Omgosh. Man. Like… It wasn't supposed to take this long to update this chapter. I meant for it to come out a little earlier, but wow. College is a beast sometimes. All I want to do is write mah stories… But these teachers have something against free time. They always want to fill it up with something. Lolz. (I just need to complain). Anywho. Here's chapter ten and whatnot.

Disclamerness: Warning! Darkstalkers is not owned by meh. ("Meh" being this writer). Sorry for the confusion.

Chapter 10

"Lilith, I'm sorry… Sorry. So—"

"MORRIGAN!"

"Morrigan!!"

"Don't-don't leave me… Please."

Swept over by the cooling darkness, Lilith's mind wandered. Thought, images, persons, places, everything, suddenly collided in a flash of color; demanding for attention. Bits of her life; the time before Morrigan, pieces of moments; enveloped in Morrigan's arms… All seemed too much for this space to hold.

Yet, suddenly, in a moment everything stopped. Everything under her feet halted; no longer leaving her spinning, in flashes of light in a world full of darkness. There was an instant of nothingness. No feelings, no thoughts, no… Nothing. And in that emptiness, Lilith's mind was slowly stitching itself back together, as this place around her started forming.

The warm evening's light filled her skin with warmth as it crept between the ragged rooftops of apartments and business buildings that pierced the sky. As Lilith began to reconnect her mind with her body, she slowly understood this feeling. She reacted and began to lift those heavy-with-sleep eyelids. Squinting, she lifted her hand to block out the deep blood orange light that covered the whole city. The sun was setting… But where was this?

Just as the city had formed around Lilith, so did the city's inhabitants. One by one they materialized, overflowing the once 'vacant' street. People of all ages, sizes crammed the sidewalk. Cars in the street, pilled on top of each other, trying to make it home; failing to be the rush. Yet there was no sound to all that was happening around her. No crash of car horns… No hum of voices that swept over the street… No, something was off… Where was she?

This… This is a dream. It… It has to be, Lilith thought as she gazed around the block, taking in all that was around her. She stretched her arms out as wide as they could go, watching as the people walked right through her. Drawing back her hands slowly, she hugged herself and sighed. Everything played on as if it were a silent movie, with her as just another extra.

Lilith spun around, retaking everything in around her, "I… know this place." She covered her mouth quickly as even her own voice sounded as if it didn't belong. She swallowed and inhaled deeply. She had to figure out what was going on. Or else… There was no 'or else'. She had to get out of here.

Almost as if she was tired of standing here, watching the people pass by, Lilith started down the sidewalk. She tried stepping out of people's way, from habit, but found that they'd find some way of accidentally nicking her. It wasn't painful for them to pass through… It just felt weird. Things like this shouldn't be happening.

Lilith walked and walked for block, in a daze-like trance. In this silent city, the only sound came from the click-clap of her shoes tapping the concrete as she walked.

Her pace eased as she reached the end of the block, identical to all of the ones before and after it. Lilith took another glance around of this 'ghost city'. "Why am I here?" she asked herself; her voice echoing through the air.

Out of the corner of her eye, Lilith spotted someone. Out of all of the people she picked out a young little girl. She was sitting on the curb, hugging her knees. The girl's head turned slowly, from side to side, as she watched legs and feet of the people who passed by. Her hair was done up in two little, short pigtails with white ribbons. She wore a pair of overalls that hung down to her feet. Both her t-shirt and sandals matched that soft head of hair; which Lilith recognized immediately. Only when the small child turned around did Lilith realized that the girl she was staring at… was herself.

-----

"MORRIGAN!!" a flurry of voices shouted her name.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!"

"Morrigan… You've got to calm down! Or else—" Jedah went flying as a burst of energy hit him dead center in his chest. With only the wall to stop him, Jedah ended up sliding to the floor. Felicia rushed to his side, helping him sit upright while Jon and Rikuo positioned themselves in front of their leader. They weren't sure what Morrigan would do again, with her mind like this.

"CALM DOWN!?" her voice boomed as she directed those fierce emerald eyes in his direction. "Heh… calm DOWN!!" Morrigan's feet hung inches from the floor, before she touched down. "What? Isn't this calm enough for you, JEDAH?"

"Morrig—"

"How could You say that To ME!" She took a couple of steps forward, causing Rikuo and Jon to push in closer to Jedah. "You of all people… HOW!?"

"I know—" Jedah started.

"And you came here AFTERWARDS? HA!" she laughed loudly in spite of herself, and he winced a bit to the sound of it. "You seriously want me to kill you now, don't you," Morrigan continued to ease her way towards them, stopping only a couple of feet away. "How could you Do SomeThing LIKE THIS AND EXPECT ME TO BE CALM!! TO TALK TO YOU!?"

Felicia doubled over, just as Jon and Rikuo got to their knees; all three of them struggling to breathe. The amount of energy that was flaring from Morrigan was making the air thin.

"Morrigan…" Jedah's voice sounded strained. He took another breath before starting again, "Morrigan. I never thought—"

"You never think! You NEVER—" She was so enraged with him that it had caused a loss for words. How could he… How could he… repeated over and over in her head. It was just too much to comprehend. Nothing made sense, "…why?"

Jedah sat there, not sure what to say. It was either to say something wrong and flare her power again, or say something, anything to give her enough reason to take his head.

--

He had rushed in her home thinking everything was fine after the blast, only to find Morrigan floating in the air, bathing in the afterglow of it all. His eyes when from the shimmering god to the lifeless husk that sat with its back against the wall. The body looked like a horrible rag doll, dried beyond all recognition.

As his eyes trailed over the shell of… "A little girl…?" he said softly… Jedah had blinked, realizing that he saw this body earlier, when it used to look more like a person. It was at the office Jon and he had been sitting in, talking to… But wait. Why was she..?

But before Jedah could finish his thought, Morrigan caught up on it and went mad. It was his fault that both Lilith and she were attacked.

"JEDAH!!"

--

"Why?" Morrigan asked again. She clutched her fists, bowing her head. "Why….!? Why Jedah! How… What—I… URAHHHH!!"

"I never thought that he would… Do something like this," Jedah's eyes immediately went to Bulleta's body, for a second time tonight.

There the body sat; a dried bag of skin and bones. The skin no longer gave that glow of youth. It looked leathery and tough to touch. Bones protruded at places that they shouldn't have had, because the dried skin tightened and curled in.

The blast erased her soul, leaving behind a wraith in place of this 'little girl' that used to be.

Morrigan fell to her hands and knees, "Why!" She pounded at the floor; each hit eating away the surface. She thought killing Bulleta would cure her of this feeling of unknowingness, but it hadn't. And now, with Jedah's piece, it left her even more in the dark.

Where was this going? What the HELL DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN!!

"Morrigan," Jedah said softly as he pulled his eyes away from the husk. He stared at Morrigan beating at the floor, "You must believe me that I did not intend this…" He took a deep breath and sighed.

With Morrigan distracted, Felicia murred a sigh as well, while Rikuo sat; leaning back on his hands. Jon, stubborn as he was, tried to force himself up on his feet. Rikuo reached out for him, shaking his head slowly, but Jon smacked his hand away. That little movement was enough to send him toppling over. And there he sat.

"Morrigan," Jedah called to her again.

She was killing the ground so badly that a tiny crater was forming underneath her bloody fists.

Jedah pushed himself to his feet; a little uneasy from hitting the wall, and said her name again, softly this time, "Morrigan… Please understand that… That I never would have imagined him doing something this… Drastic. If I had… I would have never given him the information."

Morrigan raised her hand; ready to connect it to the ground again, but paused and held her position. She let it fall to her side as her eyes traced their way up to Jedah's face. "…him," she glared. "Him… You keep saying the same shit, Jedah… Tell me Why! Why did you sell me out to Pyron!? Why did you talk about Us? About Lilith!?" She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes, keeping them shut briefly. The world felt as if it were spinning from underneath her. But that wasn't the only thing that was bothering her… Morrigan was putting more effort into controlling her power surges and emotions. This was a fairly new obstacle for her, as she never had to do this before when reaching new levels.

Taking her time, she spoke softly, "You… Me… She was nearly killed… Why."

"Because… This was what he was afraid of," he held his hands out towards her.

She clenched her eyes shut and shook her head, whispering, "…speak english."

"He's… We were afraid that… With Lilith at your side, feeding you energy that your power would multiply."

Morrigan tried taking it in, tried to retain it, but it wouldn't hold; it couldn't stay. Is this why I can't think straight? Why I just want… to kill and— She didn't want this right now. She didn't need this right now. What she wanted, what she needed was Lilith and to—

AAHHHHHHHHH!! Lilith's scream echoed through the house.

"Lilith!!"

-----

"Was I really that small?" Lilith asked, looking over the smaller version of herself.

The little girl sitting on the curb seemed to be looking right through Lilith as she gazed up and down the street.

Taking a couple of steps closer, Lilith tried to remember why her younger self was here. If this really was a memory, then shouldn't it be hers? Shouldn't she have remembered it? She wanted to think back to it before the memory played itself in this pseudo world. Yet, nothing would come to her. This memory felt as if it had been taken from her. "Why? Why am I here?"

"Because this was the only way to see you, my Lovely One."

Surprised to hear a voice other than her own, Lilith quickly turned around and came face to face with a man. She's never seen him before but that didn't shock her as much as hearing another voice.

"Who…" Lilith started; unable to finish.

Just the sight of him stole her breath away. There he was, so beautifully handsome, that words gave no justice to describe him. Long midnight blue hair bathed him shoulders to his the middle of his back. It framed his oh so pale face, bringing out those lovely eyes of his. A rich blue turtle neck and light sand colored dress pants was what he wore underneath his calf length, black trench coat.

He could have been naked for all that Lilith cared. Because there was only one thing on him that drew her in; one thing that wouldn't let her look away. His eyes. Those deep jade flavored eyes, only a shade darker than… "Morrigan's…" Lilith said in trance.

A smirk grew on the man's face in reaction to hearing Morrigan's name. The grin quickly faded as he held out his arms; beckoning her, "Come, my Lovely One. Do not let me wait any longer… I need you in my arms… To hold you."

Why did she feel so conflicted inside? It felt just like the first time Morrigan had warmed up to her. Lilith wanted so badly to run to him, jump into his arms, and have him catch her. The image was so strong, but something else was holding her back. "What… Who are you?"

"Oh," he sighed, letting his arms drop. He gave her a small smile, "It hurts me here," he placed his hand over his chest, "that you have forgotten my name, or who I even am, Little One."

Lilith furrowed her eyebrows, too confused to know what to do. He acts as if he knows me. But… She glanced back to where her former self had sat, only to find a vacant curb. She turned back, facing this man again, "What is this place?"

"It's a scene from your memory," he said softly.

Lilith blinked and looked around again. The time of day hadn't changed, as the sun was still stuck, halfway below the horizon. "I… I don't remember it."

"That's because…" He had gotten close enough that he was able to run his hand through her hair slowly, "I took it to show you why you have become so important to me."

"You… Stole my memory?" her voice was low in a dreamy sort of way. His getting closer didn't help her head much.

"Not 'stole' 'borrowed'. I can easily return it, just as I took it." He whispered as he bent over and kissed her forehead gently, showering her in midnight blue locks.

"Why… did you take this one? Why was this one important… to you?" Lilith closed her eyes and sighed.

He raised her chin up slowly, and gave her a harmless grin, "Because it let me see your innocence, my Lovely One." He closed his eyes and buried his face in her hair, "I need you. I have no innocence left…"

"Y-you need me..?"

He kissed her head, "Help me. Help me fill this emptiness in my soul."

Lilith shook her head, "I can't" she whispered.

"Please…"

"I…" she took a step back. Inside it felt oh-so-wrong to not be near him, but she had to fight against it. "I can't. I-I wouldn't know how to."

"I will show you. If you will let me."

"No," she shook her head, still fighting back the urge to return to him. Then she thought, if helping him would mean that she'd have to stay in this memory of hers. She took another step back, "I can't. I want to get out of here."

It was almost as if he had read her mind, "Of course. If you promise to help me, I would come to you in person."

The thought of really touching brushed her mind, for only a split second, until the image of laying in Morrigan's arms kept it back. "Let me out of here…"

"I will not, my Little One…" He said as he took a step towards her. "Not until you complete me…"

Lilith closed her eyes and shook her head frantically, "I can't. I—"

Suddenly his arms were around her, stopping her voice. She silenced and felt… safe in his embrace.

"Come with me," he said in a soft voice.

"Who… are you?" she whispered back to him. She just felt weak in his arms.

"I am Yours… Just stay with me. Promise you will."

Lilith closed kept her eyes closed. She felt so tired, standing; having him hold her. She buried her face in his shirt and took in the scent of him. It was faint. And of course it would be… He's not really here.

"I could be by your side now, if only you would say the word, my Lovely One… I never want to leave your side."

All of this felt, sounded… so familiar. But why? How?

"Come with me. Let me take your pain away, Lilith…"

Morrigan. Why was it getting harder to see her face? Why couldn't she remember how it felt being in her arms? What was going on?

"Morrigan…" Lilith said in her frail voice.

"Hush, my Little One. Forget that name…"

"Morrigan," she said a touch louder. She raised her arms and placed his against his chest. She sighed and tried to push away at him.

"You can't leave here… Stay with me."

"Morrigann—nhh…" She put her all into the push, and fell backwards onto the sidewalk. She winced slightly rubbing her butt, then she looked up at him.

The man glanced off to the side as if he heard something in this quiet town. After a moment he gave his attention to Lilith. Kneeling down he said softly, "Stay with me…"

She had wondered what he had been listening for, but gave up half way. Her head hurt too much to think. Lilith started to shake her head no as she scuttled backwards, but stopped. It was too much for her body to do all at once.

"Will you stay with me, my Lovely One?" he crawled towards her as she scuttled away. He bared his teeth, showing off his pointy canines.

Lilith gasped at the sight of them and turned around; starting to crawl away from him.

He smirked and picked her up about the waist. He stood up, holding onto her; her back towards him and lowered his head, nuzzling her cheek.

She felt a scream build up in her throat as he held on to her. What was he?

"Fill me up with your soul, Lilith… Let me devour your very essence," he whispered into her ear.

Lilith struggled to get free of his grip, "I can't! Let me go!"

"You will stay with me, my Little One." He kissed the nape of her neck gently.

"Morrigan!!" She shouted.

"Even she cannot help you now…"

"MORRIGAN," Lilith screamed with all of her will.

The man hesitated and looked around him as his 'world' started to crumble around them. He smirked and licked at her skin.

"MORRI—"

He pierced her skin, bringing forth the sweet metallic taste of blood. He didn't need it, he knew this. But this girl had been tempting. He drank and felt a well of energy crash through him. He pulled back, letting the crimson liquid crawl over her skin. He grinned again watching as she fell to her knees. He back up into the oncoming darkness. "Thank you, My lovely one… Even if you did not give it willingly… It still helps fill part of my soul."

Lilith choked and spat up blood. Her head felt dizzy again as she fell, full body, to the floor. She blinked slowly, taking in a deep breath…

As the world went back to that cooling darkness, Lilith let one last cry before she was lost again.

"AAHHHHHHHHH!!"

"Morrigan…"

o.o What? It's done? Oh pfft. Okay. So um.. Still confused? Well that's a good thing.. I couldn't let everything go when I'm not even half way through with the story. I'm pretty darn close though. Hopefully things with get wrapped up in the later chapters… u.u Sigh. I'm really bad at planning.