PART 5
Peppita was stalking Maria and following her to Airyglyph but as soon as Maria came upon Albel's room she went around the corner. She waited till everyone left so that she could find Albel. She heard his voice speaking to Sophia and heard the door close, meaning his exiting. She bounded toward him in a spinning manner and smiled brightly up at him, "Hi!"
Albel looked down and exhaustion could already be seen on his face. He tried to hide the annoyance in his face but she was a bit too much for him.
She danced around him, "I know something you don't! I might tell you if you let me perform for you." He crossed his arms, ignoring and just continuing to the training courtyard of the castle.
She continued to follow him, trying to get his attention, still speaking, "Aww… c'mon, pwease. How could you resist this face?"
At that moment he turned to look at her about to swear her into death but she pouted out her bottom lip, her eyes growing wide already have tears building behind those eyes. He sighed angrily, "Fine!" She squealed with delight, pulling on his clawed arm into another room.
Mirage was standing by the ship, which was now spotless due to her cleaning for the last many hours. She was checking the wiring and the command system to make sure it was in proper condition to fly the next time and to make sure that they mud and sand didn't interfere with the central core mainframe.
Everything was checking up all right but found something jammed with in the bridge. She rushed inside and looked around but found it to be part of where Cliff sat normally. She opened up the compartment that was filthy because she did not want to go into Cliff's things. He was not exactly the cleanest person.
She looked around with the small lights that lit the inside and found two objects that were amidst the wires and hard drive. She pulled them out and let power flow through them so it would turn on. One of the pictures held a very provocative picture of Nel, posing nearly nude. She turned this one off, not wanting to see this picture; he could keep it.
The other was a picture of her, but she didn't remember this picture of her ever being taken. She stared at it for a few moments and new it was recent because of the length of her hair. She had kept is long when she was a child but cut it shortly after she had joined Quark but hair in this picture she had longer hair and she was obviously not a child. She studied the background of the picture and there were so many places that looked like the place in the image she didn't know where he could have attained it.
There was a brief smile on her face though, at the thought of Cliff actually caring to have a picture of her. She found it quite out of the ordinary but very sweet all the same. She sat down in the cockpit and fatigue had finally caught up with her. She started to think deeply and all her thoughts and dreams right them, revolved around a certain blond male Klausian, her partner.
Nel was nestled in the arms of Cliff for some time before she woke once more, her mind still ached, confused trying to figure out her own heart. She looked upon Cliff's face that stayed unchanging but obviously in deep sleep. She removed herself from his arms, standing. She clutched a linen sheet to her body as she put on the clothes that she had carelessly ripped off earlier. She stepped outside leaving a small note for Cliff, mentioning where she was leaving and a few of her thoughts.
She walked out to the balcony of the Aquois castle, her hair blowing quietly in the wind.
She was lost in thought thinking over the happiest moments she had with Albel but his cruel voice echoed to her, "Good, I do not need little worms. It died, it showed weakness, it was no child of mine, it was merely a maggot of yours conceived in your belly alone."
She growled, gripping her dagger, her hand sweating.
Her eyes flashed with anger but was calmed at Cliff's words, "…He'll never have to touch you again…"
There was a smile on her face but it only showed for a second. There was a look of pride, his words beat in her heart and she wanted to tell Albel that it was over, no more, they were nothing. There was no energy as she jumped off the balcony, skillfully landing on her feet and dashing to Airyglyph.
On the path she saw Fayt and Maria close to each other. She would have made some greeting to them if they had not looked so involved with each other's gaze. She didn't waste her time.
There was much haste in Nel's step. She made her way quickly to Airyglyph, cutting the time it took her travel with Fayt and Cliff a time ago.
She stepped quietly into the castle; she did not need to sneak in any longer for the guards had seen her many times with Fayt and the others. They assumed she was there for a peaceful purpose even though she was really there for her purposes. The fighting had dimmed to very little, there were still clashes of the sword but only of her minuscule matters.
She heard the sounds of Albel and Peppita's voices in the training courtyard as she made her way to follow the voices.
Peppita grinned, twirling. Her bangles jingled on her wrists in a rhythmic beat. Albel had to admit she had gotten quite good since the first time he had seen her "perform" but it was more like falling. His mind drifted to that memory for a moment…
On the Quark ship, Peppita had once again convinced him to watch her, but this was the first time. She brought him to a large seating area, pulling Fayt, Sophia, and Roger to watch as well. She started to spin as she did now but tripped over her own sashes. Her large shoes had increased her likely hood to fall and she fell more.
Albel had burst out laughing, a cruel maniacal laughter as it always was.
Fayt could only stare, surprised and confused. He tried to force a smile, pretending like it was suppose to be this way but just couldn't do anything.
Sophia on the other hand was looking at her with strong waves of concern. He remembered how her green eyes had glowed and her hands out about to run toward Peppita to help if she could.
He also remembered Fayt's eyes watching Sophia out of the corner of his eye.
Sophia did eventually run to Peppita and Peppita could only laugh.
Fayt had his nervous laughter as Albel rolled his eyes murmuring, "Wasting time doing when I could be training."
Peppita only gave him a sheepish grin.
Peppita spun with skill over the long period of time everyone had been separated. She obviously practiced and he heard Cliff saying how famous Peppita was, well somewhat. Her voice was loud but didn't speak or sing; only danced. Her movements' involved bits of symbology implicated in some of the steps adding more to them.
She finished with a loud, "TA DA!"
Albel didn't clap but only glared, as only he could. His glare softened just a little bit to show that he did think she did better then before.
His voice stayed flat, "Maggot, now, give me the information you spoke of before you started this doing."
Peppita opened her mouth but just then Nel came in her.
She clapped seeing the end of Peppita's performance, "You've improved, congratulations."
Peppita smiled, holding out a black marker, "Want an autograph?" Nel looked at her confused, "Autograph?"
"It's a signature, proof kinda..." Peppita said not even being too sure herself.
She shrugged anyways turning to Albel, "I could give you an autograph too!"
He shook his head, leaving this training courtyard and toward the Airgylyph castle doors.
Peppita danced her way to catch up with him, with Nel calmly following behind.
Sophia rushed down the stairs, smiling warmly and waving, "Hello Nel! Hello Peppita!"
She hugged Nel and Nel was surprised so she didn't have time to return the affectionate movement. When Sophia let go she bounded for Peppita and pulled her into a sisterly hug but Peppita returned the hug with just as much energy, "HI SOPHIA!" Nel's voice was stern, "Sophia, good to see you again."
Albel rolled his eyes as Sophia cried out, "Let's go to Aquois!"
Peppita nodded and took Sophia's hand, starting to dance away.
Albel watched with minor amusement.
Nel said, "Sophia, I saw Fayt and Maria earlier, heading back to Aquios. They were here as well?"
All Sophia could manage was a nod while Peppita was pulling her.
Sophia and Peppita were up ahead but not out of sight range.
Nel said, "Albel, finally I get a chance to speak with you."
Albel gave a soft, "Hmm?"
She turned her gaze to his, "Albel, I've decided, you mean nothing to me. You shall hold no more links to me. I have Cliff and that is enough."
He glanced down at her words that she seemed so sure of.
A thought popped into his head that was a bit angry, "ME replaced by the fool, Cliff. What pitiful nonsense. What is the woman thinking that he can replace me? I shall show her."
Albel stepped in front of her for a brief second, bending down, breathing upon Nel's neck. His voice was in a soft cruel whisper, "Those are merely words… no more."
Nel thought he was going to kiss as he bent down. His voice sent shivers down her body and her body shook involuntarily for a moment. She glared at him with all the she could muster but with just his breath grazing her skin, she lost all will.
Albel smirked watching her but turned away letting them continue back to Aquois and only inwardly laughed at her glared to him.
Cliff stirred for a bit, his mind hazy remembering the dream he previously had. He then was completely alert when he found nobody lying next to him. He saw Nel's clothes had gone and a sheet on the ground. He rose looking around thinking it was most unlike her to up and leave…well it was very like her… He saw a piece of paper written in Nel's handwriting. It read…
Dear Cliff,
I see you have received the note I have left for you. I am sorry to have alerted you to any trouble, I only meant to think for some time. I am fine, I promise. I have only gone to the balcony but by the time you read this, I may not be there. Do not be surprised if I travel to Airyglyph to find Albel because I need to speak with him. Do not be alarmed either; it's nothing, really. I promise to return soon so do not waste your energy.
Yours truly,
Nel
His voice was urgent, "Damn it! She's going back to him!"
He put on his clothes quickly, making sure to equip his gauntlets just in case he had to fight a certain Airyglyph captain. His pace was even quicker then of Nel's.
He came across Maria and Fayt, just coming into Peterny. He voice was rushed, "Did you see Nel?"
Fayt's voice was dreamy and lustful, never leaving the face of Maria, "Yes…"
He cried out, "WHEN?"
Maria seemed a little aggravated that he was disturbing their moment together, "No more then 3 hours ago." Her tone meant that she wanted him to go right away.
Cliff didn't need to be told twice, making a small note that Fayt seemed a bit different but all his efforts were concentrated on Nel currently so he didn't bring this up to too much cause for concern.
Cliff kept going until he saw Albel hovering over Nel. His face contorted into betrayal by Nel and anger at Albel.
Peppita passed him smiling at him, "HI CLIFF!" but she got no answer.
Sophia passed him and warmly smiled, "Hello Cliff!" but she did not get answered either.
Cliff stood there, his eyes watching Nel and Albel's turn, smirking. Cliff felt more anger at Albel then at Nel.
His mind cried out, "She betrayed me! I loved her! I trusted her! I can't believe this."
He wanted to believe it was all Albel's fault but something tugged at his heart thinking Nel could have wanted this, probably wanted this.
He could only call out the words he felt of anger, "HEY!"
He paused for a moment as he stormed up to Albel and Nel, "NEL I can't believe you I trusted you."
She tried to tell him why she was really here but he didn't hear it as he started to yell at Albel, "Get someone else. She doesn't want YOU!"
All his anger gave way and he punched Albel in the face with all the might of an extremely angry Klausian.
Thanks for reading, please review and junk.