Ink and Blood
By Asnee
Chapter 6 Trust
AN: Omg Ozi is a guy lmao. And no, not yaoi. XD I mean pair them up with...other females. I'm not a homophobe. I just don't like yaoi. ;p Sorry for the lateness, writer's block/leveling/sigs/laziness. Etc etc. Reviews appreciated as always. Thanks dudes and dudettes.
DEDICTED TO SAL, WHO BRIBED ME BUT DID NOT. With sexilicious art.
x X x
Payon.
Seda realized she hadn't been there in a while. Set in the mountains, Payon always seemed to have a semi-chill to the breeze. But it was comfortable, well in the sixties, and relaxing. People reclined at the tables, stumbled out of the PvP arena in various states of injury or boastfulness, and archers tentatively asked snipers and hunters for tips. It was very peaceful. She and Riseen trudged along, Riseen nervously commenting about him.
"He's a quiet person. But you are to. I think you'll get along. He's a bit older, is all."
Dias, as it turned out, was not just "A bit older."
He was probably thirty.
"Actually he's twenty-seven."
Mind reader?
Okay.
Riseen was flushed, and she kept running her fingers through her already immaculate hair, her claret gaze alarmed. "D-do I look okay? Is my lipgloss gross? My eyeliner smudged?"
Seda kept shaking her head no, but she took her glasses off anyway, blinked once at Riseen, then put them back on after wiping them off. Things looked a bit clearer. "And now I'm glamorous," she posed, smiling at Riseen. The high priestess smiled softly, sighing. They came to a little house in the northwestern side of Payon, and she knocked gently. The door opened, and a tall biochemist looked down at them. Crystal-colored eyes gazed down at her through gold-tinted miniglasses. They widened at the sight of Seda, and she saw his chest fill with air. He let it out in a barely-concealed huff of worry.
"Hello," he said deeply, his eyes only just leaving Seda, then stared at Riseen. "Miss Riseen. How are you? Care to come in?"
She cleared her throat nervously. "C-certainly," she smiled, and pulled Seda's hand.
The house was cozy and neat, with books stacked behind every couch and table possible It was a main room where they were sat down, with a quaint little fireplace, sunlight streaming clear and bright through the windows. There was a faintly weird smell to the place though, like ozone. It was vaguely familiar in a way. Not revolting, but...disturbing. The chocolate-haired sage felt a shiver run down her spine. Riseen gave her an odd look. Seda smiled nervously, sitting down on the little sofa that Dias gestured to.
"And who is this lovely young woman?" He smiled, reaching out to catch a gloved hand in hers. Again, something sparked, but Seda just smiled at him.
"This is Seda Alumani, Dias. She's a good friend of mine. She works at The Sage's Smile. You know, that bookstore in Juno?"
He looked perplexed. " Is a Byran your older brother"?
"Yep," Seda smiled, watching the odd look he gave her carefully. There was an awkward moment, interrupted when Riseen "accidentally" elbowed Seda somewhere in the vicinity of her spleen. Time passed idly. Talk ranged from weather, to politics, to Riseen's sisterly approval of Seda's antics.
"She's gotten so much better as a sage," the high priestess laughed, sipping her tea delicately. It was highly enjoyable tea. Sweet and milky, just like the sage liked it. "Though I do say, she really scared me at first."
Seda smiled. "I could barely line up a firewall."
The man chuckled, reclining. Seda could see why Riseen was attracted to him. He was very masculine, tall and well-built. The 5 o'clock shadow dusted his tan face nicely, his dark hair flecked with the occasional spot of gray. Grays, and not even thirty. What a world. Ice blue eyes twinkled out at the sage. There was something strange about them. Alluring, unsettling, but they drew you in...
"So missy, going to be a professor?"
She was snapped out of her little trance, flushing scarlet. He had caught her starring! Drat! Nearly spilling her tea, she smiled awkwardly at him, trying not to let their eyes meet. "Uhh, I'd like to try. I have quite a ways to go, before the valkyrie will even look at me."
She glanced at him to find him smiling. "You'll do fine. She ain't so tough. Let a crook like me be a biochemist, after all," he laughed. She and Riseen giggled along with him, though Seda's was more a mask. What WAS going on. Suddenly it seemed, there was a cacophony of voices, calling her from somewhere close but distant. She couldn't understand, but it was a variety. Male and female, ranged from desperation to dry amusement. The smell of ozone, and the subtle feeling of something running a cold finger down her spine erupted in full force suddenly, and she clutched her head, tears stinging her eyes.
"Seddy?" Riseen shot up, alarmed. Lovely white hands covered her head, and Seda felt calmed, though the pain didn't recede. Riseen flinched. "My, this is odd...Its like you're poisoned or something...", her eyelids fluttered. "Moreover, it's hiding from me."
Dias pulled himself up to his impressive height, scooping the sage into his arms. "Fresh air, maybe."
The blonde woman was obviously torn between jealousy and concern, but being a kind soul, compassion won over. She followed nervously as Dias carried the sage towards a well in the back. Seda, in a daze, half-flushed at the sudden proximity,tried to ignore her hormones for once. Her thoughts flew to Ryxam immediately then, and she sunk into darkness. Wordlessly, the red-clad woman drew water, lifting the bucket and carrying towards the black-haired chemist. He laid the sage down gently, supporting her head in he crook of his elbow. "Real slow, Ree, but I'm sure you know that."
Determined and glowing from her new nickname, the priestess bent her head and rolled up her sleeves, determined to figure out what was going on with her friend.
x X x
Ozi had fallen asleep, his wreath of ebony hair hanging over one arm, his head propped there as he still straddled the chair. The assassin waited very carefully, watching his breathing with finesse that came from years of practice. Unnerving, yet needed. Easing himself up painfully, he put one leg on the ground, followed by the other. It was a small back room in a house in Payon, most likely an office with a small bed. A red eye surveyed the room, trying to detect any traps. Instead, he found a marker on the table. Clutching it in between one tanned hand and his chest, he bent his head in thought. A wicked thought suddenly crossed his mind. Ryxam grinned ear to ear, but sighed, overcome with guilt. He was on a mission. Of great importance not only to the guild, but to himself. He glanced at the sleeping half-demon, but the corners of his mouth lifted again.
A little fun couldn't hurt, though. It's what he would have wanted.
x X x
Seda was in the dark, quite alone. It wrapped completely around her, smothering her. Reflexively she lifted her knees to her chest, curling up and floating. Voices bounced and wavered behind her. She covered her ears, blinking back tears into the suede of her skirt. Where WAS this? A single splash of blue light illuminated her location, and she dared not venture out of it.
"Sorry, it IS kind of crappy here, isn't it?"
The voice shot from her left and she lifted up her head to stare into red eyes. "Y-you"! She cried, and threw her arms around his neck. "I was so worried about you! You went away on your mission and--".
The assassin coughed. And Seda realized Ryxam's hair was not that long. Or blue. And this person had TWO eyes. She froze, sweatdropping. Then, appropriately screamed and propelled herself away from not-Ryxam, still floating. One must be selective in hugs, especially if they are being thrust upon an assassin of the cross. The man chuckled, holding up a clawed hand. "Don't worry about it. Been a while since a pretty young thing threw herself at me anyway."
Blushing furiously, Seda studied her companion. An assassin of the cross, definitely. Shaggy blue hair hung in whisps around his somehow familiar face, red eyes starring at her unblinking. "H-hello," she stammered nervously, her hand on her chest. Her heart pattered and fluttered like a caged bird. It wasn't so much the assassin, but the place.
He smiled and bowed. "I'm Eremes, and I mean you no harm." His voice was smooth an unruffled, and he stood casually, palms-up to her. "And you are...?"
"I'm Seda."
His eyes widened, and she saw him swallow. A look of contentment crossed his face, suddenly. "Alumani?"
"Ye-yes," she answered, still unsure. Was this a trick? An odd dream? Hysteria?
"It's been so long...," he sighed, taking a step towards her. Seda shifted uneasily. He closed his eyes and let his arm drop to his side. "Sorry, Seddy. It's just that I'm marvelling at how much you've grown, thus wasting the time we have. Which is not a lot, by the way."
"You know me?" She felt completely rude.
"Not since you were a tot, sweetheart," he smiled. "I knew Mari and Byran."
Her heart skipped a beat. "You knew mom and dad? Do you know where they are?"
He tilted his head at her, looking sad. "At the moment, no. However...I'll tell you later."
Seda fought down the assault of questions, her fists clenching and unclenching in unease. He smiled at her fondly, still. "How's your brother?"
"Stupid," she rolled her eyes. "But well."
"Glad to hear that. But now, business, I'm afraid. Have you figured out where we are yet?"
"...It hurts...when I try to think about it," Seda answered truthfully. Eremes nodded slowly.
"For a sage it would. Especially Mari's child." He gestured to the abyss behind him. "Smart move NOT moving, by the way. Things here are too afraid of me to come close, but you look like a chewtoy to them," he chuckled. Seda let her feet hit the ground, wobbling slightly. The assassin shot out an arm to balance her, grabbing the upper half of her arm. She turned to him, embarrassed.
"It smells like...cleanroom," she made a face. "Like a lab."
He smiled, flashing beautiful white teeth. Her incisors were very pointed. "Lab." He said, then circled around her. She got the unusual feeling that she was being summed up, having her weaknesses assessed. He was amused. Despite the predatory manner, his eyes were soft.
"You're short like your mom, but you have your father's face. It's painful, for me."
"People say the opposite of Byri." She grumbled, unused to having casual conversation in a place like this. Never mind an assassin of the cross. But she'd had casual conversations with them before. One, at least. Eremes smiled. She looked at him suddenly, clearing her throat.
"This may seem rude, but...You look like someone I know. Another assassin of the cross."
"Oh?"
"Do you know a Ryxam?"
He froze. "Yes, of course."
"Oh, really?"
He scratched his head. "He IS my son, after all."
Erk. "Uhhh---".
Eremes grinned ear-to-ear, looking ten years younger. "You know him?"
"W-well I tu-tutored him. And we, uh...Are...friends? Maybe. I'm not sure, but--."
Eremes sprang forward and she screamed, sweatdropping. He was spazzing. "That's great, that's great! I was worried about the kid, you know. After his mother died he went all weird." He was beaming at her, his hands on either side of her face. "I'm so glad, have you met my other child? Her name is Ludi, and she's the exact opposite of him." She shook her head no, wondering why he had never told her about his sister. He held her gaze for a while, then sighed in defeat, looking upwards. "I'd love to hear how you met him, and what he looks like, now," his red eyes grew a bit blank. "But, I need to get to the important stuff before we both get in trouble." He scanned the surroundings, then pushed his head to her neck, his pointed ear brushing against her cheek. His red eyes glittered in the dark, the same color as a teardrop-shaped pendant dangling above the exposed flesh of his chest. She had never understood why they covered everything but their heart. Cocky, maybe?
"U-uh, Mis-Mister Tyrik?"
"Eremes, and listen carefully." He took a deep breath. "This will be hard to tell him, but you have to tell Ryxam to stop looking for me, even if it's guild orders. Beware the St. Ludel brothers, of course."
Her heart skipped a beat. Fafnyn, of course!
Eremes used his free hand to push her head up against his. He gazed sternly at her, looking exactly like Ryxam, breaking her heart. "Reckenbecker won't get away with this for much longer, love. I promise it."
Reckenbecker? Then..."Lighthalzen! The biolabs! It's not just crap, is it?" Her heart beat furiously. He nodded. Seda's gaze locked hard with Ryxam's father's. "Then, you...," she trailed off as he grinned eerily.
"I won't hurt you, but other people in here will."
"Wait? I'm IN the labs? But I was sitting on the couch at Dias's--". He squuezed her hand, hard.
"Dias? Dias St. Ludel!"
St. Ludel...those blue eyes. "He must be Fafnyn's brother!"
Eremes took a deep breath. "Less time than I thought. Are you asleep right now?"
"I-I passed out...it smelt all gross and I heard voices...". Eremes clenched his fist and shifted his shoulders, a nervous habit she'd later see Ryxam do.
"You need to get out of there. Bring anyone else with you, to."
"I'm with a high priestess...she's...she has a crush on him, she--she's real nice, I don't feel anything bad about her...". Eremes looked serious.
"Get her out of there to, then. And as for the voices, you probably just heard us."
"Us?"
"The people Reckenbecker stole."
"O-oh. But I'm in Payon...".
"Doesn't matter. Here," he said, and took off a red pendant hanging around his neck. "Take this, don't ever take it off. It's so you can hear us."
She took it cautiously, knowing better than to refuse him. He was looking antsy, shifting. Time was almost up.
"Last word, Miss Alumani." He stood straight, but ruffled her hair. "You have your mother's indomitable spirit, and your father's nasty sense of humor and ability to crawl out of any situation looking like a hero. Combined with my son's ability to maim things and your overall love of the world, you should do fine."
She smiled, fingering the locket. He looked upwards again. "Goodbye, Seddy. Until we meet again."
She opened her mouth to say something, but found she was choking on water, blinking back sunlight.
"Seda"! Riseen cried, dropping the bucket to kneal beside the sage. The dark-haired girl looked around blearily, touching the mysterious object that was holding her upright. She found it was a human arm, and looked up to see Dias's concerned expression. Crystalline eyes stared back at her.
"U-uh, sorry to have scared you like that, guys," she smiled, pushing herself up. Dias lifted her like a rag doll, balancing her.
"Honey, it's probably anxiety," the blonde said, still touching various places on the sage's body, healing randomly. "I'm sending your ass back to Juno, and I'll be back to check up on you."
x X x
Ryxam Tyrik dropped the ground, trembling. Sweat dripped from his face and neck, mixing with his own blood on the cold sandstone of the assassins guild.
"Failure will not be tolerated, mister Tyrik," Arfein sighed. The old man was well into his eighties, but he never lost the ability to beat his underlings senseless. And if he dared to strike back or defend himself...I need not continue. Let your imagination do the work. "I expected better of you."
Off to the side, Ludi watched, twitching and biting her lip. She knew defending him would get them BOTH killed. So she watched, frustration mounting in her chest, tears threatening to spill over her cheeks. Her own waist was bandaged, blood crusted on to the once off-white linen. She needed them changed, she knew that. But her half-brother was in big trouble. Arfein called her, and she stepped tentatively into the light, flinching as she bowed. Her brother's red eyes remained focused on the ground.
"So it was Ozias Tyrmee and Byran Alumani? Confirm."
"Confirmed. As well as the crusader Fafnyn St. Ludel, though he did not take part in the actual battle, sir. I was was harmed by Tyrmee, and Ryxam by Alumani."
Arfein's ancient face paled. "St. Ludel...This has escalated, terribly. Ludi, you are dismissed. You have three days to heal." She knelt her head.
"My gratitude and apologies, sir." She rose swiftly, tears stinging her eyes.
Ryxam swallowed, then turned to face his leader. The old man beckoned for him to sit beside him on the stone steps leading up to his throne. "Everyone else but Ryxam, out."
There was a swift shuffle and rustle of leather and silver, and the old man looked squarely at Ryxam. His red eye was expressionless, though his lips were taught. "Mister Tyrik, I have a few things to talk about. And then I want you to kidnap the Alumani child."
x X x
Seda Alumani was incredibly bored. Transcendent boredum. She had found a piece of chalk, and was doodling all sorts of odd things on the wall in her little tower room. It ended up being a doodle of her as some sort of princess in a tower, with Ryxam fighting a dragon, which happened to look a lot like her older brother, she noticed. She gave a cape for flare. Looking down for more doodle room, she caught the ruby pendant glinting in the moonlight, hanging on a silver chain around her neck. Now, she noticed, it was like a narrow oval. Almost like an eye. Red eyes. Eremes. The Biolabs of Lighthalzen. The dark-haired girl shook her head in frustration. Every thought kept going back to Ryxam, even moreso aftering meeting his father.
There was a knock on the window, and she jumped, her heart palpitating. Sure enough, Ryxam himself was knelt outside semi-smiling. What should she tell him? Nasty conversation topics eluded her mind as soon as she got close though. She fumbled unlocking the hinge, then opened the window wide to let him in, stepping back. Folding her hands behind her back, she hoped she didn't look as drained as she felt. Ryxam looked tired himself, she noticed, and was moving a bit stiffly. Usually, he glided with a silky grace with was more than disconcerting.
"R-Ryxam, I'm glad you're okay, not to sound weird or nosey or like irritating...Am I irritating!"
He blinked slowly at the onslaught of words, then sighed, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Never, Miss Alumani."
"Seiii-duhhh." She mouthed, hands on her hips. In truth, she was barely frustrated. The joy of seeing him alive and well was making her hands shake. "I-I mean it though, not to sound pushy, and uh--."
He closed the space between them with one long stride, holding her shoulders firmly. She swallowed, her face going red. Was this it? The big first kiss!
With a trained killer. Oh well.
She kept her dark eyes open, but tilted her head at him. "Ryx?"
"I'd like to tell you things, Miss Alumani," he broke the silence at last, his right hand moving towards her cheek. His index finger was just under her ear. "But they'd get us both killed."
She swallowed, nodding. "I-It's not that I don't care, but...do I?"
He closed his eye, sighing. "But...if I could be nosey just once, Ryxam?"
He blinked at her. "Erm?"
She raised her hand to his face slowly, so as not to alarm him. His reflexes were excellent, though. No way she could hurt him. Seda lifted the piece of silvery hair that concealed the atrocious scar. He swallowed. "I lost it young. It was fargone, a katar slash right across it. The took out the eye and stitched it shut."
Tentatively, she touched the skin around the eye. He had enviable skin, she noticed. A beautiful tawny color, completely unblemished save for the long-since-healed wound. Most girls would be jealous. "How did it happen?"
He shook his head. "Can't say." He leaned a bit closer to her, his thumb pressing against her throat slightly. "I can tell you, but it would be the end of you."
She stood stock still, as his left hand engulfed her own completely, bringing it up to his own throat. "Do you trust me?"
"Not really, but I believe in you."
An unidentifiable emotion ran across his face, and he sighed. "I want to tell you everything, for some reason, miss sage. There are so many words and dumb, predictable things I'd like to say to you, but...", his thumb brushed her cheek, and he gripped her wrist. "For now, I can only say three little words."
Seda's stomach turned, in what she wasn't sure was fear or joy. "And those are...?" His swallowed once, his red eye clouding with pain.
"I'm so sorry." She blinked, and before she could respond, he took his right hand hit her temple smartly. She slumped immediately, and he caught her around the waist, her hair nearly touching the floor as she hung backwards over her arm. Taking a deep breath, Ryxam Tyrik steeled himself, handling the sage carefully. She looked peaceful, he noted, her lips in a slight pout, dark lashes contrasting to the bright white of her skin in the moonlight. All utterly romantic, her though, if it weren't so utterly fucked up.
x X x
AN: (shoots self) Kay, mushhyyy chapter. But I yearned to write it. YEARNED! Reviews appreciated. xD (cue random firebreathing Byri-dragon chasing Asnee away screaming)
