Chapter Four
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"These feelings are pulling me apart
And now you're running away with my heart…"
~ "Pulling me apart" L.W. AKA Graywords-girl
She sat there, or rather laid there, with her slender, pale legs pulled up to her chest. Her auburn hair spilled over her body and onto the bed she was laying on, slightly damp from tears falling on it. Her eyes were closed, though she was not asleep. She was thinking.
Lina wasn't sure if she had been crying for relief, or in anger. Either way, she was crying… again. She couldn't remember ever crying this much in her life. She was always strong, fearless, impulsive Lina. Never as emotional as she actually was. But she couldn't hold it in.
She tasted the salt on her lips as another tear slipped down her already stained cheek. Slowly, she recalled the events that had taken place almost four hours earlier.
"Hello Zelgadis" She could hear her voice shaking as she said it. He stared at her, his icy eyes as cold as ever. She felt her knees buckle slightly as his stare seemingly pierced her soul.
And then, she felt a sudden sting in her cheek, and her head tilted to the right as her hand came up to the offended cheek. She looked up at him, and realized he hadn't meant to hurt her. If he had, she wouldn't have been standing there, instead making a nice little imprint in the tree. Quickly, she averted his gaze, instead looking to the ground.
"I- I suppose I deserved that…" She murmured, keeping her vision down. She expected him to snap at that moment, to explode and shout at her that it was her fault. That she was the reason Amelia and Gourry were in coffins at that moment. She wanted him to. She knew it was her fault, even though she hadn't known. She wanted to hear him say it. And she hated him for what he did next.
Slowly, he pulled her into a gentle embrace. She could hear his breath on her ear as her arms found their way around his waist. After a moment, though it seemed like an eternity, they released each other. It was almost dark, as Lina could see. But neither wanted to leave. Despite the distinct smell of grave dirt, there was a comforting essence in the air.
Finally, Zelgadis broke the silence. "This is the last place I'd expect to see you,"
That stung. "What do you mean? You must have known I would have been here eventually,"
He chuckled and shook his head. "No, I mean in a Graveyard, or at least a bad imitation of one. Death never really suited you, considering how many times you managed to avoid it,"
And she felt a smile break on her face, her gloomy expression suddenly changing. "Was… was that a joke? From you?"
He shrugged and moved to the grave. "If that's what you want to call it,"
She shook her head and turned away. "I should go," She said with a sniffle. "I have to go and get a room at an INN before they all close,"
Zelgadis caught her arm before she could leave, pulling Lina around to face him. "You don't have to. You know you're welcome here,"
And that was where she was now. In a room in the grand palace of Seilloon. Sighing, she rolled over and once again fought for sleep. But it wouldn't come. She expected she would be up all night with this. The guilt was pulling her apart. It was almost too much…
Her eyes flew open as the sound of knocking on wood reached her ears. Standing up, Lina made her way to the large oak door. Slowly, she opened the door.
Zelgadis looked at Lina gently. He wasn't entirely sure why he had invited her to stay. He had told him self for years she was never welcome here. And yet, he found himself saying to her, "You know you're welcome here,"
She was wearing an old, over sized t-shirt and dark grey sweatpants. She looked up at him, her eyes slightly red from crying.
"Zel?" She murmured, rubbing her eyes. "What is it?"
He sighed and looked into her eyes gently, a soften expression on his face. "I'm guessing you can't sleep either,"
Lina groaned slightly and nodded, pushing back her hair to keep it out of her face. Without another word, he moved from the door and motioned for her to follow. From lack of anything better to do aside from sitting in her room staring up at the ceiling, she followed.
As they walked down the empty, dark halls, Lina looked out a near by window. Moonlight spilled through it, shimmering on the cold mosaic floor tiles. Slowly, she moved over to it and placed one hand against its cool surface, and closed her eyes.
All her thoughts were suddenly drowned out, and she felt at peace. She felt like she was floating through a gentle mist, rising up above the surface of the clouds. Her shoulders slumped and the world melted away. She didn't- couldn't- remember anything, and she enjoyed it. It was perfect.
A place with no pain, no sorrow or remorse, no consequences. Perfect. She was surrounded by light, warm gentle light that caressed her skin and sent comforting chills through out her body. And there was the faintest scent. One she recognized clearly.
Roses.
And then, in one second, her perfect world was shattered by a lone figure in the distance. Her short, dark raven hair seemed to blend with the darkness that began to arise with her coming. Her once gentle and optimistic eyes held a dark shadow that seemed to swallow Lina with a single glance. Slowly, Lina opened her mouth and said the one thing that sent the light fleeing and allowed the darkness entrance. The one thing that destroyed the peaceful world she had just constructed. The one thing that she could remember.
"Amelia…"
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There we go. Chapter Four out. Please Review. It means so much to me.
Samanda Hime-sama Yay! I updated! Don't worry, I'm gonna start on the chapter for Uncommon Vows soon. Thanks for the review! Means a bunch!
Ysengrinn Ohhh, you reviewed again, wonderful! Keep it up! Gad to see that I've improved!
Itrusta Yay! I have a fan! Hope that didn't disappoint you, this chapter was a bit of a cliffhanger.