Chapter 4 - Captives
Maya opened her eyes first. The pounding agony of the voices had stilled; her body was rested but hungry. Each second that ticked past made her wish she had something else to do than sleep, or lie still. The last snapshot memory she recalled was Sephiroth falling into the embrace of one of the cloaked men. And their skin... it was like it was metal, shiny and pale...
Then she realized Sephiroth wasn't near her. She shot up with a jolt of alarm, gasping at the stark cold that struck her. It must have been night, or else it was just the natural temperature of the room. She slipped out the soft, thick blankets with a sheet wrapped around her. All of her clothes were gone, probably burned from the smell. She saw a bath of water in a large porcelain tub, steaming and bubbly. She inched over to it, noticed clothing laid aside in a wooden chair nearby. She slipped out of the sheet and slid her naked body into the heat.
Following a groan of pleasure, she sucked in her breath and let it out again a little softer, tipping her hair back into the sweet-smelling water. Whoever these people were, they knew how to live. She'd never known pleasure before this. Still... her nerves were jumpy and every time she thought she heard something, her body lurched upward, and her eyes widened with alarm.
A voice from next to her spoke in a low, purring tone. "Don't you know how to relax?"
Sephiroth lazily sprawled next to her in the chair with her clothes in his lap. He was as perfectly naked as she was, only she was using her clothes she was supposed to wear as a cover. "Don't worry," he continued, "I've already washed."
She smiled nervously before looking away, blushing slightly. It wasn't like her to act so anxious around him. Maybe it was the water. Her 'brother' reached out, brushing her hair out of her face, sliding it behind her ear. Shuddering more, the woman slid further away in the large tub. "What's wrong with you?" he asked her, dropping his fingertips into the water with his arm hanging over the side of the tub. He put her clothes aside on the floor and tucked one of his legs up to his chest for protection.
"I don't know where we are," she whispered. "I don't know these people are, what they want. I'm goddamn scared," she admitted finally with a growl, smacking the water.
Sephiroth made an effort to comfort her while squinting as some of the water splashed his arm. "Want me to get into the tub with you? I don't see much reason why you should be scared at all." He paused, then added as an afterthought: "You know I'll protect you..."
"I don't need your protection! I j-just want your understanding!" She punched the tub and hissed at the pain, her cold Mako greens blazing abruptly and then quieting.
Sephiroth looked away, his jaw firm, clenching his teeth. Only the knock at the door disturbed him from his thoughts. He quickly pulled on a robe that was folded in the closet, and he tied it around his waist. Then he answered the door, unprepared to see an old man standing before him with the unique silver flesh of these odd people. He didn't necessarily appear old. His face was strong and wise, kindly - all the things Sephiroth's face was not. He wore a pale green robe and carried himself with respect.
"You are needed in the counsel room," he told them. He bowed slightly. "I know that you're both tired and wary, but I assure you that we are more than glad you've come. We welcome you and only wish to learn more about you."
"When I'm damn good and ready to talk about myself, I'll do it. Otherwise, you'll excuse me while I find something more suitable to dress in," Sephiroth snarled, before promptly slamming the door. He wasn't in the best of moods to feel charitable. Maya rolled her eyes and stood up, grabbing a towel as she stepped from the tub onto the floor, wrapping it around herself.
Sephiroth sat at a long, beautifully carved table of oak in a room of marble stone and multiple wall sconces. The windows were plain but pretty, with long white curtains draping from the tall ceiling. Clearly this room was meant to impress and engage an individual's inner peace. It only made Sephiroth feel tired.
The man who was at the door sat at the head of the table. A crease was in his brow, showing his disapproval for Sephiroth's lateness. Maya sat next to him, and her mind was elsewhere as she scratched her arm in impatience.
"I am Sabele," the green-cloaked elder said. Around him sat five other such elders, three of them being themselves women with long, straight white hair down to their backs in thick, neat plaits. "These are the counselors."
The said their names each in turn, inclining their heads. When they looked at Sephiroth expectantly for his name, he looked away uncomfortably and cleared his throat, feigning agitation. He said, "Sephiroth," and little else.
"Well, Sephiroth," said a woman named Makela. "We are interested in how you've come to be at the temple..."
"... for it is often said that those who aren't meant to find it never do." Sabele said, her hands rising elegantly to smooth back her long, silver-white hair.
Sephiroth had no response for that. But those around the table were watching the twins with a riveted interest. It made him even more uncomfortable. He felt a thousand questions floating from them as if they couldn't help but let them levitate to his mind. Crossing his legs under the table, he leaned back and sighed, relatively bored.
"Well, we'll just be on our way as soon as we can," Maya said cheerfully; her face was a mask of the most fragile amiability.
"You can't leave," Makela responded immediately. "You must stay here until we discern the meaning of your presence." There was a silence, as the Counsel regarded itself with eyes of worry and understanding. When Makela spoke more, it was about a prophecy that neither of the twins cared about. "It is said those that visit us will take the last of our secrets with them... and nothing else behind."
Maya snorted with disgust. Sephiroth only stared blankly in total incomprehension. Then his expression soured and his mouth tightened. "You mean you won't let us leave," he stated blandly. He stood up suddenly, surprising everyone except Maya, who followed him to the door as he called over his shoulder. "Watch me!"
In a few minutes he was outside in the garden, sword in hand, hacking away at the trees before trying to struggle through. Maya stood by uncomfortably, watching him as he disappeared through the bushes... and then appeared, thrown back with such force that he landed on his rear.
"What the hell!" His fist struck the earth without mercy, the petals falling around him. He turned around and stood up, facing his new enemies which threatened to hold him so. His rage was palpable, turning the dirt grey under his boots.
Before Sephiroth could strike, Sabele raised her hand, snatching the weapon from his grasp and sending it sailing harmlessly into the bushes. "Go and get it," she said, her eyes narrowing. "If you dare. Or you can stay here peacefully." There was no threat in her voice, but there was a promise in her manner that told him if he would like to try escaping again...
"I don't want to stay here!" Maya said suddenly, and dropped into a crouch. Sabele looked at her evenly, and Maya submitted but not happily.
"Prophecy tells us that you will not be permitted to leave unless invited to do so by an outsider," she whispered harshly. "It spoke of a loss of our secrets, our most sacred powers... and that is why you must stay."
Sephiroth and Maya looked at each other. Neither of them were happy with the decision. They definitely had no desire to stay where they obviously didn't feel wanted. But Sabele didn't look pleased either.
"Just stay out of our way, and we'll stay out of your sight as much as possible," Sephiroth snapped angrily, getting to his feet almost at the same speed as Maya as she came up from her crouch. Sephiroth gave one last longing look into the bushes where his sword had gone. Makela called it back, setting it into the ground point first next to its owner.
"I suppose now that we are all in agreement," Sabele conceded. "We are going to retire. What you do with your spare time is none of our business. Harm no one, kill no one, and if you must break something, make sure it's something relatively useless." There was a ghost of a smile at this last, before turning with the remainder of the council.
Maya snarled disgustedly. "Weirdos."
