Chapter 12: Frozen
"Mr. Zelgadis?"
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Amelia awoke, sweating heavily in the soft bed. Her black hair was plastered to her olive-skin, which now seemed paler than ever. Her face still felt hot, and her head still throbbed, but she was finally fully awake. "Where am I?" she whispered, feeling very dizzy, her blue eyes unfocused as they glanced around the room.
"Why, Amelia dear, you're in my house. I do believe you remember that, don't you?"
That voice, Amelia thought to herself, her head throbbing even more as she tried to remember. I know that voice…
"Reirs?" she whispered, unsure of her voice. She coughed, and looked around the room until she found the figure to which the voice belonged. The woman's dark brown wavy hair was held up in a ponytail, but the sides of her hair still formed a braided crown about her head. "W-wha…" Amelia started, but was cut off by Reirs sweet, gentle and soothing voice.
"Hush, Amelia dear. You've been sick for these past days. A very bad fever." She took a white cloth and gently placed the cold damp cloth upon Amelia's forehead.
"How many days?" She asked, her mind still a bit blurry. Was I really sick? Can I even trust Reirs?? What happened that night…oh, I shouldn't assume anything…at least not yet. She seems nice enough…but why can't I seem to trust her?
Reirs gracefully sat down on a chair next to the bed, and gently placed her hands in her lap. "Why, I believe its been about four days now, if I'm not mistaken. Five, once night falls."
Reirs was making her confused. Five once night falls? Oh, it must be because I arrived at night…or something. Her mind was still buzzing around in her head, and thinking still hurt. She looked at the foot of the bed she lay in, and saw her brown blanket hanging there. And it was clean, looking almost brand new again.
Reirs followed her gaze, and said "I had my servants clean it up a bit. I hope you don't mind, Amelia dear."
Amelia was beginning to dislike the term 'dear'. Looking down at herself, she realized that she was no longer wearing the dirty, worn out and ripped up silk nightgown she had been wearing before. In its place was a dark blue and very plain dress, reaching to her ankles. The sleeves were short, the top cut into a V-neck, and fitting nicely to her form.
"I do hope you like the dress I picked for you, Amelia dear. It shouldn't get in your way too much. If you'd like anything else, something you'd find more comfortable…"
"I'd like my nightgown back, please," she asked, feeling a bit bad for wearing her hosts clothing. Maybe she isn't so bad after all…
Reirs giggled softly, and her hazel-green eyes rested on Amelia's big blue ones. "I'm afraid I've thrown it out. I'm quite sorry, Amelia dear, but it was already ruined. It was quite torn up. I'm not surprised you got sick, being out in the rain wearing something like that."
Amelia sighed, looking out the window. It was then that she remembered what Reirs had told her that night…is it really true?
"Ummm…Reirs…about what you said to me before…about…" she hesitated, feeling uncomfortable.
"About your mother? Your dreams? How you're not safe?" Reirs seemed extremely calm, and it bugged Amelia a bit.
"Yes…about that…was what you said true? Am I…" she swallowed hard. "Am I really not safe? Is someone really after me? And my friends?"
Reirs sighed, and stood up. "I'm afraid so, Amelia dear."
"How do you know that? How could you possibly know? Why did you even tell me?" Amelia spoke quickly, a hint of fear and suspicion in her voice.
Reirs tone took on quite a serious one. The sun outside was high in the sky, showing that it was mid-day. "Amelia, I know many, many things. More than you can imagine."
"Are you a mazoku?" Amelia cut in, hardly daring to breathe. Maybe she is…mazoku's can take on human forms, just like Xellos.
"Mazoku, no. Not exactly. It's not important," She added, and Amelia's mouth closed. "The only way to be safe, Amelia, is to be with your friends. You can't run or hide. That'd just put your friends in more danger. This person will find you no matter what, and with your friends, you can beat it. You must go back to Saillune."
"How can I even trust you?"
"As I said, I was your mother's friend. Maybe even more than just a friend. You don't have to trust me; I don't even expect you to. You're a grown woman…you can decide for yourself what you wish to do. Now, I must leave. You may stay, and take anything you want."
Amelia looked on from her bed as Reirs walked silently to the door, her strides more graceful than anyone Amelia had ever seen. "You're…leaving? Why? To where?"
Reirs smiled, but it seemed to Amelia that only her lips smiled, and not her eyes. There was something strange about that woman. "You'll see, Amelia dear. You'll see…" And with that, she left, leaving Amelia alone in the big house, in the soft bed, to ponder. And ponder she did, for almost the rest of the day.
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The afternoon was almost over, and Amelia had woken up from another nightmare. She'd felt sick soon after Reirs had left, and had drifted back to an uneasy sleep. She'd had that nightmare again…where she had seen her mother…and blood…Amelia shuddered as she tried to block the images and sounds from her mind. She felt so unsure, her mind arguing constantly with itself. Where should I go? What should I do? Should I return to Saillune? I guess I must…it'd be the best thing to do. Lina and the others must have gone searching for me again as well, and if I returned to Saillune, they would surely find out that I'm alright, wouldn't they? And I have my duties, and my father must be worried. Well, at least justice is on my side.
Amelia roamed through the halls of the large mansion, the marble cold beneath her feet. She found boots, and placed them on her feet, feeling much more comfortable. And yet she couldn't help but feel like she was stealing. True, Reirs had told her to take anything, but she still felt bad. Oh, I hope what I'm doing is just. I'll just repay Reirs after, when I return to Saillune.
The whole house was empty; not one soul remainded except for herself. The halls were eerily quiet, the sounds of her feet echoing throughout the big, ornate halls. Many paintings lined the walls, some beautiful, and others strangely eerie and creepy. Amelia roamed the halls for hours, her mind wondering if she should return to Saillune.
"Maybe I shouldn't go back…" She said out loud, stopping to look out a window.
"Why Amelia, that doesn't sound like you at all!"
Amelia turned, immediately recognizing the voice of an old friend. Looking up, she saw exactly the person she expected to see floating in the air. "Xellos!!" she exclaimed, beaming up at the mazoku. "What are you doing here?!"
Xellos' smile was still there, his eyes closed in that infamous smile of his. "Ah…sore wa himitsu desu!" he said, still smiling, his finger held up in front of him. "Now, I can't stay for long; I must go see how Filia is doing." He said, smirking. "I suggest you leave, Amelia…you'd be quite surprised if you do." And just as soon as he had come, he disappeared, leaving a very confused Amelia by herself.
Well, she thought to herself, looking at the vacant spot where Xellos had been a second ago. That was…odd…I wonder what he meant.
She continued walking through the empty halls, her mind a complete jumble. Her head began to throb again, so she went to the kitchen, feeling like a good snack would help her head stop aching so much.
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She ended up taking a cloth and piling mounds of food onto it, and then tied it closed. It was quite small, but she decided it would be enough for a trip back to Saillune. Xellos' words had her confused a great deal, and she was starting to think that she might've just imagined the whole incident. Her head still ached, and her legs were beginning to feel weak, but she was starting to feel very uncomfortable all alone in the big house. Each corner she held her breath, almost expecting something to pop out. And she still didn't know if Reirs was trustworthy.
The sun was beginning to set, and feeling a bit weird and uncomfortable in the big mansion, she left the house. Her legs weakened with each step, and her head began to throb like it had when she had first awakened. She draped her brown blanket around her shoulders despite the heat, feeling safer with it around her. She couldn't seem to remember anything from the past four days, almost five, when she had been unconscious. And trying to remember made her mind a bit blurry.
She continued on her way, not following the path because she felt like walking in the green grass down the hill, when something caught her eye. Warily, she walked and tried to get to its side, so that whoever or whatever it was, she wouldn't see him.
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Zelgadis' mouth widened in shock, as he saw who stood in front of him. He couldn't move; he felt paralysed. He couldn't even say one word. I can't believe it! He thought to himself. His mind was a complete jumble.
"Mr. Zelgadis?" she asked, looking at the masked and hooded figure before her. She didn't know what to do, or what to say, so they just stared at each other. Both were completely confused, and had no idea what to say to one another. As their eyes locked, they could only see each other. And that moment seemed like an ethereal eternity to both of them.
Those startlingly blue eyes…-----------------------
*AN: Hiyas! Lol, the funniest thing happened. I stayed home from school and wrote this chapter! *grins and looks at Kawai Fox* But that's only because I'm sick. I'm not too sure about this chapter though…what do you people think? Sorry if its short!
Thank you to everyone who reviwed! ^^ To Shira: It's good to know that someone else is as hopeless a romantic as me! I'm really glad you like this fic! I happen to think yours are really cute *grins* Also, thanks to Digi-riven! I'm glad you like my fic, and how I'm portraying Amelia ^^
I'm glad you all like dark fics…I was beginning to worry that you people would stop reading because it was getting too dark. I think it might continue being a bit dark from now on, so be prepared!! ^__^
And a big thanks to Winged Dancer ^^ Thnx so much for the congratulation on my fic, and for mentioning me in your notes, but you deserve it more than I do. You're nearing 200 reviews for your fic; only a really great writer and a really great story can get that! I'm really glad you like dream sequences…who knows, there might just be more! *grins*
Thanks to everyone else who reviewed. I really appreciated Lauren-sama's, KellyChan's, Kawai Fox's, and Moro's reviews! Thnx so much for always reviewing!! You're the best ^^ I'll try to mention everyone, but sometimes I don't have the time, so I'm really sorry if I don't mention anyone. Anyways, right now I'm being kicked off the computer, so until next time! –Vivi Laney
P.S. Don't forget to keep reviewing! I love you all!!!!!!!