she was just say there on the makeshift podium, with Brady in her arms emotionlessly smiling as the chosen guards 'opened his eyes' to the ways of zoot by beating him green and blue, every now and then Luke would enter, midnight could remember hearing his kissing up even if his sight had been fading which it had his hearing had not, he didn't understand how she could have watched over him as he was half killed and then when it was all over tell him she considered him a closer friend to her than any of the mall rats had ever been
"Misery loves company." She had said haughtily before walking away and leaving him shaking, curled up on the floor, waiting for the guardian to make his routine visit to offer midnight freedom from the pain his 'heathenistic' ways were causing them both.
But midnight had refused, he did not intend to go back on everything he had achieved just because his own blood was being spilt, as long as it was not the blood of others it didn't matter to him in the slightest, although he had not admitted it to himself the only chosen whose blood his vengeful mind would not be happy seeing spilt was that of the supreme mother,
"You feel for the supreme mother old friend, she is the key, through which you will open the door to return to us." The guardian had said one day and the very next hour a delirious midnight had heard that Trudy had been thrown into the cage to be executed the next day,
Midnight hadn't been able to register anything after that, pain, blood, cries from the other mall rats, Tai-san's so called confession of love, the fall of the chosen, Trudy and ambers kidnapping : it had all been a blur, then suddenly, clarity had come in the form of what he had thought at the time was an angel with purple hair and the clothes of one of his own kind, it had taken many days, but finally Midnight registered that the purple haired angel was not an angel at all but Trudy, flesh and blood and there to see him back to full health no matter how long it took
It had taken no less than a week for Midnight to regain his balance and his grip on reality, he wouldn't let on but his speedy recovery was due to the unwavering attention of Trudy, who, to get him back with them had brought Brady to see him while he had been bed ridden, many times Midnight had, had to stop himself paling when Trudy took on expressions he had seen her use those many times she had watched him fall but he percivered, they both did. Because one day, while Trudy had been out with Brady, Amber had told him of her unwavering vigilance at his side when Tai-san had first told her of his whereabouts in the mall and of his unconscious state, amber had also told him of Trudy's 'easy to read' feelings and emotions for him
Midnight rose with a question on his lips and what of now? He wondered, turning to his knapsack which lay at his side he found the lace that Trudy had give him, drawing his sword he tied the lace around its hilt.
Getting to his feet midnight collected his things all the time keeping the image of Trudy's smiling facet the front of his mind
"Maybe like, its time for you to go back to your Baby-girl? Ah am sure she misses you." Aphrodite said from behind him, Jumping round Midnight held his sword firm, the feather at the end of Trudy's lace fell on one of the scars on his wrist making him flinch, this gave the goddess of love and desire time to knock the sword from Midnights grasp
"I'm not a fighter as you know boy, I'm here to talk." he continued, Midnight thought for a moment and turned back to his nap sack
"then talk Aphrodite, I have no time for your little love games, do not wait for me to compliment your beauty, because even for a greeko like myself you are not the most beautiful in the universe like other men think."
"Trudy is?" Aphrodite asked, Midnight didn't answer but continued with what he had been saying prior,
" And to answer your question, I know where my true self lies, and it's not on the blade of someone else's sword." Midnight explained, Aphrodite smiled
"It's with your baby-girl Trudy right? You do know you two will make an enticing challenge for any warlord or tribe leader looking to make their name." She said, Midnight shook his head
"There is no us two, Trudy does not know how I feel and you are not going to tell her Aphrodite." He said,
Aphrodite shook her head
"remember who your talking to here Stripes, I'm not my brother, you can't trick me by putting on a solemn face and speaking of tragedy and secrets, I can see through the ice and stone to what is left of your heart… or should I say hearts? And I know how you feel, just as you know how she does." She said, Midnight got to his feet and turned to the goddess
"Even if I do, what will she think of I show up only a month after having left her side?" he asked, Aphrodite's smile widened
"she'll think you've found where you belong, that is what you told her this journey was about right?" she replied, Midnight nodded, taking a deep breath he swallowed it and turned to look down the path he had come down
"The hardest part of a journey is going home." Aphrodite said placing her warm hand on midnight's cold shoulder
"Home!" Midnight sighed, he had thrown that word around so freely before the chosen, but now he knew what it truly meant
"A place where all things belong." He thought to himself, slowly Aphrodite moved a little way down the path, Midnight took a few steps towards her but stopped seeing the goddess wanted to speak, turning Aphrodite began
"do not stray from the path Midnight, if you do your baby-girl may never know how you feel for her," Midnight didn't understand but he nodded anyway "I know you told Dakota and kern that you would cross paths again, but do not make it so you purposely do, go straight back to your Tribe, that is where you will find her." Aphrodite said "but remember, stray from the path and she may never know." She continued before Vanishing "Spiders legs and lizards eyes, I cross my hearts and hope to die." Midnight promised, sighing Midnight started back down the path
END OF CHAPTER 7