Chapter 14
The Start of the End
Linebeck awoke from his fitful sleep with a strangled gasp. He pushes himself up into a sitting position, running a hand through his sweat soaked hair, the cries and screams of damnation from his sister still ringing in his ears. Letting out a low groan, Linebeck rubs his eyes. The nightmares had been plaguing his sleep more and more, each time worse than the last and the captain has a feeling that they would be continuing for an indefinite time.
Beside him, Ciela shifts and her eyes blearily blink open, a gurgle of groans forming in her throat. The former fairy seemed to have a sixth sense of when Linebeck was in distress, even when she was asleep. She surveys Linebeck current state before she reaches out a hand to rest upon his shoulder.
"Nightmares again?" She whispers, rubbing her thumb over Linebeck shoulder.
Linebeck mutely nods, keeping his hand over his eyes.
Ciela starts to push herself up as well, but Linebeck stops her, removing the hand from his eyes. "No, don't get up because you'll be pissy later. We had a late night last night because of the Princess and the Kid. Go back to sleep, okay? I'll be okay."
Ciela frowns at him, not buying it, but settles back down anyway. She takes the hand that she had on Linebeck's shoulder and entwined it with his. Her eyes remain on him before they finally sink backs shut. Soon, her breaths even out in sleep. Her hand remains linked with his.
Linebeck looks out at the grey light filtering through the porthole. Absent-mindedly, he rubs his thumb over Ciela's hand, trying to block the images of his bloodied and bruised sister out of his head. He rests his head against the headboard, closing his eyes in a vain attempt at getting more sleep.
To no avail however, and Linebeck opens his eyes with a soft 'tch' of disgust. Releasing Ciela's hands, Linebeck slides out of bed, making sure that he wasn't disturbing the bed too much (He winches at the memory of Ciela tackling him from behind and yanking his arm back).
Once dressed, Linebeck wanders into the gallery to begin making a pot of coffee and breakfast, knowing the smells would rouse Ciela, without causing his demise.
Just as Linebeck began pouring the boiled water onto coffee grounds, he hears a thump from above, that sounded like the engine room door.
His brow furrowing in confusion, Linebeck pauses in his actions, setting aside the half empty pot of the hot water. He makes his way up the stairs, feeling the fall morning air tumble down the steps.
Upon reaching the engine room, Linebeck immediately notices the fact that the door leading out onto the deck is wide open, being the culprit of letting in the cold air. But what truly chills him is the dagger sticking out of the wood, pining a piece of paper to the door.
All of the blood seems to drain out of him as Linebeck makes his way over to the door. He takes a hold of the paper and rips it from the dagger, recognizing the hand writing from thirteen years ago.
Hello son,
I see that you and yourfiancée are moving along well in your life. Feels like it won't be long until there is the pitter-patter of little feet in that charming little abode.
Unfortunately... the outcome of that happening is nil. Because this family have unfinished business. Good thing is, this nasty bit of unpleasantness can be resolved. Simply come to the temple tonight, the one you warned Ciela about, and talk to me. Once that's finished, life will continue on as if it never happened. Oh, and son?
Come alone. I hate to see what might befall any person that comes along. Like you said, the temple is awfully unstable in some places.
And if you're a little unsure on if we should absolve this... Let me give you two reasons.
1. If you do not come to me. I will come to you. It will not be pretty. And Ciela will get be caught in the crossfires.
2. Despite what the morons on the island have believed for the past thirteen years, your sister is alive. Yes, alive.
But she won't remain that way unless you come to the temple. Tonight and alone. We will be waiting...
Jolon
His eyes dart over the last sentence, heart hammering in his chest. He didn't allow himself to hope, knowing that Jolon could simply be lying.
Linebeck looks up and the breath gets knocked out of him. He gently takes ahold a pictograph hidden under the letter, before yanking the dagger out of the door.
The image trembles in his hand. Linebeck greedily drinks in the image of his sister, since the last image he had of her was thirteen years ago. She laid on the stone floor in what he assumed to be the temple. Her ankles are bound together, one swelled and facing the wrong way. Arms yanked behind her back. Her eyes blazed with pain and fury, despite one eye nearly swollen shut, blood dribbling down her face, staining the white shirt that looked to be in tatters.
Linette is alive. Bloody, bruised and broken... but alive.
"All this time... all this time I've been searching... the last two months I thought she was dead, she's been alive. Bless the Goddesses, she alive." Linebeck lets out a shaky breath, relief briefly blooming in his chest. It doesn't last long however, as Linebeck looks back at the letter.
"...you come to the temple. Tonight and alone."
"Damn it..." Linebeck whispers, bowing his head. He folds up the letter and slides it, dagger, and picture into his coat pocket. He steps out on to the deck, closing the door behind him. He steps over to the railing, leaning on the worn rope. Looking around to make sure no one was looking, he slides the dagger out of his pocket. He examines the simple blade, before letting it drop out of his hands and plop into the waters below, quickly sinking out of sight.
"I can't let Ciela know." Linebeck decides, watching the the ripples disappear in the calm water. "Even if I told her no, she'll simply follow me... and I won't risk it with Jolon."
Linebeck closes his eyes, hand resting in the pocket against the letter and pictograph.
"No, Ciela -or anyone else- won't be told."
...
Linebeck exited the map room, a sword on one hip and his gun on the other, his face is set in a grim, uneased frown. He holds up a lit lantern as he walks down the narrow hallway. He pauses by his cabin room, hesitates, then sets down the lamp and opens the door.
Ciela lays with her back to Linebeck, scar from Bellum halfway seen, the other half covered by the blanket. The moonlight shined upon her, making it seem like her white glow had been returned to her.
Linebeck crosses over to her, trying to quell his apprehension at meeting with Jolon. He gazes down at Ciela, memorizing her face, peaceful in sleep. As he stares, Linebeck swallows hard at an unexpected lump forming in his throat. He didn't want to let her go... But if he didn't, he's certain he would lose her permanently to Jolon.
Steeling himself again, Linebeck draws out three pieces of paper and places them on the nightstand next to Ciela's head. Two of them being Jolon's letter and the pictograph of Linette. The final paper he places standing up, Ciela's name written on the outside of it. Linebeck turns back to Ciela stoops over, placing a soft, lingering kiss upon her temple. He breathes out only two things.
"I love you, and I'm sorry."
Then he stands back up, refusing to let himself look at Ciela again. Linebeck walks to the door, picks back up the lantern, and is soon exiting the ship, head held high and ignoring the burning in his eyes and throat.
"I'm coming for you, Linette."
...
An hour later, Ciela shifts in her sleep and reaches out to Linebeck side. Finding it empty, her eyes snap open, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. She sits up, brushing her hair out of her face, looking down at the empty side. She strains to hear anything other than the creaks of the ship, to know that her moron is simply doing some late night puttering around, but to no avail.
A feeling of unease begins and Ciela throws back her covers, starting to get out of bed when she notices the papers on her nightstand. Her gaze immediately zeros in on the picture and she snaps it up, eyes growing wide with horror and confusion as she looks upon the bound Linette. Looking back at the stand, Ciela next picks up the letter, noting the unfamiliar handwriting. She quickly scans the letter, feeling more and more sick with each word. A sinking feeling begins in the pit of her stomach, along with the simmerings of anger.
Ciela sets the picture and letter in her lap before finally reaching for the paper with her name on it. She unfolds in trepidation, certain of the reason on why he was missing.
Ciela,
I know you're angry, or going to get angry as soon as you realize what I've done. Especially since I took off in the middle of the night without at least letting you know what I'm doing. But I know, that as soon as you would get an inkling of the fact that I was not letting you come, you would argue and then just simply follow me.
Jolon is dangerous, he could kill you, and I already nearly lost you once. I don't know what I would do if it did happen. I think you are very quick and able in fights, (well, except for that one) but Jolon is better. The truth of the matter is...
I'm not even sure I'll make it back home to you. I don't have a plan, and pretty much all of the odds are stacked against me. I know, not what you want to hear in this kind of letter. But if I don't make it back...
I love you, Ciela and I would never say this aloud... But I am grateful for the time we've had together, short as it might be.
Linebeck
P.S. And for the love of Din, Nayru, and Farore. Do not follow me!
"Linebeck, I am going to murder you!"
When Ciela finishes the letter, anger rises in her chest at what Linebeck chose do without at least letting her know. She clenches her sheets in her hands, gritting her teeth. Her eyes narrow as she takes even breathes to quell her anger.
"Fuck this." Ciela hisses, throwing back her covers, feet barely hitting the floor before she was off towards her dresser, already working on stripping off her nightgown. "And fuck Jolon if he thinks that Linebeck will be facing him alone."
Within ten minutes, Ciela is pounding down the gangplank, dressed, and gun on her left hip. She had nearly grabbed her sword, but she bypassed it, thinking that it would only slow her down and that Jolon didn't really seem to be the type to do a clean sword battle.
Ciela pushes herself down the streets, heading for the Farqay Ranch, cursing herself at one point that with the dark and her frantic mind, she took a wrong turn, making her have to retrace her steps and lose time.
When she finally reaches the barn, Ciela shoves open the door and immediately heads for Itsuki's stall, glancing to the side to see that Kato was already gone. She ignores the panicked wickers from the other horses. She hangs her lantern next to Isamu, giving herself enough light to prepare him for riding, breathing heavily.
"Hey boy." She mummers, gently patting his nose.
Just as Ciela finishes getting Isamu ready, a familiar voice interrupts Ciela.
"What are you doing her so late?" Maris questions, as she stands in the barnyard door, clutching her dressing gown to her neck to keep out the cold. Her confused brown eyes survey the scene trying to understand. "Why are you taking Isamu out so late... And why is Kato gone?" Maris lifts her lantern up a little higher, illuminating more. Her eyes widen as she really takes in Ciela's appearance. "Is that a gun?!"
Ciela begins leading Isamu out the stall. "Maris, I really don't have that much time, I'll-I'll explain everything if I get back.-"
"If?!"
Ciela winces, regretting her choice of words. "I promise when I get back-"
"No." Maris snaps, eyes blazing with anger. "You tell me right now what the HELL is going on."
Ciela sighs. "Here's the short version, because as I said before, I don't have much time to spare. Jolon's back and Linebeck's gone after him." Ciela states, while mounting Isamu
"And why in the Goddesses' names would Linebeck go and do a thing like that?" Max questions, appearing behind his wife, face stony.
Ciela looks down before drawing out the image of Linette that she had shoved into her pants pocket, just in case. "Because Jolon never killed Linette." Ciela states, handing over the pictograph.
"What?!" Maris cries, racing for the image and grabbing it from Ciela's hands. She gapes at it in shock and horror, showing it to Max when he peers over his shoulder. His hands curl up in anger upon seeing the image.
"So Linebeck is going after Jolon, and you're going after Linebeck." Max states, looking back up at the ex-fairy.
Ciela mutely nods, before starting to edge Isamu towards the open barn door, grabbing her lantern again.
"No." Maris mummers. "Ciela, you can't after him, you'll die-!"
"Do not try to stop me, Maris." Ciela snaps, eyes flashing with anger. "I don't know how long ago Linebeck left, or how far ahead he is from me." Ciela tightens her grip on Isamu's reins. "So please step out of my way."
Maris opens her mouth to protest more, but is silenced when Max sets his hands on her shoulders and gently moves the both of them against the stable doors.
"Bring all three of you back home safely, you got it?" Max commands.
Ciela echos 'got it' before starting to ride Isamu out the door, staring out at the dark forest. Her thoughts are already focused on what may happen when she reaches the temple.
"We'll follow with the other villagers." Maris states, her eyes cold and hard. "And if you get the chance, Ciela..." She nods towards Ciela's gun. "Don't hesitate."
Ciela's lips thin, but she nods, giving a sound of affirmation. She snaps the reins with a loud "Yah!" and gallops out the barn door and onto the forest trail.
The ex-fairy races through the dark forest, path only illuminated by moonlight and the lantern swinging wildly in Ciela's grip.
"You better be alive when I find you, Moron." Ciela whispers.
...
Yeah! Two chapters in one night. God am I going brain dead, meaning another chapter that will need to be checked over tomorrow... er whenever I get over 8 hours of sleep.
So finally, the plot is rolling, ladies and gents! and it only took us over two years and fourteen chapters.
Next is a flashback chapter, the night before the final battle with Bellum.
~Roses