A/N Hey guys! Sorry it's taken me so long, yet again, to post. I have 2 chappies for you this time around so hopefully it'll atone for my recent absence. Been kind of lacking in reviews lately, so I will again say that I LOVE REVIEWS! BTW, I'd like to proudly announce that my co-writer, Kimno-Lavin04 has posted the first chapter of his story "The Beginning of It All". Stop by, read it and review if you get a chance. Well, without any more rambling on my part. Here are the next chapters.
Disclaimer: If you have sensitivity to murder, suicide or the implications thereof, you may want to skip some of this chapter.
Chapter 9
Kahelle:
So far, everything was going without a hitch. How we managed to avoid being seen, with a cat-woman, a giant walking carpet and a blue alien girl, I don't think I'll ever know.
The afternoon sun threw lazy shadows across the alleyway as we rounded the final turn before Kimno's house.
Suddenly, Kimno's arm flew out, stopping me. I bit back the swear words that threatened to tumble out of my mouth as my eyes followed his to a lone figure that stood gazing at the house.
Even with her back to me, I could easily tell who it was.
Rev, get back around the corner.
Why? What's going on Kahelle?
Kimno had already begun herding the others back.
I have a feeling things are about to get ugly fast. Kimno and I ducked back around the corner with the others.
"Do you think Gavin sent her here to spy on us?" he whispered.
"No, it's gotta be something else…I don't think…"
"What is going on? Who is that woman?" Bastilla interrupted in a hushed whisper.
I sighed, "You've heard us talk about Amanda? Well, that's her."
"Wait, you mean she's alive?" Carth asked.
"Well, physically yes, Carth. However, the girl we knew then is dead. She works for Gavin now, by her own choice." I could feel the sadness in Kimno's voice as he admitted the last statement.
I glanced back around the corner, calculating what to do next. Amanda turned slightly just as I moved. The sunlight glinted off a crystal around her neck. A crystal I recognized.
I felt the color drain from my face as I came back around the corner.
"Kahelle? What's wrong? You alright?" Revan's dark eyes were shrouded in concern.
"I'm okay. Kimno, look at her neck. Tell me what you see."
He looked at me questioningly but did as I asked. When he turned back around, his face was almost the same shade of white.
"Is it...?"
"Yep, the exact same one. But how...?" I searched Kimno's eyes though I knew he didn't know either.
"We need to get her inside before she can get back to him. We need to get it off of her. Maybe then the old Amanda will come back." He glanced quickly around the corner and back to me.
"I'll take care of that, you just get me a distraction." I closed my eyes and began the incantation.
"Can do, Hell-cat."
I opened my eyes to strange stares from the others. Smiling, I stood and stepped backwards into a shadow, feeling it envelop me.
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Revan:
Kahelle melted into the shadow. Leaving all of us but Kimno behind trying to sort out what just happened.
That's when I noticed Kimno sneaking quickly around the corner.
"Where's he off to?" Carth asked as I slowly peered around the corner. Kimno was crouched behind a dumpster.
"Creating a distraction, I assume." I whispered.
Wait, but if she doesn't see Kahelle won't she be suspicious? She might escape too quickly for them to catch her.
An idea came to mind. I glanced around the corner to see if Kimno was still in the same spot.
"Stay here." I whispered to everyone as I began to move around the corner. Carth's hand on my arm stopped me.
"Be careful."
I leaned over and kissed him softly before continuing around the corner. I stifled the laugh that rose in my throat as I heard Mission softly exclaim, "Sheesh, why don't you two just get a room already!"
I was grateful that the bond between Bastilla and I was temporarily blocked while we were here. I'm almost certain she would have been screaming at me through it. Ever since the Star Forge, she became much stricter about the Code then ever. She must have been having an absolute conniption fit by now.
I slid in beside Kimno. "So what's the plan?"
He jumped slightly, "Is it some Tetra family secret that makes it so damn easy for ya'll to sneak up on me? Geez!"
"Sorry, just coming over to help."
"I know, anyways, look around the corner. See the shadow from the shed in the backyard of that house?"
I looked over there and saw what he was talking about. Amanda stood right in the middle of it.
"We've got to get her to come forward out of the shadow and keep her distracted long enough for Kahelle to get here."
"Where did she go?" I felt somewhat silly asking.
"Don't worry. She's much closer than you realize." He grinned; first time I'd seen him truly smile. "Just follow my lead. Hopefully, she'll mistake you for Kahelle. That is what you were going for right?" he looked at me incredulously.
I nodded, "Ready when you are."
"Alright, let's hope this works." He stepped into the alleyway and I followed. "Hey!" he yelled at her. She whirled around to face us.
Amanda reminded me of one of the other scouts who had been on the Endar Spire with me. She had jet-black hair that was cut just below her ears. She was a slender girl but you could tell that she wasn't someone you wanted to tangle with. Her eyes were dark as the purest night. She was dressed simply and surprisingly not armed. I saw the crystal Kahelle must have been talking about hanging around Amanda's neck. It was pulsating from a clear color to black. She sneered at Kimno.
"Hey yourself, lover!" she took a step forward, remaining inside of the shadow.
"I told you to quit calling me that years ago, Mandy." Kimno clenched his fists.
Amanda shot her lip out in a mock pout, "What's the matter, K? Bad memories? Oh, that's right; I'm the one that helped make them." That's when she noticed me. "Kahelle! Well, must say I'm surprised you're still around. Then again, you always were his favorite little 'project'. There wasn't a single damn night that I didn't hear, 'I wonder if Kahelle would want to learn about this.' Or, 'I hope Kahelle was able to find someplace to stay," oh, no, no, no, my favorite one, "There's supposed to be a big storm tonight let's let her stay here.' God it was like I had to share my bed with my fiancé and a street brat." She began to walk towards me, leaving the shadow.
A hand with a dagger materialized from the shadow and came around her neck, stopping her as it hovered dangerously close. From the hand, materialized Kahelle out of the shadow.
"Hey there, Mandy. Remember how I used to talk incessantly about my family. Well, I'd like you to meet my sister, Revan."
"Great! So are there any more carbon copies of you out there that you'd like to bring out. I'm sure Gavin will enjoy this story." Amanda hissed.
"Why are you here Mandy? Gavin using you for recon missions now?" Kahelle tightened her grip on the blade.
"Just a little social call. That's all. Just wanted to see my house once more."
Kimno finally spoke up, "It quit being open to you when you chose him over your calling."
"Oh, but I think I like this choice much better. Don't you agree, Kahelle?" Amanda's words caused Kahelle's grip to go lax on the dagger though she still held it against the other woman's throat.
"That's behind me now. I gave it up and I'm not looking back." Kahelle's voice was a little shaky as she spoke.
"HA! However, you didn't kill for the joy of it. You never were a true follower." Amanda caught Kahelle off-centered and threw her aside. Kahelle let out a cry of pain as she landed hard on her side. Amanda looked up at Kimno and then turned to run. Kahelle's yelp brought the rest of the group around the corner.
Kahelle groaned as she got up, "I'm not finished talking with you yet, bitch."
Before either Kimno or I could yell for her to wait, Kahelle was off after Amanda. I looked to Kimno before breaking into a dead run after Kahelle's retreating figure.
"Revan! Wait!" I glanced back long enough to see both Carth and Kimno coming after me.
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Kahelle:
Amanda raced down the alleyway until it opened onto the street. I tried to keep up but she kept moving farther and farther away from me. She ran down the street shoving people out of her way and attempting to throw obstacles in my path. Shortly, we came to an intersection. Across the street, there was an office building, maybe 5 stories high directly in front of us. Amanda glanced at me as though daring me to follow and ducked inside the back entrance. Without hesitation, I went into the building just in time to see her begin to dash up the stairway.
I was hard pressed to keep up with her, even in the stairwell.
Shit! When did that woman learn to climb steps like this?
I was taking the stairs 3 at a time now trying to catch up before she could hide. Even though she was much faster than I was, I had managed to keep her in my sights until she ran out the door that led to the roof. I gathered up what extra energy was left and quickly made my way onto the roof.
Amanda looked like a caged animal. The look in her eyes was almost feral. My legs were screaming for me to lie down or at least sit but I refused to show any sign of backing down.
"So Kahelle, it's going to come down to this is it? Fine, I'm not gonna let myself be taken by you of all people." She lunged at me, tackling me down as I heard the door that we had just come through slam open once again. Both she and I looked to see Revan come through it with Kimno and Carth right on her heels. I used the moment to my advantage and pressed my worn legs against her stomach using whatever strength they still had to throw her off me. As she began to fly backwards, my hand grasped the crystal, snapping the thin chain it had been hung on.
Amanda stumbled back to her feet. Her hands flew to her neck, as she noticed that the crystal was gone, her eyes widened.
"So, when did you decide to leave him, Mandy? A year ago? Two?" I examined the crystal in my hand feeling its smooth texture. Remembering the warmth it had held against my own throat the year before Amanda came to "rescue" me.
"I don't know what you're talking about." The crystal pulsated black with every word.
"He's controlling you. Just like a puppet. How did he get you to wear this, huh? Give it to you as a gift?"
She began laughing, "Kahelle, dear, dear Kahelle. You just refuse to believe that I would willingly follow Gavin don't you?"
I glared at her, "I just know that he did the same thing to me in order to keep me 'loyal'. Well, guess what," I held the crystal up, "This ends here."
Amanda gasped and stepped back as I smashed the crystal on the ground. I watched the spell fall off her like a dark silvery mist.
"Mandy?" I tentatively stepped forward. She shook her head and looked me in the eye. She was scared, terrified, but she was Amanda again.
"Kahelle? Oh my God. Where's Kimno?" She had the look of a frightened bird trapped in her eyes.
"I'm right here." Kimno stepped towards her as she ran to throw her arms around his neck.
"Oh thank God. I was so afraid that all those horrible things had really happened…I …thought…" she looked from Kimno to Revan to Carth and then back to me.
"It's true isn't it…. those things happened? Momma, Daddy…. all of them? What about Michael and Slate? Christian? Kahelle, did I really do those things?" Tears were filling her eyes with each name mentioned. I looked down. I couldn't tell her. She began sobbing, "I did!! Oh dear God, I did. I murdered them all…oh God…I remember it now…" she was shaking as she sank to her knees, "The night after I planned to leave Gavin, he gave me that crystal. I went home and it was as if a different person had a hold of my body. I went to Momma first…she was asleep…. didn't notice me there…Daddy however was in the bathroom shaving…he begged me…" she paused as the sobs racked her small body, "he begged me not to hurt Jamie…to let her go…oh God…I left him there, barely alive and went to her room…. she was playing and singing that silly little song she made up…. I picked her up, she kissed me on the cheek…I took her in where they were and I…I…What have I done?!? She was only 5!!!" Amanda hunched over and began sobbing even harder. Kimno looked down. ,"I burned the house down to cover the tracks…. there were too many factors that could lead to Gavin or I. I killed my family in cold blood and then didn't stop there." Suddenly, she stood up, "Someone has to pay. I always learned growing up that someone had to pay every time a bad deed was done…"
"And someone will pay…. but that someone right now isn't you, Mandy. You were being controlled, manipulated." I tried to make her understand, tried to pull her thoughts away from the dark ideas that were forming.
"No…. No…. it was my hand that killed them…. I made the initial choice to go to him…. he had promised me power…. more than my 'calling' had given me. It was a trick and I fell for it." She stepped backwards until her feet hit the ledge, "This is my price to pay," she took a step up on the ledge.
I started forward to stop her.
"Sorry, Kahelle." She paused, "Remember, all things come from the darkness, passage requires blood spilt as payment." She said the last sentence quickly and leaned backwards allowing herself to fall off the ledge.
I sprinted to cross the short distance between her and I. My fingers barely brushed the bottom of her shoe as I grasped for her.
"Mandy!!" the scream came out horse.
I quickly turned away as I heard her impact the concrete.
The weariness in my legs added with the mournful heaviness now in my heart was too much for my body to bear; I knelt down with my forehead against the warm concrete. Down below, I could hear the murmurs of people coming to investigate what poor soul had ended their life there.
I heard a woman's scream and another calling for someone to call for help.
Kimno gently laid a hand on my shoulder, "It's not your fault, Kahelle."
I forced myself to my feet as the wail of sirens filled the air.
"The cops are going to be swarming this place soon. Personally, I don't want to stay around to play 20 questions with them. The sooner we leave the better."
I shrugged Kimno's hand off and made a beeline for the door.
Revan reached for me as I breezed past her.
Kahelle?
I closed off our link and opened the door.
"Kahelle!" I turned slightly at her voice.
"Sorry, Rev." I can't let you in right now. I need solitude. Her hurt expression dissipated. I could feel the sting of tears in my eyes. Abruptly, I turned and continued down the stairs.
The others followed me quietly, still absorbing everything that had just happened. Revan's mind seemed to settle on a memory of a man named Jagi who she had seen shoot himself in the desert. Maybe she understood my situation better than I knew. I just couldn't open up yet…not yet.
As we exited the building, the authorities were beginning to fight their way through the throng of people who had gathered since we left the roof.
"I still don't understand people's macabre obsession with seeing death." Kimno shook his head.
"Me, neither. Come on, the others are waiting." I averted my eyes from the scene as we snuck past the crowd into the awaiting alley.
When I walked up to the others, questions started flying.
"What happened back there?" "Why did it take you so long to come back?" "Where's Amanda" I couldn't even discern everyone's voices.
"One at a time guys." Kimno's voice rang out from behind me.
The awkward silence that filled the air was broken by Jolee's voice, "What's going on, kid? You all look terrible."
"Let's just say Amanda's no longer a problem and leave it at that." I shuddered at the casualty of Kimno's words.
No longer a problem!!! My mind screamed She just died and all you can say is she's no longer a problem! I took a deep breath, There's no need for them to know the gritty details right now. Not until later at least.
"Kimno, let's get to the house." My voice sounded as tired as my body was beginning to feel.
He looked me up and down, as though assessing how closely my body resembled my voice before speaking, "Alright, I'll get the gate."
I held back a little behind the group as we continued to Kimno's house.
As we rounded the corner, I could see a little bit of surprise come across the others' faces as we came up on the 2-story house.
Kimno easily climbed over the fence and opened the gate. After everyone had headed inside, I grabbed Kimno.
"I can't go another step. I'm going to rest. You can play tour guide, alright?" I winked, "I know you love showing off this house anyways."
"But you're so much better than I am at that," he pretended to pout.
"Don't give me that. Besides, you leave your face like that too long it'll stick. Go on. I'll be alright."
He gave me a skeptical look before ushering everyone into the house.
I slowly made my way to the small garden that we had kept going in the backyard. Nothing impressive, a few flowers and vegetable plants along the fence but enough to give the backyard a peaceful, tranquil feel. When I had first come here, this used to be where I would try to meditate. After a few months, I gave up on meditation and this became my hide-away. Of all the places I was glad to be for a while, it was here.
I eased down and lay down in the grass feeling it tickle my arms. Slowly, I stretched my legs out, letting every screaming muscle relax. I closed my eyes and began to drift off into my own thoughts and memories.
"Hey. It's about time you got up, Hell-cat."
I nearly shot up out of the bed as I heard his voice. It had been nearly 5-years. 5-years that I had been battling what seemed to be all of Hell coming forth, 5-years since he had left. What was he doing here now?
"It's alright, Kahelle. Take it easy, they roughed you up pretty bad." Upon looking around, I realized that I was in my room in his house again.
"Where did you come from? I thought you'd given up on me." I sat up and pulled my knees up to my chest.
He sighed, "I'm sorry about that Kahelle. I shouldn't have left you like that. I was angry but it's my job to take care of these things, not yours. You could have been killed out there."
I avoided telling him that I had been purposefully seeking the monsters out, not to take up the slack that he had left behind but hoping to die…to somehow pay for the problems I had caused. "Don't worry about it, K. I'm still alive."
"Yeah, no thanks to me." He held up a hand to shush me, "But that's all behind now, right? Let's move on. Start over…as a team…I swear I won't ever leave you again. Do you forgive me?"
You weren't the one who needed forgiveness. My thoughts screamed through me even as I nodded my head.
"Good. Now, I won't make you stay in bed…. I remember how stubborn you are…some of your old clothes are in that dresser if you want to change." He got up but paused at the door, "It's good to see you again, Kahelle." He smiled as he closed the door.
When I opened my eyes, the sun had sunk a little lower in the sky and my body felt a little more rested. Remembering the day Kimno had come back, how he had forgiven me after all that I had done, made me feel a little better emotionally though I still felt like I could have saved Amanda. The thought that I had failed my friend infuriated me. I stood up, stretched, and headed inside. I needed to get rid of some of my frustration over what happened on that rooftop.