Tainted Hearts
Chapter 9-Regentt of Lindblum
Neo Alexandria Castle
7:35 A.M.~Sunrise
Zoë:
Amuro woke me up with here choking, gasping cries. It kind of reminded of Kajin when she was going through her pain. When she came back last night, she seemed different. I couldn't point it out no matter how much I tried. But I was glad she was improving. I picked Amuro up and out of her crib, placing kisses on her cheek. She quieted down immediately and peered at me with her pure blue eyes.
"You're too cute to be crying, Amuro."
She kicked and giggled. A knock came at my door.
"Come in."
The door opened to reveal Ryuujin…or was it Kajin?
"It's me, Ryuujin."
"You should be asleep."
"Kajin is the one that sleeps. I just focus on energy and other things."
I set Amuro down and proceeded to change her calmly, while thinking of things to say to Ryuujin.
"What brings you here?"
"Being from Earth, you would know what vampirism is."
"I have a general idea," I answered, putting a pacifier in Amuro's mouth.
"It's already common knowledge that vampires exist in Gaia. The problem is that Kajin has shown signs of it."
"Yeah. I didn't want to believe it myself. Silver told me she attacked a guard somewhere outside the castle."
"Good Morning, you two," A sleepy voice said.
I turned only to see Kajin slowly walk past the door. There was a hint of a smile on her lips.
"Kajin…are you ok?" I asked.
She stopped at the doorway and smoothed her hair back. Although it was hard to see, Kajin's eyes were a blood red and blood had gathered at the edge of her eyes. Ryuujin noticed it to, but she stayed quiet.
"I'm fine. I-I just had a bad start, that's all."
A bad start caused that to happen?
Kajin:
I could see through people. No one's emotions were hidden to me not when I was like this. Zoë was apprehensive about my condition. She had a right to be. Technically, I looked diseased with all that blood in my eyes. Nightmares had caused me to claw at my eyelids and my eyes. I was going to tear them out due to impulse one day. Ryuujin knew exactly what happened, but whether she would tell Zoë or not, was a different task.
"Is breakfast coming up soon?" I asked dryly.
"Yeah, in a few minutes. Could you entertain Amuro while I talk with Ryuujin?"
"Sure."
I took Amuro out of her hands and walked down the hall. I flinched as I heard the door close behind me. I knew they were talking about me. As I walked down the hall, I could have sworn I heard my mother's voice. I shook my head and sighed, knowing that this castle replayed anyone's memories. I saw a little transparent girl run down the hallway, crying and screaming at the top of her lungs.
Mommy…where are you? I'm so scared!
I had seen these memories before, replayed in every horrible detail.
Kajin! Kajin, calm down! It's alright. Mommy's here.
I watched the ghostly figure of Kirika pick up my childhood form and hug it.
The darkness almost caught me, Mommy. It said something bad would happen to you.
Nothing's going to happen to me. I love you too much to leave you, Kajin.
"Lies…lies…all of them. You were killed shortly after you left Alexandria. I cried and cried, praying that you would answer, but you didn't. You were gone before I knew it," I whispered, watching the forms fade.
Amuro started to cry loudly, shattering the silence that had come with the projected memories. I bounced her up and down and started rocking her back and forth calmly. I started humming a tune…
Zoë:
I watched the entire thing from the door and yet, I couldn't believe what I saw.
"This castle projects the memories of inhabitants during certain times of the day. That's why Kajin has her room above the central hallways," Ryuujin said softly.
"Kajin loved her mother dearly."
"Yeah, she did. So much, that I was developed. Kajin is not crazy; she's just a little girl."
A little girl, huh?
Dining Room:
At the dining room table, I watched as Kajin slowly sipping her soup. I could tell that she really wasn't eating it; she was only doing it so I wouldn't worry about it. Kuja was present also, but he avoided my gaze like the plague. Our marriage was falling apart. I knew that, already. I just prayed it wouldn't turn ugly.
"Your Aunt has summoned you to Lindblum, Kajin," Kuja muttered.
Kajin dropped her spoon in the bowl and sighed. That was a definite sign of her not eating.
"Did she say why?"
"Regent matters."
I wondered what those matters where.
"Can I come with you?" I asked.
Kajin shrugged.
"If you want to ride on the back of a dragon. Go ahead and get ready."
Kuja shot me a nervous glare before getting up from the table himself.
"I have to prepare for Zidane and Garnet's arrival. I'll see you guys later."
He almost sounded defeated. I bit my lip and made myself busy by playing with Amuro to hide my tears.
"Amuro doesn't deserve to see her mother cry."
I looked up only to see Kajin, looking a little sick, but very sympathic.
"Things are getting worse between us. I don't know what to do."
"My mother cried a lot when I was young. During that time, Gaia was trapped in an ugly cycle of death. It took almost everyone she loved. Except for Melinda, my Aunt, the Ruler of Lindblum."
I listened to the sincerity in her voice.
"How did you understand this trying time?" I asked, curiosity in my voice.
Kajin shook her head and walked away.
"I didn't," I heard her say as she left the room.
Kajin:
I walked outside into the light rain that blanketed Alexandria and sighed. Ryuujin was back in my body again, making my thoughts heavier as she slept. She deserved the rest, so I truly didn't care. Seeing my Aunt, the Regent, would bring up a lot of better memories. I wasn't in the shape to handle it, since I was in a sensitive bind of my own. I took the dragon whistle out of my pocket and blew it loudly. It wasn't long before Amaranthine's lavender wings zoomed into sight. She splashed down into the water with a mighty welcome cry.
"You're too happy today, Amaranthine," I commented.
My stomach lurched giving me the uncomfortable feeling of being overbalanced.
"Note to self. Never eat the food the cooks give you."
I probably wouldn't be able to eat normal food mixed with blood. It made me sick…and that was something I didn't want anyone to see.
"Thanks for waiting on me."
I watched Zoë walk out of the castle with young Amuro wiggling in her arms. Ryuujin walked out shortly after, looking quite weary. She hadn't slept in days now.
Ryuujin, you're weary.
Ryuujin nodded.
I'll rest tonight, hopefully.
Hopefully was right. Whatever they had in Lindblum would be exciting. Plus, Ryuujin wasn't wise to stay asleep during random bouts of excitement. In a way, she was just a child.
"Come on. Let's get on Amaranthine's back," I muttered.
Ryuujin swung herself up onto the dragon's back easily and took Amuro from her in one careful reach.
"Lend a paw, Amaranthine," I ordered, smacking her side softly.
Amaranthine extended her paw and boosted Zoë up onto her back. I swung up last and let out a loud whistle. Amaranthine jumped into the air, wings pumping rhythmically in the air.
"Here we go!"
Neo Lindblum~Grand City
1:27 P.M.
Zoë:
It seemed like there were always things to do and see in Gaia. The flight from Alexandria and Lindblum was absolutely magical by itself. I guess everything looked better from the back of a dragon. Amuro seemed to adapt well to it and she seemed to love being held by Ryuujin. Or maybe she was used to the harmony of the separated entities. The moment we landed in Lindblum, we walked into some kind of building that had a huge ship floating in the back of it.
"What's that?" I asked, motioning to the ship.
"That's the Invincible 3, the pride of Terran/Gaian relations," Ryuujin said calmly while rocking a sleepy Amuro to sleep.
Kajin seemed unusually quiet today even after this morning's ride. I shook my head and decided not to talk about it for now. Soon we emerged into a plush room with all kinds of royal decorations. My guess was that this was some kind of castle. Kajin opened a pair of double doors and was met by guards.
"Halt, you may not enter the Regent's chambers without permission."
"The Regent sent for me in Alexandria. I am Lady Kajin Nightengale-Tribal, daughter of Lady Kirika Nightengale-Tsukihi-Tribal."
I blinked in surprise. Kajin's family was royality?
"Let her in," said an old, soft voice.
The guards glared at me and Ryuujin nervously.
"They are with me," Kajin snapped.
The Regent's room was dimly lit by one lamp. I couldn't understand how this was possible seeing as it was sunny outside.
"Sit, sit. I am anxious to talk to you, Kajin," The Regent said.
I took a seat near the door, not far away from Ryuujin and Amuro. Kajin took a seat next to the Regent, hugging her tightly.
"Aunt Melinda, how's your health?" She asked softly.
"Failing, as always. Everyone's really worried about me. That's why I called you here. I need a replacement."
"It wouldn't be wise to give the title of Regent to Kajin so easily. There will be chaos among the others trying to get it," Ryuujin spoke up.
Regent Melinda shrugged and sighed.
"There will always be chaos. It is the Lindblum way. But Kajin is the only one I trust."
All of a sudden, the door burst open, revealing a group of not-so-happy men. Kajin stood up in front to Regent Melinda protectively, a snarl caught in her throat. Amuro was bawling loudly despite Ryuujin's efforts to calm her down.
"You have a lot of nerve barging in like that. This is the Regent's chambers," Kajin snarled.
The men snorted.
"You have a lot of nerve coming in here to try for the Regent position. That position is rightfully ours!"
"Nothing is guaranteed to anyone, you should know that. It belongs to Kajin rightfully," Ryuujin snapped.
The group of men made frightening gestures at her and for once, motherly instinct overruled common sense.
"Fight her for it, but do not injure anyone else in the process," I snapped.
Kajin and Ryuujin exchanged looks and frowned.
"Go ahead. Choose your best weapon and we will meet in the courtyard later on this evening," Kajin muttered.
"We'll be waiting."
Once they left, everyone relaxed. Everyone…except for Kajin. There was something boiling behind those eyes. Something dark. I had to wonder if Ryuujin knew about it. I doubted it since Amuro had her full and undivided attention.
"They are just waiting to kill you, aren't they?" Kajin asked.
Regent Melinda shrugged.
"I suppose they are."
Kajin sighed and walked out of the room. Ryuujin watched her go and decided to follow her, but Amuro started to shriek.
"I don't know what's gotten into her," I said softly as I picked her up.
Amuro continued to shriek and pounded her fists against my shoulder. And then, almost as suddenly as it started, it stopped. Ryuujin shook her head.
"Something isn't right here."
Regent Melinda nodded.
"I would watch Kajin carefully, if I were you."
7:34 P.M.
Ryuujin:
The courtyard was filled with the men from before. They all bore swords, finely crafted swords. I knew that wouldn't bother Kajin due to her already deadly magical arsenal. However, I was a bit worried about her, due to her reaction before. Kajin usually didn't get angry like that. It wasn't like her. And with Amuro getting upset like that, I knew something wasn't quite right. Normally with children just days old, sensitivity to magical influences was common.
If the magical influence was disruptive to the normal harmony of the child, it would cry. I was worried that Kajin may be unsettled in her harmony. But how…and why? Kajin walked into the courtyard with a pole and a sword scabbard at her side. On her face, she wore a mask of determination, which seemed to shield some inner darkness.
"All of you want to fight me?" She asked.
Her voice was cool and fair. That was so unlike Kajin. Amuro started to sniffle and whine. All the men nodded. Kajin lifted the pole and shuffled backwards.
"Go ahead."
The men charged at her carefully, some splitting apart to standby. Kajin thrust her pole out at the closest males' knees, lifted it up and drove it up into his groin. The first one fell back screaming, blocking the other's approach. Another one dared to get close to her body and met the tip of the pole in his mouth. I watched as she jumped up into the air and landed on his shoulder. With one stomp, she brought the man to the ground and managed to climb up on a nearby branch.
I could sense a spell coming even before it came. Amuro started bawling, prompting a groan from Zoë. If I was right about Amuro's sensitivity to magical influences, then Kajin was up to no good.
"It's too bad you decided to fight me. Now you'll just have to die."
I need to act…now!
"Kajin, no! Don't you dare kill them!" I shouted.
Kajin shot me a look of death. I watched with all the calmness that I could allow, noting the color of her eyes. Something was disturbing her harmony—our harmony. I couldn't pinpoint it though. I broke out from the edge of the courtyard and pulled Kajin down. She had a surprised look in her eyes—a look of innocence.
"Kajin, you almost killed them. Surely you know this," I snapped.
Kajin's eyes filled with tears. She hated any prospect of death unless it was self-defense. But something was trying to. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a wayward spirit. Gaia has had a history of possessions. Despite herself, Kajin broke down crying. I was forced to play Mother to her and comfort her once again.
"Hush now…it's ok. Nothing happened, it was just an accident," I said softly.
Out of the corner of my eye, Amuro was stilly crying…loudly.
"I-I'll…go to my room now," Kajin whispered as she walked off.
Yet another strange occurrence…this was beginning to wear on my calm nature. Zoë walked up to me with a sleeping Amuro in tow.
"Just as I thought. Amuro's sensitive to magical influences," I commented.
"Magical influences? You mean…like you and Kajin?"
"Something like that."
"Something's wrong with Kajin?"
"She's not acting like herself. I think there may be a possession going on. Someone's trying to steal my harmonized host."
"Take Amuro to bed and get some rest. It would be wise to."
12:34 A.M.
Zoë:
The sound of someone devouring flesh filled my ears. It seemed like it was right outside of my door, which was frightening. Amuro was under my arm, whining in her sleep. Ryuujin was somewhere up on the ceiling, taking a rest.
"Are you hearing this?" I asked out loud.
Ryuujin stirred in the darkness and yawned.
"Yeah. I'm not sure what it is though." Amuro's whines grew louder as she jumped down from the ceiling.
"It's Kajin."
"Kajin would make such a horrible noise?"
"Be settled. I'll go check."
She opened the door carefully and looked right into the eyes of Kajin. Her face was covered with blood and little bits of flesh. I'd hate to know where that came from.
Ryuujin:
"Good Morning, Ryuujin," She purred.
Kajin never called me Ryuujin. In one fluid motion, I had her by the neck and against the door.
"What have you done with my host? Answer me," I snarled, smacking her across the face.
Kajin smirked and pushed me back roughly. I hit the floor roughly and snarled.
"Fear me, my dear," She smiled.
Some unknown force hit me in the chest, making me wheeze. My calm nature was instantly stripped away as I did so. Panic set in my mind and I backed up further in fear.
"What are you doing to her?"
Hearing Zoë's voice calmed me somewhat. Not a lot, but enough for me to regain a degree of control. Kajin turned around.
"I will consume her…just like I did to the men. And I'll kill you too, if you interfere."
I jumped to my feet, summoning up the energy I had for spells.
"I doubt you will! Holy!" I shouted, throwing the energy out.
It fizzled the moment it touched her skin.
"Nice try."
Kajin threw her arm out and I found myself being flung down the hallway. Zoë shrieked as she (Kajin) started down the hall after me.
"Kajin, don't do this!" She shrieked.
I rolled back up to a sitting position and watched in horror as Zoë grabbed Kajin's arm. Kajin swung Zoë around in front of her and grabbed her by the neck.
"Silly little girl. Interfering will be your downfall!"
Amuro shrieked louder and squirmed in Zoë's arms. Panic kept me from getting to her…
"Flare Star!"
Flames leapt out of nowhere and slammed into Kajin, forcing her to drop Zoë. The sight of the flames sobered my fear, allowing me to move again. As the spell died down, Kuja walked up and pulled his wife up to her feet. I stood up carefully, shaking with the 'fear' Kajin gave me. Kajin herself had horrible burns on her back and she was not happy about it. She lifted her hand and pointed it at Kuja.
"Bang!"
A blue…plasma/pulsar (in nature) beam shot out of her finger. Kuja narrowly avoided it by dropping to the floor. He quickly pulled Zoë and Amuro into the safety of a nearby doorway.
"Why is Kajin acting like this?" He asked.
"Possession," I shouted as Kajin began to approach me.
Something seized me by the throat and sent me through the window. I coughed violently as I dangled over a 40 story fall. One that would kill me. Panic set it again, making me scream. During that moment of weakness, I realized that I couldn't channel magic.
"My, my, feeling weak are we?"
I glared at Kajin with all the hatred I could muster. It didn't bother her…at least not at the moment.
"Don't do it, Kajin! Don't kill your other half! Remember, the light cannot live without the darkness!"
That struck a note. Kajin hesitated and a tear rolled down her cheek. The grip on her throat loosened, dropping me. Moments later, Kajin followed after, her eyes full of tears.
"Silver! Amaranthine!"
