Holy crap, you guys! I'm sorry it took so long to get back to this... I lost my desire to write for a little bit.
Now that I have no time on my hands, I can work on this!
Sheeva cracked open her eyes, weak and weary. Shadows moved around next to her and next to Nayeli's bed. Hushed whispers warbled in her ears, and she tried to focus on them, but failed as she felt herself drift off to sleep. She whimpered as something lifted her, and she vaguely felt her clothing being taken off her body. A soothing voice broke the hazy terror, and her frazzled brain barely registered whose it was—Blaise's.
She slipped into comfortable rest once more as she felt Draco and Blaise holding her hands and placing light kisses on her cheeks.
Sheeva stirred slowly, but kept her eyes shut as she tried to place where she was. She listened, hard. Madam Pomfrey was tottering about as she made the beds and hummed a tune to herself. She seemed oddly merry. Unsure of whether Sheeva was imagining things, she took a deep breath.
Sure enough, the sterile scents of the bedding and hospital wing told her that she really was there. Finally, she allowed her eyes to open. She found herself staring at the high stone ceiling. The majestic arches calmed her and put her in even more of a daze than she was already in.
As the memory of why she was here filtered back to her, she turned her head to Nayeli's direction, expecting to see her still lying there. She sat up abruptly when she saw that the bed was empty.
Madam Pomfrey grinned and strode over to Sheeva.
"I'm so happy that you are awake! Nayeli is doing amazingly well. She should be down in the Great Hall, eating breakfast! She needs assistance walking, but other than that, she will be walking well in no time!" She explained. Sheeva stared at her, horrified.
So, it was true. Nayeli really had woken. Sheeva broke her gaze from the medi-witch, staring at the empty bed, thinking hard.
How? I do not understand. She should be dead. Her eyes squinted shut and her eyes moved frantically as she tried to imagine how in the hell Nayeli was even awake and alive at this point. The gods must have had something to do with it. That had to be the answer. Nothing else. No spells, no incantations, no potions. Those tricky sons-of-bitches had done something.
Sheeva draped her legs over the side of the bed, finding that her legs were a little bit stiff. Just how long had she been lying here? She shook her head and forced herself to stand out of bed. She was no longer in her ball gown.
Oh. Draco and Blaise must have done this.
"Madam Pomfrey." Sheeva stated, catching the woman's attention. She stopped what she was doing, and turned.
"How long was I asleep for?" Sheeva asked, curious. The woman sighed, and shook her head.
"I'd say about a day. You haven't been keeping well, Sheeva. You know that's not good for you. Your family was very worried about you. Even Joseph was worried. Go to them. They should still be eating now." She replied, rather sternly.
Sheeva nodded slowly in thanks, not allowing the criticism to get to her. It was petty. Besides, there were more important things that she needed to brace herself for. She forced herself to stand, and nodded goodbye to the medi-witch.
Her legs felt good to stretch out, giving herself something to focus on instead of the confrontation as she made her way to the Grand Hall. Students greeted her happily in the hallways, and she felt her face crack into a smile as she waved lightly back to them. She felt almost like her former self. It was… foreign.
The bustle and energy of the students clustered in the Hall, and as she peered in, she saw that it was packed. News must have traveled fast that Nayeli was awake; many students were eager to see her return.
She stepped in, scanning the crowd for her family, hoping that they were all sitting together. To her relief and ease, they were. Draco, Blaise, and Joseph were sitting facing her, and her children's backs were to her.
She blinked, and her heart melted and her chest ached as she realized that truly, she could say that all of her children were waiting for her. Fearful that it might be a dream, she rushed to them. When Draco pointed at Sheeva, and Nayeli turned her head to look, Sheeva stopped, astonished.
Nayeli stood from her seat with Kathryn's help, and smiled at her mother. She went to take a step forward, but her knees buckled, and she began to fall. Sheeva rushed forward and caught her, holding her steady in a hug.
Bewilderment shone on her face like a beacon. She could hardly believe her senses. Her hands couldn't lie. She could feel the cotton of Nayeli's blue sweater, and the soft strands of black hair that she'd inherited from her.
"Mom." Nayeli choked out, smiling, tears filling her eyes. Sheeva's ears could not deceive her either, could they? She could have pinched herself to see if she was dreaming, but the tangibility of the young girl she helped stand fast told her that she was indeed awake.
Sheeva let out a sob and hugged Nayeli tightly as though she would vanish the next second.
She is alive. She is well. She told herself. She felt her chest constrict even more as her inner voice reminded herself of what she'd done. At this, she swallowed, and pulled away, fear in her eyes. Draco and Blaise saw it, and stood immediately, hoping that she wouldn't run.
Sheeva needed to face the consequences of her actions if there was any hope of a recovery on her part. They rushed to her side. Nayeli backed away, nervous and alarmed.
"Mom, are you ok?" She asked. Sheeva didn't hear it, battling with herself.
You do not deserve to be anywhere near your daughter. You damn near killed her. You crazy bitch. You were so ready, so willing to give up. Foolish, stupid woman. Could not even wait another few days. Could not wait for more possible solutions. What mother in her right mind would be so quick to kill her children? You are sick! You are sick and twisted!
"You… are… alive." She muttered, still trying to back away. She managed to turn around, unable to look Nayeli in the eye. Draco and Blaise stood by her, their suspicions confirmed.
"Sheeva, you can't run. You have to face it. Nayeli's a smart woman. She'll understand. She'll still love you, no matter what." Draco tried to keep his voice low so that no other students could hear.
Blaise jerked his head towards the exit, motioning for them to get out of the busy hall. They guided her to the exit, holding her hands comfortingly. As soon as they were out of the hall, Sheeva tried to pry herself out of their hold. She succeeded, and rushed out into the courtyard, the crisp cool air welcome to her hyper-panicked state.
Draco and Blaise caught up with her, and held her to them.
"I… cannot! What kind of mother would… I do not deserve…" She cried, her mind a shocked, jumbled mess. Her inner voice continued to chastise her, cutting into her self-esteem. Blaise stepped in front of her as she succeeded in breaking out of Draco's grasp, scooping her into his arms in a protective hug. When Draco looked as his face, his stomach tied itself in a knot.
It was unnerving, seeing Blaise looking so cold and stern. His eyes were closed, but his face overall was devoid of expression.
"Sheeva, you have to. Any mother would eventually have had to be ready to… do what you did. But, Sheeva, she's awake now." He reminded her. Sheeva shook her head, defeated and tired as she fell slightly limp in Blaise's hold. She barely clung to his robes.
"You were not ready to give in. I did not wait. It is just as Cowles said. You two needed me, and I was not… emotionally available. I was hellbent. For God's sake, I almost killed her two nights ago! I cannot just—
-You're wrong Sheeva. You can. Whose child is she? Yours. Ours. She's got your heart, Sheeva. Even if she doesn't like it, she'll understand. She'll forgive you." Draco tried to reason with her, kissing her cheek and holding her as well.
"What have we always said to them? 'No matter what you say…'" He began. Blaise finally cracked a smile.
"No matter what you do…" Blaise continued. Sheeva blinked, and couldn't help but smile, feeling a warm, soothing relief wash over her.
"No matter what you become, I'll always—
"Love you." They said in unison. Sheeva allowed herself to settle, closing her eyes as she battled with her inner voice.
You shut up. They are right. I will get past this. We can move on.
Sheeva took a deep breath, and turned back to the castle. At the doorway stood Kathryn, Joseph, and her three children. Nayeli stepped forward, eager to see what was wrong. She had a feeling what it could be about.
"I… want to talk to Nayeli alone." She announced, low so that Draco and Blaise could hear. Draco and Blaise found themselves hesitating, and glanced at each other. Reassuringly, Sheeva gave them a small smile.
"It is ok. I think… it will be better." She explained her desire for privacy. Blaise and Draco moved away, shuffling the others inside and away from the scene.
"Severus, get your mother a plate of food before they take it away. I don't know how long this will take and she hasn't eaten much. I'm going to ensure that she does." Draco ordered Severus. Severus left without another word, and Kathryn followed, offering to help.
Outside, Nayeli and Sheeva stared at each other, unsure of where to start. Nayeli tired of the silence, and spoke first.
"What happened while I was asleep, mother?" She asked. Sheeva's resolve crumbled, and she could no longer stare Nayeli in the eye. She averted her gaze to the floor, and crossed her arms, steeling herself. She took a deep breath, and held her head high, staring blankly ahead.
"In order to free you, I tried to kill you." She admitted, finding herself standing in a pose close to Attention. Whatever worked, she supposed. Nayeli blinked, and stared at her mother, then gulped. That explained the strange bruise on her neck. It still hurt when she touched it.
"Why?" Nayeli asked, her throat dry and cracked, stunned into near silence.
Sheeva felt her gut tighten and she steeled herself again, staring ahead as she gathered her words.
"The spell you used was forbidden for a reason. It allows you total control of an enemy in trade for your life." She explained. Her eyes closed, and then slowly reopened as she realized her extreme disappointment.
"You are incredibly lucky. Otherwise, you would really be dead. Next time, you will follow my instructions. If something is forbidden, it is so for a very good reason." She continued. She cleared her throat, then shook her head. How could she possibly say what she really felt at this moment? She wanted to reprimand Nayeli. To express her disappointment. But, was that really the right time? Should she let it go? Could she let it go?
Angered, Sheeva turned her back on Nayeli, trying to keep her temper at a minimum. She forced a few staggered breaths, and kept her eyes closed.
"Mom, I… I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Nayeli apologized, wringing her hands together. Her mother had a point: she shouldn't have used a spell without knowing its effects.
Sheeva relaxed her tensed shoulders, sighing as she shook her head slowly. She couldn't reprimand like this. Natural curiosity was a flaw of all kinds of life, it seemed. Sheeva turned back to Nayeli and strode up to her, scooping her into a hug and kissing her forehead. There was nothing that she could say now. Nothing she could say at all.
Over the next week, Draco and Blaise kept a close watch on Nayeli and Sheeva, cautious. Joseph spent most of his time with Nayeli, Severus, and Kathryn, eager to get to know Nayeli a little more. He missed the shadow, and he could feel it when he was near Nayeli.
It seemed that Sheeva had finally forced herself to face her demons, and Nayeli and Sheeva had forgiven each other. It was surprisingly easier than he'd thought it'd be.
Nayeli had immersed herself in her studies, and Kathryn helped her as much as she could. The two women seemed to ignore Severus and Joseph altogether, and Kathyrn seemed to be growing more irritable as the week went by. Joseph couldn't do much for them, as he wasn't well-versed in magic, but he still offered to help whenever he could: bringing them food from the kitchens, or telling them stories about Kadessa when they felt they needed a break. The stories did nothing to quell his homesickness.
They spent much of their time in the library, cramming the lessons from the last two months into Nayeli's head. Joseph took this chance to explore the library. He was amazed at some of the books—some could talk, and a few of them had rather interesting personalities. He swore that one of them was even trying to seduce him at one point.
They were sitting in a circle, surrounded by piles of books and rolls of parchment. Nayeli looked exhausted, and Kathryn was still going strong—she was definitely in her element.
Joseph was tossing a ball in the air and catching it, trying to amuse himself. A book that Kathryn opened gave a shrill screech at her, and he jumped, turning his head towards the source of the noise. He slapped his hands up to cover his ears. The ball, completely forgotten about, bounced off of his shoulder and rolled away.
Kathryn had a hard time slamming the book shut, as a face had formed from between the pages. Nayeli pitched in to help, and they struggled to slap the lock on it and shut it up.
They started to chuckle, and their laughter grew steadily into howls. Joseph looked around for the ball, and found it lying against a door. As he neared it, he remembered that he'd been meaning to ask about this one. Other than the door to the restricted section, this was the only other door that was locked.
He turned to Kathryn sharply, blurting out his question before he forgot it.
"This door is locked. Why?" He demanded to know. Kathryn looked to see which door, and slowly nodded.
"I think that's the door that Sheeva used to get to Kadessa, and I think that might be how that masked dude got here. Sheeva had it shut away when she left." She answered. Joseph nodded, and then his mouth dropped.
Neither he nor Sheeva had seen the senator. His stomach dropped. As far as Joseph knew, Senator Bakhrieva was supposed to have visited them shortly after Joseph had arrived to discuss something about introducing the two worlds. It wasn't like the senator. Something wasn't right.
Joseph went to walk out of the library, and stopped, turning back to them.
"I must go. I must find Sheeva!" He announced, turning back around and running off.
He found Sheeva helping Draco teach a class of second-year Hufflepuffs and Slytherins, not thinking before he barreled into the dungeon.
Draco jumped, snapping his head up to Joseph, then scowled. He was interrupting the class.
"Captain, there is something that we need to discuss. Senator Bakhrieva has not contacted us. Do you have any idea why?" He barked in Kadessian as he half-walked, half-stumbled into the room. He didn't want to try to fumble over his English. That could wait. Sheeva's eyes widened as she realized that Joseph was right. Kagure was supposed to have visited them again shortly after his first visit to talk about the possibility of a Human-Kadessian alliance.
She pointed to the door and turned to Draco.
"Kagure has not visited. He was supposed to. I will be right back." She explained, grabbing her shawl off of the back of a chair and bolting out of the door. She made sure to shut it tightly.
She crossed her arms, upset. Even though she hadn't heard from Kagure until recent months, this was unlike him.
"If you want, I will go. You stay here with your daughter and your family. They need you. I will go and see if he is alright. I've been intending on returning a few things anyway." He offered. Sheeva thought for a minute. Her gut wrenched. Something wasn't right.
"No, I will go with you. I have known Kagure for a very long time. This is not like him." She stated. He sighed, and shook his head. Her expression was stern; he'd learned quickly that she was not going to back down from this decision.
She sighed, and turned back to the dungeon. Slowly she opened the door, and stepped in, trying to catch Draco's eyes. Thankfully, it worked. He paused the class, and strode over to her.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"I am going to go check on Kagure. I will be back… hopefully by dinner." She explained, kissing his lips lightly. He caught her before she could walk out the door, and hugged her tightly.
"I love you." He whispered in her ear. She smiled.
"I love you too, Draco. I will find a way to keep in touch." She promised, turning away from him and walking on. She unlocked the door to their office-bedroom. Joseph waited patiently as she stepped into her bedroom to change. A few minutes later, she walked out.
He didn't look her over quite as much as he would have if he wasn't interested in Nayeli, but her appearance still stunned him slightly. She had on a pair of black pants, a black tank top, and a belt to hold up her pants. Her boots thudded on the stone floor as she strode over to the wall and waved her hand at it, dispelling the shield. Her swords glimmered at her, and she took them down carefully.
She examined the blade, checking to ensure that it was sharp enough. Satisfied, she strapped them to her sides, and grabbed a cloak that Blaise and Draco had bought for her years ago. She threw it on over herself, and barely glanced at herself in the full-body mirror. Appearances were the least concern at the moment.
She turned to Joseph, clearing her throat.
"Are you ready to go? You wanted to return some things to their families, right?" She reminded him. Joseph solemnly nodded.
"Yes, that's right... but is it the right time?" He asked. She shrugged, and shook her head.
"Any time is the right time. We do not know how much time has passed since we arrived. It could be an hour, or it could be a day. It could even be months. For all they know, their loved ones are still alive." She mused. Joseph heaved a sigh. Of course, the captain had a valid point.
"I need to go get their things, then. Give me a moment, please." He asked, nodding as he turned away. She arched an eyebrow. This was a new change in her former teammate. She crossed her arms, and leaned against the arm of the couch, averting her gaze to the floor as she pondered the sudden change.
She chuckled to herself after Joseph made his leave. It wasn't something to overthink. Plain and simple, Joseph was still upset about the deaths of their team, and having to return a few precious items and deliver the news would be hard on him. She supposed that she could do it, but, being used to such a thing, she'd be tactless.
She straightened herself, shook her head, and walked down to the Slytherin dungeons, pausing at the portrait. The man looked back at her, curious as to her change in attire. He hadn't seen this side of her, through he'd heard about it from the other portraits.
"Cacious, I would like to ask you to do something for me. Even if you cannot do much, please, watch over my son. I must leave, again, and I worry about my children. Kathryn included. Would you please do this for me?" She asked the man. Cacious smiled at her, and nodded.
"Yes, ma'am. Your children are safe here. I will keep Misters Draco and Blaise well informed." He readily agreed. She nodded in thanks. He swung open the door for her, and she went to step inside.
"Oh, and, Cacious? Please allow Kathryn to visit whenever she pleases. Despite what Draco says. She has been there for him when he always needs it. I would hate to see him miserable." She explained, continuing on her way inside.
The chill of the dungeons pierced her cloak as she made her way down the many steps. The only sound was the rushing of water and the tapping of her boots. It had been a while since she'd actually looked around, too absorbed in her misery and despair to observe her surroundings. Cobwebs littered the corners, and she thought she saw a bat or two.
It was slightly musty, and she frowned as she questioned herself. Why are we letting students live here? This is preposterous! It should be fixed!
However, her thoughts were halted, and her doubts eased as she swung open the door to the common room. It was much brighter than the dim hallway, a roaring, cozy fire in the fireplace. The windows to the lake allowed a bit of sunlight to stream in, casting a watery reflection along the stone walls. She found herself smiling at it. It had a beauty of its own.
The couches, old as they were, still seemed new, and the green carpet with silver lining spanned the floor, hiding the cobblestone beneath it. A picture of Salazar Slytherin himself hung above the firepit, and it nodded at her. She nodded back at it.
"Good morning, Salazar. How are you doing?" She asked, making small talk with him. He hummed a response. He didn't talk much, but at least he acknowledged her presence.
The door to the boy's dormitory opened to her left, and she turned to it. Joseph stepped out, a small satchel at his side, no doubt carrying the items he wanted to return. She took a deep breath, and stared at him for a bit, studying his face.
Sure enough, it held a look of worry and dismay. His eyes were downcast, and she thought he was imagining the way it would go. She didn't blame him.
"Do not overthink it, Cowles. It will only make it harder to do. When we get there, just do it. I will go with you if you want me to." She reassured him. He glanced up at her, opening his mouth to say something, but then closed it. She could tell what he was thinking.
He started to walk out of the commons, and sighed as he opened the door. His sword clicked at his side as he stepped, and his shoulders drooped.
"Stand up straight, Cowles. What has happened is not your fault. Just as it is not my fault, as you told me. They died for a good cause. Their families will... well, should understand." She reminded him. He glanced back at her, an annoyed glint in his eye. She was reading him like a goddamn book.
He stepped out of the portrait, and paused, realizing that he wasn't sure how they would get back to Kadessa.
"Hey, how do we get-
-through the library. It should lead us straight to Kagure's office." She answered, cutting him off. He snorted, and nodded. He'd just learned that a short while ago.
"First, though, we will need to see Neville. He knows how to dispel the seal." She explained, walking towards the Grand Staircase. Students gawked at her as she passed, the first-years intimidated by the strong-looking woman. He followed her closely as she led them to a dead-end. A stone demon-looking creature was curled up in a crevice, its tail and wings tucked into its body.
He reminded himself that nothing in this castle was as it seemed.
"What now?" He asked. She smirked, and tapped the gargoyle on the head. It opened its eyes, giving a snarl and a grunt as it woke. It rubbed its eyes with a stone claw before giving a big yawn, its large tongue lolling out of its mouth. It stretched, throwing its front legs out first, then arching its back and reaching out its hind legs. It spread its wings, and then sat back on its haunches.
"Yes? Who is it?" He grumbled. He arched an eyebrow to keep an eye open. As he saw Sheeva, he managed to open both eyes, and slowly nodded his head.
"Ok, ok. No need to tell me. You're going to see the headmaster, right? Gonna kill someone, right? Utter importance, right?" It grumbled, shuffling off of the pedestal. The pedestal began to spin, churning out a few stone steps that rose up into the pillar. Sheeva thanked the gargoyle, and stepped up, walking up and disappearing into the pillar.
Joseph stared for a minute, then rushed to the crevice, poking his head in and looking up. The stairs went on, and he saw the trickling of light coming from beneath a door. He wiped the look of shock off of his face, and smiled.
That is pretty damn cool.
He stepped up, and ducked his head to avoid slamming it into the step above. He climbed the steps, and knocked on the door. Sheeva's voice called from inside: "Come on in, Joseph". He opened the door and stepped in. A grinding sound erupted from below as the stone steps slid back down. He looked out below, and watched as the gargoyle hopped back up and curled, resuming its deep sleep.
"Is that thing always sleeping? It's a lazy guard." He asked Sheeva. Sheeva laughed, and shook her head.
"It is a nocturnal creature. It is more active at night." She explained.
"Oh." He muttered, nodding. He took a moment to glance around the room while Sheeva explained the situation to the man in the blue cloak.
His name is Neville, that's right. He reminded himself. Truth be told, he'd hardly seen the man around, save for at mealtimes and at their strange sport, Quidditch.
Sheeva's voice snapped him back to reality as she called his name. He turned to her, and blinked.
"Sorry, I was... thinking. What?" He asked.
"Are you ready to leave? We are heading to the library now." She asked, making sure. He nodded, lifting the satchel. He always carried his sword with him, no matter what. He felt naked without it. He was pretty sure that he was ready to go... physically. Mentally was another matter, but he couldn't tell her that. Chances were, she'd already guessed it.
When had she been able to read him so well?
"Let us go. The trip back to Kadessa may make you queasy. If you vomit, I do not blame you." She mentioned as she opened the door and waited while the stone steps rose once more. Joseph followed, and Neville followed behind him.
They made their way to the library, hardly saying a word. Mrs. Trelawney, the librarian and divination teacher, looked up and smiled at them as they walked in.
"Joseph, you were just here. Good to see you again." She greeted, giving a toothy smile. Joseph nodded back, not wanting to be rude. The woman creeped him out slightly with her toothy grins and wispy frazzled hair. Not to mention, the eyeglasses she wore magnified her eyes.
"Mrs. Trelawney, I need your help. I need to dispel the ward on the door." Neville explained. She smiled, stood, and walked to the back of the library.
"Yes, I know. I was expecting you." She answered as she tottered on gleefully. Neville smirked, and shook his head.
"Of course you were." He muttered, not surprised.
Kathryn and Nayeli looked up from their studies and watched as the headmaster, the librarian, Joseph, and Sheeva walked up to the third door. Nayeli stood and went over to them. Sheeva smiled at her daughter, and encased her in a hug.
"I have to leave again. I should be back soon. Well, sooner than I was last time." She explained. Nayeli only nodded. She had to trust her mother, no matter what.
"Are you breaking that damn seal?" Kathryn asked, hopes high that she could see her father again. Sheeva smirked and nodded.
"Yes, they are. You are still not allowed in here... Why are you so interested in what is behind this door? Or... is it that you have already seen it... and want to learn more about it?" Sheeva asked, crossing her arms. Kathryn's face dropped, and her eyes widened. There was no hiding it now.
"I have... and... well..." She muttered, trying to find the words. Sheeva dismissed the topic with a wave of her hand. This could wait.
"I will talk to you when I return. Until then, stay away from this door. It leads to a dangerous place. One not fit, nor accustomed to, humans. Who knows what they will do to you, or to anyone, for that matter. That is an order that you must obey, Kathryn. Because I said so, and it is the right thing to do at this point in time. Stay away." She ordered. Kathryn growled, crossed her arms, and sat down, scowling at the floor.
"Yes. Ma'am." She snarled. Sheeva blinked a few times, thinking. Something was different about her.
Her train of thought was broken when she heard the shattering of glass, and a wave of wind. The seal had been broken. She stepped in to the room, Joseph in tow. Neville and Mrs. Trelawney followed, curious. Sheeva shut the door behind her, and silenced the room so that Kathryn and Nayeli could not hear.
"What do you want us to do?" He asked. Sheeva grabbed a knife and cut off a lock of her hair, tied it in a knot, and handed it to him. She then turned to Joseph, cutting off a lock of his hair as well. She tied it, and handed it to Neville.
"Seal the door, like last time, but make sure that we can get through. I do not want to have to traverse all of Kadessa to find a loophole. Much less, make one." She ordered. Neville nodded.
Joseph looked at the large mirror that stood there, thinking about what he was about to do. What he would say. How Donna would react when he told her the news of her son.
At that, Zakkari's reflection shown in the mirror, smiling at him. Joseph stared back, eyes wide. It seemed like it'd been so long since he'd last seen him, he'd forgotten what he looked like. His dark blue hair hung off of his head, and his bright white wings draped to his knees.
"Sheeva, what does this mirror do, exactly?" He asked. Mrs. Trelawney stepped in, setting a hand on his shoulder.
"Your task may weigh heavy on your heart, but in time, you will thank yourself for it. So will they." She whispered, voice dark and eerie. It made him shiver in nerves, and he glanced at her reflection in the mirror, eyes wide.
How in the gods did she know about that? What the hell, is she a seer?
He shrugged her hand off of his shoulder, and turned to Sheeva.
"Let's go. Otherwise, I might not be able to... Captain." He said, almost pleading. She nodded, and turned to the mirror, forming a few seals. She collected the same ball of energy in her hand and threw it at the mirror. It spread, turning the mirror black. Joseph stared, amazed. He reached out a hand to touch it, and it rippled as his fingers touched it.
It felt like still water. He submerged his hand in, and then drew it back sharply as though he'd been bit. It was freezing!
"That's really cold! What is thi—oof!" He grunted as Sheeva pushed him through. He screamed and curled himself into the fetal position, covering his head in case he were to hit something. He forced his eyes open, and his breath was taken away. Many stars littered the darkness, and waves of light shot all around him as he sped by.
He felt nauseous, and he forced his eyes shut as he felt a twisting and turning within him, fading and jumping back just as strongly. It almost felt like he were swooping up and diving from great heights while flying, the pull of the earth disorienting him.
After a few minutes of extreme disorientation and spinning, he landed on something hard. He tried to push himself up, but was too dizzy. He fell back to his side, trying to steady his breathing. He rolled on his back, and opened his eyes, staring at a ceiling, which seemed to be spinning, doubled and circling around. It was too much for him to take.
He rolled over onto his hands and knees and vomited, burping and coughing. He barely had time to breathe as he vomited again.
Sheeva emerged from a mirror a little while later, just as disoriented as he. However, she'd experienced it before, and had an easier time adjusting.
After getting to her feet, she helped him to sit in a chair, and then stared at his vomit on the floor in disgust and pity. She looked around, trying to see if there was a towel that she could use to clean it up.
She found an empty mop bucket and mop, then turned to the water faucet. For it being made of metal, she couldn't see a handle to turn the water on. Joseph watched her search, and then sighed. She must not have known.
"There's a lever. Pull it, it will pump the water to the spigot." He explained. She looked, and then nodded as she found it. She filled the bucket, then dunked the mop in, sopping up the vomit.
As Joseph looked around, he frowned. They were in a large broom closet. Not what he'd imagined when she'd said it would take them straight to Senator Bakhrieva.
"I thought you said it'd take us straight to Senator-
He stopped as the door to the broom closet opened and the senator walked in, pausing as he saw the two of them.
Well, read and review, as usual! :) please? I will keep writing, now that I remember where I was going with all of this... keep checking for new chapters!