Sin's Torment
by shike77
Chapter VI
"But it's not the same way
it used to be right now."
- 3 Doors Down
… ^_^ MuahaHA, the plot THICKENS!
Saer: About fucking TIME!
shike: … True. But, hey, I'm kinda TRYING to keep it moving slow…
Leon: … *to readers* The original TLW moved too fast for shike, you see.
Saer: Not to mention there's times when I'm too OOC for my own good.
shike: ^_^;; Hey, Gimme a break, will ya?
On another note - I honestly don't know what this track is called. @_@;; It's on the album I got for Christmas, but not listed anywhere. @_@;; Confuzzling.
"… What's the point of them giving us a tent after we just finished riding on the road?"
Shana laughed. Of course the girl hadn't seen a formal dress before, she wouldn't be able to remember ever leaving Seles…
"I'll help you change into that. The colour's a bit too pink for your skin, but I think you'll survive."
She blinked at her mother, then at the dress in her hands, which she then dropped and backed away as if it was poison. "… Uh, Mom, I'm not really sure… I mean, these clothes are fine… Really…"
The Moon Child sighed, glancing down at the worn jeans and linen shirt—both of which had numerous holes in obvious places, stains that would never come out, and reeked of horses, sweat, and mud.
"… No, they're really not. For one, they're boys' clothes-"
"What's wrong with wearing these?"
"… they're filthy-"
"I just got off the road, how c'n they not be?!"
"… and…" she turned around from her position at the window and stopped to see a vacant space where she was sure her daughter had been moments before, the only proof she had ever been there the dropped dress and the trail of mud from her boots.
"… Should have seen this coming…" she groaned, then followed the tail… she was obviously running.
She sighed, walking alongside the mud, praying no one tried to clean it up while she still needed to find the tomboy…
… Who was already around several corners, grinning at her 'daring escape.'
I don't even wanna know what that thing over in the corner was… doesn't look like it would fit anybody all that well…
She sped around another corner and ran face-first into someone who had also been in a hurry. Both were sent sprawling—with loud cries that would make Shana wash their mouths out wth soap—and the girl got to her feet immediately.
"Sorry!" she cried, about to continue in her mad dash until she noticed the shining stone the other person had dropped. "… huh?"
She picked it up… and nearly dropped it when it exploded into a brilliant display of red light from which the older girl she'd bumped into had to sheild her eyes.
She drew in a breath as the light seemed to lick at her face like flames, blowing her hair back slightly. Dark blue eyes wide, mouth slightly agape as she stared at the gem.
Then she started somewhat, glancing about her. Her gaze landed on the person beside her. "What?"
The brunette blinked. "What?"
"You said something?"
"… No…"
She turned her gaze back to the stone and blinked again. "… So, the rock's talking to me, then?"
Then the light intensified, and both girls yelped.
"Alright, alright! You're not just a rock! Hell…"
Then her mother turned the corner and stopped.
The three were at a standstill for a few moments, during which Enigma's mind ran a mile a minute.
… Okay, need stone to find proclaimed 'jade.' Kid has rock, and rock obviously don't wanna leave. This lady creeps me out, so…
Without thinking, she grabbed the girl's arm and practicly flew down the hall.
"GottagofastfindjadeMOVE!"
The girl, in spite of the fact that the assassin might've dislocated her shoulder, didn't complain a bit beyond the initial yelp, and merely tried to keep up pace for fear of doing herself any more harm.
Enigma found a door that required no hasty unlocking and nearly threw herself and the girl into it. With a mere mental thought, the lock mechanisms switched and the door was barricaded.
Heavy in breath, she turned to look at her surroundings. Some kind of study, with a mess cast haphazardly throughout it. She picked up one of the papers and frowned down at it.
… Dresla? Dragoon Spirits? I think someone's beginning to put things together for themselves, here…
She glanced over at the blonde and frowns.
"Alright, princess-"
She rolled he eyes and snorted mildly in interruption.
"If I were a princess, I'd do something about wearing those damned tents."
… Already likable. Enigma smirked and laughed.
"Just the answer I'd expect from a pansy-hater like myself."
The girl grinned for a moment, then seemed to remember the qustion she'd had in mind.
"… Uh, what's this?"
She held out the shining stone and Enigma guarded her eyes again.
"Hey, put that away, will ya? Someone might see it through the cracks in the door!"
The girl obeyed, frowning skeptically.
"… So, you're not s'posed to be here, I take it."
Enigma grinned sheepishly, throwing her hands up in indignation.
"Hey, I'm here on a mission to save people from something about Torment and stuff! It's all professional, kid!"
She raised a quizzical eyebrow and retorted, "Yeah, sounds real important to me."
Note to self: Broaden your damned vocabulary.
Enigma glared, one hand raised and her mouth open as if she was about to speak. Then, with an exhasperated sigh, she placed her hands on her hips and leaned on one foot dramatically.
"Oh yeah? Well, Camels go moo."
Blink.
"… What's a camel?"
"It's like a cow, except it has humps. And a long neck. And it spits…"
"… Right." The girl shook her head, pale golden hair swaying slightly with the movement. "And that makes perfect sence."
"Aren't you a little young for sarcasm?"
"Aren't you a little young to be on missions to save people from Torment and stuff?"
Death glare. "… I'm Five hundred and Ninety-Seven years old, you."
"And I'm seven. Your point?"
Yet another death glare. After a few moments, the girl asked, "So, are you going to tell me what the rock is or what?"
Enigma growled. "Kids," she mumbled to herself, running her fingers through her hair. Always in the way…
With a sigh of defeat, she shoved a pile of papers off the chairs. "Sit. This'll take some time."
The girl—dwarfed by the large leather armchair—sat obediently, slouching slightly as she leaned back without thinking twice about the mud on her clothes.
Enigma watched her closely for a moment, then sat cross-legged in the chair opposite. She rolled her shoulders, not even hearing the multiple cracks that resulted.
"… Alright. You ever heard about the-'
She was interrupted by the handle moving.
"… Could've sworn I left this unlocked…"
Both girls looked from to door to each other with wide eyes.
"I'm doomed!"
"Mom's gunna make me wear that thing!"
Both lines of dialogue spoken at the same time helped to relieve the tension of the situation. Enigma grabbed the girl's arm again and dragged her over to a book case.
"Here, hide. I'll explain later."
She clambered to the top of the shelf in a position that would hide herbehind the door when it opened, listening as the lock clicked…
Then two men walked in, and the room nearly exploded with red, green and gray light.
Enigma yelped and yell off her perch, colliding with a loud thud. Swearing ensued, and, rather suddenly, there was a very large sword at her throat and she was staring up into the angry blue eyes of a Dragoon.
"Where is it?!"
She stared blankly for a moment, then took a deep breath. Plan quick, they don't expect magic here…
"W-what are you talkin' about?"
Ah, the joys of looking like a scrawny kid of the streets—everyone falls for the sap routine, 'I was looking for my kitty.'
… Speaking of that cat, where was Nariko?
A gloved hand touched the enourmous, armoured arm gently.
"Dart, calm down. She might not-"
And then another voice broke the tention.
"… Hey, no fair! You said humans couldn't use magic!"
All eyes turned to the corner of the room where that blonde girl stood, arms crossed in front of her chest, the Red-Eye Dragoon Spirit blazing in her fist.
The one called Dart could only stare in dismay.
… Wow. Two updates in a day. Aren't you guys lucky?
Yeah. I had seven pages - but I don't like how the other half of it went, so it was cut. ^_^ And this is enough to make a chapter, right? Right?
^_^ *coughs* Onto the reviews!
Striker - ^_^ Of course, you forgot C) has to be utterly fucking suicidal.
Miranda: Damn straight.
@_@;;
Zix - Eh? Name-change? Hm. That's new. And YES, gremlins are very bad. *Nods* Evil buggers. Never babysit kids who go to bed whenever they want and 'have already been spanked three times that day.' NEVER. Besides, the parents never pay you enough.
Fifi - … *watching Shifty* … Y'know, I don't even like the guy.
Shifty: *sniffles - then glomps Fifi back* ^_____^
*shakes her head sadly*
Arreat's Hymn - ^_^;; Eheh. *is embarrassed* Glad you like it!
DarkDragonX - Mysterious, eh? ^_^ I guess that was what I was going for. *nods*
Shade - … *glances over at Bob* … ?
Bob: *has attached himself to the wobbly legs and arms* MUAHAHAHAHA! TREMBLE BEFORE ME-
Wood: *wobbles precariously*
Bob: - eh?
Wood: *collapses*
Bob: … x_X Ow.
… ^_^
Shadow Wolf22 - ^_^ It's working sorta okay. My brother's too lazy to find the damned cleaning thing we have. *shakes head sadly*
… And that's all. ^_^
Bob: … PAIN.
Silly bread. ^_^