I just wish I wasn't so big..."

"Your father was a prominent leader of a powerful clan." Laguna reminded her.

"We'll be leaving as soon as everyone is ready for the trip," Squall informed him. "I'll have Zell order the train tickets."

"That won't be necessary," Laguna said. "We'll be going with you, so you will ride with us."

*Oh HELL no.* Squall thought to himself. "That's all right, we'll take the train."

"We'll be taking our clan's private train," Laguna insisted. "It'll be safer."

"It'll attract more attention," Squall stated. "We were already in a lot of danger moving from their pent house to the palace. We want to keep Rinoa going back to Deling City quiet."

"I agree, Laguna," Rinoa interjected quietly. She moved around to the table to stand next to Squall. "I would much rather have a low profile about this."

"She is a target," Squall added behind gritted teeth. "The last thing we need is to prance around with you in your attention drawing train."

Laguna let out a deep breath. "I just don't feel comfortable-"

"We'll be fine," Squall cut him off. He took Rinoa's hand and began to drag her out of the room. "Let's go."

"What about where you're going to stay!?" Laguna called after him.

"We'll be staying at my family's house!" Rinoa said as she and Squall walked up the hall.

Laguna shook his head and wiped a tear from his eye. "It's like he doesn't need me any more..." Behind him, Kiros and Ward appeared. Kiros grinned.

"No offense, Laguna," Kiros said as he watched Squall and Rinoa head upstairs to pack their things. "But the only person Squall needs is the one he was dragging away."

Laguna nodded slowly. Suddenly, his forlorn look left his face as he perked up. "Do you think he might have picked his mate?"

Kiros and ward fell over and looked at him in disbelief. Kiros looked frustrated as he shook his head. "You've got to be kidding me, Laguna...You're finally picking that up NOW!?"

Upon calling Master Cid and Matron Edea that morning to ask them to join them in her father's funeral ceremony, Rinoa was told that they would send over the Ragnarok to take them to Deling City. The lycan couple would join them their that evening by train from Balamb.

Thanks to the Ragnarok, they would arrive their quickly and have time to settle into the Caraway mansion. While Quistis stayed behind to continue her research while using Fujin, Raijin, and Seifer as aids, Zell went with Selphie and Irvine to look around Deling. Selphie told them that she would give them the grand tour and show them were she had met Rinoa when they were children.

The majority of the day for Rinoa had been spent within the confines of the mansion, meeting with relatives and other clan members. Squall spent much of the time by her side, assessing each and every sorcerer that came to see her. It had been decided that until Rinoa was old enough, another elder would take the place as Clan leader.

Rinoa told them to be on alert, as Quistis discovered that the last ten sorcerers who had been killed were somehow related to Julia Heartilly or General Caraway. Meaning Adel was targeting Rinoa's blood lines.

An old instructor at their finishing school was now in Caraway's office. Squall could still smell the blood scent of the vampire that had appeared their before. Meaning that this was the place where Caraway had been abducted.

"Regardless of your protection, Rinoa," said the man with the glasses and squinted eye. He sat on the other side of Caraway's desk, on a heavy leather chair, opposite Rinoa. "I believe that you should call in the Sorcerer's Knights for further protection."

"I already have them watching over other members of my clan," Rinoa asserted. "I don't want anyone else to be targeted and I already have someone to protect me, Professor Auron."

The sorcerer moved his good eye over to the dark figure leaning against a bookshelf in the corner of the room. "The vampire?" Auron asked.

"Among others," Rinoa added. "I appreciate your guidance, Professor Auron, but I cannot have the Sorcerer's Knights surrounding me at all times. It makes me seem as if I am shielding myself and I will not be seen as weak. At this point and time, while my clan has another leader, I am still of high ranking and will not be used merely as a political pawn. I will have them see that I am a fit leader and not cower behind a few knights."

"Be it so," Auron said. He stood up and bowed his head slightly to the young sorceress. "Many of the high sorcerer clan members will be at the ceremony tomorrow, including Braska and his daughter."

"Yuna's going?" Rinoa asked, surprised. *What about the mission?*

"Yes," Auron stated. "With so many powerful sorcerers at one place, I hope the security will be adequate."

"As do I, Professor," Rinoa said, standing up. She moved around her desk, dressed in a full length black dress. It was shoulderless and had long sleeves that ended with lace cuffs. It hugged her upper body and draped down from her hips. The top layer was black lace and underneath was a black sheer fabric. She had a lace choker around her neck along with a silver chain and ring. "Until tomorrow then. Good evening to you."

She escorted him to the door and opened it for him, allowing him to step out. He bowed his head slightly once more and left the mansion. Rinoa took a deep breath and closed the study door, leaning against it with her eyes closed. "Is that the last of them?"

"Yes..." Rinoa sighed. She opened her eyes and walked back to the table. She looked over the papers scattered around the once neat desk and began to gather them and sort them out. "We have a dinner with other clan leaders in a few hours."

"A few hours?" Squall mumbled. He suddenly remembered Rinoa telling him that they were to meet other clan members that evening. It was a political thing. Despite her appearance, Rinoa was quite good at getting things organized and planning things out. She even had her own assistants running detailed errands for her while she was at all the meetings.

There was a knock on the door and Rinoa looked up. "Come in!" she shouted. Squall didn't move from his place in the corner. He already knew it was Watts and Zone. THEY were her assistants.

"Everything is set up at the ceremony," Watts said as he handed her some papers to sign. "Tomorrow at sunset...everyone should be there by then."

Rinoa nodded. "Has the burial area been prepared?"

"I just went by there," Zone answered. "Everything is prepared."

"Good..." Rinoa sighed. "Organize and file the rest of these papers for me. Anything that needs my signature or consent, leave on the desk with the place for my signature highlighted. Squall, let's go. We have to get ready."

"Are you sure about this?" Squall asked as they walked out at the door. He was now following her. She was rigid and walking at a faster than normal pace, almost acting militaristic as she went about formalities and duties. Nothing like the way she acted in front of her friends.

"This is a different kind of war, Squall," Rinoa stated as they walked up the stairs to the room they would be sharing - Rinoa's. "You were trained for a war that ended. Politics, treaties, allies, enemies...all behind the mask of formalities and poise. This war that we're in the middle of now is the war I was trained for. This is the kind of war I was raised to fight in."

The night had been nothing but a series of formalities, just as Rinoa had told him. They were greeting and speaking with other clan leaders. Many of which gave their condolences to the grieving daughter, all the while giddy that Caraway was gone. Rinoa knew he had made many enemies, but she wasn't sure who exactly they were.

Squall had stood by her side, treating the event as a mission in itself. A bow here, a shake of hands there. Formalities he had grown up with as a member of the Loire Clan. He, like Rinoa, was well prepared for the situation.

There were times when he could see Rinoa slipping out of her mask. She was a passionate girl and to keep her true feelings hidden was a task of immense proportions for her. Cid, Edea, and Laguna had each taken their turns distracting the clan leaders who were making the young sorceress uncomfortable. At one point, Rinoa had escaped to the balcony to take a break from the sickening fake smiles inside.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, the Caraway mansion was alive with the sounds of the clan members preparing to depart for the ceremony. Unknown to Squall, who was still asleep when it happened, Rinoa had her father's driver, Wakka, take her to the ceremony site.

When Zell woke Squall, the brunette was furious that she had left without telling him, but found that he couldn't just leave, as the sun was still up. He would have to wait until just before sunset to leave.

"We'll go," Quistis said. "Irvine, just take Squall there as soon as you can."

"Will do." Irvine agreed. Squall, dressed in black pants and a tight black sweater under his leather jacket was pacing the foyer, had agreed as well.

Wakka had been sent by Rinoa to pick the others up and they had just arrived at a massive cathedral in the heart of Deling City. The red haired chauffer opened the door and one by one, they stepped out.

Quistis in a long, straight black dress with her black leather jacket on walked out first. Followed by Selphie, who wore a short black skirt, against Seifer's complaints, and black sleeveless turtle neck under her black leather jacket. Seifer, Raijin, and Zell wore their usual attire, while Fujin wore a black shirt over her black pants and boots.

The cathedral was huge, with domed bell towers and large stained glass windows depicting Hyne's glory. As they stepped inside, they smelled the scent of incense and the heard the sound of the massive organ being played by a tanned man with white hair.

There were rows and rows of wooden pews, some roped off for family members. Many of them had already arrived and people were being seated. Down the white marble walk way covered with a deep red runway was the elaborately decorated altar where the body of General Caraway laid incased in a glass coffin.

The candles that hung over them in large black chandeliers gave the room a faint glow. Candles lined the room on stands and on holders on the walls. White flowers bunched together with dark blue ribbons lined the walk way as wreaths of different flowers from different people decorated the alter.

All around them, the deep organ music shut out the sounds of the whispering guests. Many of whom were dressed in dark colors. "There." Fujin said. She motioned to the first row on the left, where a young woman dressed in all black with a black lace shawl over her head and body was sitting quietly.

Quistis and Selphie let out a heavy sigh and approached her. They sat on either side of her as she looked up at them with teas in her eyes. Both girls put their arms around Rinoa, hugging her tightly as the sorceress closed her eyes. Her fingers bunched up the cloth of her long black skirt as she sat there with them, shaking in their arms.

A High Priest of Hyne ascended the alter to begin.

"Can't you drive faster!?" Squall growled from where he was seated next to Irvine in the cowboy's convertible.

"I'm driving as fast as I can!" Irvine said. "We'll get there on time!"

"It's not being there on time that worries me!" Squall hissed. His hand was gripping the side of the car tightly as fangs emerged from beneath his lips.

"Nothing will happen!" Irvine assured him. "There are hundreds of sorcerers that will be there! Adel isn't crazy enough to go after Rinoa when she's surrounded by so much power like that."

"Are you brain dead, Irvine?!" Squall snapped. "To Adel, Caraway's funeral isn't a Safe House for Rinoa! It's a fucking buffet!!"

"Relax! We're almost there!" Irvine yelled casually. Squall merely sunk back in his seat and grumbled.

As far as Squall was concerned, if he wasn't right next to Rinoa, he might as well be a thousand miles away. Irvine's car screeched to a stop outside the massive cathedral. Before he had a chance to tell Squall he was going to go park, the brunette jumped out of the convertible and up the steps of the cathedral.

Squall swore to himself as he found that it was standing room only and that he couldn't even see Rinoa. "Psst!" a voice said from the side.

Squall turned and saw Zell waving at him to come over. He nodded and walked over to the spiky haired blond. "Where's Rin-"

"Down in front..." Zell said. He studied Squall and noticed that the vampire was holding something. He frowned. "Why did you bring Lionheart?"

"I have my reasons," Squall mumbled. He held the sword against him as they slipped through the crowds and down the right aisle to get to Rinoa and the others. He saw her sitting between Selphie and Quistis and let out a sigh of relief. *Thank, Hyne...*

Squall took one step and froze. He looked over at Selphie, Seifer, and Raijin, who all stiffed and started to sniff the air. Squall's blue eyes darted over to the non-Caraway family side of the room and found that several people were also sniffing something in the air, his father included.

"What's wrong?" Zell asked, wondering why Squall wasn't following him.

Squall pulled out his gun blade and narrowed his eyes. Before he could so anything, Seifer shot straight up from his seat next to Selphie and raised Hyperion in the air. Transforming almost immediately, he shot several rounds into the cathedral ceiling. "GET OUT!!!"

"Seifer!?" Rinoa gasped. Screams rang out around her as non magic practicing members of her family began to scatter out. Everyone seemed confused all of a sudden at Seifer's out burst.

"What are you doing!?" Quistis asked furious.

Selphie stood up and also began to transform. "He's HERE!" Selphie said. "The scent from the box! It's HERE!"

"Stop them immediately!" someone yelled.

"Shit!" Quistis said. She whirled around and noticed that several of the Sorcerer's Knights, the elite group of warriors that protected high ranking sorcerers were rushing towards them.

"What's going on!?" Rinoa cried out tearfully.

Outside, they heard thunder roaring in the distance. Selphie pulled out her nunchuku and stood in front of Rinoa, preparing to fight off the Sorcerer's Knights who were rushing towards them. Selphie raised her arms to start off a spell, trying to get everyone to leave the room. Quistis sent out strong telepathic brain waves that pained those that came within a certain area, making them back away.

"Rinoa!!" Squall shouted through the commotion. "Rinoa!!" he screamed in vain.

Everyone was running, blasts of energy was seen exploding all around the room as havoc suddenly engrossed the solemn ceremony. Women seemed to be screaming from every angle as Rinoa whirled around, looking for Squall.

She finally laid eyes on him, trying to get through her amongst the large groups shoving him out of the way as they hurried towards the exit. His eyes went large as he caught something moving. His eyes widened with horror as they looked up.

The sound of stone cracking caught the attention of many as cracks in the painted ceiling started to appear. This made the rush to escape even worse as large pieces of stone tumbled down from the heights above, crashing into the wooden pews and sending stone, dust, and wood everywhere.

Rinoa's eyes went wide and she raised hands and cast a shield spell over her father's coffin. *I'm sorry, father!* she thought to herself tearfully as stone hit the shield and was deflected. The room was filled with smoke.

A flash of lightning lit up the cathedral as it appeared near by. Rinoa looked up, her eyes having caught the flash of light. Her heart was pounding in her chest as the settling smoke, the flashing lights, and the thundering sounds assaulted her senses.

Then she saw him. Her eyes squinted through the haze of the moment as a figure seemed to be flying down from the darkness above, his body only made visible by the occasional flash of lightning. Snow white hair, black clothes, swirling around his figure. And glowing green eyes.

"RINOA!!" voices screamed behind her and she was unable to make any mental connection to their voices and her actions. Her eyes were transfixed by the glowing green in the man's eyes as her mind tried desperately to place them.

She didn't see the glimmering blade of purified steel aimed downward, straight towards her body. Or the smirk crossing the man's handsome features, exposing sharp fangs marking him as vampire.

"RINOA!!" A body slammed against hers abruptly, sending her tumbling down on her side as the vampire that had been flying down to skewer her, landed gracefully in front of them.

"Squall...?" her voice whispered, slightly confused. She was visibly shaken and Squall turned his head to look at the white haired vampire.

Sephiroth's sword had gone right through Rinoa's shawl and the vampire's black gloved hand viciously tore it off. He turned to face them, a smile on his face.

Squall jumped up quickly, holding his gun blade in his hands. Furiously, he swung the heavy metal weapon around, each time only to be blocked by even further skilled swordsmanship. Sparks came off their blades as they met against each other violently.

Something flew out from the corner of their eye and they jumped apart as Quistis' whip flew between them. Her glasses were off and angry blue eyes glared at the intruder. Behind her, Seifer lifted up his gun blade and let several bullets fly.

Each one hit, the vampire in the chest, dead center. Sephiroth merely laughed. "Is that all!?" he laughed, almost maniacally as the bullets were pushed out of his body and the wounds instantly healed.

"Holy..."

"Oh, man..." a voice said behind them. Rinoa looked to her side and mentally swore. The last thing they needed was Yuna and Cloud's team. Cloud held his sword up in a fighting position. "An ancient."

Squall's eyes narrowed. *Fuck...* Ancient vampires were thought to be long extinct. Their powers far surpassed those of the current vampires. Their healing and recovering time was faster. Their speed and reflexes were faster. Their senses and strength were greater.

The white haired vampire held his sword down and smiled at Cloud. "So...you're the team that was assembled...? The rumors were true then..." Sephiroth smirked.

"Yuna! Put a seal on him!" Lulu ordered.

"Right!"

"A SEAL!?" Sephiroth scoffed. "I'm not a demon, little girl!" he laughed. He raised his sword and did two swipes, making an 'x' in the air and sending it flying towards Yuna.

It turned into a flaming gust of wind that knocked the summoner off her feet. Kimahri was able to catch her before she flew straight into a slab of falling cement from the ceiling.

"Give me the sorceress!" Sephiroth growled as he eyed Rinoa.

"Over my dead body." Squall said, standing in front of Rinoa once more protectively.

Irvine had finally arrived and mentally swore. *Shit...looks like the party's started without me...* He looked right above Sephiroth and raised his gun.

A shot rang out from the entrance of the cathedral as Irvine shot at the chandelier chord hanging from a low buttress. The chandelier creaked as it swung and fell. Sephiroth merely stood there, sword by his side, as the chandelier fell around him, sending waves of fire into the air as it fell.

"That's not going to stop me," Sephiroth said. "Give me the sorceress...no one else needlessly has to die."

"Fuck you." Squall hissed.

Sephiroth shook his head. "I warned you..." He raised his sword in the air and everyone prepared to attack.

"Squall!!" Rinoa screamed.

Selphie's eyes went wide as she realized what Rinoa was doing. "RIN, NO!!!"

Thunder roared, flashes of lightning illuminated the destroyed room. Rinoa stumbled over the fallen chunks of cement as she ran forward. Her arms were stretched out and Squall's eyes went wide.

Sephiroth let his sword fly. It cut through the settling dust and went past the ring of fire that surrounded him. No one could act fast enough to stop it.

Rinoa's body stiffened as she fell forward in front of Squall. Her eyes were huge as slowly her eyes went down to her chest. Squall's terrified blue eyes followed to where the tip of the katana protruded from Rinoa's left breast. Slowly, her black dress began to soak up dark red blood as a shriek cut through the cathedral.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?"

"Madam!" Sephiroth gasped. Adel appeared before them in a wave of shimmering darkness as she ran forward and grabbed the hilt of Sephiroth's sword and tore it from Rinoa's body.

"She wasn't supposed to die yet!" Adel growled furiously. Rinoa fell into Squall's arms, her breathing getting shallow as Adel realized that Rinoa's heart was now cut in two. "Her heart is ruined now!!" she screamed.

Suddenly, she was bombarded with attacks from all sides and she whirled around. "Give up, Adel!" Yuna shouted. "You're not going to get away!"

Adel was shaking in fury as she licked Rinoa's blood off the edge of Sephiroth's sword from behind a shield. The attacks merely bounced off her as she glared at Yuna. "You're next!" she hissed. Hissing she dove at Yuna. "Help her..." Rinoa gasped as she pointed weakly to Yuna. Her eyes closed and she winced, the pain in her open chest was close to making he pass out.

Raijin, Fujin, Zell, and Irvine were the only ones not caught in the dazed stupor to help. Raijin turned into his werewolf form and stood by his comrades as Adel attacked with powerful spells that their strongest shields couldn't handle.

Selphie and Quistis stood aside, unsure of what to do. "We'll take care of this!" Cloud insisted. "Just look after your friend!"

"You really think you can handle Adel!?" Irvine shouted. *Cocky bastard...*

"Shield Rinoa!" Seifer barked as he stood in front of Rinoa and Squall with his gun blade extended at Sephiroth. "You're going to fucking die."

"Hmph..." Sephiroth grinned. "I have no use of you." He raised his hand and summoned his sword forward. It flew from the ground where Adel had dropped and into his hand.

Adel had already knocked Yuffie unconscious by sending her flying into a wall. Yuna was in the middle of summoning a creature as Lulu cast black magic spell after spell at Adel to buy the summoner time. Cloud was now facing off with Sephiroth, causing sparks to fly from their swords.

Before the alter, another drama was playing out as Squall fell to his knees, holding the dying sorceress.

"Rinoa?" Squall asked quietly as he cradled the sorceress' body against him. "Rinoa...?" He seemed to be calling quietly as her eyes tried in vain to focus on him. A bloody hand, shaking as Rinoa put her whole strength in it, was raised and touched his face.

"I love you..."

His eyes went wide as she gave him a weak smile. Slowly, the lively spark in her brown eyes faded. For a moment, they forgot about the battle raging before them between Adel and the team assembled to fight her.

"It's raining..." Selphie whispered as stood there numbly, staring at the body of her best friend. Cold drops fell against them as Squall sat there, rocking Rinoa's body back and forth, his head bent down over hers.

His shoulders were heaving up and down as his breathing grew short. Quistis stood there, unable to move as she dropped her whip. Everyone watched in silence as Squall sat there. His breathing suddenly got stronger and his head lifted.

"Cast a cure spell..." he growled slowly. His voice was cold and distant.

"What?" Quistis asked, her head lifting back up to look at him.

"Cast it!" he hissed. His eyes were glowing red as his fangs appeared once more. "CAST IT NOW!!" The last word seemed to roared out as everyone gasped when they saw the red tears coming from his eyes. He was serious.

Selphie and Quistis looked at each other and rushed over. They held their hands of Rinoa and cast multiple cure spells. Seifer closed his eyes and turned away. "That's not going to help..." Seifer mumbled. "The damage can't be fixed..."

"She just has to be alive..." Squall said behind gritted teeth.

"Alive..." Zell mumbled questioningly.

Irvine's eyes went wide when he realized what Squall was about to do. "Squall, you can't! She won't make it!" He tore his eyes from the battle in front of them to the vampire behind him.

"Do think she'll survive like this!?" Squall snarled viciously. Irvine took a step back. He'd never seen Squall with that look.

"He's going to turn her...?" Yuna gasped as she finished summoning a large bird like creature. She covered her mouth, her eyes fixed on Squall and Rinoa. "But that's never been done! No sorcerer has survived a turning!"

"Well, one's about to!" Selphie shouted back as tears streamed down her eyes. "She HAS to!"

"This is our last chance," Quistis murmured as she stepped back. Selphie finished her spell and stepped back with Quistis. "It has to work..."

Rinoa was breathing very shallow. Quistis couldn't feel any mental waves, meaning she was unconscious. Squall's shaking hand gently moved her hair aside, revealing a pale neck.

Blood bubbled out of Rinoa's half healed chest as Squall closed his eyes. He could smell the pumping blood. Feel the flow of her life liquid course through her veins.

He opened his mouth and sank his teeth into Rinoa's vein.