Chapter Four

Frozen mist floated upward as Zelda let loose a breath of air. She was outsides Link's house waiting for Link to finish getting ready so they could head to school. It was her third week at school, and she was doing fine academically, but inside she struggled. There were a few emotions that have been trying to resurface, such as a faint feeling of happiness and anger, but she did her best to hide them. As far as she was aware no one knew they had resurfaced, as she had kept her actions and responses netural and indifferent.

After a few minutes, Link finally came outside and loaded his truck with his basketball stuff. Zelda climbed into the passenger seat as Link started up the truck, and then drove to school. Like all commutes, both remain silent and stayed to their own thoughts. When they arrived at school, they enter their homeroom to be checked in. Trouble began immediately after the school day began...

"Link's a loser, he doesn't know anything," Malon's chided voice cut in during Pre-calc. Mr. Rock was passing out the tests they had to take in class.

Link simply sat there, trying to appear he didn't hear. However, Malon's taunts continued, both annoying and childish. Link let loose a soft growl before turning to her. "Do you mind shutting up?"

"Why should I?" Malon sneered, a grin on her face.

"Because some of us are trying to take a test," Link looked beside him and saw Zelda, the reflection of her eyes glowing strangely under the shadow of her hood.

"What do you care, shadow of a girl."

"I've been called far worse," Zelda simply replied, "and what do I care? I care about my grades."

"Bullshit bitch," Malon spat.

"Alright, that's enough Malon," Mr. Rock cut in. "You will leave my classroom right now."

"Pif, like I care, I'd rather be facing Mr. Sage then being in the same room as this bitch and her jackass."

"Now!" Mr. Rock nearly yelled, and Malon simply picked up her books and left the room.

When the class ended, Mr. Rock pulled Link aside briefly. Zelda merely left to history, not having to wait on Link any longer.

"That's the most vocal I've seen her," Mr. Rock whispered. "She opening up any?" it was no secret in the school what Link was doing.

"No more then you've seen," Link replied. "She's a straight A student, missed a lot of school due to her condition, but nonetheless a straight A student."

"With the Christmas Break approaching, think you can handle her?" the Goron asked as they walked down the hall. They stop for a moment as he got a soda out of the machine.

"I don't follow," Link replied as his teacher handed him the soda.

"I'll let you in on a secret, I've been watching her, and she has an evil side to her, one she has been battling for some time. You're treading on thin ice, but sometimes one has to, to learn the truth."

"I'll keep to my wits," Link replied, before heading off to class.

...Painting Scars...

The hallways were far from bare as she walked through them. It was her free time before the day's end but she did not want to stay trapped within the art room. The hall, however, brought some peace of mind, as she wandered mindlessly through. No one bothered her when she walked, they all knew it was her study hall.

Now, however, she was nearing the art room again when a pair of underclassmen who were skipping class raced passed her. At first she ignored them, however, they quickly turned around. One went to tackle her, but she managed to avoid him. The other threw a kick towards her, which she ducked. Then she felt it.

It was growing inside her, just as it was in Pre-Calc earlier. Which each attempt the duo did to hit her, it raged more as she evaded. It was trying to consume her as she tried to control it. Soon, her vision was nearly consumed by her mind's battle within. Like a monster, she lashed out on the boys, but at the same time held herself from hurting them too much. There was little control, that could be seen, but that was not what she worried about.

She was worried he would find her because of the curse resurfacing.

Ears picked up on weak vibrations of voice, which sounded vaguely like Midna's. Both Link and Zant had left school early for a basketball game, leaving the young artist to be the only person whom she's acquainted with to communicate with her. However, her brain struggled to understand what was being said. A pair of hands gripped her lightly, as if in fear of being attacked, as they lead her away from the hall. That was when one thought did become clear.

There was no avoiding the future this time.

When her brain finally cleared the fog, she found herself sitting in Link's living room, staring blankly at the door. Mentally chiding herself for loosing concentration, she stood up and walked over to the door to her room. She stood in the middle, looking around. A large part of her wanted to bail out now; to protect those of this city, but a small part inside wanted to stay.

"Why would I stay?" she breathed out. Walking over to the window, she stared out, noting that Link had come back from the game. "Why... do I want to put them in danger to see this through? To my corruption, seduction to this curse?" as her mind slowly cleared itself, a stray thought soon entered her mind. Closing her door and turning on her laptop, she quickly did some search for the man responsible. He has done this many times before, that is one thing she had learned from the curse. Dull green eyes widen as she read one sentence.

All victims appeared to not have a strong enough spirit, and quickly became a slave of darkness.

"What the hell...?" Zelda whispered, sitting back, a flash of a memory, of her former group of friends. "Ilia was the target, but I took the fall," a knock on the door broke her train of thought.

"Zelda, you in there?" it was Link's voice.

"Yes," She replied in monotone, putting away her laptop.

"I heard what happen from Midna, just making sure you're all right." Zelda did not respond. She listened as Link walked away and into his room before removing her cloak and climbing into bed, questions once more running through her head until she managed to drift into a light sleep.