Disclaimer: Disclaim, disclaim, disclaim – you get the picture XD

Note: Sorry for the long wait. I have good news! I hope to have another chapter of Star Crossed Enemies out soon. Keep your fingers crossed and while you wait please enjoy chappie three for Prelude. Oh, and a special thanks to BlueTrillium! I got the idea to use the Nox mansion from her most wonderful fic.


The darkness is neither friend nor foe. In the darkness is where the monsters lay in wait. In the darkness dwells the unknown. Answers too swarm in the darkness for the mind is encased in the skull and shunned from light.

Prelude to the Soul

Chapter Three

A thin layer of fog covered the glass in a rigid circle. Albel kept his breath short and shallow so not to restrict his view as he peered from the window of his late father's mansion. The one place he had restrained from returning for so long was the one place he had set on going.

He stood at the second story window and watched as the ignorant people treaded in blissful unawareness below him. As he stood high above the ground, his precious Crimson Scourge rested abandoned at the front door. It would stay there until he was ready to leave. The things he needed to fight within the cold walls that surrounded him could not be killed by the blade.

It was the same as it had been a few short months ago. His blade had provided little protection. When it came time to fight, his sword was nothing more than a toy. A useless toy. The same held true for his claw but he kept that with him. For now his claw was an item of security.

His claw also signified his reasons for returning to the place his father had raised him. His memories of his mother were hazy at best. She remained faceless to him, her image drowned by years of loss, but her smile burned brightly in his dreams. The one good thought he had held on to the longest was the smile of a mother. His mother.

He restricted the image of her warm smile from his mind. He was there to punish himself and would not let her in to help him. He was a man and he had to do this on his own.

Behind the glass it was midday. The sun was high and the streets below were well lit. Inside it was the deepest of nights. Inside the mansion and inside himself. Both were the same…both were the true image of gloom.

In the dark catacombs that ran under Airyglyph he had lost something very precious to him. Something that was irreplaceable. More irreplaceable then his pride could ever achieve in esteem.

He hoped that facing the ghosts of his past would help to regain a small ounce of what was taken from him. He had been stripped and gutted. He had been broken beyond all restraint but refused to give up. His punishment would endure until he was able to have that one thing back.

His eyes had drifted lazily among the citizens below with no destination. Every detail was lost. Though he saw the view before him, his mind ignored it. That was, until something caught his attention. His vision had blocked all color from the lifeless life below him, yet through the many shades of gray one color burned. Red.

He focused his eyes and snorted in fake amusement. Walking the street below was none other than Zelpher. She was walking with Woltar. No doubt the two were making it known to walk in public to uphold public relations.

What made him take notice was the expression on each face. Woltar was clearly amused and Nel was not happy at all. She looked as if she would start to yell at any moment.

He watched until the two were out of sight. Once they were gone he stepped back from the window to the room that had once been his own. His eyes darted along the dark corners. The room was dead. It had died almost a decade ago. There was no life left; not even the life he had brought with him.

He felt as dead inside as the room. Walking softly he set to wander. The floor creaked under each step and the long neglected wood threatened to give way under his feet. Even in death the house cried. It cried as he did with no tears to show.

Tonight he would stay within the entombing walls. He would force himself to do the one thing he had dreaded more than anything. He would stay and attempt to face his ghosts. Perhaps then he could recover what it was he had lost. What it was he had stolen from him.

The one who had represented death had forced from him his most valuable of assets.

Albel fell to his knees and heaved. Just the thoughts from that day and him being in the place he had put himself were overwhelming. His true flesh hand grasped desperately at his chest as he wheezed. He swallowed back all urges to lose control.

He forced his lips tight and stood; using the rail for support. He gave the stairs one look before walking unsteadily away. Below him was freedom. Right now freedom was his enemy. If he could stay then maybe somehow he could find a way to amend his sins.

If that was possible he had a chance at finding what he had lost. He had a chance at regaining his soul.

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Nel retraced her steps. Walking with Woltar had been both stressful and strenuous. It wasn't that she did not like the man. She was mad at herself for liking him. She had never asked and he never told how he came into possession of her father's daggers. That was something she knew was best unknown. But on a level deep in her subconscious she knew. She knew the truth and was angry at herself for the respect she held for him.

There was also a new tension that took over for the old tension of being on foreign soil. The sensation was one of self infliction and doubt. She didn't know why, but she cursed herself for being so familiar with Airyglyph.

As childish as it was, she feared change. The end of the war was for the best. Her journeys with the others among the stars was far from pointless. Still, the things she had learned had altered her perceptions and she feared it was for the worse.

She stopped briefly in the middle of the street. The daily traffic was dwindling. Life went on no matter what the change in tide provided. Her life didn't need to stop, but she was unsure as to how to get it started again.

Reflexes alerted her attention to her right. The wind had played its tricks on her by blowing the withered branches of a rotten tree. The branches brushed against an equally deteriorating shutter. The house beyond the tree was known not for what it once was but for what the kids called it today.

It was 'the haunted house' formally known as Nox manor. A chill ran down her spine and she hugged herself. Resuming her stride, she couldn't help but to wonder what had been so horrible that Albel had not returned to the mansion.

She didn't dwell on it. The same could be asked of her. After her father had been officially declared dead, she had finally opted to sell the house she grew up in. The house held nothing but fond memories, but those memories cut her deeper then any sword could.

Her happiness of days gone only made her miss such joy in days she lived afterward.

She didn't stop until she reached the inn and was locked in her room. She let her memories focus briefly on the faces of those she had traveled with. She wondered if any of them felt as she did. She could only hope they did not. It wasn't something on wished for. No one wanted to feel dead inside.

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So many months had passed by that Albel had lost track of time. It had been nearly two years since he had spent that night in his father's mansion. Even in thought he could not make himself accept the fact it was now his. It would always be his father's home, since it would never feel like home to him.

He had busied himself with work and more journeys. All his journeys were taken alone. After his time in the mansion he began to expect to run into a certain Aquarian on his journeys but time had been cruel. He could not fathom why he was disappointed at the end when both answers and her face eluded him. He had not seen her in years and it troubled him.

He never lingered on those thoughts. Nor did he call her image to his head unless he was on a journey. And the times he did think of her he quickly destroyed any thoughts and refused to dwell on them. His answers did not rely on her and they never would.

Over time he had not found what he sought. He had learned to deal with the life he had and the alterations in its pattern. He had come to the conclusion that happiness was something that would never exist. He had been lost for years and no longer held hope for a change.

As he entered the king's chamber, he did not care for what task he would be sent on. If he lost his life in the line of duty at least he would have been able to obtain some honor to his country. Concern for himself had left him. He heard the rumors about him that had floated around. About how he had become less arrogant and more withdrawn. He simply shrugged at this as he had done before. No one knew what he really was and idle talk did nothing to affect him. No one knew him – not even himself.

Albel halted his steps only a few feet from the worried king. Instead of sitting on his throne, the king was pacing the floor. Albel stopped and rested his clawed hand on the hilt of his sword. Almost immediately a silent warning rang through him courtesy of the Crimson Scourge itself. His breath became short and an unexplained excitement passed through him. He kept his features lax but could not stop his anticipation. Only on rare occasions was he given such warning. Each time it indicated that danger was near. Life threatening danger.

"Albel, we have received reports of lights on the northern horizon. There is something truly strange about them. I wish for you to take a team and investigate." The king spoke sharply and fast. As he paced he had only glanced at the swordsman but had not held him in his sight as was his normal habit.

Albel nodded. Only on few occasions had he seen the king in such a state. His awareness went on an automatic heightened alert.

The king looked at him and returned his nod. "My concern is not only the lights. The animals from that region have fled their homes. Even the dragons and porcupine have left the area. The lights have been accompanied by foreign noises and are located far too close to the castle for ease."

Albel turned his back to the king and proceeded across the room to the exit. "Leave it to me," was all he said as he left the chamber.

He took no time in assembling a team of soldiers. Under his command, he led six of his finest into the mountains in the north. Each man was responsible for his own supplies. Albel had been sure to keep a supply pack ready when needed. As much as he wanted to ignore the bag and leave it behind; he knew better. He strived for self punishment but was not yet suicidal. Not yet.

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Nel left for Peterny without so much as a word to anyone. She never questioned the queen's orders. She had always done as told with no thought; but the paper in her hand weighted heavy on her.

She had yet to rise above the slump she had been in for years. The loss of emotions she had experienced, as well as the depression she fought were in no way to help her in what she had to do. In her hands was a simple note, wrote in the queen's own handwriting and sealed with Aquaria's holy seal.

The hour had yet to grow late but clouds bountiful with rain blocked most of the day. Without a thought, she placed the letter in her shirt and close to her heart. It was the only place she would assure it would remain untouched by the rain.

The hand had just finished its task of securing her mission when the rain feel in abundance. She had only made it half way to Peterny and was already soaked. She continued to walk steadily as running would do no good but to tire her.

Her boots collected mud as she treaded the path. Any creature who refused to seek shelter from the storm met its end at the tip of her daggers. She felt like one of those machines she had seen in her adventures from years past. A machine who acted without thought. Perhaps that was what she had become. A machine with no heart.

As she reached the gates of Peterny, she shivered. The weather was warm even in the presence of rain but on the inside she was chilled to the bone.

She made no stops as she crossed through the town to the inn. Even though night was hours away she wished for a bed and a quiet place to think. Ignoring any looks she received as she entered the inn, she reserved her room.

Tonight she would stay in Peterny. Tomorrow night her stay would be in Arias. On the third day she would enter Kirlsa for the first time in a year. That was where her mission ended and her new role began. Her life had become her missions and therefore was not much of a life but more of a role. She had nothing to contribute to anyone, lest of all herself. She had long ago lost her will to live.

She had, in fact, become an organic machine.

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Albel managed to keep his blood from over boiling as another soldier fell at his feet. He had watched one man struck down and now another. Both of the fallen men were under his charge. Both men had followed his command to attack and they had paid the ultimate price. Despite his calm and ready pose, Albel hated to see his own men fall at the hands of the enemy.

Most would read his expression as anger at his foe and disapproval at his men. Hidden inside the crevasses of his being were his true emotions. Anger spread like wildfire through him – this was true. For his men, there was no disapproval. He knew each was a capable soldier. Their deaths fell on him. He commanded their slaughter. Even if his intent was not to see them die, it was his fault.

He bit down hard on his lip as he studied his opponents. It had taken two days for him to make it to the clearing in the mountain's valley. The reason for the delay was in the search. '…lights on the northern horizon' was far from an exact location. Around midday on the second day they found the location they sought; along with an ambush.

Something about his new enemy rung heavily with familiarity. He might put on airs of non-concern, but he was extremely observant. He knew immediately that the enemy was no native to Elicoor. They carried weapons like those the bossy-wench Maria had wielded.

That girl had racked his nerves. She was much like him and it irked him to be in her presence. Like him, she was a leader and good at masking her true feelings. While traveling those years ago, he had found himself in a strange new environment. In order to survive he had to swallow his pride and follow. Albel Nox was not a follower. He loathed the idea itself. Yet, he had followed her and the others in the name of survival and victory.

He was not a follower but he was willing to do what was needed to win. He made a choice: he became a follower to keep from becoming defeated.

When he looked back he could clearly identify the one element of that trip that kept him anchored. He never showed it, but fear had been one of his companions when among the stars. His fear was shared and with that revelation came comfort. The others knew the technology. The others had foresight on what to expect. Four of them did not. Out of the four, he could identify his fear marked on one.

He wondered if Adray feared anything. The old fool would jump head first into a pit of lava without a second thought. Perhaps he had been apprehensive but as a seasoned soldier he was not one to let anything hinder him. As much as Albel should have respected the man, he could not. Whether it was the conflict in personalities or something else, he wasn't sure. He just did not like the man.

Roger wasn't even an option. The boy was intrigued by even the smallest thing and never sat still long enough to really understand what was going on. Like most children, fear was something he had yet to learn in its entirety.

Zelpher. Though not a leader as he was, she was still a leader. Her squad was smaller and her rank under his; but she took what was thrown at her and threw it back. He had to admire the way she handled herself when away from Elicoor. At times he would catch the look in her eyes that mirrored his own feelings. She was scared but refused to give in to fear. She was his anchor. In his own way he had thanked her. He had given her the one thing he did not bestow upon anyone without reason. The one thing he hadn't given any other before her, as no others were deserving of it. He had given her an honest kiss.

-Flashback-

After many heartfelt goodbyes, Maria transported all the off-worlders away. This left him standing in Arias with the other three Elicoorians.

Roger, happy to be back where everything was 'natural', quickly darted away with a "See you later." Adray mumbled something about Clair and headed for the mansion. This left Nel and Albel alone at the western gate.

"Well, Nox, I never would have thought I'd see the day we would work together."

"Humph. I was just bored. Nothing more."

He could feel her skeptical look bury into him. For a second he caught himself wondering what was going on in her head. What she was thinking about and most importantly – how long she was going to stare at him.

She stepped closer and looked him in the eyes. "Bored? And what now?"

He lifted on eyebrow slightly. "I'll find some other way to amuse myself. What concern is it of yours?"

She shook her head. "You'll never change will you?"

"Bah."

"I see. Knowing you, amusement comes in some form dark and cold."

Dark and cold… He was momentarily struck by these words but refused to show it. After all they had been through she still thought of him as dark and cold. She was closer to the truth then she realized and it weighed heavily on him. It was in that instant he understood he needed to find something to hold on to. He had just gotten out of a situation which left no room to think.

Now, thinking was all he had to do. He knew if he let himself think too much it would kill him.

A shout, unmistakably from Clair, pulled him from his inner pain. Clair had called for Nel and he knew that she would respond and use it as a way to make her exit from him. She would leave and not look back. If there was ever a time to act, that was the time.

Before she could turn away from him, he grabbed both sides of her face. He made sure to apply little pressure and to keep the clawed fingers of his claw from her skin. The claw was made to go over his new hand, but it was just as deadly as his old one had been. Giving her no time to break free, he held her while he kissed her.

When he pulled away, he saw her blush fiercely at him. Her initial expression was embarrassment, then surprise and then anger.

He smirked. "That didn't feel so cold to me." He turned and started out of the gate. "Perhaps I should thank you for the brief amusement. It's not every day your face matches your hair."

He walked steady for the town's exit. His uncharacteristic smirk didn't leave his face until he entered Kirlsa.

-End Flashback-

He smiled briefly as he thought about her face. The shade of red it had become had won its way into one of his few fond memories. As much as he had punished himself in the years that had passed, in a time like this he found he needed an anchor once more.

He charged forward, ready to decapitate the first alien he crossed. He gripped his katana and sprang at the nearest foe. His blade sliced through the air and straight for its target. But the blood never came. As he was in midair, he felt the pinch of something collide with his chest; throwing him from his pounce.

He tried to land on his feet but failed. As his head hit the ground his thoughts scattered and his vision blurred. In a last attempt at coherent thought he understood he would not meet the same fate as his men. They would be allowed to die. He was being drugged and he was unable to escape the grasp of sleep.

End Chapter 3


Blue's Afterthoughts: Yeah! Finally getting into 'Inside My Heart'! I love this. Now for all of you out there who wanted to know what Albel and Nel were thinking during that fic – here's your chance. Don't worry, since this runs parallel with that fic, I will not go into it all that much. The scenes for this one will be of Albel and/or Nel only. I will add notes to the end to help explain things a bit for anyone who hasn't read that fic.

For starters, in that fic Albel was given back his left hand. Fayt 'n friends used modern technology to give him back his hand but he still wears a claw. The flashback is from 'Inside My Heart' but in that fic it was from Nel's point of view (ch.5 towards the end) and here it's from Albel's. Also, 'Inside My Heart' will be given some slight editing as this fic goes on so that the two match.

Questions are welcomed. I'll answer them at the beginning of the next chapter.

Oh yeah, and the authoress of 'Inside My Heart' has given me complete permission to use any and all of that fic! O.o (yeah, I forgot to take my medication today XD)