.:X:.

For the next couple of days, things were relatively quiet. After persuading Ifrit, they managed to find Cerberus, Leviathan, and Diablos, once again imprisoned in a magical, yet cursed lamp.

Lucrea lay back in her room, the Garden moving off towards the cold northern regions of Trabia, to find Shiva, Guardian Force of ice.

Running a hand through her hair, she stared at the wall, deep in thought.

What if some of the Guardian Forces turn against us? What will we do then? We can't just let them be destroyed...

Seifer poked his head in to check on her, but she didn't look up, even as he called out her name. Incidentally this was turning into a habit for a lot of people.

I'm a sorceress...At least Seifer makes it that much bearable as my knight...She smiled at the thought. My knight...of all people, I never expected him to out of compassion and generosity...

Seifer nodded to himself, turning and shutting the door. She was fine. At least, she was fine for now.

She stretched out, intending to sleep, and slowly started to drift off.

Her dreams were far more unpleasant than she had hoped.

Lucrea looked around, rubbing her eyes, hearing Trithonia's voice. 'I have you little sorceress...' she heard her say, looking around wildly to discover the location of it. But she found no such place, no place to assure her she was safe.

'I found you, and I'll kill you...Drain you, and kill you.' The sorceress laughed, and Lucrea shrank in fear. Even as she spoke, she appeared before her, in dream, and in physicality.

Reaching out, Trithonia's appearance flickered, as if the quality was too weak. For a moment, it looked as though she had only one eye. But it passed. 'I shall take your identity and mold it into my own.' She taunted. 'You see what I wear, little one? It is part of a uniform, for high sorceresses. Intended only for a true Hyne's descendant. I am not one of course...but that will not matter, once you are dead.'

She reached out, grabbing Lucrea around the neck, in both states. 'I'll take you, and eat away at your soul, inside out.' She drained away a part of Lucrea it seemed.

Lucrea appeared suddenly paler, somewhat sickly, and she could feel cold, and numb. Trithonia on the other hand, seemed stronger; her appearance was clear, and whatever glamourie she was obviously using was strengthened some.

'You will never defeat me. You are doomed to die.' She laughed, leaving Lucrea.

Lucrea woke up with a cry, turning blue with cold. She was shivering violently, unable to help herself.

Seifer, Quistis and Zell immediately came in, and seeing her, did a double take. Trithonia was gone at this point.

Seifer, concerned about her, looked around for something to warm her. The sheet seemed to do no good, and so, glancing at both of them, slightly in apprehension, he took off his coat, and wrapped it around her.

Quistis went to the door. "Come on Zell. We need to go get Dr. Kadowaki."

Zell paused, trying to choose, and with a glare from Seifer, nodding, going out after her.

Lucrea continued to shiver. "I-it's...s-s-so...c-cold..." She stammered, shaking violently.

Seifer sat on the bed, pulling her into his arms. "...You need warmth, and quickly. You're blue with cold..." He yanked off his shirt, tossing it aside, and pulled her up against him, wrapping the coat around both of them.

"You're going to be fine...but what happened?" He asked, shivering slightly himself. She felt like a block of ice.

"T-t...T-Trithonia..." She stuttered.

He nodded, rubbing her back. "Enough said. We'll find her. I'll rip out her throat myself."

After a couple minutes, the blue faded, and she stopped shivering. However, she was still very pale, when Dr. Kadowaki bustled in.

She raised a brow. "And what are you doing?"

He jumped. "Er...elementary first aid. She was blue with cold. She needed body warmth."

She shook her head. "Well, no point in bringing you to the office...but then I'll need you to take care of her. Quistis will bring in some soup and medicine periodically. Make sure she downs it all.

Seifer nodded, silently, and glanced back at her, as the good doctor promptly looked her over carefully, before leaving.

He moved over to the bed, and pulled the blankets over her. "Do you want anything?"

She shook her head. "I-I...will be f-f-fine..." She answered, teeth positively chattering.

He nodded, as Zell came in, and stood up, to leave her for a bit. He needed to think, and plot his revenge against whosoever had done this.

Zell watched him leave, and kneeled at the side of the bed. "You'll be okay in no time. Dr. Kadowaki is extremely good at what she does."

He glanced at the coat, and did a double take. "He gave you his COAT? Holy, I didn't know...hehe... Well, I have an idea if you're up for it."

She blinked, tiredly. "What sort of an idea?" She asked, rubbing herself to get warm.

Zell smirked. "Well, I could go and get a pen and paper, and trace the design on his sleeves. I'll get a pendant made in the same shape. It wouldn't be that hard, and it's kind of hard for me to believe you DON'T like him."

She smiled weakly. "That sounds great."

He nodded. "I tried to do that once for Rinoa, but she went and told Squall. Not a word okay? We'll let him see for himself...we could have two gunblades crossing each other on the end of the pendant." He smiled.

"I thought you hated Seifer." She frowned. "Why all the fuss now?"

He shrugged. "I don't hate you. Since it seems to mean a lot to you, I'll do it. You're our friend Lucrea. We won't just push you away because you have the hots for Seifer."

She smiled, nodding. "Alright then. I won't tell him though. But do one other thing for me?"

"Sure what?" He asked, raising a brow.

"Give me the pattern when you're done." She answered, before turning over.

He sighed, nodding, and moved outside, to let Quistis in.

Quistis shook her head, the tray holding medicine and soup. "This'll be a long week."


Sorry I took so long to type this thing up. You see, grade twelve with NO spares isn't easy, and it's hard to find time to type up new chapters. This took me about four days to finish, because of limited time. --; Gomen. At any rate, the weekend is nearly here, and I hope to get up two NEW chapters at that time, and also get my FF8 board running, with the FF8 homepage/shrine.

Enjoy, and of course always, Read and Review. Like our good friend who gave me three so far. -; Thank you sooooo much! If I can remember, I'll dedicate a chapter to you.