It Started With A Kiss
There were rules for these things. You never went against the rules. No exceptions. The moment they broke the rules was the moment things would unravel. The moment they broke the rules was the moment they began down a path they had to finish
Chapter 8: Unveiled
"It would be as though you are whispering to me…. But I will always hear them."
This is what lingers in Rikku's mind this evening. Ever since she had snuck out from his protection, Rikku had begun to miss Gippal terribly. She knew the answers she sought, he kept her from. But for some sense in the matter, she felt as if she had just hurt a dear friend.
It had been about a week or so since she had left his side. A week since that night, their first night together. And she felt as though part of her was missing. Like a Queen who leaves without her crown….
'Or without her king'
She brushes it off though as she travels with the mysterious stranger. She felt this was something she had to do but her mind kept wondering back those moments she shared with Gippal. Those moments of bliss… ignorance.
"When I was a little girl, I could feel you out there around me."
"Is that correct, malady? Such intuited abilities at a young age. How is such possible?"
"In the wind. When it blew, I wish it would pick me up and take me with it…. To places beyond the castle walls."
Sadly, she was broken from her thoughts when the horse drawn wagon had come to a halt suddenly.
Rikku looked at her surroundings and was surprised to find she was in a majestic forest. The wooden roots which lay into paths seemed to glimmer just as much as the skies. She was about to ask the strange man where they were but was stopped by him holding up one finger.
"Follow." Was all he said as he dismounted the horse and began to walk.
He did not wait for Rikku to come out of the wagon which she was not use to as her status but she managed. She tripped and he did not help. But she managed. Rikku caught up to the stranger, where it was then that she had a chance to acknowledge his appearance. Most was hidden under a red coat of sorts. He left one arm out however which he always left settled on the handle of his blade. His eyes were forever hidden behind a pair of these odd face spectacles. An odd man to choose to follow but on another hand just a few months if not weeks ago, she had not believed in magical beings such as sires either. So maybe he wasn't the worst to follow. But to where was he taking her?
-0-0-0-
Their walk seemed forever through the majestic woods. Up roots and down through passage ways hidden by branches. But finally they had come to this serene secluded area. The water gleamed around this center piece in the middle of the lake. She had not known where to walk to not fall in. But the stranger stood and waited for her to gather herself. The first time he had waited since being in her presence. She had so many questions to ask….
"What you seek is beyond those waters. But it is not I who can show you. I am simply keeping a promise to an old friend."
"So you were not the one speaking to me?"
"I'm not the intrusive type, princess." The man says and she takes that as he will say no more about it.
She is not sure what she had gotten herself in but with one reassuring step after the other she takes a step toward the water. She looked back and the man had vanished. Just moments before her foot touched the waters. She hesitated on if she should continue but she had gone so far now. She removed her cloak and started to slowly descend into the lake. The waters wet her clothes and gave a cool sensation to her skin upon contact. But the waters… couldn't be cold.
She got waist deep and just as her fingertips touched the water an all too familiar voice came to her mind.
'My lady! Please don't move any further.'
She smiled. She hadn't heard that voice in ages it felt.
'Hello, Gippal'
'My lady, you must return to me.'
'I have a path I must take.'
'And I will not keep you from it but tis a safer path with me by your side.'
'It is an unattainable path by your side.'
'There are things in my world which a master should never see.'
'Even if it is what I desire?' She questions.
'It will break you.' His words made her freeze. They came out in a quick whisper.
'I am stronger than you think.'
'Please…. Scold me as you will. I will take you where you desire. Just turn around and return to me. I beg you.'
'I am a long ways away. It is too late.'
'And I am right behind you. It is never too late.'
Rikku turns and low and behold, there stood Gippal. He had somehow found his way to her. And the man in the red had vanished. She felt a relief in the deep of her stomach but that was then replaced by the realization that it was too far to go back. She had come this far. If she didn't see what was beyond the looking glass… understand what this gift really meant… she would regret it all.
"I am sorry…." She took one step further into the water. The tingling increased. Gippal glowed brighter. Whatever the water was doing to her, it was affecting Gippal.
Gippal took a few steps to her.
"This is not the only way to what you seek…. "He took a few more steps as she took another back.
"And if you're lying to me?" Gippal didn't mind the question for a moment until he saw her ready to take one more step. Enough steps and she would be deep enough in.
"I vowed my being to you. I would never lie to you. You must trust me." His foot touches the water and suddenly a ripple vibrates through them. Rikku's heart felt like it skipped a beat. A vibration passed through them both.
Gippal takes a moment to think before taking a hesitant step into the water with his other foot. The second ripple it sent through the water gave Rikku a second jolt. She knew it had to do with both of them in the water.
"What are you doing?" She asked him suspiciously. "What sorcery is this?"
Gippal said nothing. He just held his hand out to her.
'Take it….and I will take you wherever you desire. But you must take my hand before it is too late.'
She hesitated. The tingling was getting too strong but then she saw his eyes; something in them told her his words held true. But something else was in those green orbs…. Fear.
She found out all too late why too at the moment she reached out for him a long branch came from the waters between them and wrapped around her waist. It happened so suddenly that it knocked the wind out of her when she was drug back into the waters. Everything blurred. All she could make out was a fading light as the branch drug her deeper. Nothing to grasp. No air. She struggled with the branch before the darkness soon consumed her. There was nothingness.
-0-0-0-
Rikku gasped for air as she came too. Coughing up what felt like water but nothing came. She opened her eyes from where she lain on a cold stone ground. Her vision was disoriented. Blurry. She saw nothing but subtle glowing orbs. She blinked a few times and it cleared to a dark hall. She gathered from her surroundings, a desolated and deserted hall of some sort. She tried to sit up, aching begun on the back of her head as soon as she did.
She didn't know where she was. It was dark with little to no light coming in from the broken window glass up on the walls.
"Where am I?" She said to no one in particular.
'Zanarkand….The city of the ancient….The city of the first….'
This voice was feminine. Childlike. She saw no one though. Rikku didn't like this. She rose, her garments drenched and dirty.
"Who is speaking?" She questioned the voice.
"I am the last. She who dwells in the city of the first. For who will end it all."
"I do not know what you are saying but I am a simple princess." She said. She debated if she should move. Both directions of the hall led to the darkness.
An orb passed around her and she felt a slight glow from them.
"Gippal?" She calls out in hopes of being heard. Hearing his voice respond. But no.
"He sleeps. He waits. The lady watches him for you."
"The lady?'
But no response came. Instead an orb comes to her face. It flew too close for comfort but then passed through her abdomen. A jolt came. A jolt that was familiar. One she experienced with Gippal in the water. She felt it wanted her to follow. She had come this far on faith so she said to hell with it and followed. Tattered garments and all.
The halls were dilapidated. Ruins of what must have been a lavish palace of some sorts. Broken mirrors and torn portraits of unrecognizable faces laid strewn about the place. Rusted gold and signs of war accented it. She did not like this place at all. She moved to keep up with the orb until she came to a room. She heard humming…. A song she could faintly remember. A childhood song of sorts that she couldn't put her finger quite on?
The door she was led to seemed to take the worst toll. Scorched marks on the mahogany. She barely wanted to touch it but it was ajar enough to slide through. And as she did, it was as if she was transported.
The room the appeared before her seemed like the one of her own palace. Lavish gold tones, purples and almonds washed over the room. And her eyes came to the bed. In it laid Gippal, but what stopped her from rushing to his side was the figure in the bed beside him. Stroking his face as he slept. But she thought he didn't sleep.
'Gippal.' She called to him in her mind. But nothing.
"He cannot hear you." The woman spoke. She didn't know like the woman's tone. As if she was telling her to hush.
"And why is that? What have you don't to my co-"
"Your sire? Your toy?" She looked to Rikku with blue eyes that pierced her soul. She already did not like this woman or the way she had her hands on Gippal. Touching him as if he were hers.
"He isn't mine. He is yours correct? Your little gift? "She looked back to Gippal. Stroked his face.
"These creatures are such a dangerous package. So many capabilities. So many powers. Yet…. Without a simple thing they become nothing." The woman holds her hand out and appears the orb that led Rikku to the room.
"Whatever that is! Return it to him this instance!" She demanded. The woman smiled.
"You do not command me." She rose. Rikku steadied herself. She was a princess. She would not be challenged.
"I am the first of all. I know more about these creatures than you ever will." She said. "The joy they bring…. And the hurt they can cause. The perfect weapon."
"Return him to me." Rikku said firmly. The woman smiled.
"As you wish." She closes her hand and Gippal glows. The orb vanishes and rikku feels the vibration again. It stirred in her.
"Gippal?" She called. A flash and open eyes. Gippal rose but neither spoke nor responded. He had this look in his eyes. Unspoken. Primal.
"Gippal?" She called again. "Speak to me."
"Have you understood the foundation of a sire?" The woman spoke. She had such a siren voice and appearance for such a deadly woman. "Pure desire for those they are made for."
"What have you done to him?"
"Unlocked his primal side. The side he so diligently controls for his mistress…. For you. Now you can witness the pure sire master relationship… it bare to the world." She steps aside and lets Gippal lay eyes upon Rikku.
Nothing could describe how he looked her up and down. He looked like…. The fiend he saved her from back at the palace. And it seemed her body knew the same because before she could think, she ran. Her dress was caught on the door and ripped in her haste.
She ran down the hall she came and turned anywhere she could for an escape or haven. She hadn't took a moment to look behind her to see if he had followed. But as soon as she did, there was nothing. Or so she thought. The instant she turned around she was met with fiery green eyes. Predator eyes. Hungry eyes…. She felt back flat on her bottom. Only getting out an off.
He stalked to her. Slowly. As if assured she wouldn't flee anymore. And he was partially correct. Only because when she turned to do so he reached down and took hold of her ankle. He pulled her back to him, picked her up by both her wrists and looked her right in the eyes.
Fear kept her from speaking. Moving. She had never seen him this aggressive, unresponsive with her.
He pressed her to the nearest wall. His grip iron. Matching another extremity that pressed to her body. He buried his face in her neck. A deep growl heard as he inhaled. The sensation still prevalent when they touched.
"Gippal …" She tried to say. It trembled off her lips as he let his face go lower… between her bosoms… lower…. Over her abdomen that knotted at his touch…. Lower…..
Was he going to?
He buried himself in her smell. One hand letting go of her wrist, already frozen in fear, and pulling up her garment. Soon skin touched skin as he crouched between her legs… and a tongue came out, lightly grazing her lips. Her knees went weak and her heart thumped at her involuntary moistening. He growled with delight. Then took another taste.
"Gippal, please…" she begged. Trying to push his shoulder back but his freed hand came up and grabbed her wrist once more.
He delved in for another taste. And another. And another. Until she trembled, barely able to stand. He devoured her. She gasped. She kept out an involuntary moan. She felt the light coming. She saw it and could close her eyes. It began to engulf her. His hand letting her wrist go and moving to grip her bum tightly. Fitting himself closer.
"Enough, Gippal." A new voice said. Rikku was tired of all these new voices but could barely bring herself to focus as she felt herself getting closer. But the voice apparently broke through to him. He immediately stopped. Bringing his head back taking in a deep breath. His skin dimming from the vibrant glow it almost gained. He blinked and suddenly he could comprehend.
"Aria" He said obediently. Rikku, having lost Gippal as her support, slunk to the ground. He blinked once more and looked to Rikku. But Rikku's eyes were on the woman who had appeared. She had a celestial aura to her. As if she were the sun, gleaming. Her clothing pure white. Not at all drenched by the mucky surroundings. Her hair a warm almond tone in a braid that went well past her waist. She was angelic in her own sense.
"Mis-"
"Silence, Gippal." She spoke softly. He closed his mouth immediately. She had no sense of anger in her voice but seemingly knew what had transpired. What he had done…. To her. Rikku couldn't make eye contact with Gippal but knew he was staring at her in immense regret at the realization of what he had done. Who was that other woman? What had she done to Gippal? Where were they? What was going on? Too many questions passed in her mind.
Rikku didn't want to speak to Gippal right now. What was she to say? You violated me and my body enjoyed it immensely. She wanted to be gone from this place.
"Lady Rikku." Aria spoke. She held her hand out for Rikku to come to her.
Rikku tried rising on her own, not admitting she needed help. Gippal tried to assist but Rikku couldn't quite handle his touch right now.
She approached the Aria and hesitantly took her hand. The woman then looked to Gippal who quietly came over and stood beside them. Hands behind his back. Diligent. Disciplined.
His mask back on.
There was a bright flash that overcame them alongside a hum and suddenly the dilapidated palace was gone…. And they were in a serene meadow….. More orbs were around. Rikku took in the breath taking site and before Rikku could ask where they were, The Aria answered.
"Welcome to the Farplane, Lady Rikku. Land of the Celestial. Gippal's Birthplace."
So I know this took seven thousand years but I'm almost done with college so this has been on the back burner a bit. Trying to type over the break while I can. Thank you to my loyal readers for staying with me! Tell me your thoughts. Who was the woman with Gippal? Will the man in red return? Also check out IJB (my other story)! New chapter posting by tonight.
As always
XOXO,
Ayata-Ayumi