Disclaimer: I don't own Star Ocean. Or Mexican restaurants. I do own Sophia's legion of bodyguards, however. I make them dance. Like puppets.

Date Posted: January 20, 2006

Author's Note: Here it is. The product of much anger, Alexisonfire, My Chemical Romance, Coca Cola, and all the awesome reviews I got. 66 reviews! Wow! I love you guys. Very much. So I present, Chapter 7:

A man dressed in one of Sophia's uniforms ran into the bathroom, flinging aside the crooked red door. He was Japanese, tall, and slightly muscular, though he looked to have lost a fight. The man was breathing heavily, covered in rainwater. His left sleeve was ripped off, exposing a bleeding wound. Below his left eye a black bruise was forming.

"It's one of your maggots," Albel remarked. He hadn't been killed, in fact. Sophia had yelled for the man to stop once Fayt ran off. She said she didn't want Fayt betraying them for killing Albel while he wasn't there to hold up his end of the deal, but Albel would have bet she had other plans.

"It's Fayt," the servant panted, clutching at his bleeding arm.

"What the fuck did you do to my Fayt!" Albel yelled instantly, his mind racing. Fayt, Fayt, Fayt, oh Fayt, please be alright.

The servant looked hesitant, eyeing Albel as though he might attack. "I didn't do anything to him. He…jumped off the cliff to the east."

Albel felt rage come to life within him like a fire, leaping up suddenly. It burned, consuming him, stealing all rational thought. Fayt! No, no, damn them all! Not Fayt, my Fayt. MY Fayt can't die, I have to save him from everything, I have to make everything ok! Albel's blood felt hot, rushing through him, his heart pounding quickly, he could hear it, the fast beating begging him to kill something. All eyes in the room were on him, waiting for a reaction.

"HOW THE FUCK COULD YOU LET HIM DO THAT! YOU SELFISH BASTARD!" The man pinning Albel down tightened his grip on his arms as Albel tried to lunge forward, blinded by the hot anger running through him.

Sophia managed to remain calm, outwardly at least, nodding and looking thoughtful. That bitch doesn't even care that he's dead! Fayt's DEAD and she couldn't care less! Sophia paced the room for a moment.

"Are you sure he jumped?" She snapped.

The man nodded, looking guilty and afraid. "Positive."

Oh, that damn bastard. I'll kill him as soon as I get out of here. He deserves death, painful death. I'll make him beg for mercy, make him wish he was never born. I'll watch every drop of his pathetic blood pour out of him.

"Did you try to stop him?" Sophia asked the man, now pacing more slowly, glancing up at Albel. He shot back a glare, eyes angry.

Again, the man nodded nervously. "Yes. We fought. He broke away and jumped off the cliff. There's no way he lived."

The words echoed in Albel's head, bouncing off his skull. There's no way he lived, there's no way he lived, no way he lived. No, no, Fayt! Why did you do it? My Fayt, he jumped, he killed himself…this bastard could have stopped him. He was there when my Fayt jumped.

"How DARE you not stop him!" Albel shouted, voice filled with hatred. "He was MINE! You'll pay for this, all of you! I'LL KILL YOU ALL! NOBODY HURTS FAYT AND LIVES!" Albel snarled viciously, trying again to lunge forward and again the man held him down firmly.

"Ohh, a touch angry are we?" Sophia mocked. He couldn't stand the sound of her voice, filled with laughter, unfazed by Fayt's death.

All the maggots will die, I'll make these stupid worms bleed. "Do I look fucking angry to you?"

Sophia smiled innocently. "I suppose you do. You must be awfully disappointed. But you know, I loved him, too."

"You LOVED him!" Albel spat on the ground in disgust. "You don't even understand love. He gave my life meaning, and I let him die! I loved him, damn it!"

Sophia's fake smile never left her face, making her look like a plastic doll. "Oh, having regrets? How sad. But I saw him first, you know. It was me who knew Fayt from the beginning, and you who came in and tried to change his mind."

"Fayt never loved you." Albel's voice was low, though the anger remained. "You've spent your whole life chasing the childish dream of marrying the sweet little boy next door. Well I took him. Now grow up and find yourself a nice, straight guy. You only taint Fayt's memory. He was MINE!"

Sophia laughed lightly, the sound annoying Albel even more. "What does it matter, now? He's dead. He doesn't belong to anyone anymore."

"You stupid bitch, you'll never get it will you! He belongs to me, dead or not!"

"All you have to cling to is a dead man? Pathetic." She paused and looked around the room. "I suppose I'll have to find a way to play this to my advantage. Perhaps in light of the tragedy, I should turn to a brave, strong man and fall in love again."

Albel glared at Sophia. "A publicity stunt. Is that what Fayt was to you?"

Sophia started back at him. "The likes of you, a murderer, wouldn't understand my life, what I have. It's powerful. I can get whatever I want."

"Well I'm sorry I can't understand selling my soul to the public."

Sophia's light laugh sounded again, and Albel only stared back at her defiantly. "What I do is more normal than getting satisfaction from murder."

It was Albel's turn to let out a hollow laugh. "I'm sure it is. Do you think I care about normal? I love what I do, it kept Fayt safe. Nobody messes with a serial killer's lover. Not until you, worm."

"Well I'm going to live."

"I wouldn't be so sure."

Sophia ignored his comment. "Erik!" she snapped.

The man holding Albel down looked back to Sophia. "Yes, Miss Esteed?"

Foolish men, catering to her every whim. They're no better than her, selling themselves out to a monster like that.

"He's all yours," Sophia told him, and turned to the Japanese man, saying, "Alright, Masaki…"

The one she called Erik leaned against Albel. Stupid maggot, get off me, you stopped me from saving Fayt, you'll die too!

"You must be lonely without Fayt." Erik's voice was heavy with seduction. Albel glared at him, not responding, his thoughts firmly fixed on Fayt. Erik took no notice of this, running a finger down Albel's cheek as though he were a delicate woman, remarking, "You know, you're very pretty."

Albel shot the man a more intense glare. "I hate you," he said in a low voice. No one's had the nerve to call me pretty in a long time. Even Fayt had never used "pretty" to describe Albel. Maybe beautiful, but never pretty. It annoyed him, adding to the hatred he was quickly building for Erik.

"You don't seem to understand." Erik smirked. "Fayt's dead. He's gone, and you're not too bad looking." Erik's hands ran through Albel's hair. He tried to back up, to get away, only to find the wall still firmly behind him.

"Don't touch me." Albel's voice was low and threatening.

"Yeah, you've got that dangerous, sexy thing going on."

Albel snarled as Erik's hand's ruffled his hair. "Look, I'm not going to fuck you, maggot. Find someone else."

Erik narrowed his eyes, studying Albel's face. "I want you. And I get what I want."

The servant pressed his lips into Albel's, shoving his tongue into the other mans throat. Disgusted, Albel bit down hard, drawing blood from Erik's tongue.

"I loved Fayt. I won't fuck you, even if he is dead." Albel glared, satisfied with his own response.

Erik smirked, his lips smeared with blood. "Who said you'd be fucking me? I think I'd be fucking you."

Albel looked unamused and glared. "Me? Uke?" He spat on the ground again. "I don't think so."

"Oh, don't worry about the details. You'll be mine in no time." Erik's lips met Albel's again, the sweet tang of blood filling his mouth until both their lips were covered in it. Erik nodded and stroked Albel's cheek. "Yes, you look very pretty with bloody lips. It suits you."

"I said don't touch me," Albel snapped. "And I'd love to see more of your blood, all over the floor around your dead body."

"That's probably exactly how Fayt is right now, don't you think? Lying in his own blood, dead?"

The mental image of Fayt, his body twisted and covered in blood burned strongly within Albel. No, Fayt! He can't really be like that, but he is! Why didn't I save him! Why did they do that, why to sweet, innocent Fayt, why not ME?

Erik must have noticed the pain on Albel's face, because he was still smiling. "Yeah, he's gone."

Before Albel could say anything, Sophia interrupted. "Alright!" she called out, and everyone in the room turned to her. "Albel, we don't know what to do with you. But it's your fault Fayt is dead."

Rage flared up within Albel again. "YOU'RE BLAMING ME FOR FAYT'S DEATH!"

Sophia nodded as if this were obvious. "Well, yes. The day you come back, he jumps off a cliff. Me and him had three years together and nothing like this ever happened."

"I WAS RESCUING HIM! THIS IS YOUR FAULT, YOU FUCKED UP EVERYTHING!" Albel's voice filled with more anger and hatred as he spoke then he thought was possible.

Sophia sighed, looking extremely frustrated now. "Rescuing him! From what, Albel? A normal life? Being married to a woman, like a normal man? All you did was take away his only chance at normal happiness!"

No, no, that's not what I did. I won't fall for her foolish tricks. "You can't be foolish enough to think what you offered him was normal. A marriage where he feared his wife, where he longed for someone else, someone you let him think was dead!" Albel fought to contain his emotions, he never showed anything but anger or hatred in front of his victims. Not regret, or pity. "Maybe I'm a serial killer, but I know Fayt would have been happy with me. He loved me- you made him miserable, you made him ashamed, and you made him afraid!"

"Normal and happy aren't the same thing."

Albel's gaze was even. "I'd rather see Fayt happy than normal."

He tried again to break free, lunging forward and pushing away Erik, but Masaki rushed to help his fellow servant hold Albel down.

"Damn you all," Albel whispered, and reluctantly stopped his struggling.

"Much better," Sophia remarked, nodding approvingly.

Albel glared at Sophia, who looked away. Hah! Finally, she shows a little fear. Let's see what we can do with this…

"You're going to die," Albel informed her, his voice containing no emotion. "I'm going to kill you, however I can." His voice rose, angry, as he went on, "Nobody puts my Fayt through everything you did and lives to tell about it. Don't think you can get away with what you've done. I know what you did, and it will be me who makes you pay." Albel's eyes never left Sophia's as he spoke, blood dripping down his chin.

Sophia shifted her feet uneasily- the movement was small, but Albel was an expert at sniffing out fear. It was crucial to killing, knowing what scared the victim and preying upon that fear, weakening them until the murder was easy.

Fear of death perhaps. Or maybe fear of imperfection, of losing. Maybe I can find flaws, or embarrassing moments. Mistakes. Imperfections. I can bring her down with her own imperfections, she's just that sort of person.

"So did you enjoy him?" Albel asked, still looking Sophia in the eye. He was gaining confidence, if he played her right this would work.

Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Enjoy him?"

"Yeah. My Fayt. Did you enjoy what you did to make him straight? I know all about that. Did the perfect Sophia enjoy what she did, sleeping with a gay man?"

Her eyes widened slightly and she looked down for a brief second. She's good, but she can only hide so much fear.

Sophia recovered from this blow quickly, smiling and answering, "Did I?" She paused to laugh, the fake polite laugh heard at parties. "Well, you taught him well. He was terribly good-looking, too. Don't you agree?" Her fake laugh came again, irritating Albel more. "I have to say, he looks cute when he blushes."

Albel fought to contain his anger at hearing someone else talk about Fayt like that. Fayt was only mine, not hers, only I get to say those things about him! Sophia looked satisfied, and continued.

"Hm, he looks better panting though, don't you think? Not to mention he has perfect hips…" Sophia giggled in a little girl sort of way.

That was more than Albel would have normally let anyone say about Fayt, but he was powerless to stop her. She's trying to make me mad, so I'll do something stupid. Damn it, she's doing good too! How is it she can manage to flaunt the fact that she slept with Fayt and use it against me. I know he didn't love her, I won't let her win!

Albel's defiant glare was back. "Good to know we can agree on something."

Sophia smiled sweetly. "Yes, but that doesn't seem to be doing us much good now."

"Because," Albel shot back sharply, "Fayt didn't feel the same way about you. He was my lover, not yours."

Sophia flung her arm out in frustration. "Stop calling Fayt yours! Did you own him or something?"

Albel smirked and answered confidently, "In a sense. Now why are you keeping me here? What good am I doing you?"

"If I kill you, I would be charged for murder. I'm keeping you here until I get something figured out."

"Oh, being charged for murder will be the least of your worries when I'm through with you." Albel's smirk flashed again.

"Hah. Look, Nox, give it up. You aren't going to kill me, now maybe if you would help me I won't turn you in to the police, because you know they won't be as kind as me."

"After what you did to Fayt, I can never forgive you. All I want is my revenge."

Sophia laughed a little, though the sound contained nervousness. "That's pointless. Who says Fayt would want you to get this revenge? You weren't the one dating him in the last years of his life. Who says he still loves you?"

"Because he ran crying to me as soon as I came back. It's not you he wants, it's me he belongs to."

Sophia smiled very slightly, as though about to reveal something secret. "Do you think he belonged to you while he slept with me?"

Albel's eyes blazed with hatred, but he kept otherwise calm. "Yeah," he said softly. "I think he hated you almost as much as I do."

Sophia seemed to be realizing she couldn't win a battle of words against him like this, pausing thoughtfully before she answered. Just admit he was mine and maybe I'll kill you painlessly. But it's not likely.

"Well," Sophia stated simply, looking more confident, "He's dead. Gone forever. And the last person he was with was me. You were just a lover from three years ago. I was something much more recent."

"THAT'S IT BITCH!" Albel yelled, aware that by losing his temper he gave up the edge he had by acting calm. "WE BOTH KNOW HE HATED YOU!"

Sophia's eyes spoke of fear, but her voice was calm. "Did he? I think he must have taken a liking to me. After all, I was his bride."

Albel glared at her, but Sophia didn't back down. "Taken a liking to you? I doubt it. Fayt never wanted your damn publicity. You act like it's some sort of miracle. Money and fame." Albel spat out blood. "What did publicity do for Fayt?"

"Publicity," Sophia interrupted, "would have brought him money and fame, like you said. It would have been enough for him to live happily, he just needed more time to adjust."

"He could never adjust to you, not after everything you did to him. He never wanted your damn publicity. It's cheap and doesn't last. You were only marrying him to get more publicity, to last longer."

"And why did you want him then? Nothing is more intriguing then a serial killer whose lover follows him everywhere."

"I would never sink to your level, to use Fayt. He followed me willingly, and he loved me." Albel's voice was cold, raising the tension in the room further. Sophia backed down, averting her eyes from Albel's intense glare. "You give everything up for people to notice you, maggot. Then what? You'll die and be forgotten in a few short years."

"It is a miracle, though. Everywhere I go, people know my name. There's always someone to do my bidding. Everything I want, I can get through money and fame. Don't you want Fayt to have that?"

Albel smirked and answered, "That's nothing fear can't accomplish. And fear is what kept Fayt safe, until you made him a publicity stunt. YOU even caused his suicide!"

Sophia sighed, obviously annoyed. "We've been over this- it was obviously your fault. It's a classic scenario. Boy loves girl, girl loves boy, creepy murder ruins everything!" Sophia's voice rose in volume and anger as she spoke. "I'll be enjoying my publicity. You can enjoy the death penalty."

They can condemn me to death, that doesn't scare me. I lived for Fayt, and he's dead now. I failed on him in the end. Death is only what I deserve.

"Go ahead. Turn me in. It won't help you now, I'll still kill you," Albel spoke in a low, threatening voice, as though he were in control, not her.

"Help me? Can't you just see the news tomorrow?" She flung her hands out, as though picturing something grand. "Albel Nox captured! What really happened after the wedding! I'll come out looking depressed, crying over how you threw Fayt off a cliff."

"YOU BITCH!" Albel cut in. He lunged forward, but was pushed back by Masaki and Erik. "I think it'll be more like your obituary!"

Sophia laughed confidently, Albel was pinned down and he knew it. "Hah! You're trapped, you can't hurt me. Give it up. We've just got to wait a while, make the story believable."

Hah, that only gives me time. I've still got a gun. Maybe if I can trick Masaki away, I'll have time to reload…

"Hey Masaki, I'll make a deal with you," Albel whispered to the servant.

Masaki narrowed his eyes. "Hah. Like what?"

"Well, we both know I can break free any time I want, so it's really Sophia that needs guarding. You stay here and act like you're helping hold me down, then I'll break free and kill Sophia while she's unprotected. I'll give you money, come on."

Maskai laughed dryly and let go of Albel. "Yeah right, murderer." He walked to Sophia and stood in front of her. "You won't be hurting Miss Esteed." Sophia smiled triumphantly.

Fools. That was too easy. Now, Erik will be easy.

Albel sighed, as if annoyed. "Damn it, you've got me. I'll go along with your plan."

Sophia smiled, flashing brilliant white teeth. "I knew you'd see things my way. That makes this so much easier."

Erik grinned, turning to Sophia. All eyes were on her, and Albel took the opportunity, snatching three bullets out of his boot and loading the gun, before quickly dropping both hands again. "So I can have him, then?" Erik asked. The man's eyes traveled over Albel, studying every inch of him.

Sophia shrugged. "It doesn't matter to me what you two do."

This is my chance. Alright, come on Erik, do this right. The unpredictability of people was always the unknown factor, but Albel was almost certain Erik would fall right into his trap.

Albel leaned into the bodyguard, breathing onto his neck. "I'll gladly be yours," he whispered, sliding his slender hands easily under the man's shirt.

Erik breathed heavily, leaning in closer to Albel, their hips grinding together. "Of course you will."

Albel's mouth moved to the other man's neck, sucking on the skin lightly, hoping to distract him. It worked perfectly- Erik paid no attention to Albel's hands moving up his chest.

Erik pushed Albel further into the wall, trying to move closer to him. Instantly, his expression turned from lust to fear. In moving closer to Albel, he slammed his chest right into the gun still in Albel's hand.

"I told you I wasn't going to fuck you," Albel whispered. He pulled the trigger and Erik fell down dead, blood pouring from him, forming a red coating on the floor.

"Lust," Albel remarked, kicking aside the body, "can be more powerful then fear."

Sophia, however, looked very afraid. She was left alone with a serial killer and a guard who was obviously unarmed. Her face was white, and her voice shook. "Masaki…run. I want someone who has the whole story."

The servant looked hesitant. "Miss Esteed, if I leave you here with him, he'll kill you! I can't…"

Sophia shook her head. "No, Masaki. Go. Make sure the public knows everything!"

Masaki nodded, and ran, stopping at the door to look back. Albel pointed the gun at him and he took off running again.

Albel laughed wildly. He loved the fear, everywhere there was fear. It was all over Sophia's face, it hung about her, and he wanted to breathe it in, to revel in the fear he had created. Fear was all she had let Fayt feel, fear was in Fayt's eyes when he spoke of her, fear radiated from Fayt when she was near him and fear would be his sweet revenge. Fear would punish Sophia, punish her until he killed her in the midst of all her fear.

Albel slammed the gun into Sophia's face, and kicked her in the stomach. She fell down, shrieking in pain as she hit the ground. Albel pointed the gun at her forehead, smirking in delight.

"I win."

Author's Note: Yup. Sophia just got slammed in the face and has a gun pointed at her! WAHAHAHAHAHA! I KNOW YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!

I told you having faith in me was a good thing, didn't I? Who knows where I'm going next! Only me, some friends (most of whom really don't care), my boyfriend and my sister. Heh…but not you. Unless you are one of aforementioned people.

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! I loved all the reviews last time, and now I have faith that you can do that again! Don't hesitate to send a good review, I don't care if it's short!