Alright! Here's the next chapter. Thank you so much for reviewing! You know I love you people….. LOL
Be fore-warned…the reunion between the lovers isn't exactly…romantic. Sniffles But don't fear! It won't last forever.
And in your next reviews…I'd like what you think will happen next. Please? I want to see if I'm writing this right…and I don't mean within this chapter…I mean the WHOLE story, 'kay? Pretty pretty please?
Dagger, who was preparing for bed, was not expecting a knock on her quarters. Her eyes, red and swollen from the tears she had cried for Zidane's sake, and her condition made her want to yell, "Go away!" at whomever was at the door. She didn't want to be seen, but at the same time, she was a guest here. In a quiet, broken voice she whispered, "Come in." The door opened…
…And the person she thought was long dead fell through into her room.
Zidane!
He was in terrible condition as the impatient guards kicked him forward. He hit the ground. Dagger, unable to contain herself, rushed to his side. Before she touched him, the guard stopped her by placing a sword between Zidane and herself.
"You must agree to the terms first," the guard said, "He is not to be unbound at any time. His blindfold will not come off. And above all," the guard said, picking up the sword and placing it upon Zidane's heaving chest to ensure that Dagger heard him, "He stays in this room. He will not venture from this room. Is that clear?"
Dagger nodded. To her relief, the guard nodded and then left. Dagger leaned forward to touch Zidane's face.
When he was dragged into the room, Dagger had thought at first that he was dead. As she touched his cheek, even though it was slightly cold, she could feel life in it. He roused; a soft whimper in his throat. "Dagger?"
It was a plea… a desperate plea. In response, Dagger laid her lips upon his and gave him a tender kiss. "Yes, it's me," she whispered. She pulled him into her arms; she felt him relax slightly.
Dagger suddenly had an intense urge to pull the blindfold off. She wanted to see his deep azure-emerald eyes, to reach into his soul with one look.
She stood up to get a drink of water for him. As she walked over to where the water was kept, someone attacked her.
Or something. She fell unconscious to the ground for a moment.
When she finally became conscious, she realized that she could move at all. But somehow she was moving. The realization dawned on her. Something's controlling me!
Dagger was pushed back to the cobwebs of her mind, helpless to do anything, wondering what this entity wanted. She could sense it; it was cruel and malicious, spiteful and sadistic. What it wanted, she couldn't tell…
…Until it reached Zidane. He was lying, peacefully, upon the ground. A strong urge to hurt him swept over Dagger. Unable to control it, her hand shot out and grabbed Zidane by the throat.
Dagger fought against it, throwing herself against the entity that was controlling her. No! she screamed inwardly, don't do this to him! As she lifted Zidane by the throat, she could feel him struggling for breath, and found she could even read his thoughts.
Dagger? he pleaded, Dagger! Help me, please The pain was intensifying. Dagger couldn't stand it.
I0I0I0I0I
"Why do you struggle? It'll hurt you less if you don't struggle…" It was Dagger's voice, but not Dagger. He was choking, struggling only because of the pain he was in. Suddenly, the grasp on his throat was released and he was thrown to the ground. He hit the ground hard; his blindfold was removed.
Indeed, it was Dagger. For a moment, he thought that someone else was in the room, in fact, he had fervently prayed someone was holding her at gunpoint to say what she had said, and to do what she had done.
Alas, no one but her. She bore a ruthless look on her face. Zidane, despite himself, trembled. "Dagger?" he whispered softly.
"Silence!" she growled, slapping him so hard across the face that Zidane could feel the bruise forming. A soft, gentle whimper escaped his lips. No, not my gentle Dagger… he pleaded inwardly, not her…she can't be this cruel…
…can she? The next blow answered his question. It knocked him against the wall hard and left him struggling for consciousness. In his weakness, she hauled him up and threw him against the bed. She pressed him flat, chest down, against the fluffy, royal blue covers. He whimpered softly.
I0I0I0I0I
Involuntarily, from her belt, Dagger drew the knife. "You told me once that you liked me touching your tail…" she said in a voice she didn't recognize, one distorted with sadistic pleasure, "let's see how you enjoy it now."
She caressed his tail for a moment, sensing the entity enjoying the quaking that Zidane gave, and hating every moment of it. She drew the blade.
Zidane's scream nearly killed her. The denial in his thoughts, the desperate not my Dagger … and then the related cries of pain that he gave out were just too much for her. She sighed inwardly, and gave up, relaxing against the mental chains that held her down. Quietly, gingerly, she pleaded with the entity that held her.
Please…let him go. He doesn't deserve that…
Laughter. Sadistic, cruel, heartless laughter.
Please! He doesn't deserve it! Let him go! Again, more laughter. Dagger, in too much emotional distress to struggle, simply allowed the mental tears to fall down her cheeks. What else can I offer you except me?
The entity paused in her assault of Zidane. You would give me your life in exchange for his? You are aware that he is to die after his marriage to Kalika, correct? Why waste your life like that?
Because I love him. He's already died for me once; already given me more than I could ever hope to give him in return. Please! she pleaded, you have me. Let him go!
No.
The laughter was excruciating. Dagger fell limply against her bonds, in her own prison. She could see everything that happened, and she could feel everything that happened as well. She could feel the knife in her hands…she could feel Zidane quavering in her grasp…
…It was too much for her to take. She glanced down at Zidane, who stared up at her, the betrayal in his eyes. Why are you doing this to me? he pleaded. Dagger could hear him.
To Dagger's surprise, the entity allowed her control of her hands for a moment. Taking advantage of it, she reached forward and touched Zidane's face. Control was taken harshly.
The entity pulled Dagger's fingernails across Zidane's cheek, leaving distinct gashes across his soft cheek. No! Dagger screamed, no…
Zidane cried out, and again, looked into Dagger's eyes, with the look of why are you doing this to me? Nothing but raucously cruel laughter met Zidane's ears.
I0I0I0I0I
Please Dagger…Zidane pleaded inwardly, why are you doing this to me? Do you hate me that much? He hung his head as the sting of the gashes on his cheek slowly began to die down. He looked up into her eyes once more, her deep russet eyes conveying the deep truth: she was enjoying this.
Distressed, broken, and helpless, he fell back limply. There was nothing else he could do.
Dagger lifted him up cruelly and began to drag him down to that large room again. She met Kylima along the way. "Tonight," Dagger whispered. Zidane was in too much shock to understand what she meant. He didn't struggle or do much of anything because of the pain.
Once dragged into that large, cold, damp room, he was lifted and hung by his wrists, helpless. He quavered.
"Oh, he's cold," Dagger whispered with a painful look of maliciousness on her face. Oh, the ice in that voice; the pleasure and patronizing air. Dagger's tender nature was gone. All that was left was cruelty.
Dagger laid her hand, icy cold, upon Zidane's wounded chest. Zidane closed his eyes and flinched, moving away from her touch. She placed her hand beneath his chin, sensing his pain and humiliation.
"Shall I call them in?" Kylima asked. Dagger nodded. Before Zidane could even lift his head, the angry crowd from before appeared in the room again. Dagger looked on indignantly. With angry shouts and jeers the crowd had to be restrained. Kylima smiled.
"Blindfold him, will you?" Kylima whispered in Dagger's ear. She nodded with something of a sparkle in her eye. She turned in front of Zidane. "No, please…" Even if you are enjoying this, he thought desperately, at least let me see your face.
Dagger's russet eyes took on a look of compassion for a moment. She gave him a soft, tender smile…
…before slapping him. One hard slap, and then she blindfolded him. She laughed cruelly. Zidane turned away. The brutal sound of malicious laughter, emanating from the one he loved more than life itself, was just too much for his already broken heart to bear.
Little did he know that Dagger was hurting just as much as he was. She was trapped, helpless, forced to watch Zidane be tortured in such a manner. She screamed to the entity holding her back. Don't do this to him! Please…she cried, let him go. He's going to die anyways…don't make it this painful for him.
The crowd jeered on as Kalika walked down to them. Kalika ignored the crowd, slipping close to Zidane's broken form. She pulled off the blindfold. "Dagger?" she asked. "Let me teach you an invaluable skill." Dagger walked forward, not of her own accord. Kalika touched Zidane's throat, running her hand down his throat, and then his chest, and finally resting upon his abdomen. She smiled. "I think I know where you're going," The entity said through Dagger, "Shall I try?" Kalika nodded.
NO! Dagger screamed inwardly, No, please, anything but that…
It was too late. The entity had already found a grip upon Zidane's throat. Dagger could feel his weak pulse beneath her teeth, the desperate gasps for air, the inaudible plea…
Dagger no! Please, Dagger…not that…anything but that! There was a silence for a moment. The entity began to suck. Nothing but a scream, both physical and mental, hit her ears. So this is what it feels like, she thought desolately, to have the life sucked right out of you.
Dagger could feel Zidane struggling to fill his lungs. With the death grip upon his throat, she couldn't imagine it was terribly easy for him. Since pleading with the entity wasn't doing anything, she mentally encouraged Zidane on. Don't give up, my love, she whispered to him, I know it hurts…I'm here for you.
For a moment, the pain coming from Zidane died down a bit. Zidane? She asked, pressing herself as close as she could get to him. She could feel his spirit lifting again. Zidane? Zidane, can you hear me?
There was an unbearable silence for a moment, and then, Dagger, is that really you?
A pathway opened up, and Dagger was allowed passage over to Zidane's mind. She found him, bound, much the way he was on the outside, blindfolded and helpless.
"Dagger!" he screamed, writhing against his bonds, "Please, tell me it's really you…" Dagger walked towards him slowly, nervously, but when she reached him, she gently touched his face. She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand, before pulling off the blindfold. His eyes remained unfocused for a minute, before concentrating on her. "Dagger?" he whispered, staring into her eyes. Dagger realized that tears were streaming down her cheeks as she leaned forward to touch his chaffing wrists. "Is it really you? Do you…" he hesitated, but ultimately continued, "…care? Are you the person I love?"
Dagger hugged him. If he wasn't bound, Dagger was sure he would have hugged her back. She could feel him struggling, and then relaxing. "It is you!" he cried, barely above a whisper, "You came back for me…" Dagger squeezed him slightly. "Of course I came back for you," she leaned back and kissed him, gently. "I love you, Zidane." She whispered, when she had pulled back from the kiss. She pulled her fingers through his dirty blonde hair for a moment, smiling as he sighed softly.
"If you don't mind my asking," he whispered meekly, "what happened?" Dagger kissed his forehead tenderly. "I'm being held by something. It won't let me do anything…"
Zidane nodded softly. "That's what I had hoped. I hoped that you hadn't…that you weren't…" Soft tears formed at Zidane's eyes. He turned away, but was relieved to feel Dagger's hand gently cup his face. "I know," she whispered, "I know…hush…I'm here for you. I won't let you go." She held him in a warm hug for a minute or two before whispering, "I have to go back now," she said, until she noticed the utter heartbreak in Zidane's eyes, "We can still talk, though. You know that!" He nodded, sadly, and it broke Dagger heart when she arrived back in her own prison.
Have I left him alone to die? She asked herself, desolately. She looked out, in time to see him limp against his bonds. She could just see the tiny tears he had cried inside, falling down his cheeks. Oh, Zidane… she thought, Oh, Zidane…
AN/ So what do YOU think will happen next? Please let me know in your reviews, and don't forget to tell me what you think SHOULD happen. MANY MANY THANX TO ALL OF YOU FAITHFUL REVIEWERS!