A/N: I apologize for the incredible amount of time I've been absent. I thought I lost my writing partner and I had a serious case of writer's block. After conversing with CruelSmile just today for the first time since last July or so, we came up with a new chapter 3, chapter 4, and chapter 5. Without her help, I swear this story would have gone way down the drain after the second chapter. Also, even though we just added to this story today, I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed it since I originally posted the story.
When you seek me you'll destroy me
Rape my mind and smell the poppies
Born and bloodied every single time - "Slither" by Velvet Revolver
"So, Seifer..." said Quistis in disbelief, glancing on him over her glasses, her blue eyes examining him from feet to head. "You haven't tried talking to us for ages, you never visit Garden. Although I think I should thank Hyne for it... And here you are, a sudden guest to our little citadel, demanding a place under the sun. So typical. It's like they say, people do not change and neither do you. I don't know why I let you in here in the first place."
The young woman sighed and looked at him, both uneasy and hesitating. She hadn't changed much, same old Quistis, with her easy step, and modest look. He didn't feel any hatred or disliking. She was simply analyzing the situation, trying not to be preconceived. Her typical "See how much trouble you give me" look.
But Seifer. What an unexpected visitor. Had he changed? No, she guessed not. The same fierce green eyes, the same smirk, and spiky blonde hair.
"This was so unexpectedly nice of you, to grant me such a hearty welcome, Trepe. I'm seeking shelter, for two days, no more, and I'll pay for this accomodation later. Don't ever try imagining me your debtor." He smirked scornfully.
Seifer did his best to hide anxiety, which was tearing him from the inside. How pitiful. Once again. Pitiful. Put a mask on your face, act cool, stay calm and they won't see you bleeding. Oh no, they won't. He should have searched for Raijin and Fujin, but he had no idea where they might be. Quistis didn't seem to notice his mocking tone.
"See, Seifer..." She repeated his name once again, an inrritating habit of hers, "I'm afraid Squall is absent at the moment. We'll think of something as soon as he..."
She was interrupted by a loud melody, coming from her cell phone. A very simple, plain melody - bells and drums from a very unpretentious black phone. She was interrupted suddenly and rudely, as she stood with her mouth open. She reached for her phone quickly. Seifer admired the masterful, precise moves of her hands - she was reaching for the phone as if she was a reaching for a whip. She frowned as she was trying to sort out the number of the caller. She raised her eyebrows and started talking very quickly in short phrases.
"Quistis Trepe... Yes."
Then there was a thrilling, minute-lasting silence. The wires were buzzing, and he could here distant yells of children, and roars of monsters, or it was just his imagination. He had to admit, it was nice to see Garden again. Quistis' eyes widened. He watched Quistis become confident, then nervous, then pale as a sheet. She dropped the line abruptly and gasped out, "When... Did you last see Edea?" She was concentrated. Strained. Edea. That name stings like a bitch...
"What's the matter, Trepe? It probably was about two or so days ago."
She didn't listen to him anymore, just made a gesture so he would follow her. "Goddamn it, instructor, what the hell is going on?" Seifer demanded.She was dialing someone's number while running,
"Quistis Trepe here, I'm on my way to join the Seed Emergency Troop. Destination: Edea's Kramer's house in western Centra."
I can't believe it...What..?
"Seifer? Yes, Seifer is with me... How...? I see... Yes, definitely." She stopped running and blurted out in the phone, "Take him with me? For extra support? But Squall, this is... I got it. Forgive me, Commander." She evidently blushed as if she was slapped in the face. Their relationship with Squall had certainly become more complicated, "Roger that, I'll bring Almasy along."
"Puberty Boy? Hand me over the the phone, Trepe, I want to speak with him." She passed the phone to him, her hand shaking. Squall's voice was barely hearable, yet it was unmistakingly the same old voice, "Do you hear me, Almasy? There is an attack supposed to be planned on the headmaster's house, Matron is in danger as well. We have to intercept the assassins. They are known to be heavily armed and extremely dangerous. Your aim is to get to the headmaster's house as quickly as possible. Go with Quistis, join the SeeD troop, and wait for further instructions."
Edea is in danger. This phrase hypnotized him. Like red lights were suddenly turned on and blurred his vision.
"Move Seifer! We don't have an eternity for you to realize what is going on! Have you forgotten how to use Hyperion?"
No, damn it, I haven't.
The SeeD troop landed near the house as a fiery battle was raging there. Blood spilled like juice from a fruit, and there were already injured and dead. The attackers were mostly men in red, armed with guns and knifes. The SeeDs did their best to fight back, but the mercenaries were overwhelming. No sign of Squall or Selphie was evident. Who on earth needed to attack an old couple with a squadron of mercenaries? Definitely a madman.
"Seifer, cover me! And do NOT act without my orders, Seifer, do you comprehend?! Seifer! SEIFER!" Quistis shouted uselessly, but she stopped doing it to protect herself from gunfire, hiding behind the Ragnarok. Then a loud explosion. Quistis couldn't cope with the sight of the cruel massacre she was observing. How could it happen? There was no war, no revolution, it was just an assassination! This was just too much for a simple assassination.
Despite Quistis' commands, Seifer rushed directly into the building. A mercenary tried interrupt him, but was killed by a single shot of the gunblade and a hard boot-crack to his skull. It felt so good to be in battle again. Seifer smashed the door open with his shoulder, and the newly-redecorated door fell on someone who was inside. A short scream was heard, but died out quickly. The noise of battle was playing in Seifer's mind, and he tumbled quickly to shelter behind the drawer. He looked around. The earth was shaking from a march of feet. Fury was burning inside Seifer's soul. Another mercenary stormed into the room, Seifer raised his gunblade to smash him, but he parried. He could see the golden eyes of the assassinator, his well-hidden fear. He parried his gunblade with a sword and then whirled to strike Seifer, but he could do nothing with Seifer's boosted reflexes. The last thing he saw was the steel of the gunblade. Blood spilled and covered the wall, flowing down slowly. Seifer sighed deeply, trying to calm himself.
A sudden pain pierced his mind as he felt a dart stinging his shoulder. Poison, most likely. So inaccurate of him, what a shame. As he was turning around, the female attacker who had thrown the dart was hit by a nunchaku. A girl in a yellow dress was standing behind him, catching her breath, her lip was bleeding and her dress was soiled with blood. Selphie Tilmitt, the messenger girl, was looking at him desperately. She had obviously been through a real mess - her dress almost torn, many scratches on her body. She was coughing up blood.
"Seifer! Thank hyne you are here!" She cried out almost hysterically, "There are more coming, so go! Save Cid and Edea Irvine is coming to my aid, so go!" She leaned upon a wall, slipping down. His heart ached when he looked at her, so pitiful she looked. Seifer felt a bit dizzy, but he got the phrase "move forward". He proceeded, slamming another door, moving forward. There were more mercenaries, and he dealt with them in a sort of bloody, murderous dance. One killed, then another, one after another. The faces changed with the speed of time.
A high pitched scream chilled him to the narrow. No doubt it was the voice of the messenger girl. And it was the last sound she would ever make. His entire soul began to howl. He had neither cared for her nor liked her, but she was a nineteen year old teenager and his former friend. His mind grew absolutely turbid as he felt to his knees. His system was deeply shocked, and he didn't know if it was the poison or grief. Bells were ringing inside his head, and random phrases popped up.
"Seifer, Seifer, I have a seashell! Look, what a wonderful seashell I found!" Selphie was showing him a tiny seashell with a wide smile. She was laughing merrily. A bright picture from childhhood grew all bloody and crimson.
No matter. They were trying to deceive him, all these voices. His stomach was tearing asunder.Hardly had he come to his senses when he heard someone crying, "The Balamb headmaster is here!"
Save Cid. Right. Now. Do something at least!
The room. Cid was on the floor, surrounded by men who were about to deliver him a fatal blow. Seifer realized that he wasn't controlling himself, his body was living a separate life, butchering all these sons-of-bitches, tearing them to shreds. His body didn't need his participation anymore. One move - one death. He could see Cid's eyes burn with admiration. Yes, he was a skillful fighter after all. Far more than skilled. He slit the last mercenarie's throat open. The ends of his coat were soaked in blood. "Now, quickly, rescue Edea!" Cid yelled.
What is he, bossing you around? Yes he is. Oh yes, he is. You are a failure. A puppet. Puppet boy, your strings are his. Or hers. Always, someone's puppet.
"Seifer, do you hear me?! Stop fooling around!"
He says you are fooling around. Of course you are, you always are, fooling around is the beat a failure can do.
"Seifer!" Cid yelled again. He was on the verge of collapsing. "GODDAMN IT you idiot, she is dying!"
Yes, she is. Because you are a failure. A son of drunkards, the scum of society. Go do what you must do and die while hiding in some kind of cave.
"Shut up... headmaster."
He approached his foster father slowly, with a bloody shroud in his eyes. He was in some kind of trance.
"You called me a failure, didn't you? You hate me, don't you?" He leaned next to him staring him directly in eyes, "Correct me if I am wrong Cid. You have always disdained me, I know you have..."
His green eyes were flashing, "You know I loved Edea and you tried to separate us. You... you are the reason."
Fear in his eyes. Power in his hands. A drunken-feeling of control.
I am so used to seeing fear in people's eyes... They are destined to die by my hand.
A fatal blow.
Burn in hell, devilish minion. You've earned it.