Chapter 6

Meetings

hi! jeez, i've just realised how short these chapters are...so sorry...

oh yeah, some guys have asked who's on my list. you know, for the three course meal/cake/cookies/gummie worms/both. yeah? well, here it is...

SILVER THORN'S LIST OF FAVOURITES ON THE SUGARY DELIGHTS LIST. (note, these guys get EVERYTHING! even the gummie worms! and hugs! don't worry, i have a lot of blackmail to use on albel...MWAH HA HA HA!)

here we go, and remember, there's no particular order! i love you all!;

IceBlueWings, Blue Persuaison, Blue Trillium,The Crazy Authoresses CAT and AMS (thank you for reading Growing Wings, i hope you liked it! are you there?), Destiny (the anon. one. i love you to bits too!), and last but not least...The Mist and the Black-Rose Achemist, (although i think you meant to put Alchemist...since you said so in the reply to my reply to your review...). oh, and to everyone else who reviewed! not you evil ones...

here's the chapter! oh, i own Irisa's Kiss! it's miiiiiinnnnnneeee!

A knight pushed his way to the front, before slamming his hands down onto the table.

"I need to see Nel," he growled. Even though it was said in a whisper, his tone was enough to make the poor secretary tremble.

"B-b-but sir, you need to make an –" The rest was cut off by the metal claw that held his throat. The grip tightened, and he winced as the flesh was torn.

The warrior growled and leaned closer, till their faces were inches apart. "Let. Me. In." With each word, he squeezed harder.

The secretary nodded franticly and motioned to the two guards that stood by the door to the shrine, their mouths open in shock. Quickly they lowered their spears and let him through.

The man swept into the shrine, crimson eyes aflame.

The secretary watched as he knelt down beside the glass coffin. The body inside had been preserved with Irisa's Kiss, a rare stone that prevented the corpse from rotting.

"Nel," he whispered softly, "it's me. It's Albel. I missed you." He sighed and paused, obviously struggling to find words.

"Oh Nel," he breathed. "What have they done to you? They've turned you into a tourist attraction!" His voice, which had risen in his anger, dropped again, till the other man had to strain to catch his next words. "You're not happy, are you? But you never cared. As long as you got to make other people smile, you didn't care what they did to you. Was that why you agreed to marry me? Was it just so you could make one more person smile?"

The man...Albel, leaned over the glass, staring intently at the figure beneath. He leaned forward, as if he was hoping to sink into the glass to lie with her. A tear fell from his crimson eyes, falling onto the transparent lid. He rested his head against the lid, closing his eyes.

"I don't care what I have to do, Nel. I'll end the world if I must. I just want you back. Don't leave me. Please." His eyes opened, and he looked at the dead woman. "Shall I tell you a secret? I'm afraid. That's right. Afraid. I need you Nel. I need you to protect me." He chuckled humourlessly. "Albel the Wicked needing help from an Aquarian woman. Who would have thought, eh? You've changed me." He continued, whispering softly to her, his friend, his lover, his wife. Hisvoice washoarse with pain. "I should have been stronger. If onlyI had kept my guard up, then none of this would have happened..."

He closed his eyes once more. "I'll bring you back Nel. You'll see. I'll find a way."

The secretary watched all this with wide eyes. Albel? Could it be? If it was…he shook his head, and turned away, respecting the man's need for peace.

If it was, then it meant Albel was just an ordinary Elicoorian. And that meant he had a weakness…and only he knew about it. He realised what the rewards were for handing it over, yet…he understood. He, too, had lost his wife. He understood the pain, the confusion. No. He would not tell. At least, not yet. True, he shared a sort of kinship with him, yet if the money was enough…

i hate that guy. he's evil...dontcha think? anywho, please review, 'cause if you don't, i'll...STOP UPDATING! MWAH HA HA HA!

oh, and i'll now be replying to all reviews! apart from Destiny...no offence or anything, it's just cause your anonymous. i'm still really really grateful!

kiss kiss, love love, please be nice cause i'm only fourteen!