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 11: Dreams

"Kidria, please, stop…!" Daleth's grip on her forearms tightened as she kicked and screamed. All she would say was 'death', over and over, her voice high and screeching. Until she ran out of energy and her voice started to rasp did she attempt to calm down.

Daleth feared her heart might end up collapsing due to lack of water and quickly shoved the end of his water-filled container into her mouth. Kidria gargled at first, refusing, but soon the cool liquid was too tempting, and she drank the water. After a moment Daleth pulled it away and Kidria went into another fit. He released her completely and she shrieked before finally falling to the dirt, her body convulsing. Sagome rushed over to see if she was all right and Daleth pursed his lips tightly, making them pale. His hands were shaking but he didn't let Sagome see. The Hume girl supported Kidria up and Daleth saw that the young warrior was crying.

"Oh, Kid…" he muttered, sliding off the bone to kneel next to her and pulled her into his arms. Kidria was still shaking, and she started to hiccup.

"Death." She muttered. "And blood. So much of it. It's all over…all over!" she started to claw at her long sleeves. "Get it off! It's too hot!"

Daleth hugged her tighter and her actions ceased, her breathing harsh. The Dragoon bit his lip, hoping her insane stage was over.

"Daleth…" Kidria whimpered. Sagome gently grasped her hand. "Sagome…help me."

"You won't be that bastard's pawn." Daleth whispered through his teeth. "Not while I'm alive…"

Celos placed a calm hand on Robius' shoulder as he pushed the last bit of dirt over the last grave. She had watched him, by hand, dig each grave and bury each body. She remembered the gruesome job as he picked apart insides to match each of his friends, almost putting the bodies back together if she hadn't slapped some sense into his morbid-gone mind. His gauntlets were covered in blood, bits of flesh and dirt.

"Rob…"

"Don't bother." He said gruffly. "Nothing is to be said now."

Celos nodded and removed her hand. She stood with him, staring at the makeshift graves, his friends' weapons as their tombstones. She made a mental note to have Fxeni cast a seal over them to prevent thievery. Robius grunted, squared his shoulders and walked back toward Jeuno. Slowly the monk followed. As they entered the city, everyone left stood there, eyes looking at them. Robius growled.

"Quit looking at me." He muttered. Fxeni looked at Celos, and she nodded. He waddled outside to place the barrier.

Ithuthus stepped forward. "No word from Dal or Sagome yet…" he muttered. "But the fact this took place at the Windurst airship dock is unsettling."

"Damn right it's unsettling," Chase spit out. "I think the murderer went after them."

Vunebent straightened his spine. "Then we should too. Kidria's only got Daleth and Sagome and they aren't gonna be enough."

Celos smiled a little. Vune was finally taking his position as an older brother…sadly it came to something like this to make it come out. She nodded to them all.

"Get ready, then. We leave for Windurst the instant that airship is opened or Fxeni learns Mea teleport."

Finally they had made it. Kidria stood rigidly next to Daleth as they placed the chocobos in the stables. Sagome rushed off to get the Rent-a-Rooms set up and left the Elvaans alone in the city. Daleth quickly took her to the safest place he knew—the Heavens Tower.

Inside he found a secluded corner, which Kidria had no qualms about sitting there. He sat down and, as a second thought, pulled her into his lap. Kidria did not protest nor struggle, but she didn't seem comfortable either. Daleth sighed and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, making her lean back against his chest.

"Daleth." Kidria said the instant her back touched his chest.

"Yes?" he answered, fearing what she might tell him now.

Kidria settled into his embrace comfortably. "Do you care what happens to me?"

Daleth was shocked, if not a little hurt that she had to ask such a question. "Of course I do! I—"

"Do you care about me?" she interjected.

Again, the same shock and hurt. "Of course. I've always cared about you, Kid. You're so im—"

Kidria looked up at him. "Do you love me?"

Daleth bit his lip before he blurted another 'of course'. "What do you mean by love?"

"Love me."

Daleth was silent; his only response was a tightening in his embrace and making her look back at the wall ahead of them. He rested his chin firmly on the top of her head to prevent her from look at him again. Under normal circumstance, he would joke with her until she forgot she asked the question, but Altana knew that this wasn't under normal circumstances anymore.

"Why?" Daleth managed to say.

He didn't get an answer, and Daleth wasn't sure if that was better then her inquiring further. Kidria stared at the wall, then sat up a little. The Dragoon let her go and she looked over her shoulder at him.

"I want to go sleep. Take me home." She said softly.

Kidria settled into bed. Sagome had left a note that she went to go the hot springs to bathe while Daleth watched over Kid. The young Elvaan shut her eyes and instantly fell into something Daleth would call a coma. While she was sleeping, a roach landed on his wyvern's, Cerulean, nose, making the little dragon snap awake and screech loud enough to make the Taru next-door curse. Yet Kidria didn't move or awaken.

Daleth gently touched her hand. It was cold to him.

Kidria smiled and splashed the water up, washing her face. It was refreshing to get away from the stuffy people, always so rigid and looking around. It was as if they had any idea that was going on.

Kidria frowned. They had no idea.

Her smile picked up as she scooped up another handful of water. She brought it to her lips, blowing air into it, watching the bubbles form in her palm. Maybe it was bad to relax like this? The others seemed to think that one second of relaxation would be the end of them.

Kidria thought differently.

She accidentally got the water into her mouth, and frowned at the coppery taste. When did she put soap in her water?

She dropped the shiny water and it splashed red on her. Not thinking, Kidria sank lower in the water, then lower, and then lower, until it closed above her head. There was more red, and when she opened her mouth, she tasted that flavor again.

Kidria closed her eyes, floating on her stomach in the water. She wasn't at peace. She knew that much.

"What? What do you mean, she's dead?"

"We…we heard a splash and…when we asked if she was alright, there was no answer…nothing. S-so the maid peeked in and saw her floating…a hole ripped into her back, her entrails floating beside her…it was so red…"

"No…"

"We…"

"This can't be happening…"