Well, the next chapter is finally here. Once again I ask forgiveness...this semester has been rough.
Hopefully, I can post the next one soon. I'm starting to think that shorter chapters are better than the long ones...in terms of posting at a reasonable pace.
Disclaimer: Look at Chapter 1
Chapter 5
Green eyes flickered with fright, dry, parched lips opened and closed silently, slender pale fingers shook violently.
The mark of Scath...that mark that appeared in the heavens two years before the plague devastated his village. The constellation that shouldn't have been there. The symbol that only brings death and destruction.
Why was it now on this innocent, pure priestess? How could such an evil mark, taint Arella's pure white skin? What wicked denizen would dare to corrupt the holy priestess in such a way?
The young deckhand's feet carried him towards the cold, rushing water, as if possessed. His whole body trembled, teeth chattered violently as the teen stepped into the cold rushing brook. His shaking hands trembled, and fingers reached out desperately.
All his mind, heart, soul and body fixated on that horrible scar. Closer and closer he came, each step sending wave of pain through his small slender body. Skin burned, despite the chilling waters; sweat-soaked hair clung to his face, disregarding the cool evening breeze. The teen's chest rose and fell rapidly, tears blurred his vision, throat was hoarse and dry.
Slowly, ever so slowly, Garfield reached out his icy fingers, resting them softly against the priestess' marred skin. Why was she so cold? Her skin chilled his already numb fingers and the pain coursed through him once more.
Who would do this? Who would dare harm such an innocent creature? Tears dripped down the boy's frightened features as his hands continued tracing the deep rough brand.
A gentle laugh entered the boy's ears.
Green eyes shot up, noticing the sun peek out once more from behind the clouds. The cool wind changed to warm summer air, the icy waters became a warm current. That tinkling mirthful laugh...like the sound of playful bells, filled him with a strange happiness.
"Wilson, stop. That tickles!"
The voice of the priestess filled him with shock. He stumbled back, feet tripping over the rocks below.
"Wil-" Arella turned, her eyes bright and expectant. A childlike smile graced her features and Garfield felt his heart flutter wildly.
But who was Wilson? It seemed like someone the priestess was good friends with. Why else would her eyes grow dim after seeing him? Why else would the smile drop from her face, and the muscles in her jaw clench with irritation? Why else would she appear so...sad and dejected?
"For-forgive me, Miss."
Those strange purple eyes regarded him curiously. Then a smile spread on her face once more. "I am not angry at you, young one. Simply... reminiscent."
"Ah...um. Who is Wilson?" Should he ask? Did he even have the right? Garfield didn't want to pry into the priestess life, and she seemed like one who kept many secrets.
"Wilson." The priestess eyes grew sorrowful, and for a moment it seemed like the sun ducked behind the clouds. Shadows filled the empty lawn and the birds grew silent. "Wilson is... someone I love very much."
Garfield sucked in a shaky breath. Is. So she still loved him? Green eyes looked down into the creek, watching the minnows dart between the rocks and moss. Somehow...that 'is' filled his heart with despair. He felt sad, cheated and wronged.
Of course Arella wouldn't have such feelings for him...weren't the two simply friends? He was the one having strange thoughts, wishing for things that couldn't happen. "Where is he?"
A strange, almost defiant look flashed across the priestess' features. The woman turned up her nose with an air of superiority, pursed her lips and arched an eyebrow. "Why must you know? Did Richard ask you to do this? "
An alarmed look entered Garfield's eyes. She thought he was a spy! "Never!" He didn't ask me to do anything! I came with you 'cause...we- well ...we're friends!"
"Friends? Am I really a friend to you?" Arella seemed confused and perplexed.
"Yes! Friends have to stick together...no matter what anyone says!" Garfield said this emphatically, hoping that the woman would get his message. His green eyes stared hard into her strange purple ones, hoping that she would see the determination and the resolve in his face.
Imagine his surprise when tears began to spill from the priestess eyes.
"You don't know what that means...to me. Thank you."
oOoOo
Annoyed.
Richard was extremely annoyed. And with good reason. The whole trip was now a day behind schedule...simply because Garfield wanted to 'let Arella bathe'. Since when does bathing take a whole day? What else were those two doing, to have held up the whole group?
Ice blue eyes stared piercingly across the campfire where the young deckhand was seated on the ground, intently picking out the fish bones Arella's meal. As if she couldn't do it herself.
Richard scoffed inwardly, cramming a piece of bread into his mouth. If they had made it to town, he wouldn't be sitting here, eating fish and bread, with nothing but spring water to wash it down. Ice blue orbs continued glaring at the two responsible for his predicament.
His ears picked up their voices; Garfield's excited and expectant, Arella's calm and serene. Her purple eyes glittered in the firelight, as her hands swayed gracefully. What was she saying? The captain strained his ears, trying to pick up the conversation.
"I do not understand how a ship hand such has you has never heard of Lastonia. The Land of Snow? The Ice Nation? Surely you've heard of the towering ice castles? Or the Reflection Wall?"
Lastonia? Richard pursed his lips. That god forsaken country? Why would anyone want to know of such a barren place? Nothing good came out of Lastonia. Its people were arrogant and heartless, caring nothing of the world outside their icy haven.
The country was known for it's highly organized involvement in crime, exceptional mercenaries and thieves. Why such a country was even allowed to remain on this earth was a mystery to Richard.
"Garfield, you must take a trip there one day. When spring comes to Lastonia, everyone rejoices. There are festivals, parades, good food. When the ground thaws, the lush meadows spring out from beneath the ice, and the whole town begins to float upon the waters!"
"Really! That's just awesome!" Garfield exclaimed, looking up from the plate of fish. "But what about the people? Are they friendly?"
Arella paused, a distant look filling her violet eyes. "The people...are proud, they look up to their traditions. And they are very... beautiful. With eyes the color of rare jewels, hair as white as the snow itself...and voices as beautiful as a thousand instruments." The priestess paused, now staring into the fire, softly. She wrapped her arms around her body tightly, as if struggling to stay warm.
A tired smile graced her beautiful features as she continued her description. "It is said that the people of Lastonia are descended from the sun god. One day, I will find my way back to Lastonia, and search for that which I had lost."
Garfield's eyes took on a puzzled look, as did Richard, who tilted his head in confusion. Lost? What did she loose? A suspicious look entered into the captain's ice blue eyes as he pondered the priestess words. Why was she saying this? What made her speak of Lastonia?
Richard pursed his lips thoughtfully, watching as Garfield wrapped a blanket around the priestess' slender frame. Was she cold? Why? It was so warm on this island...not to mention the blazing fire.
He continued watching the pair, eyebrows furrowing even more as Garfield placed a blanket close to the fire and tenderly tucked the woman to bed. What was it with those two?
A strange emotion filled his heart. Richard stared into the fire, not fully understanding what he was feeling.
It was strange, this sensation of anger and frustration. Richard felt wronged and cheated. Arella was never like this with him. Never so bubbly, warm, talkative. Never so Korianna-like. He'd never seen her like this...laughing, smiling with eyes that twinkled so beautifully.
Arella was...beautiful. Yes, he had to admit the truth. Had to admit that her face was stunningly beautiful. Her strange violet eyes were painfully beautiful. Her slender frame that curved so erotically...the pale creamy flesh, those long legs and full, ruby-red lips were forbiddingly beautiful.
Richard bit back a moan of anguish. Why was he feeling like this? As if his world was collapsing. As if he couldn't breathe. These feelings, this sensation...it was killing him. Tearing him apart. The man closed his eyes, trying to ignore the pain welling up within him. His breaths were ragged, hands clenched tightly.
When Arella smiled, it was to Garfield...not him. When Arella laughed, it was with Garfield...not him. She held hands with Garfield, not with him...
Damn it!
Why was he so jealous?
oOoOo
Violet eyes stared into the fire, watching in fascination as the colors flickered before her. Red into orange. Orange into yellow. The fire was slowly dying down, most of the yellow had disappeared. All that was left was the slowly dissipating orange, and the steady glow of red.
Raven stared into the red flame, her lips set in a frown. How could she have been so careless? What would happen now that Garfield had seen it? Would he say anything? Could she trust him with such a secret?
The young woman cursed inwardly, turning beneath the worn old blanket. She never asked for such a scar. Never wanted to be the daughter of Trigon. It wasn't her wish to carry his emblem forever.
Azar, what kind of life was this?
A life of servitude and slavery...who would wish this fate on anyone? To be fated to destroy the world, to be forced to pay for a crime she didn't commit? To be subjected to such degradation and insult by these brutish men from the north?
Crimes...was her mother guilty of that which Richard grieved for? Arella would never murder anyone. Obviously, Richard misunderstood something. Saw the wrong thing...jumped to conclusions. The fire crackled, sending a flurry of embers into the night sky. Raven watched as they fluttered down, the glow of red now fading into the night.
Arella never killed Bruce Wayne.
No, Bruce Wayne died because of something else. Someone else. That man died in the name of Trigon. Why else would Arella have been present that night? He knew something...and Trigon had to silence him.
But what? What could that man have known that would warrant his death? Did Richard know it as well? Or was he simply acting on vengeance, as if such a mission would bring his dead father back.
Raven pursed her lips, her hands and fingers weaving a sign. The priestess continued with her hand motions, as she quietly chanted a sacred mantra. She needed some answers, perhaps a clue.
Anything to prove her innocence.
Well, how's this chapter. Is the story suspenseful? Is the story line clear? Did I bring trigon's involvement into the story in a good way?
Please review...and tell me other ways to make Richard jealous. (His jealously will be crucial as you can see.)
~heartless16