Chapter Thirty-Nine: Antipathy

A cold breeze drifted through the hallway, and its three inhabitants felt it not only pass through enclosed space, but through their bodies. It was more chilling than any air conditioning vent could possibly produce. Like an omen for them to leave, each suddenly felt uncomfortable within the dark confines.

"It's been long enough, I think we should go in after him."

"No, I think Squall needs to do this alone, he has his own demons to face."

"Quistis, I understand that…what if we get in there too late? We might not even hear any signal given to us. He was right about one thing, just sitting here waiting like bystanders is not doing us any good."

"I know…" her voice softly trailed off for a second, secretly concerned about the other that entered before the commander. "Zell, he's in there with Seifer, and whatever they're doing, it's their redemption."

"So, your redemption is to stand in the dark?" He bit his lip after the words came out more sharply than he meant. It wasn't as if during the past few days, either had time to work out the underlying issues standing between them. Zell had never handled Rinoa's disappearance well, and his haunting visions just compiled his emotions upon her return.

Quistis desperately wanted to say something to make the situation better; to apologize, to beg forgiveness, to do anything...but right now wasn't the time to get into sorting history. In this instance, she felt her silence was the best approach, although guilt was starting to take hold once again. Seifer, Squall, and Rinoa…she could feel each of their blood staining her hands. If something happened to any one of them, her friends would be lost to her forever; she would be lost to her forever.

Alex had been quiet during their exchange. She held her arms closely to her body, trying to warm herself. Something was telling her to get out of there, even if no official order had been given. Whether it was the fear of the unknown, or the uneasiness rooted from the discomfort in the room, everything seemed on a more urgent scale. She didn't ask permission before starting to locate the door handle. She just had to get the hell out. Zell tried to pull her back, but her resolve only grew stronger.

"Calm down Alex, are you sensing something again?"

"No, I just need to get out of here, it's so damn cold."

For the first time Quistis turned the helmet's flashlight back on, they had been conserving the batteries usage. The light first shined on Zell, and he instinctively covered his eyes in a natural reaction.

"Hey, watch where you are pointing that thing!"

"It's gone!" Alexandra's fears were getting the better of her, and try as she might, she was unable to locate the door latch.

"No Alex, it's here. You probably just got turned around in the dark, but I still don't think we should go in…"

Moving the light around, Quistis scanned the two by fours that lined the passageway. She moved to where Alex had her hand placed, and then scanned slightly past that. Feeling as if she was missing the most obvious place, the instructor started to get upset at her own ignorance. She noticed each board was numbered from original construction and all were closely placed together for added support. She followed the number pattern for a good five meters either direction, knowing that none of them had ventured more than that since Squall left the area. Reaching her hand out, she tapped each one, mentally counting them off. On the off chance they had been turned around, she then scanned the other side. She noticed that the supports were just as close together, and there was no sign of an entryway.

"It's gone…" The words came out of her mouth, and even she couldn't believe them.

"What the hell?" Zell held Alex tighter as her phobias continued to grow, and now there was the added reality they couldn't find the exit.

Quistis tried to remain logical and calm, knowing that Squall might need their help. She knew the only other way would be the route they had marked on the buildings blueprints, but that would mean some backtracking downstairs. Time was of the essence if they were called, so she knew that one of them would have to make a decision quickly.

"We're going back down. We stick to the original plan…head back toward the classroom." Grabbing Alexandra's wrist, she lead her down the dark corridor. The stillness of the air had returned, and any sign of movement faded back at their waiting place. She carefully went down the stairs, until the passage finally dead-ended back at the classroom door. Shining the light, she mentally checked that there was actually an exit on this end.

Opening the door a tad, she checked for any Galbadian personnel in the room. When it was clear, the three walked back into the classroom closing the door behind them. The three just stood there…somewhat in disbelief. Quistis felt the same cold chill pass through her as earlier, freezing in momentary shock. She carefully guarded her weapon, as did Zell, both prepared for anything of combatant nature; it was the unexplained nature they feared. The two SeeDs exchanged a look, as if to dismiss the incident upstairs as human error. Somehow, each must have missed the obvious, fears and emotion most likely took over reasoning.

"We better get moving." Quistis pointed across the class to the other door, "That was the one we marked."

"This one wasn't on the map," added Zell, restating comments from their earlier conversation in that very room.

"Yeah…" Her soft words trailed off.

They exchanged one last look, reading each other's mind as they had done in so many other life-threatening situations. Like two curious children, they re-opened the door, making sure their doubts were put behind them. Somehow, in that moment they weren't twenty-three-year-olds but scared five-year-olds afraid of what they would find on the other side. What they found defied logic, defied any known reason…a janitorial supply closet.


Rinoa felt a strange eeriness when she was left alone with Mitchell. If she could have reached a gun, she would have shot him on sight, but now another factor weighed heavily on her mind…Seifer. He had come in there for her benefit; she knew his arrival was planned, sending him unarmed on its own would be a careless, illogical move. He was to serve as a distraction, but along the way, something went wrong…she wouldn't let him sacrifice his life for hers.

If they did execute Kimberley first, that would buy her a few precious minutes. She shivered at the momentary thought of hoping another human being would be slain before another one. Her life was not worth the price that her friends were each willing to pay, and she would be damned to lose someone else she cared about. If there was one thing she learned was that men had their weakness. If her calculations were correct, pretending to seduce Mitchell wouldn't prove to be a difficult task, at least on his end…

He hadn't said anything since the others left, which was good as the sound of his voice made her sick to her stomach. He led her by the hand over to the desk, and she sat on the edge. Reaching in his pocket, he grabbed a set of keys, fumbling around for a long silver one. Tenderly he undid her handcuffs, massaging the red imprints left on her skin. She looked into his eyes and smiled sympathetically, he was trembling like a schoolboy left alone with a teacher. She suppressed her desires to kill him, as each action he made seemed to heighten her inner turmoil.

She felt a relief when he let go of her wrists, walking around to the other side of the desk. Reaching in a drawer, he pulled out what appeared to be white fabric. As he carefully undid the cloth, she could tell it was a gown and an outer lace robe. He held them up, as if proud of the garments.

"These were made for your execution, but now they will be for your christening. Your soul will forever be bonded to mine, and together we will be as one. Julia I shall inform your subjects that you have been reborn, and their day of reckoning is here. They will serve you, they will honor you, and they shall say our names in unison."

Rinoa's hand grew tighter into a fist; she had not realized the true scope of his dementia. She wasn't sure how to handle the situation, even with Bennett she could retreat into solitude. Right now, she wished this man would have hit her, broken her ribs, done anything but bring her mother into the moment. It was easier to handle the physical abuse, but hearing the name of her mother from the lips of this man…was far too much.

He set the robes on the desk, and made a gesture with his hand. She tried to smile calmly, as she reached down feeling the fabric. She felt the texture of the lace, and the delicate satin that the robe was made from.

"I had these designed by the finest tailors in Deling; the fabric was imported from Esthar, while the lace was handmade by Shumi Elders. I spared no expense in making these, as you are worth every Gil my angel."

"They're beautiful," she gasped. It was the first words spoken that weren't a lie, even she could appreciate the craftsmanship and quality of the ceremonial dress. Continuing to run her fingers along the edge of the fabric, she felt his presence as he came up behind her. He moved his hands around her waist, pulling her back tightly against his body.

"You have to put them on for me now, I can't wait a moment longer to see you in them."

She tried to think of an excuse not to comply, but she needed him to believe her loyalty. Turning, she ran her fingernails seductively across his chest. "Jefferson, I will do whatever you wish, but what of your troops? What if they do not accept me? I'm afraid they will say that I have cast a spell upon you, and shall call for my death."

He moved his palm to her cheek, as if reassuring her that he could protect her no matter the cost. "My darling angel, no man alive shall ever bring you pain. If they believe you have cast a spell, then show them the true power you possess, and then they will know better than to question your will."

She looked her eyes downcast to the floor, acting as if ashamed. "Right now the injections have suppressed my powers. I would have no way to defend myself." He kissed her on the lips, and for the first time she didn't pull away, although it was certainly a natural reaction to have the urge to become ill. His touch burned her soul as if deadly poison, and the pain was increasing with each moment. She kept her mind focused on Squall, and Allison, and of anything pure or good. She purposely let him be the one to break the kiss, as he stared into her earthen brown eyes.

"Rinoa, those injections were only experimental, we couldn't test them on an actual subject. Your powers have not been bound for good. In fact, I believe some of your natural abilities should be returning shortly. But Julia, as I said, it is pure speculation on the scientists' behalf."

If not for the fact of the encouraging news, she would have been completely horrified that within the same paragraph he had called her by two separate names. What a paradox it was when she, only a few days ago, had wavered between two identities. At one point fighting between the personalities of Rinoa and Renee, her mind might not have registered his obvious error. Now she wondered how truly sick she, herself, had become or if reality had now permanently settled back into her psyche. Fearing that in this game, she might blur the lines of reality. She could only pray that wouldn't happen. Before during the battle for her mind, she felt betrayed, but now the trust of her knight could keep her within this reality…she hoped.

He noticed her apprehension, not about at him, but about something she was silently fighting within herself. Placing a finger on her chin, he made her look in his eyes. "I know what would help, you put the robes on, and I'll take down the anti-magic barrier. That way if one were to stray from the flock, you could set him in his place."

That hadn't been her intention, hell, she wasn't sure what her intentions were anymore, but that would be a great help to the others. The President had all but forgotten about Squall being in the building, or the attack by Esthar. She allowed him to kiss her again, before he headed around the desk toward his laptop. Looking at the clock sitting on the desk, the ticking hands reminded her of the race she was in for Seifer's life.

She grabbed the clothes turning her back toward him. Putting all modesty aside, she removed her shirt and let it fall gently on the floor. She could feel his eyes burning into her back, and was trying to hurry, without looking like she was rushing. Gathering the silken garb, she raised her arms allowing it to cascade gentle down her body. When covered by the length of the robe, she took off her pants, landing them in the pile with her top. Body mostly concealed, she turned back toward him allowing him to see her clad in the silken dress.

Moving toward her, he took the outer lace robe and placed it affectionately on her body. She was beautiful, as her dark hair was a sharp contrast to the ashen color of the robes. She didn't need to ask about the field, she could feel some of her abilities returning. Her powers were based on emotion, and when the shield came down, the emotion became almost too intense to control without Squall. She wasn't even sure if they would work yet due to the injections, nor would she even take the chance. If she allowed her darker side to take over, Seifer would surely pay the price, and she would never make it out of the building alive. Everything had to be carefully planned. Timing was of the utmost importance.

He pulled her back toward the desk, again placing her body on its surface. Noticing a small string hanging from a shoulder line hem, he reached in his top drawer grabbing a pair of scissors. The alterations for the robes were only finished last night. They had needed her actual measurements, and not the ones they had guessed from the photographs. The Palace tailor had been forced to work through the night to make sure that every detail was perfect. Once Rinoa actually put them on, the plan was to have Kimberley do any emergency fittings. She had some experience with needlework, and Mitchell had asked the tailor to leave all his supplies in his office.

The flaw in the robes, seemed to agitate the President to a surprising degree, and Rinoa could feel herself losing control of the man. She knew she had to be the sexual aggressor for a second, to put her plan in motion. She slid one of the straps off her robe, exposing her shoulder and upper breast. The simple act seemed to calm him down his anger, redirecting it into other avenues. Reaching behind her neck, he pulled her in tightly, kissing her with more fervor than before. She tried to return the kisses just as passionately, but found herself choking on her own bile. And like in her worst nightmare, Squall picked that moment to burst into the room. Both figures jumped at his sudden entrance, and Rinoa could all but hide her guilt.

In an act that she could only describe as cowardice, Mitchell quickly pulled her off the desk with force, placing her in front of his body as if a human shield. She trembled in fear for a moment, but from what she wasn't sure…guilt, embarrassment, death? The lion's eyes had a rage she had never seen, a passion that she had only witnessed recently. He had charged in there ready to attack, acting as if consequence didn't matter. She worried what could have done such a thing to him, what act could have made a man of steel crumble like sand.

He had entered the room with such deep intent, but the scene he witnessed must have even caught him off guard enough to regain his balance. He lowered the gunblade in shock as the passion changed to pain before Rinoa's eyes…at least she thought.

Mitchell tightened his hold of her waist, driving her even further into his body. "Will you kill him for me my angel?"

"Of course," she answered without hesitation. Knowing that Mitchell stood behind her she mouthed the word, "Allison" to Squall unsure of whether he could hear her nonverbally right now. She wasn't sure if her powers were strong enough for any other form of communication with her knight.

He nodded once without as much as a syllable uttered. In that second, she made the distinction between what she perceived as pain from betrayal on his face, to the pain he felt for failing her…and making her dance with this devil. She smiled at him knowing he wouldn't understand exactly why, but she realized they were stronger than they were two years ago in Deling. This time they believed in each other… She had seen those eyes years before, but this time she understood them. Squall knew. Allison was safe, which just left freeing Seifer, and then getting the hell away from this place. There was no way she and Squall could make it to the jail on time, so she had to stick to the idea of Mitchell releasing him, with one minor adjustment.

She prayed to Hyne he would understand. Rinoa had no idea if her thought would reach him, but she couldn't speak aloud in front of Mitchell. "I have to save Seifer, play along…Forgive me, I love you." The knight heard his sorceress speak the words in his mind, before the realization of their meaning could register.

She lifted her palm toward Squall, cruelly laughing as she tossed her head back onto the President's shoulder. With one flick of her wrist, a bolt of energy radiated out from her hand, and followed its path like a lightening towards a metallic rod. The feeling sent shockwaves through his body, and he grabbed his chest in pain. His eyes met hers and he could feel the pounding of his heart within his torso, whether it was from voltage coursing through his veins or her actions, he didn't know. He just could feel the pain.

And then darkness.

She was taken aback by the power that she had managed to use. For a moment, her world became slightly cloudy as if she was coming off some drug-induced high. Her body truly wasn't accustomed to using such energy, let alone to be in such a situation. She wanted to look back at Squall, to make sure he was okay, but she was sure that he had managed to handle the strike, and any Guardians would protect him from major blows. He would understand her actions in a second, and play along until they were ready to strike. She felt Mitchell release his tight grip from her body, spinning her around to his face. Now he looked like the rival lion that had just made its kill claiming his domain…such a proud, foolish, and spineless man.

Smiling toward him, she ran her delicate fingers seductively through her own hair joking, "He was always a pain in my ass anyhow."

The President almost seemed dumbfounded by the swiftness of her actions. He slowly parted from his trophy, letting his fingers brush with hers as he walked toward the fallen warrior. Looking down, the President couldn't have been more pleased with any other outcome. He finally had whom he obsessed these many years by his side, and the man who once stood in his way, was no longer a viable threat. Mitchell reached down next to Leonhart's body, picking up one of his shrines prize-possessions, the replicated gunblade that highlighted his collection. Why the weapon held such a deep fascination, even he couldn't understand…but his desire to claim Rinoa was strong, even if events had transpired for him to imitate another.

Running his hand over the handle, Mitchell followed the gunblade to where the blade began and the revolver ended. He took his index finger placing it on the silvery edge, allowing the razor-sharp edge to slice his skin. It was a deliberate act, as if commemorating the 'kill' with some blood-oath to her. He moved back toward where she stood, after placing the gunblade on a nearby table.

Raising his hand to her, he ran his finger slowly across her lips, allowing the blood to enter her mouth. Rinoa could taste the almost metallic, bitterness in her mouth. As the repulsive liquid filled all her senses, understanding of this man's psychosis became overwhelming; she no longer thought she could contain her obvious disgust. She had to get this over with quickly, to take the initiative so Seifer could be spared. Turning taking another step toward the desk, she once again let the material fall from her shoulder. Spinning back around quickly almost playfully like a cat, she jumped up to a sitting position removing the lacey outer garment completely.

"We don't need Leonhart, but I might need that other one."

She looked at Mitchell mischievously, motioning with her finger for him to move closer. "That Almasy guy, he was Ultimecia's knight, he'll know how to handle me… just like you do." She lifted a finger to his chest tracing a line up to his neck. "Spare him, you can keep that one as a trophy. He's already dead." She motioned her head toward the man lying on the floor.

"What about you?" Mitchell asked under his breath before leaning over to her, their lips almost touching. "What do you want as a trophy?"

Again, she laughed aloud with a sultry look, "Spare Almasy…and you'll find out. I need him, just like I need you."

He moved the centimeters in kissing her, as he had done earlier. This time she reciprocated the action, this time it was she that bit passionately at his lip. Knowing this was almost over was the only thing getting her through; she only hoped Squall would understand in the end. Rinoa leaned back further, moving her hand over to the intercom. "Before we get too carried away, make the call…spare him." He fumbled around as he put all his weight upon her, reaching over to the button.

"Yes, Mr. President, sir."

In between forceful kisses, he tried to speak. "Yeah…changed my mind…we might need Almasy…have him escorted up here…"

"Sir we were about to execute…"

"Do you doubt my word? Do you want your death the next I order?"

"Never sir," the voice slightly faltered on the other end. "We will bring him up to your office right away."

"No, give me twenty minutes or so." He grinned at Rinoa wickedly, pulling their bodies tighter together. "…Then bring him…to me…we found a use for him."

Knowing she had just bought Seifer some valuable time, enough to rescue him, Squall would take her cue. Rinoa waited a second for a response, as she opened one eye watching for the impending attack. She had no doubt in Squall's ability as a knight or as a military leader to know when they had trapped their enemy.

"Get this bastard off me!" Her mind finally called out to him, when she couldn't take the hideous torture. Every second of this nightmare was killing her, every second she was falling deeper into the world she had escaped. She was trying to surpass the horror, holding fast to everything she had taught herself.

"Squall?" Still nothing…not within her mind, nor a noise from the floor. "Hyne now…Squall…please! I can't do this any longer…please."

She turned just enough to see him still lying unconscious on the ground. This wasn't supposed to be, it hadn't happened like this before…she used more energy with Richard Bennett that night she escaped in Trabia; it only knocked the wind out of him for a minute and he was never unconscious. She was physically weaker now, with some foreign substance running through her veins.

This was just circumstance, a combat maneuver… Then she remembered, something she had forsaken…with her knight around her powers multiplied, and she became stronger. She hadn't known her own abilities, nor that her magic would multiply tenfold when used upon him. When he continued to lay there not moving, she finally thought the unthinkable…she might have actually just killed him.