A/N:
Kittylulu, I really don't deserve the praise but I am grateful for it. Thank you for your kind patronage. I will endeavour to write better and hopefully not disappoint anyone.
Black Dranzer, Sorry about the late update. Thank you for sticking with the story thus far. (Deep bow) Well Tala has yet to respond but I hope this chapter advanced the plot to satisfy readers, yourself inclusive. Sound out to me if there's anything that dissatisfies you, I'll see what I can do.
Life sucks, get used to it, Thank you for the review. I know exactly what you mean by forgetting and not being able to accept that people have just drifted away. In the end it's like you're holding the strings to balloons that have floated away. Ah well, I've been told this is life.
Sleep Sheep Guardian, thanks for the thanks on the reviews. It was my pleasure to do so. You make very sound arguments and believe me I have thought of the combinations countless of times and till this day I question my decision. However, it is yet too early for me to reveal it. I have to beg for patience. As for detail, I saw no need for detail fearful that it would take the attention from the advancement of the story line. Hopefully you'll enjoy this chapter.
Redex, beloved, you know I won't be offended by your words. I thank you for your faith and offer a kiss and a hug from my computer seat. (grin grin)
Devliin Reiko- Sama, thank you. Perhaps this chapter will be good. Dialogue will now fall in importance in this chapter. Perhaps to be used more extensively in the next or the eleventh chapter. Kya . . . technical stuff. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
When the Prey Struggles
Previously on Messages:
Kenny watched as Rei quietly joined Max and Tyson at the other end of the hall.
"What secrets are you keeping Rei?"
Kenny's musings did not go unheard.
"What secrets are you looking for Kenny?"
The voice was soft but the icy and authoritative nature rang like a cathedral bell in his mind.
Kai!
Episode 9: When the Prey Struggles
"Kai . . . I didn't see you . . . what are you doing, sneaking up on me . . . like that."
Kai merely stared at Kenny through narrowed lids.
Kenny tightened his grip on Dizzi, his lips chewed a livid white.
"What are you so afraid of?"
"What do you want Kai?"
"The truth. Who is it you're spying on us for?"
"Spying on you I-"
"Don't lie to me!"
The hissed command sunk like acid in Kenny's mind. He stumbled back as Kai drew closer.
"I know you're working for someone. Who is it? Tell me!"
"Not until you tell me who you're working for!"
The words were barely spoken before Kenny realised the slip and bit down on his lip. Kai raised his furrowed brows in surprise.
"What?"
"Yo, what's going on Kai?"
A lightly tanned, brown- eyed youth peered over Kai's shoulder, taking alternating glances between Kenny and Kai.
"Get off my back Tyson." Kai growled shrugging off the Japanese youth.
"Gee, you'd think he'd be a little warmer after all this time." Tyson sulked, addressing Kenny with a pout.
"Ha . . . yeah . . ." Kenny replied weakly.
"What's wrong Kenny, you seem pale?"
"It's none of your business." Kai barked
Hazel eyes turned curiously to hard, crimson ones.
"Something wrong Kai? You're behaving strangely today."
"You'd behave differently too if you had to lead a bum like yourself, although I can't imagine you being a leader in any scenario."
"Oh yeah? Well, I wouldn't either, not when the prerequisites consist of being a big ol' sourpuss like you!"
"Heh."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Heh."
"JUST WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!"
"Come on Tyson cool down."
"But Max he-"
"You know how Kai is."
Tyson stared daggers at the smirking Russian and tossed his head loftily.
"Fine! I'll just forgive you this time."
"Yeah right."
"Why you-"
"Leave it Tyson."
Tyson turned to face a solemn Rei.
"Huh . . . er . . . sure Rei . . ."
"Let's get this practise over and done with." Rei growled forming a launching stance before the dish, wearing a serious expression.
Tyson froze mouth agape, openly surprised by the sudden change in his teammate.
"Sure Rei." Max replied with a cheerful laugh that sounded contrived even to him.
Kai sent a quick glance to Kenny, eyes narrowing threateningly. The younger boy shrank under the gaze, clear that Kai was far from through with him.
"Let's begin then." Kai barked to the team meeting Rei's stance with his own and bearing Dranzer before him.
"Ready Rei?"
Rei merely gave a swift nod.
Though preoccupied with Kenny's remark, Kai frowned at the Chinese youth's sudden sullen expression. Still, training was more important. Questions could be asked later.
"3, 2, 1!"
He's bringing me to computer. He's actually bringing me to a computer.
The guards had been reluctant to leave when they saw that Bryan had released the locks on Tala but had all but sprinted across the hallway when Bryan had brusquely ordered them to report to Borris. Now they walked along the wide corridor, their steps echoing about the cold stone. Tala hobbled slightly and had a hand braced against the wall. Nevertheless, he had refused Bryan's help, something that Bryan seemed to take in stride. However, Tala noted that Bryan walked at half the pace the lilac- haired Russian used to keep.
"You don't have to walk at this speed because of me you know." Tala pointed out somewhat breathlessly.
Bryan half turned and spoke over his shoulder.
"I've just recovered from one of Borris' torture sessions. I can't walk any faster.'" He replied blandly.
Not waiting for a reply that wasn't given in any case he continued to lead the way, Tala straining to catch up.
"How did he catch up with you?" Tala spoke finally.
Bryan faltered in his step but resumed his pace quickly. Tala followed silently.
"He . . . he helped me with the fugitive issue."
Tala chewed on this.
"You really-"
"Yeah. Yeah I did."
Bryan turned to gaze at the red- haired youth.
"Like I said Tala, I'm a murderer."
Blue eyes matched the gaze but Tala remained silent. Bryan broke the staring match and looked up ahead.
"My room."
Tala followed Bryan's gaze and noted a computerised door set into the stone wall. Bryan proceeded to walk up to the door and punched the code in a number pad affixed to the centre of the door. The door slid open with a hiss just as Tala covered the last few steps to it. Bryan gave the red- haired youth a brief glance.
"Come in." Bryan invited, stepping through the doorway before his ex- team leader could oblige.
Standing by the doorway, Tala swept his gaze about the room.
What struck him first was the scent of wood. Taking stock of the interior he understood the reason. Illuminated by harsh fluorescent light, the floorboards, softboards covering the walls and the ceiling, the sparse furniture with the exception of a mattress and a few electrical appliances, everything was made of wood. Tala stepped in hesitantly.
"Nice . . . décor."
"It's Borris' arrangement."
"Decidedly wooden." Tala muttered.
Bryan flashed a tired smile.
"I'm going to have to report to him. No doubt his cronies would have reported to him by now. The computer . . ." Bryan continued turning to the slim flat- screen model behind him, ". . . is here. There is Internet connection and the password is-"
"921183B."
Bryan paused, pale eyes registering surprise.
"Your identification number back in the abbey. You always use it because- "
"Because I have trouble remembering things." Bryan finished with a faint grin.
Tala watched with a mixture of reverie and amusement. Bryan raised his eyes and held the sapphire gaze for a moment. Then he looked towards the open doorway and cleared his throat.
"M. Aa . . . so I'll be leaving then. I'll lock the door on my way out. The number combination to unlock it . . . you already know."
Bryan started towards the door when Tala stepped forward and took hold of his arm.
"You bringing me here, is it going to cause you any trouble?"
Bryan gently freed his arm and shook his head, his eyes not meeting Tala's.
"He'd find some excuse to punish me anyway."
"Bryan . . ."
"It's alright. You might want to stay in this room until I return."
Stepping around Tala, Bryan hastened out of his room through the doorway. He stood there for a moment, lilac hair slightly ruffled and pale eyes gleaming under the fluorescent light. His lips parted briefly as if to say something. Tala watched silently, his mind blank but filled with a desire to say something and yet not knowing what to. Then Bryan clamped his mouth and reached out to touch something on the outer wall. The door slid shut, the pale- eyed Russian vanishing by degrees behind it.
Minutes after the door had shut Tala still stood there, watching.
Bryan leaned heavily against the door.
"Forgive me . . . Tala . . ."
His lids veiled bright, white- jade eyes and Bryan swallowed hard.
In his mind the walls about him grew higher. Stonewalls distorted and he was back in the bathroom of the Abbey. Before him gleamed the lupine back of a boy who stood a few centimetres taller than his boy- sized self. A mirror reflected their images. Bryan inspected his own excited pale eyes and his freshly cropped lilac hair. His thin lips shifted into a faint grin. He was thrilled.
Pale eyes shifted to the reflection of the boy before him. Crimson eyes stared at him from the silver- backed glass. Crimson, blood bright eyes that turned a dusty red as the thick lashes lowered themselves part- way. Dark blue marks streaked across his pale cheeks, painted in perfect symmetry.
Bryan let his lips hover next to the soft earlobe.
"Kai . . ."
Young, innocent eyes watched as Bryan rose his fingers over the bare, slashed chest. Inflamed wounds ran the length of a pale, heaving frame. Puffy and glistening with the hint of blood. Bryan extended a finger over one that curved cruelly across his partner's young ribcage. He brushed it. Bryan felt Kai stiffen and caught the soft hiss of pain. Sighing into Kai's ear, Bryan steadily increased the pressure.
"Ah!"
Instinctively Kai raised his hand to brush Bryan's away but Bryan quickly entwined it in his other hand. Little fingers clasped around each other, palms squeezing, their bare bodies warm and strangely comforting pressed this close.
"Bryan, my boy."
A cold, mocking voice.
Pale eyes shot open, awoken from the comforts of the past to the dreaded reality.
Half- hidden in the shadows, donning that mask once again, red eyes glowing faintly from a mask of black.
A thin- lip grin.
Bryan willed his weakened limbs to steady themselves.
"Borris . . . Sir . . ."
"Dear WhiteWolf,
I'm impressed. That poem was wonderful. I'd be so happy if I could write like that. In any case, I believe that two one- winged angels will meet eventually. I met you didn't I? Somehow, you make me feel complete. This may be hard for you to believe but I look forward to reading your poems at least as much as you look forward to reading mine. I think it's wonderful the way we appreciate each other so much, don't you?
Anywayz, it's time for a dose of my poetry.
Once or Twice
Days lived once.
Stealing glances...
Breath used once.
Stealing kisses...
Love but one.
The tale unfolds...
Life but one.
One burns cold.
Once and life goes.
Love lives twice,
From ashes rose,
Love revived.
One mind- Countless memories
One heart- Twin beats
One soul- A union
One death- A new beginning
I hope you like it and I also hope it cheers you up. There's always hope so don't ever despair 'k?
Reply really, really, soon.
Your friend, SnowTiger."
Tala sighed. The irony was not lost upon him.
'I believe that two one- winged angels will meet eventually. I met you didn't I? '
'There's always hope so don't ever despair 'k?'
Was there really any hope? Once again he was back in this rut, back to the life he had worked so hard to get out of, and now . . .
It seemed that what little hope there was served only to add to the snub that fate had given him by throwing him back here. He had SnowTiger and he had Bryan on his side. That much he could believe. Or wanted to believe. Bryan he . . . he was just too caught up in their past. Tala wasn't sure if the path that Bryan wanted to lead him to was one that led him away from Borris' dark designs or one that only led him deeper into the folly that he had once been a part of. SnowTiger was someone he could trust, someone to whom he could voice thoughts he never dreamt he would say to anyone. Yet . . . SnowTiger, he was just an Internet friend wasn't he? Perhaps in the past Tala might have hoped for something more in the due course of time but now that he was ensnared in this web of evil again, such a wish could never be realised. Never.
Gritting his teeth the Russian forced his hand to click on the last message he had received. As he waited for the page to load he tried to gather some resolve to ensure that he didn't reply. He wouldn't reply. He couldn't. He mustn't. Someone like him, someone who was meant to live in this underworld of lies and deceit can never hope to keep such a friend, a friend who bore such light in himself, such hope. A friend like SnowTiger.
Even if he wanted to . . . even if he could hold on . . . what good would it bring? What good could further association with him bring to anyone?
If you care about him enough, you'll let him go.
Let him go.
Tala blinked away the burning sensation in his eyes.
The message loaded and Tala squinted through restrained tears.
"Dear WhiteWolf,
You haven't replied my latest message and I'm more than a little worried. Is everything all right? Remember that I am your friend, if you're experiencing any difficulties I am more than ready to help you. Please trust me. Something must have happened for you to remain so silent. I really need to know what it is. It really hurts me so much not to hear from you.
Aside from that . . . I have something more personal to say to you . . .
Riding on a cart
A horse- drawn open carriage jostling through sun- baked roads
An iron clop, a stallions trot
Through little furrows of rock crumbs and bright harvest oats
Like gold bronze work in sunlight wrought
Across from me you gaze ahead. A breath exhales
That stirs the golden speckled air.
Some dance about your eyes and swiftly pale
Some motes nestle in your hair.
You turn the reins and gently nudge to tuck the carriage
Into a path. I wait a while.
Then treetops peek beneath the evening sky, its plumage
Bright but fainter than your smile.
"Almost there." you whisper beneath the starry throng
And tilt your head to catch my eye,
That even now does not stray as crickets sing their song,
And gaze met gaze and questioned why.
"Were we heading somewhere?" I asked sad that we would part
And tilt my head, arched brows frowning.
You grin that unchanging grin you gave me from the start
Coaxing love from everything.
But I do worry for the coming night and new day
Though your hand now cradles my own.
Was this a journey ending with the parting of ways?
Would I continue all alone?
You snuck up to me and stole a kiss 'ere I could hide
And whispered, "Don't worry luv you're staying for the ride."
Before us two the passage winds,
Neither of us the end did find.
Can it ever be like this between us? It's been hard for me to admit it but now that I feel that I've lost you I'll confess that . . . that I've fallen in love with you. Through your words and through your poetry I have read and understood a beauty and a heart that my own mind yearns to open up to. You mean so much to me. Please don't leave me in silence.
Love, SnowTiger"
His body shook, his breath shuddered, his mind went blank.
A tear drew itself down Tala's cheek.
The end for now. Comments, suggestions and criticisms can be posted in the review section. (Goes to lie in his crypt for a while.)