***Ghirahim***

I teleport out of Vaati's cell, appearing in my chambers. As I sit down on the edge of my bed, thoughts whirl in my mind. I hold my head in my hands, trembling for an unknown reason. "Why did I apologize to her? Why did I stop? I was so close to breaking her and I stopped! Why?" My voice rises to a shout as my lips curl into a snarl.

Perhaps there is some weakness in you. You feel something for her that is not hate. Dare I say that you are in love with her?

That voice weaves its way into my mind, a lingering whisper that doesn't ever fade, as it is hidden in the back of my mind. It only ever increases or decreases in volume.

I stiffen, my jaw clenching. "I-I never said that! I despise her! She owes me something, and I will get it! I will get my revenge on her and Hylia!" I declare, though tightly.

You never answered my question. It says simply.

"Do I have to?" I counter. It says nothing. After many long moments of silence, I sigh, relenting. "Is it bad that I still feel something for her? That Demise let those ties stay in place? That Hylia did?" I spew these questions out quickly, my voice rising, angry that I am able to be read. "I don't necessarily love her, but at times I feel bad for causing her pain." I shake my head. "Hylia is the one to blame for my weakness! I do not agree with it!"

I hear a soft chuckle and feel a cold chill run up my spine.

Do you?

I remain silent.

I can't believe you! Letting Hylia put thoughts in your head! You are stronger than that! The voice yells in my mind. Do not forget your desire for revenge! Calypso is here, in your grasp. Do you remember what Hylia did to you?

I flinch at the reminder. "I do not need to be reminded of-"

Pain suddenly wracks my body and I gasp as I am immobilized.

Do not lie to me…

A memory infiltrates my mind then, coming out of the shadowed corners of my mind. This is one I forced myself to forget. That the voice would bring this one to the fore confuses me...

"Your name is Ghirahim, and you are to guard the Triforce of Power," says the being before me, one of the two beings I kneel to.

"Yes, Goddess Hylia," I murmur, not lifting my head.

"You are to be bound to my sister's sword when the time comes," says the other Goddess, Calypso.

I bite my lip, not particularly agreeing with my place. Finally, I nod. "Very well. I will not fail you. I understand my purpose here," I say, for I know I should.

The memory skips then, and I flinch when I see what it returned to. "No..." I murmur, "Why this? Why remind me of this?" I hold my head in my hands, watching wordlessly as the memory plays out before me.

I stalk angrily towards Hylia's Castle. I can't take this anymore! Why can't I be the one in control of my destiny? I think, twirling the sword I hold in my hand. Storming into the throne room, I snarl a foul curse in Demon. Hylia, sitting on her throne, looks up from the book she's reading.

"Ghirahim?" She begins with slight surprise in her tone. "Why are you-?"

"You know exactly why I'm here, bitch!" I interrupt angrily.

Hylia's upper lip curls slightly and her eyes narrow –a sure sign I have stepped into dangerous territory.

"You are angry," she says simply.

"Oh but you aren't?" I counter with a sharp laugh, stepping forward.

Hylia rises, the book disappearing from her lap without a spoken word. She walks down the few steps there are leading to her throne, stopping before me. She opens her mouth to speak, but I interrupt her, snarling as I push her away from me with one hand. "Do not talk to me you whore, you maggot-ridden wench!" I hiss.

She makes no move towards me, just simply looking at me with an unreadable expression on her face. I glare back at her, my lip curled upwards in a sneer. Slowly, she breaks eye-contact with me, turning her gaze to the floor as she shakes her head.

"You know better than that, Ghirahim. You know where insults lead," she says quietly, not looking up.

"I do not answer to you anymore, Hylia."

She raises her head then, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Then surely you expect nothing less than this?"

Before I can move, I feel a searing pain in my head which causes me to fall to my knees, clutching my head as I groan lowly. A single line of pure agony stems from my chest, spreading throughout my body until that is all I feel. Strangled screams escape my lips as I rock back and forth on my knees, my nails digging into the skin of my face.

After many long moments I am able to remove my hands from my face. I see that my nails have blood on them and little stings of pain make themselves known on my cheeks. I slowly lift my head to glare at Hylia.

Her expression is impassive, an emotionless mask. I do not see her move or speak, but I suddenly feel an unbreakable, vice-like grip on my heart. I choke, my eyes widening as I clutch at my chest. I open my mouth to speak, but a fragmented groan of pain escapes me instead as sweat forms on my forehead. The corner of Hylia's mouth twitches up slightly in a cruel smirk.

My breath comes in shuddering gasps as the pain increases, and I am unable to keep my forehead from resting on Hylia's stomach as my eyes close.

"Stop…" I whisper, my voice trembling.

Hylia's hands cup the sides of my neck, holding me in a form of embrace. "Shhhhh…." she murmurs, her thumbs running up and down my skin in a soothing way.

And still the pain exists.

My body goes rigid as agony courses through me again. "Please!" I choke out.

Hylia doesn't respond, continuing her ministrations.

Gradually, my tears stop (for I had been crying, much to my dismay) and my breathing returns to normal. I stay in Hylia's embrace for many long moments, the motherly comfort she gives me calming me down, soothing me.

I long for it just as much as I want it to leave.

When Hylia speaks, her voice is quiet, taking on that motherly cast I had felt in her actions. "You don't have to do this, Ghirahim. You don't have to leave." She tips my head up gently, her fingers beneath my chin.

I swallow hard as I am forced to meet her eyes. Her eyes express a compassion I didn't realize existed, a deep love within them as well. That shakes me to my very core.

"Ghirahim," she continues, "I love you and care about you. I know what you are thinking and I don't want you getting hurt because of the path you are turning to. You-"

She breaks off as I pull away, standing. Her arms fall to her sides and she looks up at me, her expression unchanging.

"I'm sorry, my Queen. But I have made my choice. I am a General of Demise's armies, and I will see this war through to the end. You cannot stop us, my Queen, I am sorry. You will be overwhelmed, brought low by our forces." I pause, studying Hylia.

Confident that she could sway me back to her cause, I see her almost wilt before me. Sadness fills her eyes, sorrow in her expression as her eyes lower to the ground.

I sigh. "I apologize, Goddess Hylia, but it seems you were wrong in your choice of agents."

That is all I say before I turn and walk away, away from the one who created me, the one whose very essence was poured into me. The one that I promised I would serve, all those years ago.

Now I see that she holds no promise for me. I am just a tool to her, my only purpose to be used. But with Demise...

Under him I could become powerful, more powerful than Hylia could ever make me. Under him, I will be the commander of legions! And under him, perhaps I could strike down Hylia myself...

And so I turn my back to Hylia. Calypso, Fi as well. They will get what they deserve...

That much I can promise them.

My eyes snap open and I intake a sharp breath. But before I can even word my question, the voice sounds again in my head.

Hylia softened you. Her words stuck with you, it seems. And now look: you are falling in love with her younger sister! One you turned your back on, betrayed! But I can sense that your desire for revenge has not decreased in the slightest, despite what you may say to yourself. So why not explore this desire of yours, hm? Not your desire for the girl, oh no...But your desire to see her bleed!

In a similar way, your bloodlust has not waned either. And it will only grow until you satisfy it. So why not satisfy it before it becomes too much to control? Not much blood will be taken from her, I promise. Just enough.

I sense the voice smile and I shudder.

Perhaps, if approached in the correct way, she will let you take her blood willingly. But that will not be easy...

"No," I say firmly, "No. I will not do it."

The voice sighs.

Suit yourself then...But keep in mind that your bloodlust will only grow until you sate it. Soon it may be beyond your control.

I do not say a word, my eyes fixed on the floor. My mind spins with thoughts, confused thoughts: Why am I doing this? What is my goal? Do I truly love Vaati as much as I say, or am I just deluding myself?

A short chuckle is heard.

You amuse me... the voice says, Give in. Your resistance is futile; there is no hope for you. No matter what you do, your desire for revenge will always overcome every single thought of love that ever crosses your mind.

My knees meet the floor and my upper half moves to the floor so now my body is parallel with the ground. My head falls, my forehead resting on my now-crossed arms. I feel a cold chill run up my body and I shiver, closing my eyes as tears leak out beneath my eyelids.

The voice in my mind leaves with this final sentence...

That much, Lord Ghirahim, I promise you.

A small sob escapes me and I cry out in Demon, begging anyone, anyone at all, to come save me from this.

But no one does.

And so I am left alone in my misery, beating at the stone floor with my fist, tears streaming down my cheeks as I realize that no matter what I do, I will lose.