Here we are with the next chapter in "His Frozen Heart" Lily has made some new friends. Though it is short lived, since they will be departing in the morning. Frieza is still trying to figure a way of apologizing for his actions on the road. But will she accept his apology? Find out here. Enjoy :)
Lily woke up the next day feeling quite refreshed and re-energized. She looked over to Frieza's bed, only to find he was no longer there. 'Typical', She stretched, got up, and left the tent to grab some food and find Frieza. She went to some tables where everyone is sat eating.
"Hey Sleepy Head, I'm guessing you had a solid night's sleep. Even slept all the way through the morning." Replied Carter.
'What?' Lily looked up at the sky only to notice the sun was quite high in the sky already. She looked back down an her wrist com to check the time. It was 12.43pm. 'Holy Shit, I slept for about fifteen hours!'
'"Want some lunch?" He asked.
"Please." She said.
He went and got her a plate and eating utensils. Then she went up to the tables lined with food and piled up her plate. She found Nora and Virginia and took a seat next to them. "Well, your certainly looking a lot better today, Dear."
"Yeah, thank you again, Nora. That was the best night's sleep I had in nearly two weeks." Lily said.
"Good thing she stopped me from waking you this morning for breakfast then." Said Virginia.
Lily smiled at that. "Hey have you guys seen Frieza? He wasn't in the tent before when I woke up."
Virginia nodded. "Yeah, he went to talk with Adam, Carter, and Theo who's a good friend of theirs. Think I heard them discussing the best way to get to your location. I don't mean to pry, but why are you guys heading to the Sacred Area? I hate to tell you, if your going there to ask the gods for help I wouldn't waste the time. Many people over the years traveled there. Those fortunate enough to make the journey prayed and pleaded with the gods to help put a stop to the demon scourge that is overrunning this world and decimating our populations. All their prayers went unanswered and no help came."
"Now Virginia, I'm sure they have a good reason for wanting to go. It's none of our business to suggest otherwise." Nora scolded.
"Hmph, I was just trying to save them the trip. Not to mention it is a highly dangerous one. Plus, the closer you get there the less towns and cities there are. If they run into trouble there will be no civilization close enough to come to their aide." The older woman said.
Lily didn't like this new batch of news she was hearing. 'Less chance of help and a higher probability of running into more of those nightmarish demons. Her and Frieza must keep on the move then.' She finished lunch and left the table. She headed to another set of tables halfway across the camp where they said she could find Frieza. When she got there, she didn't see Carter or his brother around. Instead, sitting at one of the tables was Frieza and...Maggie? As Lily got closer, she noticed some type of digital holographic board between them on the table.
They were taking turns moving little round game pieces over the board. "Hey, what you two up to?"
Maggie was the first to speak. "Hey Lily! We're playing Entiss. Mr. Grouchy is showing me how to play."
He sighs. "For the last time child, my name is Frieza. You keep calling me that and we're ending the game."
Lily didn't know whether to be confused or amused at this picture. She always pegged the galactic emperor for not being very fond of kids. Yet, here he was playing a game with one.
"How do you know how to even play, Frieza?" She asked.
He shrugs. "It's not that difficult once you learn the rules. It's actually very similar to some of the strategy games, I sometimes occupy myself with back on my ship."
"Daddy, Mommy, and Uncle Carter are busy a lot. Plus, most of the other kids here are older and don't really want to play with me. So, I asked Mr. Grou..I mean Frieza if he wanted to play and showed him how." The little girl exclaimed.
He snorts. "Child you didn't know how to place this anymore than I did at first. I'm the one that had to show you."
She made a face. "Nope, I told you the directions so you knew how to play."
He just rolls his eyes, knowing she won't stop until she had the last say. 'Children were always fickle like that.'
"Are you well rested yet? Because we've already wasted half the day and must get going." He told her.
She huffs. "Yeah, I'm good let me just say good bye and grab my stuff."
"Do you really have to leave so soon?" Maggie whined.
Lily gave her a sad smile. She's going to miss this little firecracker. "Sorry Maggie, but yeah, we need to get going. We have a lot of ground to cover if we want to get to our destination which is very far away."
Maggie looks down. "Okay" She grumbles.
"Hey, cheer up this doesn't mean we may never see each other again. I'm sure one day we will be back to visit." Lily assured her.
Maggie smiles at this. "Really?!"
"Sure, now come on I want to go say good bye to the rest of your family." Lily told her.
She hopped out of her seat and lead Lily back to where her family was. Frieza trailed behind. They said their good byes and many wished them good luck. Frieza didn't say a word just watched and waited until Lily finished up. The other young blonde woman around her age said something to Lily and handed her something flat and rectangular in a small leather parcel. After they parted with a hug Lily stood next to Frieza. Maggie ran over and gave Lily one last big hug. To her utter surprise, Maggie went over to Frieza and gave him the same treatment.
The shocked look on his face was comical. All he can think to do was awkwardly pat the small girl's head. "By Frieza, it was fun playing with you. Please keep Lily safe."
She began making her way back to her parents before stopping midway and turned her head slightly towards them. "And don't forget to invite us to yours and Lily's wedding!" She then ran and hid behind her parents.
Lily covered her face with her hand in embarrassment while Frieza's eye started twitching. They both got into their hover car and set out for the road. There was nothing but awkward silence for the next fifteen minutes on the road.
Lily cleared her throat. "So what have you, Carter, and the others discussed? Was it a quicker and more efficient way of getting to the Sacred Area?"
He sighed. "Yes, though it doesn't look that much different nor quicker than the route we are taking. They did however, mention where some good abandoned establishments were along the way that we could find shelter in. Along with some springs and rivers we can go to replenish our water supplies. They also mentioned a few scattered army bases that we can get to along the way for emergencies."
Lily smiled. "Good to know, and nice to finally see you conversing with someone other than myself too."
He gave her a sideways glance before looking forward again. Took a deep breath and exhaled. "Little One, I think there is something we need to discuss. It includes our little skirmish from a week and a half ago."
The last thing she ever wanted to talk about and off all things, he had to bring it up. She swallowed. "What about it?"
'Damn, he never had to apologize for anything in his life. To him it was irrelevant, it showed incompetence and weakness. Now here he was trying to think of the best way to utter those two words out to the woman he's unwillingly sharing both his space and life force with.'
"I...apologize, for the way that situation was handled. I'm not going to lie when I say I do tend to get a little carried away during a fight. But they didn't really give us much of a choice. It could've all been avoided if they simply let us leave." He said.
'That was it? That's what he say's while trying to justify his actions? That he got a 'little' carried away?! That they gave us no choice?'
"Apology Not Accepted. Not only what you did was terrible...it was downright fucking sick. Is there no limit of depravity with you? THAT was completely uncalled for. You were completely out of control back there.
All you could've done was knock them out and we could've been on our way. Instead you not only killed them you maimed and mutilated many of them, like a sick and twisted sadist. No amount of apologies will ever be able to cover what you just did to those men. So save your empty apologies." She replied.
"Those men, you so put it were there for one purpose. To rob us and take you to be sold off like a piece of furnished merchandise. Call me the depraved one all you want. You know those miscreants were no better than me. You think they would've given you the same choice? No, because to them your not a human being. Your just a walking, talking profit in their eyes. If I weren't there, you would have been captured, raped, and sold off to the highest buyers they could find on this miserable dust ball.
And you misunderstood me. I didn't explain to justify my actions. I merely offered my apologies. An explanation as to why I did what I had to do to keep us both alive. Even if they caught you, they wouldn't have let me leave. They would've killed me and taken the rest of our supplies. They were animals, who just happened to pick a fight with the wrong predator." He stated.
She couldn't hold her tears back any longer. 'In her heart she knew he was right. Those men would've done the most unimaginable things to her and not lose a wink of sleep over it. But what he did wasn't right either. He knew what he was doing and didn't care. This is why she Can't Forgive Him.'
"Then I have nothing more to say to you. You've already proven to be a cold blooded killer. You were taught young to steal and kill. You will die with those same notions. Apparently nothing will change that." Lily said.
'And I'm an even bigger dumbass for believing in the slight possibility. That you could choose a different path if you so wanted. Shows how gullible I am.'
He clenched his jaw. "As I said Little One, this is who I am. Nothing will ever change that."
'I truly am a lost cause', he thought. It was silent yet again in the car. By now Lily popped in her head phones, found a song and pressed play...
"I can't escape this hell, So many times I've tried
But I'm still caged inside
Somebody get me through this nightmare
I can't control myself
So what if you can see, the darkest side of me
No one will ever change this animal I have become
Help me believe, it's not the real me
Somebody help me tame this animal
this animal, this animal
I can't escape myself, so many times I've lied
But there's still rage inside
Somebody get me through this nightmare
I can't control myself
So what if you could see, the darkest side of me
No one will ever change this animal I have become
Help me believe, it's not the real me
somebody help me tame this animal I have become
Help me believe, it's not the real me
somebody help me tame this animal
Somebody help me through this nightmare
I can't control myself
Somebody wake me from this nightmare
I can't escape this hell
This animal, this animal, this animal, this animal
This animal, this animal, this animal
So what if you can see, the darkest side of me
No one will ever change this animal I have become
Help me believe, it's not the real me
somebody help me tame this animal I have become
Help me believe, it's not the real me
somebody help me tame
This Animal I Have Become!"
*I don't own the song or lyrics. These rights belong to the awesome band; "Three Days Grace" song's title is 'Animal I Have Become' off their amazing album dubbed, 'One-X'.
Seemed like a fitting song to Frieza's Dark Reputation and everything he's been through. Not many can say they have 'literally' been to hell and back like he has. Until next time ;)