Beyond
Flora Winters
I do not own Final Fantasy VII, and I'm not making any money here either.
Summary: Sometimes the dead simply do not stay dead. This story will contain boy love, strong language, and scenes of explicit violence.
Chapter Twenty-One
Cloud gently pushed the large wooden doors open and the sounds of many wings filled his ears as doves took flight up into the rafters. White feathers spiraled down, landing ever so softly onto the dusty floor at his feet. Large marble pillars towered on both sides of the aisle leading to the altar beyond them. Green vines curled and coiled around each pillar, grinning with sharp thorns.
Each step he took forward echoed like the crashing of ocean waves in his heart. The doors closed behind him with a deafening boom that reminded him of distant thunder over red canyons. There should have been flowers as bright as golden sunlight illuminating the empty darkness that surrounded him, but there was none to be seen. Not even the hint of a sunrise in sight.
"Are you here?" He whispered, kneeling where there should have been flowers.
His only reply was the mournful cooing of doves and the ache in his heart only got worse. It was as he had feared, but knew deep down to be true.
She wasn't here.
Aeris was not in this new world. Never born. Not here to run out and greet him.
"You don't see a lot of flowers in Midgar."
"They only grow here. Although, I planted some outside my house, too."
Tears fell as he looked up at the stained glass window before him. Soft light came shining through and his blue eyes filled with rose red hues. A handsome angel smiled down at him with tenderness and unconditional love.
"Flower Lady! Yay! It's the Flower Lady!"
He slowly stood and looked up into the angel's smiling face and raised his left hand. His palm began to glow white hot and his nails became deep crimson as sparks came from their tips. Lightening filled his eyes and thunder boomed in his head.
He ground his teeth in rage and swiftly lowered his hand. The angel continued to smile down upon him and the light coming through only got brighter and brighter.
Morning had come.
Cloud turned to the Genesis copy that was standing behind him. The copy was looking at him with a vacant expression. The eyes were empty and emotionless. The creation kind of unnerved him. A soulless doll animated by mako.
"Do you feel?" He asked.
The copy looked down at him.
"Do you know pain?" He asked.
The copy just kept looking at him, blank and empty.
"Give me your hand," he commanded the copy and it obeyed without question because Genesis had ordered it to follow his every wish.
Cloud removed the copy's leather glove and held it's warm hand in his own. He then began to run his index finger up and down the copy's palm, trying to get some kind of response from it.
The copy gave no response.
He put the copy's palm to his cheek and closed his eyes. "Do you know what feelings are?" He put the copy's index finger into his mouth and slightly sucked on it.
Once again, no response.
"Speak." He ordered.
"I obey," the copy said with Genesis' exact voice. There was just no feeling or intelligence behind it.
"What does this make you feel?" Cloud asked the copy, stepping forward and grabbing the copy between the legs. "Tell me. Do you feel this?" He squeezed the copy's organ, but the organ gave no response to his stimulation.
"I obey," the copy repeated.
Cloud suddenly felt a horrible sadness and stepped away from the copy. "You truly feel nothing. You are just…you don't feel anything?"
The copy looked at him, but wasn't looking at him. He might as well have not even been there. If he commanded, this copy would stand here until it was covered in dust.
"I obey." Monotone reply.
Genesis had told him this, but he had just wanted to be sure, because this copy was going to die in order to give him the Black Materia. That which would allow him to the rule the Guardians of the Planet. The Almighty Weapons.
"Go to the second floor and wait for my signal," Cloud ordered the copy, putting it's glove back on. "Do not make a sound."
"I obey," The copy answered again.
Cloud watched him jump up into the air and vanish into the darkness with a swift flap of his single black wing. It stunned him how fast the copy could fly in such confined space.
He stared back up at the angle and then collapsed before that beautiful smile. He would take a nap. He needed a rest.
Zack would be here soon.
7777777
Sephiroth could hear music and he followed it to the surface. He opened his emerald green eyes and found himself to be in a candlelit room. It was a big room with large windows that had heavy draperies.
How did I get here?
The room was richly decorated. Statues and vases scattered about at strange angles.
Where is here?
He found himself not restrained and carefully sat up on the bed. His black boots were standing before a chair where his leather jacket was hanging across the seat.
Genesis!
Only Genesis would arrange his boots and jacket like that. With such precision and tender care.
He rose from the bed and his feet sank into plush plum blossom colored carpets. He had been expecting a cold floor, but was surprisingly shocked. Putting his boots and jacket on, he silently went to the slightly opened door and peaked out.
A long hallways was before him and he slowly made his way down it, careful not to make a sound as he did so. He did not have his sword on him and he felt naked without it.
The last thing he remembered was yelling at Zack in the streets of Midgar about how Genesis had kidnapped Cloud, and how they had to find them. But, his mind went to blank darkness. Genesis must have done something, but how? Genesis had never been able to sneak up on him before.
A sleep spell? But, that's impossible. Sleep spells do not work on me. What did you do, Genesis?
He followed the music and it got louder and louder as he came to a spiral staircase leading down into a grand hall where large glass windows were open to the night. He could smell the sweet scent of night blooming jasmine as a cool sea breeze greeted his face.
Someone was singing?
Never let me go, never let me go
Never let me go, never let me go
Genesis?
Sephiroth began to descend the marble stairs, careful not to make any noise, but the music was getting so loud, he doubted anyone would be able to hear his approach. Large chandeliers made of shimmering crystal were giving off soft, glowing light over mosaic flooring. He silently walked across small moons and stars to where the music was coming from.
Looking out from underneath
Fractured moonlight on the sea
Reflections still look the same to me
As before I went under
A pair of large doors were slightly ajar and a warm light was spilling out from within. Peaking through the opening he saw Genesis.
The redhead was half naked and dancing before a lifelike statue of the Goddess he worshipped. His warm peaches and cream skin was glistening with sweat and his hair shimmered about his stunning face like hot flames.
And it's peaceful in the deep
Cathedral where you cannot breathe
No need to pray, no need to speak
Now I am under
His voice was siren sweet. As bewitching as Sephiroth had remembered it to be. The voice which could and had driven him mad many times. So soft and sweet. So sharp and destructive. A coin with too many sides. A jewel with more faucets than one can count in a lifetime.
And it's breaking over me
A thousand miles onto the sea bed
Found the place to rest my head
Genesis' eyes were closed. His face was filled with rapture.
Never let me go, never let me go
Never let me go, never let me go
His shadow was a sensual ghost on the wall. Leaping and spinning to spirit music.
And the arms of the ocean are carrying me
And all this devotion was rushing out of me
And the crashes are heaven, for a sinner like me
The arms of the ocean deliver me
Piano, drums, and echoes of thunder. Not a single instrument was in the room, but the music was there.
Though the pressures hard to take
It's the only way I can escape
It seems a heavy choice to make
Now I am under
Sephiroth kept his eyes on Genesis, but also kept looking at the statue. The face of the Goddess looked so very familiar. It was as if he had seen her once before.
Did he know this face? And if so, from where?
And it's breaking over me
A thousand miles down to the seabed
Found the place to rest my head
Sephiroth looked back at Genesis and found the redhead was looking right at him. His eyes were so big and blue. They were filled with a supernatural light. Ecstasy and bliss.
Genesis reached out his hand to Sephiroth. A smile on his lips as he sang to a ghostly chorus.
Never let me go, never let me go
Never let me go, never let me go
Sephiroth had to take a step back because the doors began to open before him as if by invisible hands. Genesis began to walk towards him.
And the arms of the ocean are carrying me
And all this devotion was rushing out of me
And the crashes are heaven, for a sinner like me
The arms of the ocean deliver me
Genesis came right up to him and took his hand in his own and smiled up at him. Sephiroth felt a pang in his heart and took a deep breath. Those blue eyes terrified him and made him feel wonderful at the same time.
And it's over
I'm slipping under
But I'm not giving up
I'm just giving in
Genesis pulled on his hand and Sephiroth held his ground. There was that delicious pout and playful sparkle in those eyes.
Oh, slipping underneath
Oh, so cold, but so sweet
He looked so warm and alive. Like he had been healed somehow.
In the arms of the ocean, so sweet and so cold
And all this devotion I never knew at all
And the crashes are heaven, for a sinner released
And the arms of the ocean
Deliver me
Genesis pulled on his hand again, and Sephiroth, against his better judgment, took the redhead into his arms. He held him close, breathing him in as if he were dying for air. His heart ached and his muscles trembled.
Genesis and him were lock and key. They fit each other perfectly.
Genesis sang to him.
Never let me go, never let me go
Never let me go, never let me go
They danced amidst warmth and glowing green lights that floated around them. Spirits and music seemed to fill the air.
Never let me go, never let me go
Never let me go, never let me go
Sephiroth felt warmth on his cheeks. It was his own tears. He was crying.
Deliver me
He felt so happy and so terribly, terribly sad. This wasn't real. With a soft cry that sounded like a wounded animal trying to hide from that which had injured it, he opened his eyes. He blinked as tears streamed from them.
He was lying on his back, restrained in some kind of empty room. Genesis was straddling his waist, looming just a hair away from him.
Genesis gently wiped away his tears. He put his finger to his lip and licked the tip and gave Sephiroth a wicked, beautiful smile.
"Face to face, my lovely foe."
He began to laugh and then kissed Sephiroth right on the lips. Sephiroth struggled and with a hiss, Genesis smacked him hard across the cheek. "I hate your stupid hair!"
Sephiroth, who had never been smacked before in his life, saw red. He was about to demand Genesis untie him so he could kick his ass, but Genesis was having none of that. He placed his hand directly over Sephiroth's mouth and looked down at him with all seriousness.
"We need to talk. Dumbapple wine?"
TBC…
Note: Song lyrics belong to my beloved Florence + the Machine. The song is called, "Never Let me Go."