HI! I'm home, I'm home, I'm home! (does crazy dance) Yay! Germany was a fun place! I've never shopped so much in my life. I bought a lot of nice things, but for someone who doesn't shop that often, it was really, really weird. The town I was in is called Forrcheim and it's in Bavaria. The town celebrated its frigging 1200th birthday! OMGoodies, that is OLD. But it's so beautiful! I've never felt like more tranquil and at calm than I felt when I was there. I also missed a lot of TT episodes, so I don't know how 'The End' or any of the other shows were. So if I boo-boo and flub any information, please tell me! Yet here I am, ready to give you chappie number 10! Roll the tape – after thank yous and disclaimers…
Jimmy the Gothic Egg – A hatchet…that's something to think about… I'm more of an arsenic / strangling girl, myself…
starfire0639 – Yay! This boy you know sounds rather cute, indeed! He sounds like one awesome friend.
DarkWindingRose – Thankies! Germany was a blast, but I'm soooo happy to be home. I spent seven weeks in school there…. Good lordy… That's almost two months longer than everyone else… ('weeps', I missed half my summer!)
Free-Desert-Wind – I swear you are like the coolest person alive… Time for Harry Potter talk: I like the way you see a connection like that! It makes me happy, cuz I loooove HP. Good books, good movies, it all rocks! But I have to admit that even after I read the sixth book, I still like Snape. I think the poor guy is misunderstood and we have yet to see all of his surprises. I think Lockhart was funny as heck and I hope Rita Skeeter someday gets squishied. About your criticism on my Author's Notes, I totally agree. I can't help it; sometimes I'm such an extrovert and I can't hush it. Thanks so much for the constructive analyzing and for pointing it all out. Plus, I even looked up British slang on the internet…I can't believe half of it, it's so weird! Try it, you'll get a laugh.
RavenluvsBB – Will they make up in time? I don't know; I hope they do.
Kazzy103 – I'm glad you like the humor! Humor is essentially my essence and I HAVE to have it in a story or I bore everyone including myself. On with the James bashing!
VIVACIOUSxx – You nailed it! But shhhh…. (wink, wink)
dancingirl3 – I hope that portal transported you somewhere safe and that you managed to snag a bite to eat while you were there! We wouldn't want you to starve while in hiding. BB/Rae, indeed, indeed!
Robyn J. – I love the enthusiasm! Loraine – eh, I love the girl, but she ticks me off, too. We must see what her next move is, oh dear. I'm glad my story was worth the wait. You and the others make it exciting to write it. Germany was grand! But I went to school there so I almost died…of boredom, that is.
catastrophe is me – Sure, I'll have those lists for you next chappie! It made me happy when you said it was in character. I was afraid I'd lose the characters in the drama… Rock on!
Purpurroter Schatten Drache – Here's a new one!
BBlover – The ring thing…I didn't think of that! You're great! I HAVE to keep that in mind, definitely! Thank you!
charmed1JOAgurl – Lol, I believe James is past wooing and his true intentions will come forth. Will he die, though? Will he? And shall they fight? Oh, surely, they will soon!
Chibi Scooby – I'm glad it was worth the curiosity and the read!
MiSs JoVaNNa – Heh, yeah, it's Vesper, but it'll change back over time. We all love Raven!
DarkElf6 – Lmao! It's not like I'm timing you, honey! I'm very honored you love it, Schatz! I'll have to review yours as soon as your 'partner in crime' returns to his computer!
Only-getting-darker – Jinaveast? Lol! You wish for a list on Raven? Okay, then, next chappie, I promise, cross my little, black heart! You rock, too, m'dear!
Shadow and Nightmare – Wow, you guys are a horde of spitfire! Yes, I have been informed that Mr. Robin's true name is indeed Dick, and as soon as I figure out how – because I don't know anything about computers – I'll change all the chapters so his right name is there. I'm not one for begging, and I really don't want to die, and I'd offer sugar as some form of peace treaty but I think you already have enough…so I offer balloons. Do you like balloons? I love balloons… And, awwww, I like Cyborg! Oh, well!
But one more thing, everyone: I'm getting news that writers are NOT allowed to reply to reviews. Is this a rumor? I hope that's all it is. I like talking to y'all.
Disclaimer: I don't believe in owning things…Not TT and not The Inferno by Dante Alighieri
Ch. 10: Roses Scatter to the Lawn
Half-an-hour had passed and Gar sat there, wallowing and recapping his ten-second fight with Vesper. She had stormed off quickly, much faster than usual. She always ran away from her problems. But at the speed of a moody bullet she scrammed, leaving him in the wake of confusion and aggravation.
After a long time of looking at his hands, which were perfectly 'normal' shades – this he was still not used to – he gazed up and around the colossal, striking ballroom. It was then he noticed the shark-like, determined approach of Loraine, hips swaying and eyes glinting. Gar hopped up to stand so fast he almost tumbled back into his seat. Bearing the biggest fake grin he could muster, he welcomed her warmly.
"Hey, Loraine, what's up?"
"As of now, the population in the greenhouse," Loraine grinned mischievously, her comment eliciting a raised eyebrow from the hero incognito.
"Why, you still haven't found your husband?"
It was innocent question, but it still had Loraine doing a double-take. "Beg pardon?"
"Umm, you know, your husband?" Gar blinked, bemused. "The man you're married to."
"Oh, cutie, I knew what you were talking about." Loraine grinned, catlike expression returning readily. "But I really don't know where on earth that man is. Would you blame me? Would you remain with the one person who hurt you more than anything else?"
He could tell she was playing the victim and that all that was spewing from her mouth was complete and utter eloquent tripe. Still, that last question was a homerun strike to the heart. He thought of Vesper and how much agony she put him through sometimes; of the youth they had shared and all the chaos she had advertently and inadvertently caused; of the moments he believed she had finally developed into the woman everyone hoped she would admit to being inside. It was impossible to say how she felt about him, for as much as she didn't want to confess, she was just like most girls, trying a man on for size, and if she didn't like what she saw, she would be prepared to drop him in a heartbeat. But there was something to her that most women did not have. It was a piece of goodliness that made her thoughts a bit wiser, her heart a bit deeper, her wounds a bit deadlier, and her fears a bit more realized. No matter how much she hurt him, somehow Gar knew, he believed, he had seen, she never meant to make him suffer.
"Yes." He answered Loraine determinedly after a long moment of pensive silence.
Loraine's brows furrowed and head cocked curiously as she tried to process this. "Yes? You'd stick with this person? The one person who could leave you alone and afraid and without hope forever?" Her voice had grown a bit high-pitched and whiny towards the end as she put her hand to her breast, reacting as though she was a super-computer who couldn't handle the simplest, yet most challenging code ever programmed into her. "Do you know what it is to be left behind?"
Her questions were a universal inquiry. Everyone alive had been hurt by someone else and left to wander in personal misery. But under the tone of her interest, he knew she was talking about herself. She was trying to get him to pity her! Gar grinned inwardly. He may not have been the smartest of the group when he was a kid, but it didn't mean he hadn't caught a bit of streetwise from California. Loraine was no better than a whore with her own agenda.
"Yup." He said with a lopsided grin, toying with her more than he was earlier. He had the upper hand. "I mean," he shrugged, "you can depend all you want on the person you love and they can leave you, but isn't it weakness to just wallow? You have to be a fighter!" He punched her shoulder playfully and she gave a little jump. "Right, slugger?"
Loraine was as distraught as she could possibly fathom. "I – I don't agree!" Trying a more personal approach, she swung her arms around him, for clearly her other technique had gone south. "My husband is such a bastard! I loved him and he used me! I don't know if I'll ever recover!" She pulled back, gave him pouty lips, and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Please help me get over him. I just want to forget him. Help me be strong!" And her hand slid down his back to his butt, squeezing it softly.
Gar felt himself tense. Patting the sleazy woman on the back, he reached for a wine glass – for she had just finished her third one – and handed it to her. "You want help?" he asked, giving her the most attractive, alluring expression he knew. "I'll help you."
Smiling like the vixen she was, Loraine took the proffered glass and downed it.
Vesper didn't understand people sometimes, wealthy or dirt poor. Who the hell opened their greenhouse at the end of December? Clearly humans weren't the wisest dominant species she had ever encountered. Still…it was still nice and quiet. And the last intrusive couple left two minutes ago. Maybe she could even meditate here…
Dropping her coat, she sat down on the floor, surrounded by all sorts of foreign fauna and flora, the lights overhead dim, but the room still fairly warm. It had to be warm, otherwise the plants would die. She noted that there were several heaters scattered throughout the see-through building. She wanted to hover and levitate; wrapped in the false warmth and true greenery, but her dress wouldn't allow it. So she sat, crossing her legs, and let herself sink once again into her haven, departing from the harsh bitterness that the real world instilled upon her.
But instead of escaping the problems that plagued her, she seemed to feel herself running towards them. Vesper fell into a dream – or possibly, a vision. Knowing that she had no choice, she followed the black path.
The thorns from the plants on either side of her tore at her legs, ripping off her skin and letting blood flow down her calves and bare feet. The path wavered, changed, constantly shaking like it stretched across an earthquake. As she ran, she felt herself trip, like she was drunk and unable to keep her balance. Vesper's head screamed for stillness and her body screamed for stability, but she continued forward, letting the plants stab her and the world to spin. It felt like the path went on for miles and she could see shadows behind the pointing vines, the fragments of faces and the eerie glow of demonic eyes watching her. So intent on trying to discern these twisted faces, Vesper didn't see the vine stretch out before her, gripping her ankle and tripping her. She tumbled, landing on her stomach, gasping for breath.
Catching a few heaves of air, she looked up to see how much farther she had to run. It was that moment she realized the world had stopped shaking. Before her loomed a large tower. It was structured like a medieval stone fortress. Vesper climbed to her feet, staring in awe at the tower. The sky above it was black and thundering and streaks of lightening interfered in the steady dark. The structure itself was also ominous and omnipotent, but it was summoning her. She walked to it, taking another deep breath, then coughed violently at the disgusting smell that invaded her sense. The vines of the path had all sprouted roses. But these roses…they smelled horrible! She could almost see the fetid stench wafting from the plants. Putting her hand over her mouth, she continued to run to the tower.
Darting up the steps, the smell ensued, but she ran on, trying to reach the end of the vision at rapid speed. The spiral staircase took her ever upwards until her head was again swimming with dizziness and nausea. With no windows or openings in the wall she had no idea how high she was. But she saw a light ahead, floors above her, bending around the turning staircase, flowing down to her. She climbed with more determination, legs pumping and throbbing from the wounds, and she reached it. Vesper reached a landing and ahead of her was a closed door. It was wooden and moldy, but she could see words etched into the planks of the door. She read it.
I AM THE WAY INTO THE CITY OF WOE.
I AM THE WAY TO A FORSAKEN PEOPLE.
I AM THE WAY INTO ETERNAL SORROW.
SACRED JUSTICE MOVED BY MY ARCHITECT.
I WAS RAISED HERE BY DIVINE OMNIPOTENCE,
PRIMORDIAL LOVE AND ULTIMATE INTELLECT.
ONLY THOS ELEMENTS THAT TIME CANNOT WEAR
WERE MADE BEFORE ME, AND BEYOND TIME I STAND.
ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE.
She had seen that before! It had been a book that she had seen in the library! Then she remembered. That book had been titled The Inferno and it had been written by a man named Dante in the 1300's. That writing had been the inscription on a large piece of stone that stood before Hell. Vesper's eyes went wide with renewed fear. Was she entering into the Underworld? What waited for her beyond this door?
Well, there was only one way to find out.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled open the door. There lay out before her in a world of white, black, and grey, a graveyard. The tombs rose high from the grey, sodden earth like judges over treacherous spirits, spilling over the hills that rose in the distance and the weedy ground before her. The trees were twisted and deformed, hunched over and hulking, dead. She felt as though she had walked into a silent film from the 1900's. The mist was thick and stuck to her dress and wetted her hair. The air was thick and humid, yet chilling.
She walked into this world, then realized this place was geographically incorrect. There couldn't be a graveyard at the top of the tower. Something wasn't right –
Spinning, she found the door was gone. The tower was still there, sticking up like a bean stock through the clouds, but the entryway had vanished. Vesper turned again, afraid, and looked out to the graveyard. This time, however, she saw shadows lurking near the closest tree. Curious, she approached, hoping it would be someone to save her. Instead, she found herself gazing at James.
"James?" she asked, her voice echoing through the hills.
He looked up at her. His clothing was completely black and his eyes were cold and icy. In his hands rested the only item of color: a red rose. He sneered.
"Raven." He hissed. "A wretch amongst the swans. A spider in a sea of white orchids. A demon in a horde of angels. A witch amongst the churchgoers. Why do you yet exist?" Every syllable, every note, was snappy and harsh, biting into her as sharply as the thorns.
"James," she begged. "Let me go. Let me out. I didn't do anything to you."
"A lie amongst truths." James said. Clearly he wasn't going to listen. Raising the rose, he allowed her to stare and watch it as it died. The petals bent back, browning, then slowly, one-by-one, they fell to the ground. But when the petals reached the earth, they turned to shards of glass, littering the floor around him. "Come to me, Raven." All so suddenly James' voice changed, taking on a deeper, more American sound. The words came slowly and deliberate. "Come save the angels from the massacre."
Vesper gasped. "Slade?"
James only smiled. A glint caught her eye and she looked to the rose stem in his hand. It was transforming into a long dirk. James raised it high above him and Vesper immediately understood.
"No!" she screamed, running to him, stepping on the glass scattered on the ground. Her feet bleed and burned profusely, but she tore up to him. Her hands caught the blade as it swung down for the young man's chest. James and Vesper wrestled with the dirk, both trying to claim rights. But before she knew what happened and how, the steel ran through his chest and her hands were gripping the hilt. She shook her head. "No…"
And instead of gazing into the fanatical eyes of her British ex like she thought she would, she was gazing into the terrified eyes of Gar. He fell to his knees, blood beginning to spill from his pale white lips.
Vesper panicked, yanking the weapon from his chest and covering the hole with her hands. "Gar, Gar, Gar…Oh, God, Gar." She cried, feeling the blood roll down her arms. She fell to her knees, too, holding to him. "Gar, no, oh Gar…"
But only one question passed through his mouth as he fell into her abyss, eyes staring straight into hers. "Why, Terra? Why?"
When he stopped talking, stopped looking, stopped breathing, a scream broke free from her lungs and she followed him to the abyss.
Her eyes flew open and she stood quickly. Too quickly. Vesper tripped and landed on her hands and knees, trying to stop the world from dancing before her eyes. Bile came up her throat and flooded her mouth, but she swallowed it down. That vision – that vision – it felt so real! It was so strong in her mind. She had never experienced anything so great in her life. Sitting down slowly, she ran shaky hands over her legs and ankles. Her shoes were on, so she knew her feet weren't sore. There were no scars or marks on her legs and no blood on her arms. It was just a vision. Just a vision. Just a vision. She couldn't tell herself this enough. Just a vision…
"Well, well, well, have I come across a drunken partier?" A familiar voice said above her head.
She raised her head, looking up at James. "Oh. It's you."
He scoffed. "You mustn't be that drunk; you still aren't that eager to see me."
"I'll never be eager, James." Vesper tried to stand, but his hands grabbed her arms and he hoisted her up. She pulled back from his grip. "Thank you." Taking a step back, she continued: "So now you've found me. You can go now."
"And why would I want to do that?" James grinned cockily.
"Because I told you to, and if you're smart, you'll listen." She replied coldly.
"If I'm smart?" he chuckled. This was ticking her off. "Love, you are the sourest bird I've ever met and tried to marry."
"Tried and failed. Now leave." She insisted.
He looked to be contemplating this, and for a moment he stared at her, watching her squirm slightly, then he shook his head. "No. I'm not leaving."
"Look, I don't want to hurt you." She said, her eyes growing dark.
"Then don't." He dropped the rose he hid in his coat at her feet. She scooted back like the flower was a bomb. "It's not like you won't be able to, now, anyway."
Before she could comprehend what the hell he meant, the rose began to form a longer stem. And from that stem a prickly vine formed, growing and knotting at a tremendously fast speed. It curled around her feet and legs, biting into her clothes and skin, causing her to wince. She lost her balance and fell backwards as the lights died out overhead.
Crying out at the fall, she barely heard him laugh. "Oh, our poor princess took a tumble. Let us make a thrown for her."
Plants from all around her sprang out from their normal habitations, bases and roots holding firm to the terra firma, but their arms wrapped her in a tight grip, lifting her upright so that she came face-to-face with James in the darkness. She couldn't move, floating there a few inches above the floor, eye level with the man she despised more than anyone else alive. Still, she knew she had the advantage. All she had to do was utter three, little words…
"Azara–"
"No, no, no!" James smiled, interrupting her. "I'm not as silly as you think, my lovely!"
The vine with thorns that had originated from the rose slithered up around her neck. The thorns dug into her throat and the vine itself strangled her lightly.
"You say one word that sounds remotely foreign and I'll twist that plant so hard your head will be on backwards." James threatened.
Vesper gasped at the pain. She couldn't believe this! Her ex-fiancé with secret powers was playing victor when she was the retired heroine! But now she knew it: she was no longer a hero, but a damsel. And she damn-well didn't like where she was now. Damn, this sucked.
"Wh-why?" she asked restrictively. It was hard just to breathe. "What did…I do to you?"
James laughed. "Yes, like I would tell you everything! Oh, trust me, lovely, things will be said tonight, but it won't be what you're expecting. My secrets will be saved for another meeting." His hand came up, stroking her cheek, pulling a strand of hair from her face. "It's my turn to be on top." The vine jerked. "Got it?"
Gulping, she nodded as much as she could. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of begging. He had made it apparent that he wasn't going to kill her, so she would let him talk, then figure out her actions from there.
"Good." He grinned. "Now–" He stepped back. "–you may be wondering how I learned about you and how long I've had these powers."
"Albeit pansy." Vesper muttered. The vine at her throat jerked again. She could feel blood running down her body from various gashes.
"I may be your enemy, but I'm not deaf." He hissed.
"Then tell me…" Vesper murmured. "Tell me about the…true you."
Taking a breath, he began. "I was born with this." He said. "Like my sister, who also had a gift. My family lived in the US of A for six years until my sister vanished. My parents were told she had been abducted and that there was little or no chance of ever seeing her again. We waited…for months we looked for her! Search parties, fliers, investigations, anything my parents could afford, we hired. But she never turned up. I didn't see her for three years.
"We had to get away after we lost hope. My big sister, two years older than me, the most inspiring person I had, was gone. She was only six years old. For a four-year-old, to lose your best friend is devastating." He blinked a few times, for tears had begun to form. Vesper, although sorry for the man, was not one to express that. "We moved to Liverpool, England. I attended private schools, kept my gift a secret, and grew to love medicine. When I was nine, my parents let me stay a week back home in the U.S. and vacation at my aunt's. It was there I saw my sister again. She was alive, had been all this time, running from city to city in hopes to better herself. In hopes of belonging somewhere.
"I spent time with her outdoors, where she helped me with my gift, but she never came to the house of our aunt. She didn't want to be seen. I brought her food and water. We talked for hours about everything imaginable. She was still my hero. The last day I saw her, she held me close. She told me that she loved me more than anyone else in the world, and when it was okay, she'd come home willingly and happily. She snuck back into the woods with a smile and a wave. I never saw her alive again."
Vesper swallowed, fighting down the wads of saliva and phlegm in her throat, shifting as much as she could in the grip. "I'm…I'm sorry, James. I truly am. But…what does this…have to do with me?" Indeed sympathy had increased and she almost pitied him, but he was still holding her captive and she still was inches from death so that put a damper on the sentiment.
James didn't look at her, as he had turned his back. "You lived with a detective's apprentice for several years. Tell me you must have picked up something. But…" he sighed. "Tonight is not a night of revelations, my lovely. I'll drop the fiancé act as you already have. I can't follow you like a lovesick puppy when I despise you more than anyone else alive. But I will be watching you, Raven. Until you learn the truth, I'll be watching you."
He walked up to the entranceway. "We'll be here when you're ready, my master and I." And he left, vanishing to the snowy lawn. The door slammed closed behind him. The moment complete silence had fallen the lights flickered back on and the plants retracted to their bases like a military retreat in battle. Vesper fell to the floor. Her hands grasped her neck and she felt the scratches on her pale, alabaster skin.
It didn't make sense. She didn't understand at all what had just transpired. James had proved to contain more intellect than he had previously let on. Did he always despise her? Was he using her all along? She felt her heart cave in under the realization. James had never loved her. He had been manipulating her. Maybe it was a sick game, to get back at her over something that apparently involved his dear sibling. Maybe it was his master who was to blame.
Master…
The only person who ever dared address him or herself that title was Slade. Vesper climbed to her feet in a panic, brushing off her coat and dress, and ran outside. She had to find Gar. The rose lying on the floor was kicked by her foot as she brushed by, landing in the snowy lawn. It rolled and tumbled away as the wind caught it in its angry grip.
"You're such a good boy, Gar, you're so good…"
"I'm glad you think so, Loraine…"
"Ah, give me more! Oh, Jesus, give me more, Gar!"
"Can you handle it?"
"I can handle it! Give it to me! Load me up, baby!"
"Alright, but this is the last one, Loraine…"
Gar handed the doctor her seventh glass of wine. The very drunk woman grabbed it greedily, gulping it down. Slumping over, she sighed. "You're so nice…"
Gar raised an eyebrow as he watched her sit herself in the chair behind her. "I'm flattered, but really I'm just giving you the wine so you'll pass out and I can leave."
"And honest, too!" Loraine grinned, head rolling in circles on her small neck. "Honest men make poignant men in bed. I like 'em tender!" She reached and slapped his butt for the forty-sixth time. "Get my point, junior?" Then as an afterthought, she returned her hand to stroke his butt, voice full of awe. "But that's not so tender there, is it…? You work out?" She pointed a wobbly finger in his face. "Hey! I bet you're the weightlifter from the gym! I know you! You're Stan!"
"You hid the nail on the head!" Gar exclaimed mockingly. "I thought you'd never figure it out!"
"That's ah-cause I'm smart like that, Dan!" she grinned from ear to ear.
"I thought I was Stan…" Gar frowned.
"Whu?" Loraine asked, rocking back and forth in her seat, looking dizzy. "Whozat?"
"The guy…from the gym…" Gar said so slowly a baby could understand him. "You haven't been to the gym lately, Loraine?"
"Nope! Not since last – hey! You calling me fat?" she tried to stand up, but her legs buckled and she fell back into her seat. "Jesus Christ! What designer screwed up my heels?" After fumbling with the dainty shoes, and fighting off the extreme sickness she got from trying to stand too quickly, she gazed cross-eyed at the young man. "Hey…Stan…is that you?"
Gar couldn't believe this. Was this woman drunk of did she just suffer from short-term memory loss? Sighing, he said. "No, Loraine, I'm God. It's time I had a talk with you."
"Damn." Loraine muttered at the answer. "I knew I shouldn't have screwed that priest…"
Taking this as the perfect opportunity, Gar brightened up, taking on a deep baritone. "Yes, Loraine, you've been indulging in a lot of sin and vice. To redeem yourself and regain My favor, you should confess all sins you have hidden beneath your mortal shell. But as you do this, My child, I ask that you cover your eyes. I hear it helps with concentration." He added hastily.
Nodding eagerly, she threw her hand over her eyes and began rambling nonsense. Gar slipped away from the idiot immediately, laughing gaily when he was a good distance away.
"Yeah! Now to find Vesper…"
Roses litter the hallway
Their petals lift lightly to the fading wind
The lowering sun upon them
She is asleep now
The world has let her slip away
And once she wept upon a broken spirit
But her tears were then absorbed
The shadows dancing all around her
Demons claiming to have found her
And her little friend lights the path
Oh, child of children
Keep the candle for her
Now that the man she loved is gone
Oh wisest wisdom
Did you come to heal her?
The roses scatter to the lawn
A day is winding into the eve
And voices strumming around her home
They say things that are vicious
Voices not the neighbor's
Just that gathering of ghouls
But at her head rests that angel
Those creatures cannot approach
As the clock spinning all around
Shadows filling in the ground
And her little friend lights the path
Oh, child of children
Keep the candle for her
Now that the man she loved is gone
Oh wisest wisdom
Did you come to heal her?
The roses scatter to the lawn
My sister thought that was spanking silly! I'm glad… And I hope the poem came out okay...it's format looked sketchy.
Lists next time! I SWEAR!
Isaac out!