Yeesss.
Okay like what. This chapter is SO LONG. Like omgwtf. I'm editing it right now and I'm only on page 3. OUT OF SEVETEEN. ARYAHULUKSHALAHAHAR!!!!
You know, I pride myself in my long chapters. I write a lot of long chapters. They're massive. Absolute beasts. If you want to see a long chapter, than get to the later chapters.
But EDITING!!! (throws computer into ocean)
bah I hate editing.
Song for this Chapter: The World You Wield → Say Anything
Disclaimer: I own Romeli, so go find a different character to use. And the stuff that you read in the fancy published books are TP's so you better not steal those either without her permission.
Chapter 12: Fight for your Life
It had been two long days since Romeli's ordeal. She still had not improved since James woke up.
She refused all food and cowered away from any sight of the Gift. Frozen, she sat on her infirmary bed with her knees hugged against her chest. Her tired head was propped up on her knees as she stared at the wall in front of her.
Romeli hadn't slept. Her once graceful face grew sallow and sunken, with dark shadows under her eyes and deep lines of worry around her lips. Her skin had a ghostly sheen.
She was scared. Not sure of what exactly, but the sight of any Gift pulled and tugged at haunting memories, bringing them to the surface. She didn't want to live anymore. Maybe she could just ask the demon in her mind to end it now. Death with a soul and mind was much better than a life without.
She sighed and looked to her left where Sharpfang, the only being who gave her comfort these days, lay.
Sharpfang had been there with her the whole two days that she sat. When suddenly a tug from her mind would bring her to tears again, he would protect her and bring her back out. He kept his promises well.
Her parents also had not left her side. Numair cancelled all of his classes with the Gifted knights in training so that he could watch after her. Daine also had done the same and sat with her for hours at a time, sacrificing her shoulder for Romeli to lean on. Neither of her parents had slept either.
Such love from her parents made her feel good, but another part of her thought differently. Every hour they would shove food in her face. The smells were excruciatingly delightful, but they also made her sick. She found herself forgetting what food even tasted like. If someone thought to ask, she wouldn't have been able to explain the difference between a pastry and a chicken.
Then there was James. Her feelings towards him were mixed. She would be forever thankful for knowing someone as nice as him. He seemed to never think of himself before others. But he was too perfect; he had a wonderful Gift, great friends, and a caring attitude, all inside the shell of his handsome body. He didn't have a worry in the world. He had no demons, no undying power bound to drive him mad, he didn't even have to worry about the consequences of his actions like she did. He had no responsibility, while she literally had the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Any minute now she was sure that world would roll off of her back and crash, breaking it to pieces
Another bell toll had passed making her count five o' clock. Around now she would be having a lesson with Daine or be practicing her bladed staff. As she thought about her prized weapon now, she realized that she forgot what the smooth wood felt like in her hands.
A touch on the shoulder made her flinch and look into the eyes of James. His face was full of concern.
"Hey, you okay?" he asked gently as he sat on the side of her bed.
Romeli once again propped her chin on her knees and stared at the wall. By now she practically had every crevice of the structure memorized . She shrugged.
There was a moment of awkward silence as James shuffled uncomfortably. He pretended to play with a loose thread on the hem of his shirt, but he was actually thinking about Romeli—Romeli and that door.
"Don't you want anything to eat?" he asked carefully. He knew the answer before she could even comprehend the question.
She sighed as she stared at the wall and shook her head. Can you please just go away? I know you're trying to help me, but I don't need your help. Why don't you just kill me? I'm sure it would make everyone's life easier.
Once again, more silence.
"Listen Romeli," James started sternly as his patience grew short. "I know that you went through a huge ordeal and everything, but you have to get over it eventually. At the rate you're going, you'll never get better. If that's how you want to live for the rest of your life, then fine, but if I were you, I wouldn't be staring at that stupid wall."
Romeli heard him clearly, but made no effort to move. No longer did she have the heart to persist like she usually did, instead she found herself even more fascinated with a small crack a few feet south of the ceiling.
James sighed heavily and walked out of the room hopelessly.
He's right you know, Sharpfang said fully awake now.
Romeli turned to face her snake. I know he's right, I just can't find myself to believe it.
OOO
It was later that night at around nine when Neal, James, Ryoku, and Alanna entered the infirmary. Daine and Numair stood up abruptly when they heard the door creak open. Romeli made no efforts to even look at the entering group as she stroked Sharpfang with a weak finger. She did however perk her ears up to listen.
"Numair and Daine," Neal started with an orderly manor. "She can't go on like this. She needs to sleep."
"We don't know how though," Daine said with a cry. "She can't sleep herself and anything with magic she runs away from."
"Then if that is the case, we'll have to force her to rest," Neal said simply.
Numair and Daine flushed. "If you're saying that you're going to tie her down and force her to sleep with your Gift, then I highly disapprove," Numair told them, alarmed.
"You have to understand that this is the only way Numair," Alanna insisted. She locked her violet eyes with Numair's pained brown ones until he gave in. Slowly, as if fighting an internal dilemma, he nodded.
Neal walked over to Romeli, and sat at the foot of her bed. Slowly he brought the emerald color of his Gift out into the open.
Romeli's eyes widened at the green fire as she stared. She began to tremble as pictures of the sword chopping down on her body came to life.
Your 'oh so powerful Gift' made me. It's too powerful for your own good and you know it.
Gift. The word hung in her throat like a baby duck trailing its mother. As she saw the dark Gift hovering before her, she saw the demon in its pores. Gifts weren't naturally evil, but were they really?
"Please don't," she rasped as she looked helplessly at the fire. She tried to move away, but found that she was tied down by ropes. She couldn't tear her eyes away. It grew closer until it brought sweat from her pores. Tears started to run down her cheeks.
The fire was not only in her sight, but in her mind as well. She screamed in fear, knowing that if she closed her eyes now, the demon would take over for sure.
I can't sleep! she cried. But no matter how much she told herself that, her eyelids still drooped until she could see no more.
OOO
She was once again in a luscious forest, much like the one where she first met her Guardians. In fact, it probably was.
Romeli sat down by a large oak tree and twiddled her fingers with the grass as she thought.
Grey smoke made her eyes rise until she could see the shape of Sclythe. When the smoke had evaporated moments later, Romeli was shocked to find that the God was rippling in fury.
Foolish Snakeling! cried Sclythe as he slithered over to her. His voice made her ears hurt, like tumbling rocks would to a ripe apple.
Romeli looked down as she winced at his harsh tone. She didn't want to meet his piercing eyes. They burned with an intense anger that she could not fathom.
How could you be such a fool?! I thought we taught you better then that!
She's eating at my mind! Romeli cried at a whisper. She ruined my life.
That's what's wrong with you, Sclythe accused. That 'she' thing or whatever you call it is a part of you. Everyone has a dark side, yours just happens to be stronger because of your powers! You will have to learn to cope with it as a champion, or you will perish as a fool!
Romeli looked up with bright eyes as she stared into Sclythe's. His fanned out head was only inches from hers.
"How?" she rasped as her voice cracked. "If it's a part of me, then why did it try to kill me?"
Because your dark side is strong, Romeli! Sclythe insisted, obviously not having the patience for questions. Your time and the time of others are running out. The only reason that you got stuck in your mind in the first place is because you fell for it. I would gladly love to teach you how to resist that temptation of your mind, but you have to be willing to let me. And the sooner you learn to ignore it, the sooner I will be able to trust you.
Romeli winced. Her own Guardian didn't trust her? Of course she couldn't blame him. He was a furious cobra after all, a god cobra at that. She guessed no one could really trust her...because...well...she was herself. A mysterious green-haired girl with abnormal powers who didn't even know her own identity. She wouldn't trust herself if she was the common passerby. But a little courtesy wouldn't help. Maybe she would be in a better mood if people didn't stare at!
She but her lip. Why should she care what people think of her? It would only bring her down, and that was the last thing she needed.
She looked into Sclythe's eyes without hesitation. Anything to make it go away, she said with a shaky voice.
Very well, said Sclythe with a sigh in his voice. I'll talk to Ganiel and see if Old White and I can teach you in your sleep.
As if that was an appropriate goodbye for a cobra of his stature, he turned around with his strong muscles flexing against the ground and disappeared in the brush.
Romeli felt her stomach drop and she sighed as she felt herself drift slowly away towards her dreams.
OOO
Her eyes opened slowly as she looked into a blurry infirmary. The world seemed to spin around her from the lack of sleep. She waited for the blurs to focus and her dizziness to evaporate before she sat up.
Daine and Numair quickly rushed over to her when they saw her move.
"How are you feeling?" Daine asked as she put her hand on her daughter's forehead.
Romeli tried to smile, speak, or do anything to tell them that maybe there was still hope for her, but her voice was too dry and her lips were shredded and scabbed from all the abuse she had put on them. She gazed into their eyes and tried to look for a comfort that might give her hope despite her wounds.
It was clearly there, but her harassed eyes and mind could only barely see it.
She opened her mouth and felt her vocal chords hum. She had to speak; she wanted to be back again. Never again did she want to dance with the demons.
"C-can-I have something-to ea-eat?" It came out as much quieter then a whisper, but her parents heard her clearly.
Numair nodded and summoned a servant who rushed for the food. After the servant had left, Daine handed her a large cup of water. She took it greedily.
"Daine, can you get Neal please?" asked Numair. Daine nodded quickly and rushed away in search of the healing knight.
So did Sclythe teach you a lesson sister? asked a perky Sharpfang as he slithered off the nightstand and towards Romeli's bed.
One I'll never forget, Romeli told him as she picked him up and put him on her lap. But it's going to be a challenge to get back to the way I was, and no matter what, the demons will always be there watching.
Good. You'll learn to resist them, Sharpfang told her. Romeli nodded.
The delicious smell of a freshly cooked meal made her look up. Her stomach growl growled. A servant set down a plate on her side table. It was full of eggs, ham, breakfast rolls, cinnamon rolls, and fresh fruit. There was also a tankard of water next to it. Neal came in right after she took her first bite.
"Good, she's up," Neal said as he came over briskly. When he came over, he looked her over closely. "Do you think you could down that without bringing it back up, little one?"
As much as Romeli hated being called little one, she answered, her voice weak and hoarse. "I'm sure."
Neal let out a small smile before continuing on. "Good. Do you mind if I do a healing on you?"
Romeli swallowed her food, almost choking on it in the process. She slowly put down her fork with a pale face and looked up at Neal pleadingly. "Baby steps?" she squeaked out.
As much as Romeli's charm didn't work on him, he had to agree. She only woke up perhaps ten minutes ago and already he was forcing his Gift on her. He should at least wait a day. Neal nodded and instead checked Romeli's wounds. They were healed, and left puffy red scars on her palms. He took the bandage off so Romeli could use her hands better. With her hands no free, Romeli wolfed down the food even faster.
When she was finished minutes later, she found herself surprisingly content.
Feeling at least a little happier then she had been in the past two days, she lied back down and closed her eyes to rest some more. Her parents and Neal left to give her some peace.
Not like she could get rest these days anyway. Minutes after she closed her eyes to sleep, Ryoku barged through the room.
"Hey Romeli, I heard you woke up! Oh Gods, I'm sorry!" Ryoku exclaimed when she discovered that Romeli was trying to sleep.
Romeli opened her eyes and looked at Ryoku. "it's okay," she said with a still slightly hoarse voice as she sat up slowly. "I wasn't really tired." Lie.
Ryoku walked over and brought a stool up to the side of her bed. "Are you feeling any better?" she asked hesitantly.
Romeli shrugged. "I guess so. I have a huge headache, but aside from that I'm much better."
"You have a headache? Here, let me help you." Ryoku began to summon her Gift.
"No!" Romeli cried. Ryoku swore she saw a hint of red in her eyes. The lamp placed on Romeli's nightstand shattered.
Ryoku put down her hand and stared at Romeli. The girl's breathing was hard and labored.
"You're still afraid aren't you?" Ryoku questioned.
Romeli looked down at her blanket as she began to calm down. "I'm trying not to, I swear I am. But it's not working. When I see a Gift, it's like a monster is trying to come out and—kill me."
The childish voice ran clearly through her mind, like the demon was teasing her.
I'm winning, I'm winning! Better catch up or you'll lose!
...and to think your Gift started all of this...
She suppressed screams as once again she saw black and white and its accompanying rope. She hated that rope. It scared her, the way it swung with the wind, breaking the necks of criminals and innocent people alike. The way it drooped, hypnotizing almost—it made her sick.
"Romeli?" Ryoku asked shaking her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Romeli gasped. "Yeah Ryoku. I'll be fine."
I hope.
"Romeli, I'm sorry to say this out straight, but you need help. Your friends can help you you know. That's what friends are for."
Ryoku was right, she did need help, and Romeli knew it well. It would take much more then training with her Guardians to control the demon hiding within her.
Romeli nodded. "You're right. I would love to have your help."
Ryoku smiled.
OOO
"Are you sure this is correct, Gary?" asked Jonathan as he read a quickly written letter. His face was pale.
"Positive sir," said Gary as he stood behind him. "It was just decoded by George, who obtained the news from a spy posted near the forts Only those two people know the code."
"I see," he said. He summoned a messenger. "Please send Numair Samalin, my Lioness, and Nealan of Queenscove please?" The messenger bowed and scurried off to his duties.
Only minutes later Numair, Alanna, and Neal arrived in his study and sat down with concerned faces. Something wasn't right.
"We have bad news," started the king. " The Scanran raiders are stronger then we thought. Fief Anak's Eyrie was taken yesterday."
Everyone faces drained of color, making them five shades paler than they actually.
"Is everyone okay?" blurted out Neal with concern.
"The people are fine. The Baron and Baroness led all of their people and most of the animals to New Hope where Merric of Hollyrose is caring for them. Thank the Gods the fief wasn't too big, otherwise we would have suffered a huge loss. I mourn for the Eyrie's however—they have suffered much." Everyone else also looked grim.
"Now Alanna, I want you to take yourself and two squads of the King's Own to Steadfast. They are having problems with raids." Alanna nodded. "Nealan you will go to Mastiff. A small plague seems to have spread across the fort." Neal went pale. "Don't worry, Keladry and Owen are okay. And Numair, I want you to renew the old spells on the forts and then report to Northwatch."
"Highness," Numair started uncertain. "What if Romeli needs me?"
The king froze and his eyes shadowed over. "I know that Romeli hasn't been...well. But your help in the north is vital. I'll keep Daine with her. There will be no worries."
Numair clenched his jaw, forcing himself to nod and obey Jonathan's orders, He wanted nothing more than to stay in the palace and look after his daughter. Standing up for his country was a responsibility, but caring for his daughter was both a purpose and a passion. He would take the latter any day.
"You best pack up now, I want you all to leave by tomorrow."
Numair's shoulders drooped, but he had to go. Alanna, Neal, and Numair bowed their way out of his study and went on their ways. Numair went to the infirmary to tell Daine and Romeli the shocking news.
OOO
Romeli was sleeping when Numair was about to leave, but he dropped by the infirmary anyway. He walked over to the cot and brushed his lips on her green hair. "I'll miss you, my daughter," he whispered as his hand brushed her cheek.
"Why do you have to leave now?" Daine asked as she walked over to him. She leaned her head against his chest as they held each other tight.
"I'm sorry my magelet," Numair murmured as he kissed the top of her head. "I have to help. The forts need me to be there."
"I know," Daine said as she fought back tears. "I'll miss you."
Numair lifted her head up to his and kissed her long and hard. It would be their last kiss for a long time, and he didn't want it to stop.
"I have to go," Numair told her with one last kiss. He then waved and walked back out of the infirmary door, black robes billowing out behind him.
"That was disgusting, I never want to see my parents kissing again," Romeli moaned weakly as she attempted to sit up.
Daine turned around and smiled at Romeli. "Just wait until you have a lover. You two will be kissing like no tomorrow."
Romeli groaned and threw a pillow at Daine, missing the other Wild Mage by ten feet. She then took her other pillow, lied down heavily, and crushed it on top of her head.
Daine shook her head and left the room.
OOO
"I really don't see why I can't go on you little adventure in Steadfast," James complained as he helped Alanna pack her things. As Alanna's squire he had a duty to follow her and help her wherever she went.
"Because I want you to finish your training, at least a little more. You're not even officially my squire anyways," Alanna reminded him as she fastened her sword to her belt. "Not until Midwinter." With that finished, she worked on packing her clothes.
"Yes, but Tim gets to go," James retorted as he started to clean Alanna's daggers.
"Then poor Timothy will forever be less of a knight than you," Alanna said in mock shame. Honestly, she could care less who the better knight was.
"It's just so unfair though," James complained as he put her daggers in her packs and started to work on her bow.
"Listen," Alanna chided. "I don't see why you're whining. From what I know about you, you would rather be reading than risking your life. And you should be happy—you have less of a chance of dying here at the palace than at Steadfast. Trust me, you'll have plenty of battle action under your belt by next summer."
James stared at her thoughtfully. "You know, you have a point there. Don't worry my Lioness, I shall keep my intelligent head from danger for your sake," he said like, playing her up with a romantic feel in his voice.
"You're too much like your father you know that?" Alanna grumbled angrily.
"Well we are related."
"I hate you."
"You should."
"I do."
"You make me proud, Lioness."
"I wish centaurs would trample you to death and then eat you."
James winced. "That's harsh Lioness. And then with all do respect, I wish you were captured, got your tongue removed, got eaten by Stormwings, and then thrown up by the Stormwings, and then eaten by the same centaur that ate me. Then we could still be together."
This time it was Alanna's turn to wince. "You disgust me."
"Well I am a Queenscove. And us Queenscoves can be quite disgusting on some occasions…"
Alanna threw up her hands in defeat and continued her work.
Minutes later, James was waving Alanna away as the Lioness brought her horse over to the two squads of the King's Own that she was commanding.
OOO
Romeli was once again walking the forest of her Guardians when she heard a pop from behind her. She quickly turned around to see Old White standing in front of her.
Let's get to work then, Old White said referring to resisting her inner demon.
Romeli nodded. What must I do?
What you need to be able to do when you are resisting your inner evil is build a wall. The wall will keep it out of your mind, but once the evil stops fighting it, the wall will go away, Old White taught. To make it easier to explain, he put a picture of a circle in her mind. The circle represented her mind. Outside of the circle was a black box that represented her evil. This, he explained, was her mind in its normal state. Then she saw the box start to move into the circle. Before it got even halfway through, a long black line representing the wall appeared. The evil box could not move past it. This was her when she was resisting her evil.
So how do I make the wall appear? Romeli asked slightly intimidated. It would take a lot to get the wall up.
You need to think of something that will resist it. A strong thought. Usually the best thought is one that is happy, but that may not always be the case.
Romeli's shoulders drooped. It would be so hard to think of a memory like that, if one even existed. That's not possible. I don't think I've ever felt like that before.
You have to try Romeli, encouraged the big wolf as he thumped his tail on the ground. Do you have a thought yet?
Romeli thought over her past days. Where did she feel the happiest? She was overjoyed when she met Shadowdancer and Sharpfang, but they seemed to lack the power that was needed to create such a powerful wall. One memory however, when she first met James, seemed to be powerful enough. Sure it wasn't the perfect memory—she was uncomfortable around him, especially since he practically pried information out of her. But he opened her to new things; she for once now had a human friend her age, and that was an accomplishment she would never forget. Gods he saved her life for crying out loud! Surely that was a powerful enough memory.
Okay I'm ready, she said, with James pictured clearly in her mind.
Good. Now I'm going to force that 'evil box' into that 'circle' and what you need to do is think of only that memory. That memory is the foundation for the wall
Romeli nodded. As much as she didn't want to see the evil, she had to do this.
Waves of—what could it be—fear? Pain? Fury? Rushed through her body. She tried to ignore it (though it was terribly hard), focussing only on James
The evil voice began to sing and taunt in her mind. I'm winning I'm winning! Better catch up or you'll loose!
Romeli bit her lip.
A blooming rose rooted it's barbed stems in her mind.
But don't you need someone to hang out with? You know, someone to show you the ropes of the palace? Someone you can tell things to? A shoulder to lean on when you're down?
Her mind began to tear apart with unthinkable strength.
You don't have any friends! He's just using you! Maybe if you weren't so blind to the world!
Are you really going to listen to that? He's your friend! Trust!
Going to believe in that foolish mind of yours aren't you! Lies, every one of them!
Mad! That evil is mad! Don't listen whatever you do!
I win!
Whiffs of blood—rotten, moldy, blood—filled her nose.
GET ME OUT!
She opened her eyes to find herself in a pool of endless, red blood. Blood that filled her eyes and made her scream in pain. Panicked, she breathed in. Blood filled her lungs.
Calm down Romeli! cried old White.
Romeli opened her real eyes to a green forest and dried leaves on the ground. No blood was in sight.
I didn't do it did I, Romeli said downtrodden as she sat back up and forced herself to calm down. There's no blood, don't worry. It was all fake. But was it really? Despite all of her efforts to sooth her galloping heart, she couldn't help but swallow the thought that maybe it wasn't fake after all. She could almost taste the blood in her mouth.
No you did not, Old White replied as he sat in front of her. You have to remember that being able to build that wall will not be easy. It may take a week until we even see any progress. In the mean time I want you to think of memories that are powerful enough to use.
Romeli nodded. I'll do my best.
Old White sneezed in a laughing manor. Good. Oh yes—and Romeli, I need you to start using your Gift again, and accept healings.
Romeli froze with wide eyes as she stared. My gift? Old White, I can't! It's scary, I see the evil—.
The only reason you see the evil is because the evil told you it was there. Evil likes to lie Romeli; it's its favorite thing. Don't believe what it says.
But it said it was made by my Gift, pointed out Romeli with a cry.
As much as that may be true, it doesn't mean that your Gift is evil. And it also does not mean that if you use it, it will come back—foolish of you to think that. Like Sclythe said, everyone has evil, yours is just stronger because your Gift is stronger. And no matter how hard you try, it will not go away.
Romeli looked down and nodded. I'll try.
OOO
When she opened her eyes again, she was back in the infirmary. She looked for Daine who was sitting on a different infirmary bed reading a book about immortal anatomy.
"Hello Romeli," Daine said when she felt eyes staring at her. She put her book down on the side of her bed.
Romeli coughed and sat up with a moan. "Hello. Did dad already leave?"
Daine smiled weakly. "Yes, he left early this morning. Right after you threw the pillow at me."
Romeli yawned and stretched out her arms. She then eased herself over the bed until she could feel the cool infirmary floor on her toasted toes. It felt good even thought the coolness set a bite throughout her body. "Oh yeah. You deserved it though."
"And how would that be?" Daine asked as she wondered how her daughter came to such a conclusion.
"For being do girlie and—loverish," Romeli replid. She said the last word in disgust, for she never cared for romance between humans anyway. Give her a book and a staff any day and she was happy!
Daine smiled and shook her head. "I suppose that you're wanting breakfast then?" At Romeli's nod, she went to the kitchens to fetch some food.
Romeli sighed as she stood up. She was so stiff! Surely she would need to stretch out and practice her staff. Perhaps she would never be as good again. The thought wasn't a comforting one, but she pushed it out of her mind saying that it was her fault for being in this state in the first place.
When Daine came back with some food, Romeli wolfed it down happily. A healer named Laine also came over and said that she was free to go back to her rooms.
That made Romeli smile (though the feeling felt odd on her lips). She didn't notice until now how much she had missed her room.
Half an hour later, Romeli's things were all back and put in their proper place. With hesitance, Romeli padded over to her weapons rack.
There it was, her beloved cobra, the fastest of all her double bladed staffs. The blue steel rippled with a shiny gleam, but it had the air of neglect around it.
She nearly cried as she walked over to it. She remembered the days when she would run with Shadowdancer to the tree and spin the staff with the speed of a cheetah. She remembered the days when she would throw the staff to the ground in frustration when she couldn't get it right, the days she came back into the house with bleeding blisters, the happiness she felt when she finally got a trick right.
Now she put her hands on the softwood, it felt cold underneath her callouses. She missed the prized weapon. Gently, she lifted it from its hooks.
Gods she forgot how much it weighed! It didn't weigh too much of course, but it felt heavy on her strained and unused muscles. It would take a lot of work to get back to the way she once was.
Then I will work hard until I do get back to the old days, she told herself sternly as she put it back.
A knock from the center room door brought her to its attention.
"Hey Romeli!" greeted James happily when she opened the door. Romeli let in Ryoku, Ethan, Sereem, Whave, and James. She couldn't help but smile when she saw them.
"We've come to help you!" Sereem said happily. James hit his palm on his head.
"Yes what he said," James said as he glared at Sereem.
"Well what are you going to help me with?" Romeli asked. Surely they couldn't help her with producing the wall.
"With using your Gift of course!" Whave said as they sat Romeli down. They all lounged around her.
Romeli went pale. She knew she was supposed to work on her Gift, but why so soon? She knew they wanted to help her, but how could they?
"Come on Romeli!" said Ryoku as she looked into her eyes. "You have to do this. You know what will happen if you don't."
Romeli looked down, she knew all right. People who neglected their Gifts, like Alanna did as a page, were themselves neglected by the Gods. People with powerful Gifts like her father) who did not use their Gifts, all died or went mad. Her friends were worried about her, she could tell by the lines on their faces. Romeli knew that she couldn't go on like this much longer. She felt the Gift in her soul growing rapidly, taking over her, if she waited perhaps two more days, her Gift would explode and she would go with it.
"I know," she said as she felt her Gift inside of her. "But how do I start?"
"How about you try summoning it first," James recommended.
Romeli nodded. She closed her eyes and tried to look for her Gift. There it was, the pool of emerald fire that was hers.
It didn't look friendly—it was menacing almost. Like the rope. It sat there with its cool fires innocently, but it wasn't. It burned like the demon's fires it did. The Gift committed so many evils, and could be evil itself if only it looked the part.
Romeli tried to grasp at it despite the fear that she withheld in her core. She couldn't get it, though it never moved away from her.
Did her Gift just laugh? It was a boiling laugh like long nails on a dusty chalkboard. The screeches were unbearable. The sound of the demon erupted in her mind.
My, My! Have you come to see me again? How friendly of you! Now let's continue from where we left off!
Don't listen! Evil likes to lie, don't dance with the demons again!
Dance with me Romeli! You know you want to! I can see it in your blood! I see it wherever you go! I'm watching you!
Don't Romeli; remember what old White told you. Summon your Gift and push the demon away!
Me! Stay with me, Romeli! We'll be friends and live in the rolling hills forever! No more betrayal, no more misunderstanding!
Romeli opened her eyes with a terrified scream as tears fell down. She grasped her head with her hands and nails until she could feel blood trickle down.
"Romeli!" James cried as he scrambled over to her and held her tight. Romeli leaned her head on his shoulder as she cried. "Please calm down."
The screams of the People erupted in her mind as they began to panic. She had to calm down! With a force she began to stop her cries and clear her mind, but her grip on James tightened and she shook in weakness.
Poor Romeli, James thought. The weights of the animal's lives were on her shoulders. She could never panic, never cry, never do anything without knowing the consequences. Everyone tied her down. It almost seemed like she had to put everyone else's needs before herself, and at the age of fourteen! And what did she do to deserve this punishment?
"Goddess James, what's wrong with her?" Whave asked concerned when Romeli finally let go of him.
Romeli wiped her eyes and tried to wipe away the blood on her head. She her lip, clearing her mind further now. But effective meditation was one of the last things that she could accomplish.
James shook his head as once again he held Romeli in comfort. So much was wrong with her. It was connected, her Gift and that thing that nearly killed her. Maybe it tried to get her again, or maybe she even saw it. It was madness. She would have to learn to defeat the thing before it defeated her. Her days were numbered.
"Romeli this can't go on," he said as he once more let go of her. He forced her to look up at him with his hand. Her eyes were pained and she carried a hopelessness that kindled James' fire.
He looked at the wounds on her head. How could she stand so much fear? Then again, how could she be so afraid in the first place? She confused him, her secrets, that door, her life, pain, tears. It made him lose patience, and now he wasn't quite sure if he himself could take it right now. As he looked at his friends, he noticed they thought the same.
"Romeli I need to heal you," he told her as he looked at the wounds closer.
Romeli looked into his eyes deeply. The demon is lying, if I use my Gift it won't come back, it was just a show. My mind was playing tricks. I was just seeing things...
But am I really?
"You have to tie me down," Romeli said as she bit back tears. James's emerald eyes grew wide in shock.
"She's crazy," Ethan whispered, amazed. "She's gone completely nuts. If she's giving up and can't accept our help then maybe I can't give help to her." He stood up and left the room.
"He's right you know," Sereem added in quietly. He too stood up and left. Moments later, Whave sighed and left, looking back before he closed the door.
"You guys best leave too," Romeli said as she looked down. "It would be much better off if I was alone."
Ryoku looked at the door, than at Romeli, then back at the door again. With a sigh she stood up and left.
Romeli sighed and leaned against the side of a sofa. "Just go James," she choked out. "I'd rather just...well...die."
James looked at her alarmed. Where was the happy, smiling girl that he first met at the ball? He thought they were so much alike, but apparently he thought wrong. That girl died. He thought he saved her from her mind, but he was too late. He failed her and now there was nothing left to do.
James stood up and opened the door. He turned back to face her with pained eyes.
"Tell me when the real Romeli comes back," he mumbled, and then shut the door behind him
Oh my.
Do you think it's a tad too melodramatic, or just right? I edited out some of the soap-opera gunk strewn throughout the chapter, but I'm not sure if I got it all.
(cocks shotgun)
just say the word and I'll shoot 'The Days of our Lives-esque' horror right out of this fic.
Replies:
HyperLittleCat: Dude I like American Idiot! That song rocks hard! That's what everyone has been saying about the mind thing! Yeah it is kind of like Romeli. That's how I always thought of minds to be. Wow sorry about the parent thing. Yeparoo. Really, I heard about the pyro device, yea I stole it from the CIA yesterday. Now I'm wanted in forty seven states. On to Alaska!
Nothing Else Worked: Just wait until the end of this story and the sequel! You'll be crying the whole time:laughs evilly as I think of evil plans: You better be happy with this chapter cause I beat my ass on it it's so long. And then I read it over like five times and stuff. You're welcome to ask questions though. Oh did you get my e-mail about the clue? Do you get the riddle thing?
QueenThayet12990: The demons stole—her well being, sanity, you know all the important stuff. It was actually more of a metaphor. But it basically means that the demon/evil thing that tried to kill her ruined her life.
Wild-wizard-women: Thank you so much for the name! Dude I knew it was wrong! Thanx thanx thanx thanx thanx! Yeah I think you said I love it and update soon, but now I'm not quite sure…maybe some therapy will work.
Ephona: You're back! Huzzah:does a victory dance: wow, I see there's no talking to you at 1:40 in the bloody morning. Lol.