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 4: The First Cut Is The Deepest

I don't know if I should be pissed off or filled with grief. I guess to make things easier I can say I'm both. That is, if that's what I'm feeling.

My name is Celos.

A monk, an Elvaan female. My friends love to poke fun at me and I was considered one of the most laidback people in the group. But now...there is no time for jokes. Only mourning. Halystaru, Fupac, and Taea are dead. Killed. And my own little sister is traumatized to the point where she can't even leave her own room without screaming about seeing Taea getting killed. Chase is completely torn up and Daleth... I can't even begin to describe his misery.

I can't even begin to describe what Taea looked like after her murder. I couldn't recognize her. The glimpse I got, however, will burn in my memory for the rest of my life. That is, if the "rest of my life" is more then a few weeks. I wasn't entire sure if it was. Actually, I was afraid to even think of it. I always figured a quick death, or giving my life up to save someone, was how I would die. But if I die any way that Taea, or the others, did... it gives me the creeps to imagine it. I can just feel the nightmares this will give me, if I can sleep at all.

I can hear Kidria screaming again. I can hear everyone trying to settle her down. The Duke of Jeuno heard of her survival and instantly deemed her a suspect. I of course, along with the others, completely dismissed the notion and threatened any guards that dared to come near my sister. Kidria could barely kill beastmen, how the hell could she kill those more skilled then her? And she wasn't a heartless murderer...she'd never hurt anyone. Kidria loved all of us, and the thought of her picking up a sword and carving out hearts, hanging people, or burning them and skinning them alive. There's just no way she would.

So. Who? Or...more likely, what?

Three of us—me, Chase, and Daleth—flew to San d'Oria to bury Taea. I could tell Daleth was trying to decide if he wanted to stay as far as possible from the covered body, or be close to it and mourning openly. He stood somewhere in the middle. Chase was close to the body, and I...well, I just couldn't go near it. It's stupid of me to say, but I was too disgusted to. When we arrived, we buried her in San d'Orian soil, and stayed the night there. I'm lying in my bed now, staring at the ceiling. I was listening for sounds, in case the murderer had come for Chase, Dal, or me. While here, I hope to Altana it didn't go after the one living witness.

Worrying for Kidria was always nerve wrecking, but this time my palms were getting sweaty. Kidria was the only survivor as far as we knew, and we'll have to rely on her information when she gets better to protect ourselves...

...if she got better.

I could tell both Chase and Daleth wanted to stay in Jeuno to help protect her. But they also wanted to come with me to bury our friend. In the end, Robius had stepped out—out of the shadows too, damn Dark Knight freakiness—and promptly said he would watch out Kidria. We left him in her mog house, outside her bedroom. I trusted the Hume enough to know he wouldn't do anything funny, although Chase seemed a bit uneasy to leave Kidria in a male's hands, especially Robius. As if you'd be any better, Chase. Besides, I knew Rob would give his life to protect her.

Still. I was worrying myself to hell and back, and I knew the other two were as well. Sitting up, I not only worried about my kid sis but also everyone else. If the murderer couldn't get to her, it might kill someone else to draw Robius away long enough for it to kill Kidria. We don't need any more deaths...

Suddenly I feel waves of hatred fill me. This bastard killed my friends, my best friend, and lapsed my younger sister into temporary, or even permanent, insanity and emotional unstableness. The urge for revenge coursed through me in such strong urges I started to get afraid of myself. I wondered if everyone felt the same way. I know that tomorrow, Daleth will have the vengeful spark in his eyes. I wonder who would kill the asshole first.

I don't care... I want it dead. I wanted my friends back. I wanted Kidria to get better. I wanted to go back to the normal things. I wanted...

...you don't always get what you wanted. That I knew all too well.

"...kupo?"

"Yes moogle?"

"Please get some sleep, kupo." The moogle said as it fluttered outside my bedroom door. "You have to get up early to catch the less crowded airship, kupo."

I sighed. "I know, moogle. Go on to sleep."

"Good night, master, kupo."

"G'night, moogle. Rest up."

After I heard my moogle leave I stood up and walked to my weapons closet, opening it. I pulled out my strongest pair of claws, watching the metal gleam dangerously in the moonlight.

If I have to murder the jackass myself, I would...but it wouldn't be considered murder. It'd be justice.