Chapter 13
You Feel Such Pain
Jenna walked quietly down the ship's lower deck; it had been a week since the incident in Mercury Lighthouse. Celebrations were still going on inside the city; they were having something called "Fire Works" tonight, along with dancing, contests, food and music. None of the Adepts could stomach the thought of seeing any of it.
--Flashback--
"Hurry, Mia!" Spring shrieked hysterically. Mia crossed out Babi's name and scribbled her own above it, her blood making the letters run in together,
"Piers!"
"NO!"
Leon's cry still hung in the air as the explosion rocketed them all back into the shattered doors. She couldn't tell where the blast had come from, only that the light burned her skin as she tried to cover her face. The light reminded her to much of when the Trident had just severed the Bond, but unlike that blast, the light from this one abated slowly.
Garet and Felix were thrown back as Babi shrieked in agony, clawing at his eyes and twisting on the ground, screaming his throat raw. Jenna gave out a small shriek as fire coursed up her arm, the bone shattering as she slammed into one of the numerous fountains, water spraying off in all directions.
Looking back towards the Statue, the column still stood, rushing up, but the water's were no longer clear and she couldn't see Piers' shadow at all. Cold dread slipped into her stomach as she saw Mia kneeling where the Bond had been, cradling her head in her hands and rocking back and forth slightly.
There was a deafening crash somewhere off in an adjoining cave under the Lighthouse, the thin streams and canals running across the floor began swelling at an alarming rate.
They all watched confused as Mia stood suddenly, her back to them. The Mercury Adept walking quickly towards the statue, heedless off the swirling current, Jenna saw her friend shaking slightly as she came up to where Hydros still crouched before the Goddess. Hydros stood and spoke to her, but the words were to quiet for Jenna to pick out above the water.
She would have moved farther into the chamber to hear, but ever since they'd blasted the doors down to get in, Jenna could tell she wasn't the only one who felt they'd be intruding in this place devoted to Mia and Piers' Element. Even Kraden didn't seem up to coming farther inside than where Isaac stood in the doorway.
Mia moved up to the column, apparently not hearing whatever the King was saying and reached one hand out. As she came in contact with the water it formed itself into a vortex and suddenly lost all of its previous force. The water collapsed down into the enclave, over flowing and drenching the two who stood before it. The water seeped away to reveal Piers floating un-moving in the shallow waters.
Whatever had held them back before seemed to retreat as they rushed forward to help. Isaac and Felix, being the only other ones who could heal, taking the lead as Mia and Hydros pulled Piers from the water, Leon was at her side before Jenna could even tell where he'd been, Garet rushed over to help Lunpa up from where he was still sprawled out on the ground.
Piers was shaking violently as Mia placed his head in her lap, she stroked his forehead gently, worry painted across her features as Hydros took his hand and tried too speak to him. Jenna watched as Piers' golden eyes, open, were filled with fear, swirls of blue, like oil skimming over water seemed to jump out trying to blind him.
"Piers, Piers, it's over, there's nothing left, don't worry," Leon said, Jenna edged over immediately to make room for him, "You're safe now, lad," Leon stuttered as Piers' eyes focused briefly, he shook his head,
"Not yet," He said hoarsely, "There's still more, I-I can feel it…" The Beacon far above them seemed to grow brighter while the orb of energy crackled with Alchemy. That odd oil surged up suddenly in Piers' eyes, coating them thickly until they were nearly a solid blue. Mia screamed suddenly, writhing in pain before she fell back in a dead faint, Isaac only just able to catch her in surprise.
--End Flashback--
Jenna stopped in front of Piers' door, in her hands she held a small tray with food and drink laid out. Mia'd woken up soon after they'd gotten her back on the ship, Piers hadn't.
He would wake up for short periods of time before that blue… whatever it was forced it's way back up, and he fell back into that restless sleep. At first when he woke up he seemed to be hurt, he wouldn't look any of them in the eye, but it had grown steadily worse over the passing days.
He'd woken up screaming more than once, since the day after the Lighthouse, every time he'd come too he'd ask them too say it was all a lie. Whatever 'it' was, he could never bring himself to say. He was never at peace, though it often times seemed like he was fine and just napping, Mia would always show that wasn't the case.
Her friend worried her as much as Piers did. She was his anchor to reality. Mia'd signed the Bond after it had already been broken, not a kind experience. She was able to feel whatever it was Piers could, the good and the bad… Mia hadn't slept at all, and had barely eaten. It wasn't that Mia was torturing herself, she just didn't eat and couldn't sleep, no matter how much she tried to do either.
Opening the door Jenna poked her head in; everything was the way it had been nearly all week. Leon sat near the foot of Piers' bed, sad eyes watching every move his nephew made, Mia holding one of his hands in her own, eyes never leaving his face for more than a few minutes. Leon was the one who looked up as Jenna came in, he didn't say anything as she set the tray down on one of the small stands in the room.
Glancing out of the corner of her eye, the Mars-Adept looked at her friends. Piers seemed to be resting; his breaths came evenly, his expression soft. His head-dress was folded on the bed's end-table, and he was wearing a white long-sleeve shirt that buttoned up the front. His regular cloths had been covered in blood so long that Sheba didn't think they'd be able to remove the stain, not that Sheba or any of them cared about the cloth, it was just better than worrying out-right about their friends…
Jenna straightened as Mia perked up, Leon getting up quickly to stand beside her. This always happened just before he woke up, Jenna moved over to where her friend sat. Piers' brow furrowed and his breathing became more labored, sweat started beading on his forehead as he turned to the side. He gritted his teeth and shook, the hand Mia was holding instantly lashing out to tightly grip her wrist; he looked feverish as his eyes snapped open, filled with pain.
"Make it stop." He gasped, Jenna took an unthinking step back as Mia leaned forward gripping his hand as she tried to calm him. "Please, help me. Make it stop…" He begged. Jenna had never seen him so hurt before, not when poisoned, or cursed, or anything, he'd never been in this much pain…
It hurt her to much to stay there and watch, she felt cowardly for leaving, but she just couldn't take it. Jenna backed up until she ran up against the door. Turning on her heel she twisted the handle and slipped silently through the small opening. She stood out in the hall, trying to blink away the burning sensation in her eyes, not thinking as she leaned against the closed door.
She looked down the hall just in time to see Felix come walking down with Echo and Meld, Djinn each on one shoulder. Felix paused as he saw her, and the two spirits jumped up and went on their way. Jenna bit her lip as he walked up to her, his dark eyes moving between the door and her face, understanding seeping into them.
"He woke up again." She choked, Felix nodded slightly, the understanding still there. He wrapped one arm around her shoulders and she hugged him back tightly, burying her face into his shoulder.
"Shhh, Jenna, he'll be fine." He said softly, rubbing her back as she cried, "He has Mia on the other end of the Bond now, and all of us here to help as well. He'll make it through this." Jenna relaxed slightly at her brother's words, but she didn't pull away,
"How can we help him at all, when seeing us hurts him?" She asked, throat and tongue thick as she spoke.
"What?" Jenna looked up and saw Felix's confused look,
"I heard her talking to Leon once, she said that when he wakes up, he feels the most pain when he sees any of us and…" Jenna stopped and hugged Felix tighter, the Venus-Adept looked up at the door quickly; his mouth tightening until it was a thin line.
"Let's go out on deck." He suggested, Jenna nodded and they started walking.
Passing through the main cabin, Sheba and Ivan looked up from where they had been talking quietly in the corner; Sheba's eyes were red and her face a bit puffy from crying. Even as they kept walking, Jenna was able to see Ivan holding one of her hands as she rubbed here eyes. Garet sat up at the table, looking glum as Kraden leafed half-heartedly through a large book from inside Lemuria. This really was beginning to take a toll on them all, not just Mia and Piers. In recent days, smiles had become few and far between.
Walking out on deck, Jenna spotted Isaac upon the ship's bow sitting on the Dragon head. Felix still had his arm around her shoulders and guided her the other way,
"I brought you out here to talk in private." He said softly, Jenna nodded and followed him up onto the cabin's roof. Felix settled himself down near the cannon from Loho, Jenna taking a seat beside him. Drawing her knees up to her face; she wrapped her arms around them. They sat for a few moments in silence, Jenna unusually quiet as she drew strength from her brother's strong presence.
"If it hadn't been Mia then; or her now, I have no idea what would have happened." He said softly after a few moments. Jenna gave him a quizzing glance, one which he met with one of those small knowing smiles.
"How much of a difference would it have made?" She asked him,
"Well, if it had been one of us, I don't doubt he still would have caved like he did, but not as quickly, I don't think he would have been as resigned to die like that." he replied, Jenna was still confused,
"That's an evasive answer, what are you-" Jenna cut herself off, slowly understanding what he meant, she smiled sadly,
"He… cares about her then?" She asked, Felix mimicked her smile as he nodded,
"He told me in Prox after the Doom Dragon. I don't know how much he cares exactly, but he told me back then that he wanted to get to know her better now that the quest was over. I think that that's why he didn't want her to be the other name on the Bond, he knew it was painful, and I bet he hated the thought of putting her through all that, through all this." Felix shrugged slightly, a bit uncomfortable spilling his friend's secret,
"Out of us all I think she wants to help him the most though, next to his uncle." Jenna said quietly, resting her chin on her knees. "She cares about him too…" Felix ran one hand back through his bangs, as Isaac moved from his place at the Bow, the Adept making his way indoors as festive music floated from down the caves to the ship.
"Why is it that we only ever figure out how much we care about people, when we're close to losing them and never before?" Felix asked, talking as much to the air around him as to his sister. Glancing back over at her, he put his arm around her shoulders again and she leaned against him. They both remained silent for a moment, but she felt Felix grow tense, Jenna glanced up and saw anger kindling in her brother's dark eyes.
"You're thinking about him again, aren't you?" She said darkly, more statement than question, Felix nodded and looked away.
"If I was some bent old bastard, was thrown against a fountain, and then had my mind ripped apart by some un-seen power, I sure as hell wouldn't be able to get up and walk away." He said fuming. Jenna felt her own anger spark as well.
They'd gone back and searched the cavers for hours after they'd brought Piers and Mia back to the ship. Before Piers had begun experiencing pain like he was now, Mia had told them that she had never seen that part of the Lighthouse before. The only way Babi would be able to get out without his Lapis, would be to scale the cave walls and then squeeze past the Beacon at the top. The chances of that happening were less than slim. Even if he did manage to achieve the impossible; he was still stuck in snow-covered Imil until the thaw in spring.
"I still don't believe he was alive in the first place." Felix sighed, "At least it explained what happened to Isaac's ship. He said he saw the very one in the docks right by the entrance to Ancient Lemuria." Jenna nodded, closing her eyes and resting her head against her brother's shoulder again. Ignoring the slight rocking of the boat, she could remember back to when they'd been in Vale years ago and they'd sit up on their own roof on nights they didn't want to spend with Isaac and Garet.
"There isn't much we can do now," She said softly, thankful that Felix had taken the time to be with her, "I suppose all we can do is be there for Mia?" Felix nodded, and neither one had anything more to say.
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"You're a lot like Hailey, you know." Leon said, rubbing Mia's shoulder as she sat next to Piers, still gripping his hand in hers. Mia looked up at him,
"What do you mean?" She asked, Leon smiled sadly, looking back at his nephew.
"When Piers' father was forced to sign, and he succumbed to the Sleep, his wife never left his side once. She refused to leave him while he was in pain. Even if she didn't hold the Bond to help him…" Mia pursed her lips and looked away, letting the conversation die down again.
Mia brought one hand up to rub her temple as she felt Piers' emotions in her own mind. It was like a small knot in the back of her head. When she had first woken up and had found herself back on the ship, she'd been confused; emotions she wasn't feeling bouncing around un-controllably. But after a few hours, after the Bond had had a chance to settle, those pieces had all drifted into that place in the back of her mind. Everything else was still her, but Mia could feel that small part in the back separate from her. She felt she could reach out and touch it if she tried, funnel her aura into the small bundle. Piers seemed to be able to feel it as well; this sleep had a set pattern to it.
The first real thing she'd been able to distinguish from Piers after waking up had been a mixture of dread and confusion. After a short time this had ended and she felt denial and pain flowing through the Bond. What happened next hurt the most, fear and betrayal would over-whelm him, try to drown Piers each time it happened, if he ever screamed while asleep it usually happened then. Though this part was generally short, the pain it caused grew steadily worse each time it repeated itself. What followed had also started becoming longer, but this at least was a comfort; it would all end suddenly, no more pain, no more fear, whatever it was would leave Piers alone. She wouldn't be able to feel anything through the Bond when this happened; Mia guessed this was because he simply didn't feel anything. When it had happened the first few times, this part would end almost instantly; it had only started to grow longer as the pain had increased. The last part before the entire ordeal began all over again was when Piers would wake up.
This small period of time when he could fight off the sleep and the pain long enough had grown smaller. That window of opportunity when he could break through was shrinking; Mia didn't want to think about what would happen if it finally closed…
She found she'd cried more, less when Leon was there with her, but not by much. She felt so useless, she was supposed to help him through all this, yet all she was good for was sitting by his side doing nothing. Only when he woke up could she do something, small as she was sure it was. That small portion of him in her skull would flare when he woke. All she found she could do was press her aura around his; it seemed he responded more to that then anything they could say to him. She'd weep when he fall back to sleep. She could feel something cut him off from her, the only way she could imagine she was helping would be sealed off, even though they both tried vainly to keep that from happening to quickly.
Leon shifted in his seat and stood.
"I'm going to go inside and see if his Majesty has found anything." He said as he glanced over at Piers for a good long moment. Without looking over; Mia could tell he saw his Brother-in-Law before he died. Licking his lips nervously, the Lemurian nodded to himself and started for the door, he placed one hand on her shoulder as he walked by.
"You'll see him through this, I know you will. He trusts you, and I know you want to help him. Take heart in that." He said softly, Mia glanced down and nodded slightly. She listened as Leon removed his hand and walked away, his foot-steps faded down the hall, and Mia counted to thirty too make sure he'd gone. Moving from her chair, Mia knelt next to Piers' bed and sat there looking at his face. She stroked his forehead gently as his brows knitted together, anger and a deep sense of hurt coming through the Bond on Mia's end. She blinked back tears as she felt panic making its way through as well; even Piers knew what was coming next…
Getting up, Mia climbed up onto the bed, sitting near the head, she lifted Piers' head up so that it rested on her shoulder, and wrapped her arms around him slightly. In her mind she tried to touch him through the Bond, not backing off as she ran into that hidden wall again. The pain coming through spiked sharply, enough so that Piers bit his lip and rolled his head against her, she felt him trying vainly to reach out to her. Both of them coming so close, but always being forced back by something that, Mia at least, couldn't see.
Tears welled up and blurred her vision; she didn't reach up to wipe them away as they ran down her cheeks. She just knew if she could reach him in his sleep then she'd be able to make this stop. She knew it, but Mia just couldn't make it happen...
Resting her chin on the top of his head, Mia cradled him in her arms. She didn't care that if, under different circumstances, any of them would laugh at her for this, she just couldn't think up anything else to do…
'Maybe I am like his mother,' She thought as Piers whimpered in his sleep, the pain she could feel meaning he was screaming wherever he was. Tightening her arms around him, she kept trying to reach him again through the Bond, not caring that she couldn't do it. 'I won't leave the man I love, no matter that, as I am, I can't help him...'
