WAAGH! I'm sorry! I've really been writing a lot, just not THIS story. Now that I have an FP account, I'm doing my best to keep it alive. I also have my weekly chains of update for my other story on FF and my friend forced me to write a different fic… This was just the easiest to toss aside…

Last time: Chapter ended with Adele having leaned forward and touched the stone that Modrain and Felicity so longed her too. Thinking it foolish, and only having done it to humor them, she was startled when she fainted to the ground. Will she survive? *cough cough how can a heroine die? *

Here you go!

The Story Hands

Chapter 5

Swirling colors, aching pain, a throbbing in my hands… Lights flashing… Dark… Light… Faces of everyone I know! What's happening to me?

Adele slowly opened her eyes, still in the same strange mud house. Her gaze searched her surroundings, and she muttered, "Still this place…" She moaned as a severe pain stretched across her back, "Ugh… What is wrong with me? What even happened?"

Dizziness attacked her head, and she clutched it tightly. Low groans of pain escaped her lips, and she shuddered as though struck by a sudden cold.

It took a moment, but she finally realized what had happened to her. I touched that wretched stone, just like they asked, and look where I am! She sat up, and slowly rose to a stand. I must have fallen…

Adele's whole body quivered, she felt a strange mixture of numbness and great pain. Shaking her head, she turned and stared, rather fiercely, at Felicity and Modrain.

"Wh-What did you do to me?" She wailed, her eyes widened in horror.

Felicity took a nervous step forward, she drew in a breath and whispered, "Welcome, hero. You are going to save us all!" She seemed to be breathing heavily and she whimpered, "I didn't honestly think she was the one! I-I have fulfilled my mission, then…"Modrain hurried to the old woman's side, and snatched her shoulders just as her legs crippled, giving away and collapsing. This sight was horrifyingly shocking to the already confused Adele. She continued watching as Felicity's head lolled to the side, and her body no longer stirred with breath. She did not fall upon the ground, however, for Modrain held her up.

She had simply died. Right before Adele's eyes.

Adele, terrified, whimpered, "Wh-what just happened to her? Is she…? You know, umm… Did she kick the bucket…?" Of course, this was obvious, but denial was the easiest solution. Adele couldn't help but hope it not be true. The woman was her guide home!

The bizarre man only gave a brief nod of his head. He turned, violet eyes blazing, and murmured, "Your visit is no longer required. I will now send you home." Thoughtfully, he added, "In two days, I shall have one of our own come to retrieve you. Your training will then begin.""Excuse me?" Adele shook her head in a tangent of confusion, "Training? I'm never coming back to this place, first of all! No one you send will get me to do it. Second, I never asked for training… And… You never mentioned any so -"

Modrain had gently laid Felicity's body upon the ground right before he moved over to the confused peasant. His large hands reached outward, slowly placing themselves on Adele's eyes.

"You have no need to remember the appointment. I will do the work for your next arrival." A slight twinkle in his eyes, he added, "By that time, you will be begging for my advice."

"Hold on!" Adele screeched, "I don't beg! Plus, I just told you I'm not -" The same strange sensation of tingles flooded her body. Soon her vision clouded, her thoughts vanished… And then she collapsed into the numb state that had claimed her.

LINE

Darkness overwhelmed her vision once more, even though her eye's were open.

I suppose I'm back in that prison now…? Adele waited for her eyes to adjust to the dimly light cell, and then slowly stood. She had the strangest sensation that everything around her was tinted just slightly different. A little less brown… A little more purple? Shaking her head, Adele decided it was only her imagination. That, and the cruddy lighting in the prison.

The usual moans echoed through the walls of the prison as Adele stiffly walked towards the bars in the front of her cell. She reached out, preparing to touch the metallic surface, when suddenly, her hands began to tingle.

They instantly became beyond itchy, and Adele found herself standing in the middle of the cell scraping away at the palm's of her hands. Come on, she thought while gritting her teeth, stop itching! Just stop! URGGHH!

From the other side of the cell, the prison guard muttered, "All done?" He chuckled when she didn't respond, "That's what you get, maid. Your curiosity made you loose your mind -"

"What are you talking about?" Adele screeched, her teeth tightly clenched together. "I just can't stop itching!" Suddenly recalling her current position, she lowered her hands and smiled at the man, "But, yes, I am done. I would be happy if you would let me out, now!" Behind her back, the absurd scratching continued, just more privately.

Startled, and slightly nervous, he scooted forward and opened up the bars. His eyes slid past Adele, towards the prisoner.

The young maid watched as the guard's eyes became evidently wider. His face paled, and he looked extremely nervous. "You…" He babbled, turning his curious stare towards Adele, and then flashing back to where Felicity was laying, "Her…? How? How did you…?" He sputtered to a stop and ushered Adele out.

"What is wrong with you?" Adele chuckled, "You act like you've never met Felicity before. I thought I was the new comer." Feeling extremely clever, she rose her head defiantly towards the guard, daring him to respond.

And he did, just not in the manner she expected. He was shaking his head while whimpering, "How did you kill her?"

At those words, Adele's mind sent her spiraling into memories. She recalled the mountains, the tribe, Modrain, and Felicity collapsing into the claws of death… I don't believe it! There's no way it can be true… Right…? Felicity cannot be dead… We weren't even here in the prison… It's not possible… Or… Is it?The prison guard was edging his way into the cell and whispering, "Old witch…? Old witch…? Wake-up…!"

Adele peered around the young man and stared at the elder. She lay in a corner of the cell, crippled and unmoving. Her eyes seemed pasted shut and her sickly pale skin blended with the shadows.

Filled with a sudden feeling of nausea, the young maid whipped around and fled down the countless aisles. She could hear the prisoner's moaning, but they sounded as though they were in a world far away.

Finally, after racing through what seemed like endless halls, she found the main door. Snatching at the handles, and flinging them open, Adele burst through the main doorways.

Light filtered downward and the scenery surrounding her happily wavered in the gentle winds. But… But, it was all wrong! The coloring of everything seemed just a tad more purple, which only added to Adele's nausea.

If it's not the poor lighting in the prison… Then why… Straightening her back and gaining resolve Adele muttered, "I'm just not feeling well. Either that, or a cloud has passed over head." Triumphantly, she rose her head to prove her theory. Nervous tingles swept her body as Adele found herself staring at a completely cloudless, blue sky. 'Fine. I'm just a bit ill today. Th-that's all."

It didn't help when her spasms of incredible tingling shot through her hands, demanding to be scratched at. Adele obliged, but in a nervous manner. She had no idea what had just happened to her, and was a little afraid to find out.

Okay, a lot afraid. And, deciding that being alone brought to much pondering of that which she could not fathom, Adele began the path home.

Only hours before, the dusted road had seemed happy and delightful. Now, it only struck forth fear because of the slight violet tint to everything.

Adele was breathing when she flew through the doors of the castle, not bothering to speak to any of the guards. She slid down the halls of the castle, walkways, secret passages, until finally reaching her room upon the highest floor. The young maid dropped onto her bed, still rubbing her hands raw with her nails.

She sighed and tiredly closed her eyes. Talking to herself had always helped Adele, and, because she had no fear of looking a fool, or sounding one, she muttered, "There is nothing wrong, Adele. Nothing wrong at all. This itching is a… An allergic reaction to the prisoners! And as for everything seeming so violet… I'm just feeling queasy. I've been working myself too much… I'll just have to tell Claudia that I need a rest."

After half dozing half staring at nothing for several hours, Adele clambered to her feet and examined her tiny room. She had a small closet located right next to her bed, though it could hardly be considered a closet. Just a stick that had been attached from one corner of the room to another. Three dresses draped down from it, their hems lightly brushing the ground. Beside her tiny bed, on the other side, was a small window. The glass on the window was cracked and covered with filthy streaks of dirt. A dresser was the final piece of furniture to finish off her décor. It held two of her most personal items. One was a hand drawn picture of Adele's parents while the other item was an Amethyst ring. It had a deep purple to it, and its beauty was undeniable.

Bored with watching what little there was to watch in the small room, Adele prepared to leave, when something caught her eye. She had been walking past the window, when the young maid had caught a sudden glimpse of herself.

All itchiness forgotten, Adele stumbled towards her window, dumbfounded.

Though her reflection was hardly visible, it gave her a slightly correct view of her face and body. She leaned forward, examining her features.

Her mouth was as lovely as ever, though she never commented on it. It was the only feature she liked about herself though. Her lips were plump, and for some odd reason, were almost a blood red. Her nose would have looked acceptable, for it was a button nose, but it was covered in disgusting freckles and filth. Adele's heart shaped face and high cheek bones did little to please her appearance either… But none of these were the reason she stared into the low class glass of her window.

It was her eyes. Only the day before, Adele had stopped and examined her reflection. She could faintly see her boring brown iris's color, and hadn't been pleased. Now… Now, she found herself facing violet eyes. They enhanced her face rather pleasantly, and made her look much prettier than before, but this was beside the point.

"H-how…?" Adele leaned closer to the window, until her nose was pressed against the glass. She carefully laid a finger underneath one of her eyes and whispered, to herself, "How did this happen?"

"Ah-hem. I am ready to be undressed." Irritation flowed from the voice sounding from Adele's doorway, but the young maid was hardly roused by the young princess's voice. She was far too consumed and fascinated by her eyes.

"Ah-hem!" Claudia sounded more wrathful than before, and, as though to emphasis her irritation, she stomped her foot loudly upon the ground. When she received no reaction, again, Claudia growled, "Hello? You work for me, remember? I want you to help me undress now! I mean, gee, I give you one day off and now you think you're too good to do anything?"

Absent-mindedly, Adele muttered, "It's not a day off if you still expect me to work." If it was possible, she was leaning even further into the glass of the window.

Annoyed, but with no good response, Claudia changed tactics. "Well, what about me being up in your room at all? How dare I have to walk all the way to the servant's quarters! It's such a long hike and it hurts my feet." She pushed out her lip, pouting, though the princess knew Adele was not watching her.

"I can tell someone has had a bad day -"

"Well, someone, better get to work right now or -"

"-but you shouldn't take out your unnecessary anger on me." Adele shrugged innocently, and turned to face her friend. Yes, they were friends, despite their snippy remarks.

Keeping her eyes fixated on the ground, and making a hair cast a shadow over her forehead and eyes, Adele murmured, "Tell me all about it while I fix your hair."

Distracted from her lecture, Claudia leaned forward slightly, "Is their something wrong, Adele? Why won't you look me in the eyes?"

Turning away, the princess's companion only muttered, "You told me this morning you wanted to treat your servants better. Have them show you more respect, you implied. Well… Allow me to help you with the process. Eye contact is not good, it shows equality of people." In truth, Adele was terrified of allowing anyone, especially Claudia, to see her eyes.

If Felicity had been locked away for violet eyes, then Adele suspected that she would have no different treatment. Besides, it would be obvious what she had done that day… Even after Claudia had demanded she not go.

Dragging Adele away from her nerves, Claudia muttered, "You make everything difficult! Even when you profess to be helping me!" She smiled a little and sighed, "Help me undress, please?"

Adele nodded, looking away and hoping her eyes were properly shadowed. "Wait a moment, please. I have a great need to wear a hat suddenly."

Quirking a brow, Claudia grinned, "Okay, fine…You are the weirdest person I know, Adele."

"You have no idea…" The lady's maid responded, turning away. "Just… Just let me find that hat of mine." Masking any nerves she had, Adele hurried towards her dresser. Claudia, for the last Feast Day, had provided her with a very pretty and expansive hat. It had seemed too frilly at first, but the feathers and the fine material had managed to grow on Adele.

"Whatever," Claudia said, sounding a bit more perky. "I just have to tell you what the Earle did today."

Laughing, her companion responded, "Oh no! Did the poor man profess his undying love for you? Did he say he would be your knight in shining armor for forever? Or, was he awful enough to have actually tried talking to you? What a rotten man."

Scowling with no further words, the princess swept out of the room. She had seemed rather unhappy, but Adele promised she'd make amends later. For now, she really needed to understand what in the world was going on with her eyes.

At least I had the decency to make it a long chapter. So, all, how long will Adele be able to keep her eyes a secret? And, do any of you remember what Modrain and Felicity told her about? How she had to save her home land... Gee, how will SHE manage to do that?

So, any and all grammatical errors are due too... The fact that I didn't want to wait for a beta. After all, you have all been patient enough! So, I think I deserve some reviews!