Without the Mask
By Sava Varen
Quick Notes:
I REALLY hope everybody knows where the disclaimer is.... I'd be scared if you didn't by now! 0_o
Sara-wow! Thank you and you're welcome! I'm glad it's entertaining! This is your favorite fic? *feels honored* This is truly an honor! I hope everything goes well with you surgery, okay? Thank you for reviewing! I'm so glad you like it. Yeah, I kick my own essel ('ass' in german) if I ever miss a day. It's an impulse, what else can I say?
Zerin Emperess- thank you! Yeah, I try not to make my stories so deep, but it just sort of happens. *shrugs* HELL YEAH! Evanescence rules! I could never get sick of them.
Thank you everybody who reviewed! You are all a big help! Keep up the great work on encouraging me and pointing out faults! Hope you like this chapter and the rest in the future!
Chapter 6: Living the State of Confusion
Terra sat at the table silently. It was dinnertime and Slade had called her to sit at the table tonight instead of letting her eat in her room. It had been quiet within the time she'd sat down and was served. She began to wonder whether Slade was trying to keep a closer watch on her or if he just wanted someone's presence. He didn't eat in front of her of course. He watched her from under the black and bronze mask. Terra was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable. Avoiding making eye contact with him, Terra tried her hardest to ignore the fact that he was watching her every move with great...interest? Or was it pleasure? Terra wouldn't know, but did she want to? Why had he called her here? What was the reasoning to his actions? Suddenly, Terra couldn't stand it anymore. She swallowed what food was in her mouth, took a deep breath, and asked:
"Slade, what's going on? Is there something wrong?"
Terra could hear his snickering of pleasure.
Terra went red in the face. "Okay, Slade! You succeeded in what you were trying to do!!!"
At first Slade just kept snickering, but soon his snickering turned into a full throttled laugh. Terra didn't know what was so funny, but it had to stop! Hearing him laugh that way was making her very scared and nervous! She sat glued to her chair watching him.
"Am I now? And what is it exactly you think I'm trying to do?"
What was Slade getting at? Slade was becoming even more difficult to understand the more time she spent around him. Or was he doing that purposely? Terra stared at her lap. What did she think he was trying to do? She'd said that in hopes that it would put an end to his confusing laughter. Searching her mind for any ideas she found only one and it wasn't that good.
"You're trying to scare me?" she asked.
"Am I? Actually Terra, your sudden outburst is what's so humorous to me."
"Well, why did you call me down hear? I'm sure it wasn't to look at my face the whole time."
"Is it so horrible to want someone to look at?"
"No, I guess not. But that can't be your reason. Is it?"
"Actually, I'd like you to meet someone." He became serious once more as he stood and walked over to her.
In the door across the room, a tall, thin man with dirty blond, messy hair walked in. He seemed scrawny, like he'd never done anything athletic in his life, but he was clearly somewhere between her and Slade's ages. Maybe eighteen or nineteen. He had two different colored eyes; the left ice blue, the crimson red. His skin was so pale, and his clothes seemed loose around him. Almost the opposite of what Slade looked like. Slade leaned on the table uncomfortably close to Terra and introduced the man.
"Terra, I'd like you to meet Riley Cicero. Riley, this is young Terra, my beautiful student and partner."
'Partner?' Terra thought questionably. 'Since when am I his 'partner'?'
"I had knowledge of another presence here but never did I suspect it of being a young flower." He said in a light, gentle tone and voice.
Slade smirked under his mask and caressed Terra's cheek gently. "Riley is a psychic, Terra. He can see what most others can't. And he tells me what he sees. Such a kind gesture, is it not, Terra?"
Half wanting to whack Slade's hand away, she overcame her need to do so. "Yes. Very kind, I agree."
"Terra helps me as well. She helps me with the Titan problem. Terra has the powerful ability to manipulate the earth. She still has trouble controlling that at times, which is why it is my duty to mentor her." Slade's hand moved from caressing her cheek to stroking her blond hair.
"It was a bliss to meet you young flower Terra." He bowed.
"Likewise, I'm sure." She said trembling a bit at Slade's stroking through her hair. Her hands grasped the arms of the chair tightly.
"I'll come to talk with you later. Return to your quarters." Slade said, his gaze blazing down on Terra.
Riley walked slowly back through the door he came in and shut it silently behind him. Slade, to Terra's relief, ceased his stroking. He stood next to her, his gaze still on her. Terra, however, was looking at her hands in her lap determined not to make eye contact with Slade.
"I've been thinking lately Terra. Since I took you in it's been.different. You've completed every one of my training courses numerous times, you've fought against me, I must say you've been a challenge to take care of. Especially since your hatred for me has formed. Now, I've decided to trust you with a job."
Terra looked at him suddenly. "What?"
"You heard me. I guarantee you Terra; you'll see things differently after this job. Come, follow me."
He walked to a door at the left side of the room. Terra followed. Slade held the door open for her. Not even looking at him, she walked through to a dark room. Slade grabbed her shoulder and she instantly halted. After turning the lights on, he let go. Terra would've bumped into a large shelf if Slade hadn't stopped her.
'Why does he always do that?' she thought sighing.
She followed Slade to a large screen. He pressed a button and the records bank came to view. After making it so they could see the inside of the top floor, Slade pointed to a certain room.
"There's a very valuable record in here; the Imperial records room. The record I need is labeled T. Markov. You are to break in and take the record disk."
"How do you know I won't try to get away?"
"Because I can track you down and put you through a misery so unspeakable. Remember that hair clip has a tracking device built into it. And it won't take long for me to get to you either."
"Then I have no choice."
Quick Notes:
I REALLY hope everybody knows where the disclaimer is.... I'd be scared if you didn't by now! 0_o
Sara-wow! Thank you and you're welcome! I'm glad it's entertaining! This is your favorite fic? *feels honored* This is truly an honor! I hope everything goes well with you surgery, okay? Thank you for reviewing! I'm so glad you like it. Yeah, I kick my own essel ('ass' in german) if I ever miss a day. It's an impulse, what else can I say?
Zerin Emperess- thank you! Yeah, I try not to make my stories so deep, but it just sort of happens. *shrugs* HELL YEAH! Evanescence rules! I could never get sick of them.
Thank you everybody who reviewed! You are all a big help! Keep up the great work on encouraging me and pointing out faults! Hope you like this chapter and the rest in the future!
Chapter 6: Living the State of Confusion
Terra sat at the table silently. It was dinnertime and Slade had called her to sit at the table tonight instead of letting her eat in her room. It had been quiet within the time she'd sat down and was served. She began to wonder whether Slade was trying to keep a closer watch on her or if he just wanted someone's presence. He didn't eat in front of her of course. He watched her from under the black and bronze mask. Terra was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable. Avoiding making eye contact with him, Terra tried her hardest to ignore the fact that he was watching her every move with great...interest? Or was it pleasure? Terra wouldn't know, but did she want to? Why had he called her here? What was the reasoning to his actions? Suddenly, Terra couldn't stand it anymore. She swallowed what food was in her mouth, took a deep breath, and asked:
"Slade, what's going on? Is there something wrong?"
Terra could hear his snickering of pleasure.
Terra went red in the face. "Okay, Slade! You succeeded in what you were trying to do!!!"
At first Slade just kept snickering, but soon his snickering turned into a full throttled laugh. Terra didn't know what was so funny, but it had to stop! Hearing him laugh that way was making her very scared and nervous! She sat glued to her chair watching him.
"Am I now? And what is it exactly you think I'm trying to do?"
What was Slade getting at? Slade was becoming even more difficult to understand the more time she spent around him. Or was he doing that purposely? Terra stared at her lap. What did she think he was trying to do? She'd said that in hopes that it would put an end to his confusing laughter. Searching her mind for any ideas she found only one and it wasn't that good.
"You're trying to scare me?" she asked.
"Am I? Actually Terra, your sudden outburst is what's so humorous to me."
"Well, why did you call me down hear? I'm sure it wasn't to look at my face the whole time."
"Is it so horrible to want someone to look at?"
"No, I guess not. But that can't be your reason. Is it?"
"Actually, I'd like you to meet someone." He became serious once more as he stood and walked over to her.
In the door across the room, a tall, thin man with dirty blond, messy hair walked in. He seemed scrawny, like he'd never done anything athletic in his life, but he was clearly somewhere between her and Slade's ages. Maybe eighteen or nineteen. He had two different colored eyes; the left ice blue, the crimson red. His skin was so pale, and his clothes seemed loose around him. Almost the opposite of what Slade looked like. Slade leaned on the table uncomfortably close to Terra and introduced the man.
"Terra, I'd like you to meet Riley Cicero. Riley, this is young Terra, my beautiful student and partner."
'Partner?' Terra thought questionably. 'Since when am I his 'partner'?'
"I had knowledge of another presence here but never did I suspect it of being a young flower." He said in a light, gentle tone and voice.
Slade smirked under his mask and caressed Terra's cheek gently. "Riley is a psychic, Terra. He can see what most others can't. And he tells me what he sees. Such a kind gesture, is it not, Terra?"
Half wanting to whack Slade's hand away, she overcame her need to do so. "Yes. Very kind, I agree."
"Terra helps me as well. She helps me with the Titan problem. Terra has the powerful ability to manipulate the earth. She still has trouble controlling that at times, which is why it is my duty to mentor her." Slade's hand moved from caressing her cheek to stroking her blond hair.
"It was a bliss to meet you young flower Terra." He bowed.
"Likewise, I'm sure." She said trembling a bit at Slade's stroking through her hair. Her hands grasped the arms of the chair tightly.
"I'll come to talk with you later. Return to your quarters." Slade said, his gaze blazing down on Terra.
Riley walked slowly back through the door he came in and shut it silently behind him. Slade, to Terra's relief, ceased his stroking. He stood next to her, his gaze still on her. Terra, however, was looking at her hands in her lap determined not to make eye contact with Slade.
"I've been thinking lately Terra. Since I took you in it's been.different. You've completed every one of my training courses numerous times, you've fought against me, I must say you've been a challenge to take care of. Especially since your hatred for me has formed. Now, I've decided to trust you with a job."
Terra looked at him suddenly. "What?"
"You heard me. I guarantee you Terra; you'll see things differently after this job. Come, follow me."
He walked to a door at the left side of the room. Terra followed. Slade held the door open for her. Not even looking at him, she walked through to a dark room. Slade grabbed her shoulder and she instantly halted. After turning the lights on, he let go. Terra would've bumped into a large shelf if Slade hadn't stopped her.
'Why does he always do that?' she thought sighing.
She followed Slade to a large screen. He pressed a button and the records bank came to view. After making it so they could see the inside of the top floor, Slade pointed to a certain room.
"There's a very valuable record in here; the Imperial records room. The record I need is labeled T. Markov. You are to break in and take the record disk."
"How do you know I won't try to get away?"
"Because I can track you down and put you through a misery so unspeakable. Remember that hair clip has a tracking device built into it. And it won't take long for me to get to you either."
"Then I have no choice."