Chapter Twenty Three (????'s POV)
I was busy thinking about the plan to capture the Sorceress....or in other words,Rinoa.It didn't struck me at all that she was my friend...quite a close friend,actually.I just wanted to fulfill my master's wish.
Suddenly,I heard his voice,calling out to me in my mind.I immediately took a bowl and sprinkled the powder into it again.I bowed when a wisp of smoke bearing a clouded face appeared.
"Master..."
"I have another task for you,just as you kidnap the Sorceress..."
"What is it,master?"
"I need a sacrifice....for Hixon.A young one with a naive and pure soul.Get it for me...along with the Sorceress....by tomorrow...."
"How young,master?"
"About your age...or maybe a little younger...but remember,one who is naive.Only that,no more...Hixon is very particular about his sacrifices..."
I kept quiet for a moment,then nodded."Yes,master,I will do that."
"I trust you've already got a plan?"
"I know just the right person you want,master.The Sorceress and sacrifice will be yours by tomorrow,I assure you..."
"Very good...oh,and did you do what I told you to do to that Almasy guy?I need him for the other sacrifice that Hixon wants...."
"Everything is done,master,just as you wished..."
I heard him chuckle in delight.I lowered my head and stared down.
"Excellent...." he said with smile.
Chapter Twenty Four (Rinoa's POV)
~Uhh....boooooring....~ I leaned back on my swivel chair in my office.It was exam week,so not many students came to me for advice(or comfort....).Actually,I was kinda glad.I felt I needed some rest after all that happened...
"Here,Angelo." I tossed my loving pet a biscuit and she crunched it up at once.There was a knock at the door and I straightened up."Come in."
The door flew open and in jumped the usual hyper active Selphie with a big grin on her face."Helllllllllooo,Rinny!!!" she squealed.
I sighed silently and smiled."Hey,Selph.I thought you'd exams?"
"They're over!Tee hee!!Hello,Angelo!!!" Selphie ran to my dog and started hugging,or should I say,squeezing the poor creature's breath out.My smile widened and I gave the confused Angelo a comforting look.
"So,what's up?" I asked.
"Just came to say hi and see how're ya doing!Oh wait,Squall isn't here,right?He's hiding?!" Selphie looked around cautiously,pretending to be in shock.I laughed and shook my head.
"Of course not!Do you think we'd dare?"
"Well,I've read,lovers to a lot of wacky things in public!They even ha- -"
"Okay,I don't wanna hear it!!I bet it's some naughty stuffs...where do you read all those anyway?"
"Tee hee!Some magazine...."
"Interesting..."
There was another knock at the door.Selphie ran to open it before I even answered.I craned my neck to see who it was passed her short figure.
"Oooh,Squall!" Selphie chirped happily."Watcha want?"
~Oh no...~ "Umm,Selph,we're supposed to....have dinner..together..." I stated casually.
"Oooooh." Selphi threw me a look and winked."Gotcha!Hint,hint..."
"Don't you have any exams?" Squall asked in surprise.
"Finished!!Tee hee,see ya!" Selphie scrumbled off.I sighed again and smiled at Squall.
"Hey," I greeted.
"Yeah,hey," he replied as he walked in and closed the door.Angelo ran up to him and he patted her,then turned to me.I saw the expression on his face,noting it was a serious one.
~Something must be up...~
"Rinoa...I gotta tell you something..." he said slowly.
"Well,what is it?" I gestured towards the chair in front of me and he sat down.He began to wriggle his fingers nervously.I blinked in astonishment.~Wait...he's not gonna talk about last night again,is he?~
"I met Griever..." he finally said it out.I stared at him without a word.~What?~
"What?" I cooed.
"I met him....in my dreams...last night....I mean,before you came in..."
I paused and stared at my desk."Are you sure?Maybe....it was just a dream...like you said..."
"It wasn't just a dream....he told me he helped the Leonharts before me and he's devoted to us.And then he said something like me calling him when it's time to fight Zoan and Hixon or something like that.He also told me he communicates through dreams."
Another pause.
"This sounds....weird..." I remarked.
"I saw Lyole...Lyole Leonhart.It was just like what Professor Vine said...he fought Hixon and Zoan,and I saw them.Griever showed me."
I ran a finger on my temple thoughtfully."I think....you should go see him..."
"Who?Griever?"
"No,the professor.He may know something about this."
Squall frowned and thought for a while.Then he finally answered,"Alright.I'll go ask the headmaster if I can go tomorrow."
"That's good..." I nodded.
"I want you to come with me.If you stay here,something might happen to you," Squall said.
"But,Dr.Odine--"
"I'll protect you....I'm your knight,remember?" he replied with a small smile.I returned his smile and nodded again.
"Okay....just us two?"
"Yeah." He leaned closer to me."Wouldn't that be romantic?"
"Well...." I began slowly,my thought shifting to that certain incident.Squall immediately widened his eyes and shook his head.
"No,no,no...it's...nothing.I don't mean,we're gonna...you know..." he quickly said.I giggled and suggested,"We could have a candlelight dinner in Esthar!"
"Oh,dinner!" He slapped a hand on his forehead."I forgot 'bout that.Come on,let's go."
I glanced at the clock.7:00.
~Wow...time really flies...~
Chapter Twenty Five (Seifer's POV)
"Uggghhhh......." I groaned and placed my hand on my head,the place where it hurt.It still throbbed with pain.Then I suddenly realised something important and surprising.
I wasn't chained anymore.
Just to make sure,I moved my limbs about.Some parts were sore,but I could finally move them freely.I also noticed that I was in another room,this time a brighter and more cheerful looking one.
~When'd I get here...?~ I tried to recall what had happened.The last thing I remembered was seeing this really familiar figure at the door,and hearing a really familiar voice,then a sharp pain shot through my head and I collapsed.I racked my brains to remember the voice and figure.It was someone I knew,I was very sure of that....
But no matter how hard I thought,I couldn't remember at all.~Damn!Who was that?!~ I got up and started walking around rather shakily.It was a wonder I wasn't feeling numb,considering how long I was chained up and weren't allowed to even stand.
~What the hell now?~ I looked out of the window,or more like,looked through the bars of a hole.What I saw made me widen my eyes.
Outside was a whole wide area of dry earth.Nothing was about,not even a plant or cactuar,which usually loved the dry places.The wind blew and brought dust in the air.Something to the left caught my attention.It was a HUGE Ruby Dragon,standing majestically in front of something which I couldn't see.It looked around cautiously and constantly gave loud roars.
~I need to get the hell outta here!!~ I screamed to myself.I pulled on the bars,but the iron held on strongly.Almost going insane,I began pulling pointlessly with angry shouts.
"Arrgh!!Get me outta here!"
*Seifer Almasy....*
I stopped and turned.My eyes rested on a man with an evil face and funny hairdo plus ornaments on his head.He smiled as I just stared at him.He wore a robe and a cloak,but something about him made me feel afraid again.....afraid of getting killed.....
~How did he get in?!~
"Who the heck are you?" I asked boldly.
He raised a long fingernail.*Silence...* I was shocked to see him not opening his mouth even when he talked,but I put on a cocky expression on my face.
"I said,who the hell are ya?!"
*Silence!* The man made a sweep with his hand and the next thing that happened was I found myself against the wall,my back painful with the strong hit.I groaned.
*Haha...do you fear my power now?*
"Ughh..."
*Poor little boy...afraid and confused,are you not?*
"I'm not a little boy..." I muttered angrily.
*Ah,but you are.The cocky and confident Seifer Almasy is just a shell to hide the poor scared little boy behind it....*
"I'm not a little boy!"
*Just wait...when Hixon comes,you'll see....*
~Hixon?~
*Perhaps you would like some explanations now...just before you die....*
I narrowed my gaze at the man and decided to get to know what was going on,at least before I really was dead.I raised my chin defiantly and began my first question,which made me almost die of curiousity,"What the hell do you want with Rinoa?"
*Ah,the Sorceress....I need her....she'll be the key to acquiring Hixon....*
"What the heck is this Hixon thing?"
*You do not know?Hixon is the most powerful Guardian Force in the world...yes...most powerful...and most evil as well...when he is mine,the world will also bow to me!*
~This guy is nuts!~ "What's that gotta do with Rinoa?"
*I want her powers...mine is too weak...I just need her powers and my plan will go fine....*
"If you want her powers,then why did you want me to kill her?!"
*When she dies,I will extract her powers from her before she passes it down to someone else...but now,there has been a change of plans.....she will be here....and I will get her powers by possessing her...her mind,her body,her soul...they'll be mine...*
"Then what do you want with me?!"
*You'll be the sacrifice for Hixon....he wants two...one with strength and potential...the other naive and pure-souled....*
"You're sick.....and how did you know what happened to Julia Heartilly?It was just a bunch of lies,wasn't it?!" I could still remember the look of horror on Rinoa's face when I was forced to speak out words that didn't come from my own mind and heart.I didn't even know what happened to her mother.I just knew she died when Rinoa was kinda young,but that was all.I couldn't say that I wasn't shocked to hear the truth...
*Ahaha....I have my own ways of....diving into people's minds,and reading their past...their present...*
"You bastard...."
He laughed hollowly.*Ah,what boldness...however,I'll leave you like that...Hixon likes his meals hot and furious...*
"Bastard!!"
*Hahaha....tonight...the Sorceress will be mine....just wait...and see....*
"Ya think it's that easy?She has a knight,asshole!!" I said mockingly.
*A fallen knight is no knight....* Before I could say another word,the man disappeared into the thin air.I stared at the empty spot in silence.
~A fallen knight.....is what?~
Chapter Twenty Six (Rinoa's POV)
The hot drops of water rained down on my skin.I closed my eyes and ran my hands in my wet hair,inhaling the steam.
~Ahh...nothing better than a warm bath....~ When I finished,I stepped out of the extremely hot bathroom and changed into my sleeping gown,making sure the door was locked before I did so.I didn't want Squall barging in again seeing me half naked....
As I was brushing my damp hair,Angelo,who was sitting contentedly on the floor beside me,suddenly growled and stood up.I stopped and looked at her in surprise.
"What's wrong,Angelo?" I laid a hand on her head,but she continued growling.Then there came a knock at the door,my heart almost leaping out from my throat at the loud noise.Thinking it was Squall,since it was long past curfew,I walked to the door,unlocked it,and lid it open.
"Seryn?" I raised my eyebrows at the rather nervous looking girl in front of me.Angelo immediately growled louder and rushed to the door,but I quickly pulled her back,knowing that if she made a fuss,other students might hear her and find Seryn out after curfew.I didn't want to get her in trouble,so I held onto Angelo's collar and stopped her from reaching Seryn.
"Rinoa..." Seryn said in a shaky voice.I blinked at her in surprise and puzzlement.
"Yeah?What's wrong?It's already past curfew,you know,and you shouldn't be here...." I said.
"Yes,but--" She couldn't finish the sentence,because the next thing that happened was something flung Angelo into the book rack.She gave a soft yelp as she hit the hard surface and slumped onto the floor,unconscious.I was alarmed and ran to her at once."Angelo!Hey,Angelo,what happened?"
"Rinoa...." Seryn's voice was eeriely different.I looked at her and got a shock.Her eyes glowed in red and she pointed a finger at me.
As if an invisible electric bolt shot from her,a killing pain seared through entire body.I fell back against the wall and clutched my head,the place which pained most.I wanted to whimper,scream out for help,but nothing came from my voicebox.I forced my eyes open to see Seryn.What was wrong with her?How did she do that to me?How could she?
I suddenly remembered my Sorceress powers,but when I tried to use it,nothing happened.Nothing happened....like the time Seifer was in my room....the time he almost killed me...
~What's happening?!~
I felt unconsciousness taking over my body.The last thing I saw that made me more curious and shocked than ever was a figure behind Seryn which I hadn't noticed just now........
I felt that I'd seen that figure before....
Hanging again?!?!?!?!?HAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~~~~~
I was busy thinking about the plan to capture the Sorceress....or in other words,Rinoa.It didn't struck me at all that she was my friend...quite a close friend,actually.I just wanted to fulfill my master's wish.
Suddenly,I heard his voice,calling out to me in my mind.I immediately took a bowl and sprinkled the powder into it again.I bowed when a wisp of smoke bearing a clouded face appeared.
"Master..."
"I have another task for you,just as you kidnap the Sorceress..."
"What is it,master?"
"I need a sacrifice....for Hixon.A young one with a naive and pure soul.Get it for me...along with the Sorceress....by tomorrow...."
"How young,master?"
"About your age...or maybe a little younger...but remember,one who is naive.Only that,no more...Hixon is very particular about his sacrifices..."
I kept quiet for a moment,then nodded."Yes,master,I will do that."
"I trust you've already got a plan?"
"I know just the right person you want,master.The Sorceress and sacrifice will be yours by tomorrow,I assure you..."
"Very good...oh,and did you do what I told you to do to that Almasy guy?I need him for the other sacrifice that Hixon wants...."
"Everything is done,master,just as you wished..."
I heard him chuckle in delight.I lowered my head and stared down.
"Excellent...." he said with smile.
Chapter Twenty Four (Rinoa's POV)
~Uhh....boooooring....~ I leaned back on my swivel chair in my office.It was exam week,so not many students came to me for advice(or comfort....).Actually,I was kinda glad.I felt I needed some rest after all that happened...
"Here,Angelo." I tossed my loving pet a biscuit and she crunched it up at once.There was a knock at the door and I straightened up."Come in."
The door flew open and in jumped the usual hyper active Selphie with a big grin on her face."Helllllllllooo,Rinny!!!" she squealed.
I sighed silently and smiled."Hey,Selph.I thought you'd exams?"
"They're over!Tee hee!!Hello,Angelo!!!" Selphie ran to my dog and started hugging,or should I say,squeezing the poor creature's breath out.My smile widened and I gave the confused Angelo a comforting look.
"So,what's up?" I asked.
"Just came to say hi and see how're ya doing!Oh wait,Squall isn't here,right?He's hiding?!" Selphie looked around cautiously,pretending to be in shock.I laughed and shook my head.
"Of course not!Do you think we'd dare?"
"Well,I've read,lovers to a lot of wacky things in public!They even ha- -"
"Okay,I don't wanna hear it!!I bet it's some naughty stuffs...where do you read all those anyway?"
"Tee hee!Some magazine...."
"Interesting..."
There was another knock at the door.Selphie ran to open it before I even answered.I craned my neck to see who it was passed her short figure.
"Oooh,Squall!" Selphie chirped happily."Watcha want?"
~Oh no...~ "Umm,Selph,we're supposed to....have dinner..together..." I stated casually.
"Oooooh." Selphi threw me a look and winked."Gotcha!Hint,hint..."
"Don't you have any exams?" Squall asked in surprise.
"Finished!!Tee hee,see ya!" Selphie scrumbled off.I sighed again and smiled at Squall.
"Hey," I greeted.
"Yeah,hey," he replied as he walked in and closed the door.Angelo ran up to him and he patted her,then turned to me.I saw the expression on his face,noting it was a serious one.
~Something must be up...~
"Rinoa...I gotta tell you something..." he said slowly.
"Well,what is it?" I gestured towards the chair in front of me and he sat down.He began to wriggle his fingers nervously.I blinked in astonishment.~Wait...he's not gonna talk about last night again,is he?~
"I met Griever..." he finally said it out.I stared at him without a word.~What?~
"What?" I cooed.
"I met him....in my dreams...last night....I mean,before you came in..."
I paused and stared at my desk."Are you sure?Maybe....it was just a dream...like you said..."
"It wasn't just a dream....he told me he helped the Leonharts before me and he's devoted to us.And then he said something like me calling him when it's time to fight Zoan and Hixon or something like that.He also told me he communicates through dreams."
Another pause.
"This sounds....weird..." I remarked.
"I saw Lyole...Lyole Leonhart.It was just like what Professor Vine said...he fought Hixon and Zoan,and I saw them.Griever showed me."
I ran a finger on my temple thoughtfully."I think....you should go see him..."
"Who?Griever?"
"No,the professor.He may know something about this."
Squall frowned and thought for a while.Then he finally answered,"Alright.I'll go ask the headmaster if I can go tomorrow."
"That's good..." I nodded.
"I want you to come with me.If you stay here,something might happen to you," Squall said.
"But,Dr.Odine--"
"I'll protect you....I'm your knight,remember?" he replied with a small smile.I returned his smile and nodded again.
"Okay....just us two?"
"Yeah." He leaned closer to me."Wouldn't that be romantic?"
"Well...." I began slowly,my thought shifting to that certain incident.Squall immediately widened his eyes and shook his head.
"No,no,no...it's...nothing.I don't mean,we're gonna...you know..." he quickly said.I giggled and suggested,"We could have a candlelight dinner in Esthar!"
"Oh,dinner!" He slapped a hand on his forehead."I forgot 'bout that.Come on,let's go."
I glanced at the clock.7:00.
~Wow...time really flies...~
Chapter Twenty Five (Seifer's POV)
"Uggghhhh......." I groaned and placed my hand on my head,the place where it hurt.It still throbbed with pain.Then I suddenly realised something important and surprising.
I wasn't chained anymore.
Just to make sure,I moved my limbs about.Some parts were sore,but I could finally move them freely.I also noticed that I was in another room,this time a brighter and more cheerful looking one.
~When'd I get here...?~ I tried to recall what had happened.The last thing I remembered was seeing this really familiar figure at the door,and hearing a really familiar voice,then a sharp pain shot through my head and I collapsed.I racked my brains to remember the voice and figure.It was someone I knew,I was very sure of that....
But no matter how hard I thought,I couldn't remember at all.~Damn!Who was that?!~ I got up and started walking around rather shakily.It was a wonder I wasn't feeling numb,considering how long I was chained up and weren't allowed to even stand.
~What the hell now?~ I looked out of the window,or more like,looked through the bars of a hole.What I saw made me widen my eyes.
Outside was a whole wide area of dry earth.Nothing was about,not even a plant or cactuar,which usually loved the dry places.The wind blew and brought dust in the air.Something to the left caught my attention.It was a HUGE Ruby Dragon,standing majestically in front of something which I couldn't see.It looked around cautiously and constantly gave loud roars.
~I need to get the hell outta here!!~ I screamed to myself.I pulled on the bars,but the iron held on strongly.Almost going insane,I began pulling pointlessly with angry shouts.
"Arrgh!!Get me outta here!"
*Seifer Almasy....*
I stopped and turned.My eyes rested on a man with an evil face and funny hairdo plus ornaments on his head.He smiled as I just stared at him.He wore a robe and a cloak,but something about him made me feel afraid again.....afraid of getting killed.....
~How did he get in?!~
"Who the heck are you?" I asked boldly.
He raised a long fingernail.*Silence...* I was shocked to see him not opening his mouth even when he talked,but I put on a cocky expression on my face.
"I said,who the hell are ya?!"
*Silence!* The man made a sweep with his hand and the next thing that happened was I found myself against the wall,my back painful with the strong hit.I groaned.
*Haha...do you fear my power now?*
"Ughh..."
*Poor little boy...afraid and confused,are you not?*
"I'm not a little boy..." I muttered angrily.
*Ah,but you are.The cocky and confident Seifer Almasy is just a shell to hide the poor scared little boy behind it....*
"I'm not a little boy!"
*Just wait...when Hixon comes,you'll see....*
~Hixon?~
*Perhaps you would like some explanations now...just before you die....*
I narrowed my gaze at the man and decided to get to know what was going on,at least before I really was dead.I raised my chin defiantly and began my first question,which made me almost die of curiousity,"What the hell do you want with Rinoa?"
*Ah,the Sorceress....I need her....she'll be the key to acquiring Hixon....*
"What the heck is this Hixon thing?"
*You do not know?Hixon is the most powerful Guardian Force in the world...yes...most powerful...and most evil as well...when he is mine,the world will also bow to me!*
~This guy is nuts!~ "What's that gotta do with Rinoa?"
*I want her powers...mine is too weak...I just need her powers and my plan will go fine....*
"If you want her powers,then why did you want me to kill her?!"
*When she dies,I will extract her powers from her before she passes it down to someone else...but now,there has been a change of plans.....she will be here....and I will get her powers by possessing her...her mind,her body,her soul...they'll be mine...*
"Then what do you want with me?!"
*You'll be the sacrifice for Hixon....he wants two...one with strength and potential...the other naive and pure-souled....*
"You're sick.....and how did you know what happened to Julia Heartilly?It was just a bunch of lies,wasn't it?!" I could still remember the look of horror on Rinoa's face when I was forced to speak out words that didn't come from my own mind and heart.I didn't even know what happened to her mother.I just knew she died when Rinoa was kinda young,but that was all.I couldn't say that I wasn't shocked to hear the truth...
*Ahaha....I have my own ways of....diving into people's minds,and reading their past...their present...*
"You bastard...."
He laughed hollowly.*Ah,what boldness...however,I'll leave you like that...Hixon likes his meals hot and furious...*
"Bastard!!"
*Hahaha....tonight...the Sorceress will be mine....just wait...and see....*
"Ya think it's that easy?She has a knight,asshole!!" I said mockingly.
*A fallen knight is no knight....* Before I could say another word,the man disappeared into the thin air.I stared at the empty spot in silence.
~A fallen knight.....is what?~
Chapter Twenty Six (Rinoa's POV)
The hot drops of water rained down on my skin.I closed my eyes and ran my hands in my wet hair,inhaling the steam.
~Ahh...nothing better than a warm bath....~ When I finished,I stepped out of the extremely hot bathroom and changed into my sleeping gown,making sure the door was locked before I did so.I didn't want Squall barging in again seeing me half naked....
As I was brushing my damp hair,Angelo,who was sitting contentedly on the floor beside me,suddenly growled and stood up.I stopped and looked at her in surprise.
"What's wrong,Angelo?" I laid a hand on her head,but she continued growling.Then there came a knock at the door,my heart almost leaping out from my throat at the loud noise.Thinking it was Squall,since it was long past curfew,I walked to the door,unlocked it,and lid it open.
"Seryn?" I raised my eyebrows at the rather nervous looking girl in front of me.Angelo immediately growled louder and rushed to the door,but I quickly pulled her back,knowing that if she made a fuss,other students might hear her and find Seryn out after curfew.I didn't want to get her in trouble,so I held onto Angelo's collar and stopped her from reaching Seryn.
"Rinoa..." Seryn said in a shaky voice.I blinked at her in surprise and puzzlement.
"Yeah?What's wrong?It's already past curfew,you know,and you shouldn't be here...." I said.
"Yes,but--" She couldn't finish the sentence,because the next thing that happened was something flung Angelo into the book rack.She gave a soft yelp as she hit the hard surface and slumped onto the floor,unconscious.I was alarmed and ran to her at once."Angelo!Hey,Angelo,what happened?"
"Rinoa...." Seryn's voice was eeriely different.I looked at her and got a shock.Her eyes glowed in red and she pointed a finger at me.
As if an invisible electric bolt shot from her,a killing pain seared through entire body.I fell back against the wall and clutched my head,the place which pained most.I wanted to whimper,scream out for help,but nothing came from my voicebox.I forced my eyes open to see Seryn.What was wrong with her?How did she do that to me?How could she?
I suddenly remembered my Sorceress powers,but when I tried to use it,nothing happened.Nothing happened....like the time Seifer was in my room....the time he almost killed me...
~What's happening?!~
I felt unconsciousness taking over my body.The last thing I saw that made me more curious and shocked than ever was a figure behind Seryn which I hadn't noticed just now........
I felt that I'd seen that figure before....
Hanging again?!?!?!?!?HAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~~~~~