Hang tight, dear readers, the story's not over yet! When it comes to stories I like, I don't start them without finishing them. Promise. And this fanfiction, I don't just like, I freaking LOVE it.
So, I'm not going to offer more excuses about life going through a rough patch, even though they're all true. I just figure you all are all tired of hearing them all, so I'm not going to bother. I will say that I got a new ear piercing yesterday, and it feels… bizarre. O.o It's my third one, and I will just NEVER get used to it.
Um, anyway! Reviews! We got some really touching ones this time, and I'm always grateful for reviews!
Kirei Ryuusei: Yup, full circle. Near the end? Maybe, yeah. But this story is right in the middle of hitting the climax in the events, so…
"sleeping with characters". Oh my god, that one kept me in stitches for a full minute. It's so TRUE. XD And research on everything else about them, that is entirely correct. ^^ I never thought about it in that way before. XD
There's a reason it takes me more than a month to get the gist of my characters. X3
ImInvisibleForNow: *pats back* There, there. She'll have to find a way. She's an inventive young lady, if I do say so myself.
Heh, thanks, I'm glad you liked it so much! :3 Personally, my favorite part to reread is the part where she meets him. XD
Inspiration? 8D I'm honored!
Now, let's get to it. I'm sure you're all frothing at the mouth by now. X3
I could hear them talking behind me, outside the door. I didn't care. From where I lay on my side, facing the wall the bed had been shoved up against, it seemed like nothing existed outside of this inn room. It was possible to identify what they were saying, and easy to mentally answer, but much harder to shut it out, no matter that they were whispering.
"She's barely hurt," murmured one of them. It was an older woman's voice. "But how could she have been involved in this?"
"Her hands were burned," said the other voice in a gruff tone. This one was a young man, I'd estimate. He spoke as though he knew what he was saying and of the insinuations hidden in his words. "The same kind of burns were all over the damn place… and on the paladin." I squeezed my eyes shut as tightly as I could. But closing my eyes to the world didn't mute it.
"Hold your tongue, Lugosi!" snapped the woman sharply. "This wasn't the girl's fault, and you know it."
"No, I don't," he retorted quietly. "All we know is that she came into town about a half an hour before the explosions started. Then we all rushed over there. By the time we got there, the cemetery was destroyed, she's sitting there like she just saw a ghost, and the paladin was—"
I covered my ears. I didn't want to hear any more.
I knew some of the townsfolk of Amityvale blamed me for what happened. They had a right to. Hell, they had every right. Physically, I was the one who had demolished the cemetery where they buried their dead. I was also the one who had caused those explosions the young man spoke of.
And you're the one who killed Krieger, the darker side of my mind put in snidely. I just growled to myself, turning my face into the pillow as my heart gave a painful thud.
No…
I curled up tighter, my hands still clapped over my ears, mouth open and teeth bared in a silent scream.
This was not my fault!
But it was.
This was not my fault! I repeated with little more conviction. I was going to apologize! How was I supposed to know that bitch would possess me?
A gentle knock on the door forced my eyes wide open. I sat up, carefully composing my face before I realized I had even done it.
"Yes?"
My voice scared even me with how utterly unconcerned and insensitive it was.
I looked over at the door just as it opened, and for a moment, my confusion was clear. Rolith? What's he doing here? Then it was obvious to me. It's his best friend who died. Of course he would be here. The person who followed him into the room didn't surprise me quite as much, however, though I wasn't expecting them. Nythera. She came with him.
"Magiya," she murmured, pushing past the Captain in her brusque way to wrap her arms around me. I didn't usually know Nythera to be so touchy-feely, but I couldn't give much mind to it at the moment. I still felt… well, nothing. My mind was all but past caring. I made no other movement, morosely looking at Rolith over her shoulder. What I saw in his face… it almost stirred frustration in me. Almost. The way he was looking at me reminded me of the way many people looked at young children who had recently been orphaned, like I was something young and delicate, and something to be pitied. I had seen that kind of expression too many times in my life… but it had never been directed my way, and I discovered that now that it was, I liked it no more than I had when I first saw it pointed at a young boy who had just lost his father.
"Come on," Nythera said gently, her voice slightly rough as usual. "Let's get you home." I made no movement nor sound, lowering my gaze to the floor. Rolith said nothing either, standing slightly to the side as the young half-dragoness pulled me to my feet, half-supporting and half-carrying me out the door.
My legs don't want to work, I registered numbly. But I didn't care anymore. It was out the door, down the hallway, and through the lobby in a blur that I barely remember… or maybe I did. I don't know. It could have just been my imagination. I do know that as soon as we reached the front door of the Amityvale inn, despite Nythera's support, I tripped and stumbled over the doorframe. Notwithstanding the fact that I'd had more 'rest' than one person could handle in the last 24 hours, I felt dizzy and fatigued, so much so that I scarcely noticed when Rolith caught me, saying nothing, just hoisting me up in his arms like I weighed ten pounds instead of one-twenty.
Nothing's right anymore… I thought in agony as the dam behind my eyes finally broke, sending more tears than I was capable of stopping flowing down my cheeks silently. I wasn't entirely sure how Nythera and Rolith got us back to Falconreach, and from there to my house. I didn't recall any sensations of flying, though, so it couldn't have been by griffin. Several times, my consciousness registered that I should be wondering about that, but then it was quashed by the other side, and I remembered that it didn't matter.
Nothing did anymore.
I was somewhere… dark. But it wasn't a physical place at all. No, it was somewhere deep in the recesses of my mind where none but myself could reach me or speak to me. I all too often preferred things this way, but right then, I guess I didn't.
They're sad for you.
I know that, I whispered, not bothering to say differently. The voice was right, after all.
But… they don't pity you, you know.
Yes they do, I responded tonelessly. I saw their faces. They're sorry Artix died. And they pity me.
No, they don't. They're sad that you have to go through this, and they're sad to see that their friend has died. But they don't pity you, Magiya.
How do you know? I sniffled silently. You don't know them like I do.
Don't I? I am you. I know them just as well as you do, or did you forget that?
Just go away, I sighed miserably, mentally turning away from the voice.
I can't. I'm inside your head, remember?
I said nothing to this. There was nothing to say, I decided with reasoning that was slightly flawed.
Look, began the voice again, You're feeling guilt—
Wrong, I interrupted quietly. I don't feel anything right now.
Yes you do. Now don't interrupt me again.
I am you. I can't interrupt myself, I snorted, quoting the voice—myself?—from only seconds before.
Don't interfere! it snapped unexpectedly. You care. But what you're feeling, it's not numbness. It's not pain, and it's not worry. It's not even fear. It's sadness and guilt.
…Guilt?
Yes, guilt. You have survivor's remorse.
I've seen it before, I breathed, shocked. But… how could this be happening to me?
Because you're the one that caused his death, the voice told me gently, confirming my worst fears. You did, in a way, bring about this situation, no matter that you didn't mean to. But while he's now gone, you're still here.
And? I asked bitterly, turning my face away. You're just telling me things I already knew. What difference does it make now?
The difference is, that since you're still alive, you can find out what exactly happened and then fix what matters to you that still can be fixed. For instance, who was it that possessed you?
I don't know.
Bullshit. You know who it is.
No I don't, I repeated stubbornly, a shadow of my former self returning.
Think! the voice exclaimed exasperatedly. You know who it was, Magiya. Face up to it, move on, get revenge, and get closure!
How am I supposed to know who it was? I exclaimed, feeling lost and confused. But I guess, at the back of my mind, I did know.
Vayle…
TOLD YOU. I told you it wasn't done just yet.
Now see, I could have just ended it here, with Artix dead and Magiya in full shut down mode… but I didn't. Aren't I just so nice? X3
Okay, so, chapterly advice! Uh… Hm. How about this?
Write realistically. If you believe it and can explain it in terms you will understand, so will your readers. For instance, in this, I wrote out how a real couple might fight (if they had the minds of five year olds). They insult each other, they're irrational, cold, and angry. Namecalling, ugly looks, ignoring, everything. If you're going to have someone fight, don't make it all "I want cake, but you don't, so I'm going to shoot you and have cake anyway".
Along the same lines, don't make it like this: "I want cake, you disagree. You slap me, I kick you in the nuts, and then we have a heavy, hot, sweaty, sexy makeout session where I end up getting my cake anyway despite what you want."
Just no.
When they fight, let them have at it! Quick flashback of Magiya and Artix:
"Do you like me?"
"What?"
"I said, do you like me?"
"No. I don't. Nobody could ever like you, Krieger, because you are such a pain in the ass. You annoy the hell out of everybody you encounter, not just the monsters! You'll always be alone, because no one is ever going to want to spend more than maybe two minutes with you!"
There we go. Perfect example. A hotheaded person would, not only jump to conclusions, but would get angry at the first hint of something they didn't like. On the same note, someone who doesn't want to be found out or has something to hide would be overly defensive… ;D
Hope you all have a nice weekend. See you in the next chapter!
