Author's Note: Hello everyone! I haven't updated in awhile…. SORRY! I've been really busy at school and I just finished my mid-year exams… not that you wanted to know that :p Anyway, just wanted to thank everyone who have read and reviewed my story so far, including: Evergreen friendship- The Anime Angel, RayxJade (Isn't Kai just the best? Lol. Ray isn't so bad either…), Milia Alexandros and Unseen Watcher. Thanks again!

Chapter 8: So Close

Mariabella woke up beside her mother. She faced Tistiny who had tearstained cheeks. Tears began to well in her own eyes. She hated to see her mother in such pain! I just hope Cleao returns to us soon, Mariabella sighed sadly. Please come home, Cleao. We all miss you very much, Mariabella called out to her sister mentally, wishing that Cleao could actually hear her. She slowly got out of bed and tiptoed out of the room quietly so she wouldn't wake her mother. She went to the kitchen and was greeted by weary faces. "Good morning everyone," Mariabella said as cheerfully as possible.

" 'Morning," the group returned the greeting.

"Where's Mrs. Everlasting?" Hartia asked.

"I let her sleep some more. She's really drained," Mariabella replied and sat beside the young apprentice.

"Would you like some herbal tea?" Majic offered.

"That would be nice," Mariabella smiled, "Have you all had breakfast already?"

"We aren't hungry," Orphen said. There was a long silence.

Majic handed Mariabella a steaming cup of tea.

"Thank you, Majic," Mariabella said softly. There was another silence as they were all lost in their own thoughts. "I wonder where Cleao is…" Mariabella wondered aloud.

"We were just about to go look for her," Orphen had decided at that exact moment.

"We were?" Majic asked in confusion.

""Yeah," Orphen replied and stood up.

"You mean we're going now?" Hartia asked as he also stood up, followed by Mariabella and Majic.

"No time like the present," Orphen stated, "We'll stay together when we look for her."

Mariabella walked the three to the door, still confused at the sudden move of action. "Please be careful."

"We will," Hartia replied and waved goodbye. But before any of the three could take another step, Azalie appeared before them.

Cleao sat inside the tower at the Ruins of Kohan. She had been there for quite some time, deliberating what to do next. Cleao finally decided to follow through with her plan to leave Totokonta. Once I leave, I'll be free from Orphen, she thought as she played with her ebony locks. She sat in silence and stared into the nothingness around her.

"All alone…" a cold voice taunted her.

Cleao became alert instantly. "Who said that? Is that you?" It couldn't be Him though… the voice was distorted so she couldn't really tell. Cleao glanced around the Tower. There was no one there but her. "I could've sworn I heard someone say something…" Cleao stayed alert for a while longer, but when there was only silence, she retreated back to her thoughts. Only then did she realize what the voice had said. Only then did she process it in her mind. All alone. Those two words had such a great impact on her. There was truth behind those words. Those two words taunted her. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought about it. Am I really all alone?

Of course you are.

"Who are you! You're not Him, so who are you? Answer me!" Cleao cried into the empty room. There was no reply. "I'm going crazy… I'm hearing things…" Cleao whispered and wiped her tears away.

Nobody likes you.

"Leave me alone!" Cleao screamed.

You are alone. Everyone hates you. Everyone left you.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

Do you think your mother could accept a daughter like you? If your own flesh and blood can't accept you, how could Orphen? Look at what you've become! How could anyone accept such an abomination? A freak. That's what you are.

"That's not true!… It isn't true…" Cleao voice faltered.

If it isn't, then why isn't Orphen here? Why isn't he here to hold you in his arms and comfort you?

Cleao remained silent, not wanting to say what she knew to be true.

Why isn't he here? The voice persisted.

Cleao gave in to her pain, "Because he doesn't love me…"

That's right. No one does.

No matter how hard she tried, she had no argument against the mysterious voice that was speaking to her. She may be hearing things, going crazy. But even if she was, what the voice was saying made sense to her. Then an image appeared in her mind. "Leki!" She could just imagine her companion smiling at her. Cleao knew what she had to do. "I'll get Leki! Then we can leave Totokonta and never come back! I'm not going to be alone." Cleao stood up and wiped her tearstained face. "Away," she whispered and the tower was empty. Except for the voice that only had one thing to say.

Fool

Meanwhile, a discussion was in progress at the Everlasting mansion.

"Jeraine, The Drifter," Hartia repeated the name again in disbelief.

"Yes, Hartia. Jeremy and Jeraine are one and the same," Azalie couldn't help but laugh at Hartia's disbelief. The trip to look for Cleao had been delayed when Azalie arrived with news from the Tower. She had just finished telling them all about Jeremy's past at the Tower of Fang. And the only person who had said anything was Hartia. Mariabella and Tistiny were also there and had listened intently. No one spoke and Leki's heavy breathing could be heard as he slept fitfully.

"Lai also said something of importance. He told me something that actually makes a lot of sense, something which never occurred to me," Azalie continued, breaking the silence. "He said that Jeremy has just given her magical powers that can only be sustained by feeding off Cleao's pain. If you take Cleao's pain away, you take her powers away, which will then return her to her former self."

"You make it sound so easy," Orphen said as he leaned against the wall.

"But it won't be easy," Hartia added.

"Gee, that makes me feel so much better. Thanks a lot, Hartia," Orphen said sarcastically. Hartia gave his friend an apologetic look.

"Let's start looking for Cleao then," Majic urged.

"You won't be coming, Majic," Orphen decided.

"What! But you said we were going before Miss Azalie came!"

"Well, I've changed my mind."

"But Master!"

"No more 'buts'. Don't forget you have a test about ancient runes tonight, so you better start studying." Majic scowled. "Don't look so sad, Majic. If it makes you feel any better, Azalie isn't coming either."

"What!" Azalie exclaimed. Majic cracked a smile. "What do you mean I'm not coming!"

"I meant exactly that. You're staying behind to help Majic in his studies. No more complaining. End of discussion."

Mariabella looked from Majic and Azalie's angry faces and laughed.

"What are you laughing at, Mariabella?" Tistiny asked in a confused tone.

"Oh mother, doesn't Orphen remind you of Cleao… even in the smallest way? They're both so demanding and headstrong. It's no wonder they fight all the time."

Tistiny gave a small smile, " I do believe your right."

Orphen looked embarrassed by the mother, daughter observation. They all laughed heartily at Orphen's embarrassed expression. It was a nice sound to hear after all the dark silences and tears, but Orphen was still humiliated.

He stood up abruptly and headed for the door. "Hartia, let's go. Majic, start studying and wipe that smirk off your face before I come over there and do it for you," Orphen ordered sternly.

"Be careful," Tistiny called out to the departing sorcerers.

Hartia walked behind Orphen, "Where should we start looking, Krylancelo?" he asked as Orphen opened the front door.

"Here's a good place to start," Orphen replied. Confused, Hartia looked over his friend's shoulder where Cleao confronted them. She stood a good distance away from the house and she stared coldly at Orphen., disregarding Hartia's presence. Orphen stared back and began to walk to her.

"Are you sure about what you're doing?" Hartia asked aloud.

"No, not really. Unless you have a better idea?" Orphen called over his shoulder. There was no response. "Didn't think so," Orphen said.

Cleao prepared to attack, an energy ball waiting to be released, "I've warned you, Krylancelo," Cleao said flatly. Orphen had already covered half the distance between Cleao and the house and he kept going, ignoring Cleao's second warning. Cleao released the energy ball and it struck Orphen in the chest with full force. Its impact sent him flying back and he landed at Hartia's feet.

"Krylancelo!" Hartia exclaimed in alarm. The others rushed out of the house to see what had caused Hartia to scream in alarm. Majic paled at the sight of Cleao and Mariabella and Tistiny were in the same condition. They were all horrified. It was the first time that they had seen Cleao since the night she was taken and seeing her like this didn't reassure their worries.

Cleao's darker side had taken over her. "So nice of you to join us, but I'm in a hurry. I don't even know why I came here. What a waste of my precious time," Cleao spat harshly. Orphen groaned in pain from his sitting position on the ground and this brought a sickly sweet smile to Cleao's face. He slowly stood up and after finding his proper footing, he straightened up.

"Cleao what has he done to you? Please come back!" Tistiny screamed to her daughter who looked at her with hollow eyes.

"He did me some good."

Orphen continued to walk towards Cleao.

Hartia led Tistiny and Mariabella back inside, knowing how hard it must be for them to see Cleao in this state. The mother and daughter didn't object. Hartia returned as quickly as he had gone.

Cleao gritted her teeth in irritation, "Don't you dare come any closer!" she warned and let loose another energy ball. But this time, Orphen was able to shield himself.

"Cleao, stop this! Don't make me hurt you!"

"You already have," she retorted icily and kept firing energy balls at him. She was relentless. The energy balls bounced off his shield harmlessly and exploded in the air.

Orphen flinched at Cleao's statement, " I'm sorry that I hurt you, Cleao. I didn't mean to," he continued, but Cleao attacking him was making it difficult to keep his shield up while walking forward. He decided to make her remember, " Remember when we first met by the tree? You thought I was a peeping tom, so you came rushing out of the house screaming at me while waving a sword about? You're so fiery and headstrong. That's one of the things I love about you, Cleao," Orphen had gotten closer to her while he was talking.

"Shut up!" Cleao screamed and gave all she had in her next attack. The black energy ball hit Orphen's shield and broke his spell that kept it up. He was defenseless now.

"Master!" Majic cried out, rushing to aid Orphen, but Azalie stopped him in time.

" Don't worry, Majic. He can handle it," Hartia reassured him.

" Krylancelo! Fight back before she kills you!" Azalie called out to her brother.

Orphen ignored them all and focused on Cleao. "Remember the time you spent hours in the water searching for one of those rare red clams? You came back and gave it to me, but all I did was yell at you. I never really show you my appreciation for all the things you've done for me, but I really do appreciate you." Now he was only a few feet away from her. She was trembling, but while he was talking to her, she had fired more energy balls his way and he struggled against their impact. His clothes were torn, he was bleeding and his breath was ragged. He finally closed the gap between him and Cleao. He embraced her firmly, but gently. In that moment, Cleao had no idea what had happened and what to do.

She began to struggle against him, "Shut up!"

"I love you, Cleao…" Orphen whispered to her and trailed off.

Cleao's eyes widened at his words, "No! Don't say that! You don't care about me!"

"I do Cleao… I love you… I never really knew it until I lost you."

Cleao struggled against him, "No…" She looked up and stared into Orphen's eyes. Her own empty eyes hardened and she pushed against him.

"I love you, Cleao," Orphen repeated and she heard the sincerity behind his words. Or was she just hoping for something that was never really there? She felt tears well in her own eyes and they flowed freely down her cheeks. Even though she was hurting, she had waited so long to hear Orphen say those words to her. She felt so confused. But then, Cleao could feel something more dark and powerful within herself. All her anger, pain, loneliness and sadness merged into one. It created a more foreboding darkness that seemed to come alive inside of her.

He doesn't love you. He's playing with you heart. Did you hear how easily he said that he loved you? To him, they're just meaningless words. He is using you, Cleao. Using you to get to Jeraine…to get to me. Are you just going to cry over it? Don't let him get away with it, Cleao! Don't let him break your heart again!

The words spoken to her were so strong and powerful. She felt the power of the words flow through her, convincing her, every bone in her being, that Orphen was the enemy.

Orphen held her close, feeling like he had gotten her back. But then he felt Cleao stiffen in his arms. "What is it?" he asked softly. He was suddenly pushed roughly away and he fell to the ground.

"I want you to get out of my face. To think I almost fell for your lies! How dare you make a fool out of me!"

Orphen was devastated. How could he think that it would be that easy? "Cleao… this isn't you!"

"I am no ones fool," Cleao ignored him.

Orphen realized that it would take more than his words to get Cleao back. He stood slowly and shook his head sadly, " No. You're Jeremy's fool."

"But don't you just wish I was yours?" Cleao sneered. Even though she knew that Orphen had just insulted her, she felt satisfied knowing that her words would upset Orphen. Cleao's body seemed to shimmer and lose form. She disappeared, leaving only her last words behind to linger a moment more.