Twisted Temptations
Story by: Kidria
Title Ownage: Celos

Disclaimer: Vana'diel and such belong to SquareEnix, the characters' personalities belong to them and myself, the story belongs to me, title to Celos. Do not steal. I have no rights to Vana'diel, San d'Oria, or any areas/elements belonging to SquareEnix.
Rating: PG-13 for violence, language mostly.

Chapter 1: Haunted

"Kidria!! Kidria!!!" Daleth called, running down the stairs toward the port. People dodged him, glancing up, but there was no reply. Not from Kidria, not from people who'd possibly seen her...nothing.

Was she in Qufim? But without her weapons...? With an irritated sigh Daleth ran that way, ignoring people who waved to him. He sped by adventurers asking to join groups, heading for Qufim. Without realizing it he smacked right into someone, nearly knocking himself over. The person jumped in surprise and turned, eyes wide when they saw him.

"What's the hurry, Daleth?" Mobia asked.

The Elvaan dragoon rubbed his head, mumbling. "Kidria's gone."

"That troublemaking girl that Robius hangs around? Aside from Sagome? She left?" he asked. When Daleth nodded Mobia shrugged. "You should be happy. If you're worried about the murders, and she isn't here, well...then she's safe."

Really? Or maybe...

"Oh, oh, I see the "or maybes" forming," Mobia crossed his arms over his armor. "Relax, Dal. From what I heard, the girl usually comes to you. She isn't in Qufim. I was just there. So chill."

Daleth's shoulders went slack. "I guess."

Still, he had to find her. If the poor girl found another body, only Altana knows how disturbed she would be, if it was anything like Halystaru. Daleth grimaced as he remembered the body without skin, the pool of dried blood, that disgusting stench of rotting muscles... He shuddered under his armor at the thought of anymore of the people he knew being killed like that. Was it swift? Drawn-out? Thinking about it was starting to very much frighten him, so he quickly said goodbye to Mobia and ran back up, looking for Kidria once more.

--Ru'Lude Gardens--

Fxeni wasn't sure if it was just him or maybe everyone was acting this way, but every step that was too close to him made him jump or look around frantically. Ever since Halystaru's death, he wasn't very comfortable in Jeuno anymore. Maybe not anywhere.

"Hey football."

The black mage jumped and whirled around, looking up to see Kidria standing over him. She bent down so they were a little more eye-leveled. He noticed a glaze over her golden eyes, and the fact she looked horrible. Even if she was in a rush Kidria usually looked decent and pretty. But now it looked like she was aging faster then anyone else in Vana'diel.

"Kidria, you need a nap," he said, rubbing the back of his head, embarrassed that she scared him so easily.

She tried to brush her fingers through her silvery hair, but they were quickly snared in the somewhat greasy-looking mass. "Yeah, I know..." she muttered. "But... I get nightmares."

"You saw Haly?"

"No. Fupac."

Fxeni recoiled as if she had slapped him. "Fupac is dead...?"

Kidria fell to her knees in front of him and stared at him, eyes suddenly dead. "He's dead." she said, calmly, seriously. "I saw him...outside, in the Downs. He was hanging...by a rope around his neck. Blood was coming from his nose, his eyes like tears...when I took him down, blood gushed from his mouth. His body was cut, healed, and cut again." she covered her face with one of her hands. "I saw him, Fxeni. He was mutilated!"

The Tarutaru wasn't sure what to say to make her feel better, if there was anything. He just quietly looked at her, eyes slightly wide. He wasn't really the type to comfort, and he had no idea what to tell her. Usually it was Daleth or her family that knew what made her okay again. The most he did was place a hand on hers, and she started crying then.

Jeez, what am I gonna do? I don't know what the hell to say...but...Fupac...

"Did you bury him, Kidria?"

"Yea-yeah..."

"When was this?"

She uncovered her eyes. "Three days ago."

Fxeni stared at her. "Three days...and you didn't tell anyone?"

"I spent those three days taking him to San d'Oria, since I can't ride the airship and I had no chocobo." Kidria replied. She stood up. "I...I gotta go. He's looking for me and I can't face him."

"Him? Who?"

"Tell everyone I'm sorry about Fupac." Kidria fidgeted and then ran off. The Tarutaru attempted to follow, but his Elvaan friend, with her long legs, was able to sprint away and into the crowd. She was gone.

Fxeni frowned. "Goddess dammit, Kidria..."

It wasn't exactly how I planned. I was mistaken, but mistakes can be made. Even with the smudges my plan is still the perfect picture. Eternally. I wonder if this is how you truly wanted before you went missing. Oh how you haunted me... I saw you everywhere. I heard you in every voice. I felt you in everything I touched. I knew you in everyone. How you've become such a part of me I'll never know.

It's not over, far from it. Just a little more and it can be done. We're so far and yet so close and it's only a matter of time until we can be as we should be. Together. Attached. A part of each other in the endless circle of the white and black. I hear your heart now, my love...it's beating so fast. Are you anticipating it? Are you excited of my, no, our goal? Oh, my dearest, I can barely contain myself.

Shhh, now. Still your heart and rest once more. Don't open your eyes yet! The surprise is not upon you just yet. Let us continue our cheap charade of nothing and innocence. We can soon throw away the masks. The festival of fakes is almost over, and we can embrace and forget the world...it won't control us anymore. Not even the Goddess can stop me now. When they are all out of the way...you and I, my sweet. You and I.

Let this dream haunt you as you rest. Soon it will be more then a dream. It shall be a reality...just for us. No one else, as it was meant to be. It'll never end, my love...it will never end. The city is quiet, and the other one of our enemies returns. Let me take care of it...I will get rid of them all.