Apathy was sitting on the ground wiping the remaining tears from her grey face.
"You… where did she go?" Zanu stuttered
The Elvaan stepped away from Apathy as she finished brushing herself off.
"You're the one who made Angel run away. Why would I tell you where she is?" Apathy scolded
Zanu dropped all of his patience that was left. Zanu drew his fists in rage.
"Where is she?" Zanu yelled
He rushed at Apathy, swinging low to attack her. Apathy rolled backwards to avoid Zanu's advance.
"Now I'm really not going to tell you." Apathy warned
"You damned wench!" Zanu yelled again
Before he could attack again Elnroth swept Zanu's feet from under him.
"If you persist this course of action you will never see your wife again." Elnroth told Zanu
In an empty void Angel was hunched together. She stared at the ground. In a lifeless gaze her own mind grew as dismal as she. Trying to hide the best she could Angel retracted herself into her own mind.
"You really need to stop blaming yourself."
Apathy stood several feet from Angel. Unresponsive Angel still gazed upon the ground.
"You may not want to talk, and you may not want to listen either. But I'm not going anywhere." Apathy spoke
"It's all my fault. Every time something goes wrong I'm the cause of it." Angel meekly spoke
Apathy had paged through Angel's mind. She read her entire life, as far as she could remember. Apathy knew just how bad Angel's life had been.
"Look, I'm sure you're not in the right frame of mind to deal with this right now, but you have to go back out there." Apathy implored. "Your friends need you. If not, then everything that you fought for will be in vain."
Angel slowly looked up at Apathy. Her dark brown hair was strewn about. It hung down covering her face. Two glassy eyes faintly peered through the stressed strands of fine hair.
"I'll be your crutch for as long as you need it. But those people out there need you if there is any chance of getting through this." Apathy spoke softly
She walked over to Angel. Leaning down she held a hand to her counterpart. Angel reached up and caught it.
"You need to be a big girl and get back out there." Apathy grinned
Angel didn't speak. Standing up the once forlorn Mithra just draped her arms around Apathy.
"You remember the talk I had about you hugging me. Its really out of character." Apathy stressed
"What, the evil side can't be nice once and awhile?" Angel asked
"I can be. But I used up all of my nice shares for a life time." Apathy explained
Apathy started walking away from the group. Elnroth was holding Zanu from going anywhere.
Apathy had backed away far enough so that she could sneak away from the rest of them with out giving herself away. Turning a rather tall house she quickly scaled it. Digging her claws into the siding Apathy rose to eh roof and sat on the edge over looking Norg. There Apathy sat clapping her hands. The sound resonated through the deathly quiet city. The group below her looked up to Apathy. In a flash of light Apathy relinquished control. Angel's skin tone lightened as the black marks subsided. From her back Angel summoned control of her wings. The light dissipated leaving Angel sitting on the edge of the building. Slipping down Angel floated down from the roof. Closing to the ground, Zanu had used the bewilderment of the crowd to break free from Elnroth. Zanu dashed out, he held his arms out. Angel fell right into them. Folding her wings up behind her they disappeared. She just held her husband.
"I'm sorry I ever left you." Angel said softly
Zanu only held her tighter. Zanu held his wife and walked off away from the rest. The crowd soon disbursed into the night.
The next morning Celphie sat in a back table. She held her head blocking her eyes from the lamps light. Vivli came walking back up from Celphie's room. The room had been given to Vivli while she was to stay with them. In a cheery tone Vivli walked over to Celphie.
"Good morning." Vivli spoke in a whimsical tone.
"Yes… hello." Celphie answered
Celphie appeared to be rather distracted. She leaned back. It was weird. Today Celphie wasn't wearing all the armor that she would normally equip. She was just down to her normal black cloth pants and shirt.
"Are you ok?" Vivli asked
Celphie closed her eyes. Lifting her head she spoke.
"I'm just a little tired is all, I didn't get that much sleep." Celphie replied
Vivli looked at her oddly.
"What could have caused you to sleep so little?" Vivli asked
At that moment Lucia had walked into the tavern. Immediately spotting Celphie Lucia started to walk towards her.
"That's why." Celphie said motioning to Lucia
Lucia dashed over to Celphie, running around her Lucia grabbed Celphie.
"Good morning you." Lucia exclaimed
Celphie struggled to get out of her grip. Lucia hugged her tightly.
"Do you mind?" Celphie asked
"Oh… I'm sorry I thought it was your brother." Lucia countered
"Yes well it isn't, could you please sit down?" Celphie asked
Lucia pulled a chair from another table and sat right next to Celphie. Celphie tried to ignore it but Lucia was staring at her. Lucia wasn't even trying to hide it.
"Do you mind if you can let your brother out?" Lucia asked innocently
Celphie turned her head to Lucia.
"You had enough of him last night, he needs some rest you damn succubus." Celphie snapped
"Aww, come on. Please?" Lucia begged
Vivli was in the dark. Unable to figure out just what was going on she just watched the scene unfold. Until… she decided to speak up.
"What's going on?" Vivli inquired
Both Celphie and Lucia gazed at her.
"How old are you?" Celphie asked
"I'm about 20 years old." Vivli spoke
"And you don't know what we're talking about? Where did you grow up? Haven't you ever had a boyfriend?" Lucia asked
"No actually, I lived in a monastery, they didn't really allow dating of any kind." Vivli answered. "So what are you two going on about?"
Celphie threw her hands in the air.
"I'm out." Celphie declared
Lucia closed her eyes and sighed.
"I'm not gunna be the one to explain this one." Lucia said
"I think we have a meeting to get to anyway." Celphie proposed
Lucia and Celphie both got up and walked out of the tavern. They weren't lying. There was a meeting planned for that day. Everyone that was strong enough to fight joined them. The plans for the fight would be a drastic one. Since there was no reason to stay in Norg for safety they would have to strike now while the Shadow Lord's generals were down. Their next assault would be on Jueno. Leaving the next day all that was left was to pack. However. There was one person who wanted to stay behind instead.
Vivli sat at the end of the docks watching the waves break. She sighed to herself. Everyone here was with someone or had someone to be with. But all of her friends and family were gone. She witnessed the last of them die in her arms. Behind her Vivli could hear the boards of the pier creek. Turning her head Vivli saw Andrew walking up to her. As her eyes caught his he stopped. Standing straight Andrew put his hands behind his back.
"Hello Miss Vivli…" Andrew spoke
Vivli turned back to the ocean. The sun drew red lines over the sea bleeding crashing waves into the hidden city.
"Don't you have someone else to be with?" Vivli asked
"None that can come to mind." Andrew replied
"Damnit brother. Just tell her or else I will." Celphie told him
Andrew slowly walked towards Vivli. Andrew could hear her sigh under her breath.
"I was wondering if I could have a few words with you." Andrew asked hesitantly
He came to a stop. Standing next to Vivli, Andrew looked out into the sunset on the water.
"Shame isn't it. Also very disturbing." Andrew spoke
Vivli looked up to Andrew. His slender body was shaped of a woman. Although try as he might to hide his female body Andrew still had the figure of one. Looking distracted he stared undeterred from his thoughts.
"To be so calm and have this false sense of being safe in this cove while the world around us is dieing." Andrew said
He turned and looked down at Vivli.
"Its almost selfish to be living a normal life amidst all this chaos." Andrew explained
Andrew reached into his pocket. Pulling out a glowing white crystal bullet. He rolled it around in his hand.
"I've kept hold of this one bullet I made." Andrew said
A magical aura shined from the inside of the crystal. Andrew took a few steps and sat down. Looking out at the sea he still rolled the bullet around in his hand.
"Think of it as a good luck charm." Andrew said
He held it out for Vivli to take, but she paid him no mind. Not even listening to him.
"Why don't you give it to Lucia?" Vivli asked bitterly
Startled Andrew drew his hand back.
"What?" Andrew asked
"I said why don't you give it to Lucia?" Vivli said. "Since you love her, why don't you give her all your gifts?"
Getting to her feet quickly Vivli started walking away from the dock.
"Hey wait. I just wanted to give this to you." Andrew said drastically
He scrambled to his feet. Racing over to Vivli Andrew grabbed her wrist trying to stop her. The moment his grip connected Vivli spun around and slapped Andrew across the face.
"Get away from me! I don't want to see you again!" Vivli yelled
Andrew let go of Vivli's arm. He could see tears forming in her eyes just as she turned to run away. Running from the docks Andrew stood there with a hand to his face. In the few seconds he had Andrew dropped the bullet into Vivli's pocket. Sighing he dropped his arms and walked back into town.
"Well brother, quite a mess you have made here." Celphie said"Damnit, that ass…" Vivli cried into her arms.
Vivli had found an empty part of the hidden city to hide her self. Crumpled up in a corner she kept shifting around. Putting her hand into one of her pockets. She felt a warm pointed object. Pulling it out she examined this familiar object.
Vivli eyed the strange crystal. It looked small but it was rather heavy for its size. A spark of light fluttered inside giving off magical warmth. She looked back up at Andrew who had just dropped the crystal bullet.
"Sorry, it's just pretty" Vivli said quietly
"He… he… made this…" Vivli brokenly spoke
Vivli gripped the crystal bullet tightly in her hand.
"I don't care, I hate him!" Vivli said throwing the bullet.
It skidded along the ground coming to a stop.
"Who do you hate?" A kind voice rung in the air
Vivli was startled by the sudden voice. The speaker came into view. Angel stood there looking concerned. Kneeling down she was waiting for Vivli to respond.
"Its Andrew, I just… I despise him." Vivli blurted out
"Well… what did he do to deserves such harsh feelings?" Angel asked
Vivli wiped the tears from her eyes.
"What did he do? He slept with that…that…whore! He led me on then he turns on me! He made me think I had someone! Why would he do that? Why?" Vivli broke down as soon as she finished yelling, bursting into tears, and collapsing.
Angel sighed.
"Alcohol does do something to a person." Angel reasoned. "Hell… its how Zanu got my first kiss."
Vivli didn't seem particularly amused, and continued sobbing.
"Heh, from what I remember even Apathy wanted at him." Angel spoke
Vivli didn't even look up from her arms, and continued to cry.
"But, why did he go and sleep with Lucia? He doesn't love me. I bet he doesn't even like me. Everybody who liked me is dead." Vivli sobbed. "I thought he liked me, and he went and he…he….slept with her." Vivli's voice was croaky and broken. She could barely manage to speak, and tears continued to stream down her face. "He must love her, 'cause he slept with her." She finished, pulling her knees up to her and slumping her head down.
"Well, it almost sounds like you wanted to sleep with him… err… her. Or what ever the hell he is." Angel thought over
"I DO NOT!" Vivli yelled defensively. "I don't want to see him again! I hate him! He's-" She started to cry again, her anger disappearing. "I…I…wanted him to love me. B-but he doesn't! He doesn't. He never will. Nobody does."
Angel put up her hands.
"But you do care about him." Angel said. "If he didn't care about you, he never would have sought you out… or given you this."
Angel held out her hand, holding the crystal bullet.
"Take it." Angel offered. "I think he is still out by the docks."
Vivli leered at the bullet. Sinking into her corner she hesitated.
"I…" Was all that escaped Vivli's mouth between sobs. "I…I…" She gave up, and continued to cry.
Angel stood up and set the bullet down in front of her.
"I'll let you think it over, maybe even sleep on it." Angel said
Turning to walk away Vivli started to whimper under her breath. Turning back around Angel moved back picking up the bullet and sat down next to Vivli. Reaching an arm around her Angel pulled Vivli close to her, trying to comfort her like a crying child. Vivli cuddled against Angel and continued to cry.
The two stayed like that for what felt like hours, and it soon occurred to Angel that Vivli had fallen silent. She was asleep, curled up against her. Angel smiled and lifted the surprisingly light mithra up, planning to carry her back to her room. She went to walk out of the alley Vivli was hiding in, and suddenly froze. She calmly placed the little mithra on the floor, and tensed.
There, at the end of the alley, light shining behind her, was the perfect image of Angel, yet with huge skeletal wings rising from her back. She seemed to have a sinister grin spread across her face.
"Hello, my dear sister." The Shadow Lord spoke. Angel clenched her fists, and prepared for battle.