Chapter 6

Stranger

alright, yeah, here it is. in this one, nel gets MAD...a little, anyway. goes and bites everyone...or something. dunno. but yeah, she's less of a wimp, some things are revealled, and there's a shorter bit about albel. it would be longer, but it isn't. sorry? anywho, enjoy!

She stared at the night sky, eyes not really seeing it, but a scene from before, on a night like this. It sounded like something out of a poem. On a night like this, like the nights before, I saw your face, but I can't anymore. It hurt, really. The days passed, and she didn't know if he was already dead or dying, or even escaping and trying to find her. And with each passing day, she forgot another detail. The exact shade of his hair, that mocking grin. It was all beginning to fade in her mind, and the harder she tried to hold them, the faster they slipped through her hands. Like water. All that was left was his voice. She couldn't forget it, she just couldn't. She clung to the memory of his voice, praying it would never leave her, knowing all the while that eventually, it would.

It hurt so much…

…And deep within the beast stirred…

Her hands gripped the earth and snow, fingers digging into the frozen ground. It had all been going so well, she had been so close…and then she had showed up and ruined everything. She hadn't realised what she had until it was torn from her grasp. It was good, really, because it meant fewer complications in the future, and yet…

…It wanted freedom, it wanted control…

Raising her hand, she watched the powdery snow slip from her fingers, taking with it the dirt. It had taken the whole journey, from when she had first met Fayt and Cliff in the dungeon, to build that fragile trust. And, even whilst it was built, something else was beginning to grow. The buds had flowered, just like her feelings, growing so slowly it was undetectable. She slowly began to tolerate him, talk to him when he was willing, be there for him when his world was shattered. It had taken months, almost a year. And, in just a few short minutes, it had gone.

…it wanted revenge – no, not revenge, but something baser. It wanted blood…

It takes a thousand steps to climb a mountain, yet only one to fall.

…needed it, craved it, yet each time it grew stronger a little was chipped away…

But if it made him happy, then that was what mattered, right? Even if it could kill you, you let them choose their own decisions, their own paths. Their own loves…

…it hated the compassion that fought against it, but it vowed it would win…

If you truly love someone, you can let them go and feel no anger.

…it was only a matter of time. A race for control. A race for an innocent's life…

There was a rustle beside her, and a woman sat down. Nel didn't pay any attention to her. She wouldn't let anything spoil this night of memories, not even her.

"Nel."

"Hikari."

"It's a beautiful night."

"Mmm."

She hesitated. Playing with the hem of her sleeve, Hikari continued, hesitant to voice her question.

"Nel…why do you hate me?"

The redhead sighed and leaned forwards, rubbing her legs, trying to fight the cold. "I don't hate you. I just don't like you either."

…Liar, it growled. Liar…

"But…but why…?"

Nel closed her eyes and didn't respond. She couldn't tell her why. It was such a petty thing, and she wouldn't embarrass herself.

"…You're worried about him, aren't you."

She nodded. They didn't need to speak his name. They both knew exactly who it was. "Of course I am. I'd be worried if anyone I knew disappeared."

"But it's different with him."

…Of course it is…it always is with him…

She looked away, and they sat in silence for a while, the cold breeze ruffling their clothes, the snow falling gently onto their still forms.

"You love him, don't you."

Nel turned sharply and locked gazes with Hikari. "I don't know what you're talking about," she muttered, resting her chin on her knees, hiding away behind her scarf as she had always done.

"It's alright. You can tell me, you know."

"But…I thought you and…" She couldn't help it slipping out.

Hikari laughed sadly. "I wish." She shook her head and turned her eyes back to the sky. "There's nothing between us. Just friendship."

Nel couldn't believe it. Nothing good ever seemed to happen to her, and here it was. She wanted with all her heart to believe it, and yet…

"But I saw you. When you and he…" Trailing off, she shook her head, unable to bring herself to say it.

The brunette blushed. "So you saw that." She sounded embarrassed. "That was just…a goodbye." They sat once more in silence, this one less tense, before Nel spoke up.

"How did you two meet?"

Hikari shrugged and brushed off some snow. "The usual, really. Our parents knew each other, and they made us play together. We hated each other at first. But then, Albel saw some kids bullying me and told them to back off. Best friends after that. Me, Albel and Nina. We were inseparable. Usually we hated hanging about with older kids, but Nina was different. She didn't act like she was two years older than us. She was the greatest, really." She smiled at the happy memories, but it faded. "And then things began to change. Nina started growing distant, Albel was worried with the Accession of the Flame ceremony, and my parents had just died. And, a few weeks later, Albel came down from the mountains alone and almost dead from blood loss. Few days after that, and his mother was dead, his sister vanished. I could see that being with me pained him so much, reminded him of Nina, so I left. Went and lived in Kirlsa for a while, and when I came back, he was gone. Albel Nox was gone. Instead, there was Albel the Wicked." She blinked back tears. When she next spoke, it was barely more than a whisper. "I thought it would never end. I thought it would be a happy ending, like the ones in stories. I never meant to fall in love, it just happened."

Nel, despite it all, found herself comforting the younger girl, arm wrapped round her like a sister would. She smiled gratefully, finishing her story. "What you saw…that night…I thought it would be my chance. I thought that finally, after travelling so far, he would've calmed down and it would have all been perfect. But he hadn't just found compassion among the stars. He found…love. A love that I would never have."

…No! You hate her! She's stolen him away from you! Kill her! Kill her! But the beast was broken. Angels had won…

Nel stared at the sky, thoughtful, and a little guilty. In order for her to be happy, another's dream would have to be ruined. Yet, despite this, she couldn't ignore the feelings.

…But even angels are flawed…

But, for Hikari's sake, she would suppress them. For now. But one day, one day, they would finally be free. She wondered who it was he had found feelings for, but shook them away. She had to find him.

Just then, a messenger from the castle arrived, red faced and panting.

"L…lady Nel…Lady…Hikari…news at the castle…Lord Nox…"

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"Ah, Lady Nel. I believe Artemis came for you."

The king held forth a beautiful hawk. Its intelligent gold eyes stared at her, its wings flapping slightly as the movement. Holding out her arm, she let the hawk change perches, her eyes widening at the weight. Spotting a scrap of purple cloth clutched in its talons, she gently took it from the steel-like grasp. There, written in…blood!

Nel. Hurry. Tell Artemis. 'Return to Master'. Slow, three times. Hurry.

Clutching the note, she stared at the hawk. He was still alive. She had always known. She had a feeling she would know if he was dead. She would know. And now…

"Find the others."

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The door opened. Quickly he crawled back, hissing at the light. Another rat bit, and he threw it away. So weak…so tired…

A girl was thrown in. Slowly he moved, cautious in case she attacked. She was unconscious. Brushing back her hair, he gasped, falling back. Memories flashed through his mind, each one burning with pain. Her eyes fluttered open, staring at him.

"A…Albel?"

MWAH HA! once again, the evil cliffhanger's head rises above the horizon! now you have to review again, or YOU SHALL SEE NO MORE! mwah ha. review now!