Chapter 26: Revelation REVISED!!!

Squall laid on the bed for quite some time, but his mind wandered on different things. The wind now was little more than a breeze, and his hair moved gently in compliance with it. His face scrunched up as it usually does when he's thinking, and his forehead began to hurt from it. Eventually he rose, and went to the "washroom."

     It was a small room dedicated to the magic arts. On one wall was a small waterfall, and pond; upon the other was a secluded hole in the wall that held her herbs, and supplies. The sides of it were carved into many shelves. In the middle was only a stone pillar with a scrying basin upon it. Half of the basin was black, and the other was a unblemished silver. Various types of plants, and algae covered the walls, and small flower illuminated the room.

     Squall looked at the room in amazement, forgetting that he had seen it before. Oceania sat collapsed on her knees, holding onto the stone pillar, crying once more, and breathing heavily. She muttered to herself, "It can't be," repeatedly between sobs, and her eyes rose to the basin again. She got to her feet, and looked in it again, and silently shedding another tear. She failed to realize that Squall was watching.

     He went to her, and looked into the water, as flower petals floated across the surface. He looked past them to see what had disturbed his caretaker. Red flooded the basin as if the water had turned into fresh blood. Visions entrapped his mind. He fell backwards, as if pushed, and cringed from the pain. It felt like something had attacked him. Oceania stood unmoving, watching the water as if she were entranced by it. Finally the vision faded, and she fell to the ground. Unconscious.

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[night]

     Oceania opened her eyes to see the green ceiling staring back at her. She blinked, and rolled over to find Squall sitting by her side. He had a bowl of water, and was using a rag to keep her fevered head cool. He grimly looked at her, and remained silent.

Oceania: What happened?

Squall: long pause … You passed out.

Oceania: Again? getting up Damn it.

     He pushed her down harshly upon the bed, and she recoiled in fear. He had never laid a hand upon her in anger before, and she hurt to see him like this.

Squall (uncaring): You should lay down, you have been burning up for a while now.

O: Really? I guess I over did it again… How did you find me? You were supposed to stay here.

S: I went down stairs after a while.

O: Oh… What did you see?

     He looked her dead straight into her eyes, and snarled. He wanted to rip her heart out, and eat it in front of her, still alive.

S: Enough.

     She deterred her gaze, and stared at the floor. Her voice trembled as she spoke, and barely held herself together.

O: Oh… I see…

S: Were you ever going to tell me?!

O: No…

     He desperately tried not to lose his temper, but was failing. He longed to tighten his hands around her throat, and kill her. Murderous thoughts filled his had, and he hated sinking to that low. He hated her more for taking him there.

S: …I think I had a right to know.

O: You don't… It's my life after all.

S: It affects me.

O: I know…

S: …throws the bowl against the wall by the bed…Damn you!! Why the hell didn't you tell me?!

     She held her hands against her head in fear, and defense. A twinge of pain ran through her chest, and her eyes flickered yellow, and black. She started regaining her backbone, and stared at him, snarling.

O: This is why I never told you!

S: … How the f--- was I supposed to react?!

     She started regaining her softer side, and almost started crying.

O: I didn't want you to find out this way…

S: You didn't want me to find out at all

     The pain ran through her again, but worse this time. One eye had completely changed to yellow, and was becoming dilated.

O: I've got to go.

 S (thinking she was leaving him for dead): Don't you dare leave me here to die.

O: I'll return.

S: Don't leave period. It's time you take responsibility for your actions.

O: My actions? You are the one who made me- (pain hit her again) …never mind. And if you actually saw everything, then you know why I need to leave.

S: … Go.

O: I don't need your permission.

     The crying woman jumped off of the cavern entrance, and to the ground below. Squall ran to the ledge, and looked down at the drop. The cave was in a mountain in Centra, and the drop would have killed anyone who was unlucky enough to fall from it. A thick dog covered the ground below, and Squall had a tough time trying to find her. Then he looked up to see a figure crossing the sky; a shimmering tail of tears following it. She had not died, but instead transformed into her evil self, the self that he reviled, the self that he loathed, and wanted to destroy. He grimaced as he watched her, knowing what was to come.