Track this topic | Email this topic | Print this topic

Note: This piece is being co-written by Zero Hawk and myself.

***

Of Love and Betrayal

***

Chapter 1: Soldiers of Fortune

***

Sofia hangs her head low, hiding her face in her robe and looking down at her hands. She plays with a trinket in them, watching it turn over and over...studying the little intricacies and nuances of the metal and its engravings. Riding a few meters ahead of her, Shalla kicks her heels into her chocobo's sides, seeking to gain speed. The chocobo in turn "kweh'd" loudly as it stretches out its long golden neck. Leaning forward on her ride, she sticks her own head into the wind and lets it whip her hair around. The summons from the Church had said it was an urgent matter, demanding of their immediate attention, and she's intent on getting there as quickly as possible. Behind her, Ger and Angel hurry up, keeping pace.

Angel whips his head around again as he rides, watching behind himself as he begins to trail behind the others. "I swear something is following us..."

Sofia looks up from her trinket and tells him, "Oh, it's just Kilu, you paranoid nut."

She turns around and clucks her tongue, and her pet Kilu -- an odd sort of panther-like creature with a thick red mane stretching down his back, tiny horns trailing down his back, thick tufts of fur covering his paws and a small spike at the end of his tail -- looks up at her, panting happily. Angel looks at him and scoffs. "Sure it is, then explain the shadows over there."

Sofia turns around a bit more. "Huh--?"

And sure enough, a large shadow shows itself to her, but fades from view again as quickly as it'd appeared. Shalla kicks her chocobo's sides again, receiving another "Kweh!" in return. "C'mon you guys! Hurry up! We're almost there now!"

"I agree with you there..." Angel says, kicking his heels into his ride's side, too. Ger and Sofia follow suit, while Kilu picks up speed as well. Ger mumbles lightly to himself as he begins to trail ahead, picking up pace to follow closely beside Shalla.

Meanwhile, Sofia looks back down to her hands and looks over her trinket once more. She loses herself deep in thought and zones out, when Angel suddenly speaks up. "Hey! There's the town! Thank the Gods!

Ger and Shalla come to a quick stop, both seeming a bit more on the serious side as they dismount their chocobo, tying them up nearby.

"Now we have to find the head of the church and figure out what they want," Shalla says.

Angel and Sofia dismount last, and then follow them wordlessly. Kilu comes trotting up alongside Sofia, staying close to his master. The five of them thus make for the church, and arrive at the city gates within the hour.

***

Shalla approaches the church gates and glances up to the guard seeking entrance.

"May we enter? We were summoned by the church," She says as she pulls out a small scroll.

The guard takes her scroll and reads it quickly, then rolls it back up and hands it back to her. "You may."

She nods once, saying, "Thank you."

With a glance back and a wave of her hand, they all enter single file. One of the guards gives Kilu an odd sideways glance on the way in, looking slightly nervous...especially when he notices the guard and growls playfully. Sofia looks down at him and pats him on his neck. "Come on, Kilu."

He wags his tail happily as he looks up at her and follows, while a sweat drop rolls down the guard's face as they disappear from view. Ger stands at the back of the group, walking uneasily...his hand always resting on the hilt of his katana. "This place gives me chills."

A chill of her own runs up Sofia's spine at his words...but she keeps her comments to herself, instead drawing her hood closer around her head and looking around in awe at the grand sights. Angel stops momentarily to inspect a small statue, considering ways of removing the jeweled eyes, but he's quickly smacked upside the head by Ger and continues on his way, rubbing his ear.

At long last they reach the end of the aisle leading up to the altar and stand at its foot, looking up. There, kneeling with his back to them, is a priest mumbling silent prayers. Shalla fidgets as he prays, intending to wait until he finishes, but quickly loses her patience in the silence. Finally she blurts out, much to everyone's surprise and chagrin, "We're here, like you asked."

Angel grins jokingly. "Well, she does have a way with words, doesn't she?"

The priest raises one hand to them, showing only the back of it. She shuffles her feet and places her hand on her hip, biting her lip, sighing, and tapping her foot impatiently. He murmurs the rest of his prayer to himself and then rises to his feet when he finishes, turning slowly around to look at them. He glances between everyone's face, looking lastly at Kilu, before addressing her. "Yes, we've been expecting you. Follow me."

"Yippee," Shalla says quietly, with more than a hint of unenthusiasm in her voice as she begins to follow him.

He leads them through a series of corridors leading to the back of the temple, walking single file. They pass through a series of scenes: an inner courtyard, offices, a library, and finally to a set of doors along a wall at the far end. He goes to the centermost one and stands to the side, motioning with his hands. "Right this way."

Shalla nods curtly and steps inside, leading the group towards the door and opening it, then going through first. Ger and Sofia soon follow with Kilu in tow, but Angel, however, stops at the doorknob, checking it greedily. 'Pure gold?' He asks himself.

Shalla doesn't even turn around to face him as she orders, "Angel, come."

Angel grunts a bit as he turns from the doorknob. "But imagine the value..."

"And then imagine your prison sentence," She says matter-of-factly.

A voice from in front of them suddenly cuts in. "Welcome. You're late."

Ger glances up, his eyes seeming to glow mysteriously as he watches, his attention fully focused on the fellow whom spoke. Angel, however, doesn't seem to care, instead idly searching around the room for anything of value...that is, until he feels something watching him again. For her part, Sofia grabs Kilu by the scruff of his neck gently, giving him a silent command to "sit". Shalla steps forward and replies, "We had some trouble getting here, but it doesn't matter. What do you want with us?"

The Cardinal grins a bit, finding their ignorance quite delightful. "You honestly have no idea why you were summoned. Silly warriors, tales have spread far and wide of what Murond seeks."

"Murond? What's he looking for?" Shalla asks.

The Cardinal's grin widens. "He's looking for something in particular, something that perhaps only your group can retrieve. Have you heard of...the Germonik Scriptures?"

Angel's eyes widen at that, Ger's head lowers, and both Sofia and Shalla's eyes seem to sparkle. Sofia whispers a question, "The Germonik...Scriptures?"

Shalla adds, "But if he's looking for it...does that mean it's been lost?"

The Cardinal lets out a small sigh. "Not lost, no...but rather, taken. One of the faithful -- Simon to be precise -- betrayed us, putting the scriptures into the hands of a warrior that goes by the name of Ramza."

Shalla mumbles his name. "Ramza...I've heard of him. He's the son of the hero, right?"

Ger doesn't give her question a chance to be answered, however, and asks, "And Murond wants us to reclaim the Scriptures from him?"

The Cardinal nods. "You're quick to catch on. Yes, we want the scriptures reclaimed from him, as soon as possible."

Shalla nods slowly, Ger keeps silent, Sofia's eyes glaze over with thought, and Angel licks his lips...imagining the riches that he could get if he...err, they can reclaim them. He steps forward, rubbing his chin in his hand. "So, uh...how soon do we begin?"

The Cardinal watches each person's reaction, taking careful note of them. "Soon...it all depends on how soon you wish to depart. You can either stay the night here, where there will be a feast, or you can start, going to your measly piddly campsite and meager rations."

Angel crosses his arms and places his elbow in them, still rubbing his chin. "Hmm...camp or food...beds or bags...decisions, decisions..."

Shalla steps forward, nudging him aside. "We'll stay here. We could use a quality rest stop."

The Cardinal nods again. "Very well, just head back out that door and take a right down the hall. You should arrive at the guest rooms then. A priest will come tell you when the feast is prepared."

"All right," Shalla says, then bows. "We'll see you at dinner."

Ger bows as well, and Sofia too, but Angel just crosses one arm over his stomach and bows his head, then spins around and follows everyone out of the room. The Cardinal watches everyone leave and the door close behind them, then scoffs under his breath and mutters, "Animals...filthy, deplorable creatures."

And he's not talking about just Kilu.

***

Their suite is a simple affair, with a standard living room and bedroom for four, and a bathroom adjacent to the bedroom. After getting there and settling in Ger and Shalla had retired to bathe, while Angel and Sofia had decided to stay in: her to read, and he to simply rest. Angel sits on his bed, pulling his dagger out and bringing it up to his mouth. He then begins to lick the small dagger, and if one looks a little more closely they'll notice that his eyes have changed ever so slightly.

"All against me..." He lightly slits his tongue on the blade by accident, making a mess all over the blade, but he quickly laps that from the blade and begins to drink the blood from his tongue.

"They all want the gold...but the gold is ours, ours alone!" He shouts out before bursting into sudden maniacal laughter, causing blood from his tongue to spray everywhere as he cackles a deep cackle.

Upon hearing him cackle and shout, she leans back in her chair and yells at him, "What was that, Angel?"

"Nothing... Nothing!" Angel stops his cackling suddenly, now aware of those all around him. He begins to shift his eyes back and forth quickly, having a sudden feeling that he's being watched...he quickly checks over his shoulder, and that dark shadow appears there again, only it's much more visible this time. "Ahh! You again! Nuisance! Be gone! You can't have any of the treasure!"

She hears the racket coming from his room and raises an eyebrow, then closes her book and gets up quickly, rushing to the bedroom. "Angel, what in the world's gotten into you..."

He glances up to Sofia, paying the cloud no more attention. "Gah, you want the treasure too! But you can't have any! Its MINE!"

He gives her a fierce look as he brandishes his dagger, blood beginning to drip from his mouth. She gives him an odd, frightened look and draws her hand up to her face, backing away by a step, and with her other hand she makes a small weave in the air as she takes another step, then whispers something inaudibly and raises her hand to him again. "Esuna!"

He feels the warmth of the holy spell washing over him, cleansing his spirit and mind. In a few moments his eyes return to normal color and he's left befuddled, looking around blankly. "What's going on? Why is my tongue bleeding?"

"Cure!" She says, finishing her second spell as he speaks. Warm, white energies flow over him and heal his wounds, but she feels drained and light-headed.

She swoons slightly, but catches herself and steps closer to him. "I don't know...you were acting very weird..."

He laughs a bit as he sheaths his dagger. "Define 'weird'."

He then begins rubbing his hands together rather quickly. She frowns and tilts her head to one side. "Angel, everything about you is 'weird'."

She then walks next to him and grabs his wrists gently, stopping him from rubbing his hands. "Like this?"

He looks up at her, blinking a bit before pulling his hands away. "Hey, it's not that weird, I'm just excited."

"And what about you? You're pretty weird yourself...so skilled at convincing people, yet so quiet at the same time." He eyes her curiously.

"Soooo--I like to be quiet, that's all," She replies, walking off to one side and rubbing her arm nervously.

"Like to be quiet...you're downright meek. Hell, I might even go so far as to call you fragile." He continues to watch her curiously...even now when confronted she seems so silent and fragile.

She blushes slightly and suddenly realizes what she's doing with her arms, then stops and spins around, facing him. "Look, it's not really important...besides, we should get ready for the feast toni--"

And just then Ger and Shalla walk back in the suite, Shalla proclaiming, "Are you two ready? The feast's in less than an hour."

'Thank GOD! Saved!' Sofia thinks to herself, then replies loudly, "Yes, we're almost ready!"

She hurries past Angel and into the living room, meeting Shalla there, while Angel grunts and exclaims, "Hey don't just rush past me, I'm talking to you!"

He then heads into the room with the others in it, sighing a bit. Shalla looks between them and crosses her arms, tongue in cheek. "You guys were talking? About what?"

"Oh, it was nothing, really..." Sofia says, then laughs nervously and smiles awkwardly and only half-sincerely.

"Nothing, my arse! Everyone just blow me off now, eh?" Angel crosses his arms a bit as he goes over to lean against the far wall.

Sofia looks at Angel a long time and sighs, hanging her head and feeling bad for doing this to him. Shalla looks between them again and says, "Angel, what were you talking about? I wanna hear it."

Sofia's head jerks up and she looks mildly startled, but quickly sighs again and hangs her head. 'Outnumbered and surrounded...oh, damn...'

She steps forward and raises her palm at him. "Wait..."

She looks around again and goes on. "We were talking about me. He told me I was quiet...and meek, and fragile..."

She glances at him under stray bangs of hair and tells him, "I was just embarrassed, that's all."

Angel grunts a bit. "Only because it's the truth, always fidgeting and being quiet. You're supposed to be a master linguist...yet, you're quieter than Ger just about!"

She blushes a bit and hangs her head lower, closing her eyes and almost whispering, "So what if it's the truth? So what if I'm meek? I don't care."

Although she adds some bite to her words, even she knows in her heart that it's not all true. Ger steps between them and tells him softly, "Let her be. Her silence comforts her."

"Sure thing, big boss man." Angel laughs a bit, a slight hint of sadism to it.

"I'll leave you all be." And with that he turns back through the door, heading back to his bed.

He keeps going through the doorway and disappears into his room, leaving the rest standing together in the living room. An awkward silence follows with everyone looking at Sofia...even Kilu, who sits by her side and leans against her, trying to give her comfort. Then a soft rapping comes at the door and Shalla jerks to her senses, taking a deep breath before going over to and opening the door. "Yes?"

The priest there bows and tells her, "The feast is prepared, milady. You may all accompany me."

Shalla nods and answers him, "Very well."

She turns back to the room and addresses them loud enough for Angel to hear. "The feast is ready for us."

Sofia groans and lowers her head at the news. 'I don't feel like going anywhere...not in public...as if this day couldn't get any worse...'

"Oh, boy! Moderate amounts of food!" Angel says with a taste of sarcasm as he returns to the group. He glances around at them shuffling towards the door and throws his hands out to his sides. "Well, what're ya waitin' for? Food awaits!

And then he rushes out the door, being the first in line behind the priest.

This post has been edited by Zephir on 30th March 2004 06:49

--------------------

~Status Report~

* Completed... Dragon's Head
* Completed... Soldiers of the Empire: Disciples (release pending)
* In Progress/Undecided... Of Love and Betrayal
* Planning/Assembly... Where it all Began

I like it very much, i'm very pleased with how its turned out so far. Well guys, what do you think of our work together?

--------------------

This one time I punched a bear in the forehead TO DEATH! I still have the scars on my chest. I am the manliest man that ever did man.

League: Z3roHawk
Steam: Zero_Hawk
Wii U: Zero_Hawk
FF14 - Goblin - Zero Hawk <Fiend>

Well, it's good so far, though, it dosen't seem to really be exclusive to FFT yet, in the future it may be, but at the moment, it seems like an average fantasy story. To quote myself from chat: "Other than that, it's good. It dosen't really get into the game theme much yet, except for the name "Murond" it seems like it could have been an average Fantasy Story".

---Update---
Okay, I was retarded a second ago....Both Razma and the Germonik Scriptures are mentioned..... Still, even with those things mentioned, since I was able to *apparently* skip over that info in my mind, it needs to be more strongly linked to the game. Don't get me wrong, it's a good story, and I can't wait to read more, it just dosen't really stand out in my minsd as a FFT fic.

---Updatev2.0---
Okay, I was just informed in chat that Simon is also from FFT.....erm, yeah. Imma go sleep now...

This post has been edited by Spoony Bard on 19th March 2004 16:06

There are some colloquialisms that I don't think fit in with the setting, like "oh snap" and "saved by the bell." They seem out of place to me. As does the use of present tense for all of the verbs, I think most fiction uses past tense. Elena tells me that present tense is acceptable, but I think it reads awkwardly. Additionally, lines like "And he's not talking about just Kilu." are very awkward in third-person, to my mind.

Revise what you have a bit, but keep it up, it looks good.

Edit

And like Spoony said, the fic is very, very lightly tied to FFT. Will it have more references later? The sparse references now make it look just like an afterthought, like "oh, we should tie it to a game, let's make it FFT."

This post has been edited by Rangers51 on 19th March 2004 16:35

--------------------

"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN?

Of Love and Betrayal

***

Chapter 2: The Angel Show

***

Angel's eagerness for the food had grown overwhelming. He continued to look ahead of the priest as they walked. "Man this place is HUGE. Are we there yet?"

The priest answers flatly, "No."

They walk for another moment, and Angel asks him again, "Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are we there yet?"

The priest turns aside and asks them, "Will one of you please shut him up?"

Ger raises his fist menacingly at Angel, who eeps and stammers, "Nah, nah, that's okay! Really!"

Shalla laughs very lightly at the entire scene before wondering herself how far off they are. Sofia, quiet until now as usual, looks around the halls in the awkward silence and notes several large tapestries. Swallowing some shyness, she asks the priest, "These are some lovely pieces. Have they been here long?"

The priest stops in his tracks, glancing over at them. "Why yes my dear, actually they have. Some might even consider them treasures of Ivalice, they're so old."

Sofia steps close to him and looks up at a particularly large one in front of him. "I really like this one...do you know who painted it?"

Angel, meanwhile, stops and starts staring at the tapestries and statues and paintings around them, just now noticing them through his hunger. He steps close to one of them and actually drools, but a quick whap upside the head by Shalla snaps him out of it. He rubs his head and grimaces, bending over slightly and muttering, "Ow..."

The priest glances up to the tapestry, looking it over for a moment. "Actually no, that one was found by an excavating party in a newly found cave near the Doguola Pass."

Angel's eyes grow with the thought of wealth as he overhears the priest. Sofia nods and crosses her arms, looking over it again. "Doguola Pass...that's a long way from here."

Shalla shuffles ahead of them and declares, "I'm sure this's all fine and interesting, but I'd really like to get my hands on some food right about now."

The priest lets his attention leave Angel, glancing over to Shalla. He pauses for a moment, then nods and bows slightly. "Yes, she's right...even I'm beginning to grow hungry. Let us continue."

They all fall in rank and file and follow him the rest of the way in silence, but much to their thanks, they were close to the banquet hall anyway. The priest opens the doors for them and lets them swing out widely, then steps aside and folds his arms, allowing them to enter first. Shalla goes in ahead and makes straight for her seat, while Ger and Sofia follow equally as quickly. Angel takes a bit more time, however, slowing down and looking around all the pretty, shiny things. He stares in wide-jawed awe at everything, but he turns around quickly at the sound of the doors closing behind him and checks himself, clearing his throat and straightening out his jacket, then sits down next to Sofia.

Angel glances over at her and tilts his head back. "'Sup, babe."

She scoffs and looks away, hiding her face in her palm while he laughs and sighs a bit, leaning back in his seat, though that trademarked grin soon returns as he notes the silverware. It has such intricate carvings and smithwork...it'll be worth a fortune on the black market...

Shalla glances across the table at Angel with an icy look that says to not touch anything. He looks over at her and raises his eyebrows, then lifts his hands from the table and crosses them in his lap. He gets a drawn-up, discontent look on his face and stares blankly ahead at the table, muttering inaudibly to himself, then suddenly notices something and sits up. "Hey, where's the food?"

The priest, whom had taken a seat at the end of the table, glances over to Angel. "Quiet you, the food will be here soon."

And just as this was said, a group of Chefs enter the room, each holding a different entrée. The first chef, the only one in black, places a rather large covered plate in the center of the table and returns to the kitchen. The other workers then in turn begin to place things down on the table, each plate covered to store the foods' heat. Angel rubs his hands together excitedly as he sits up and licks his lips. "All right!"

He reaches straight for the first platter in front of him and removes the lid, then wafts away the steam. Sofia and Shalla look at him with a disgusted look, while Ger bows his head and says a silent prayer to himself.

Angel closes his eyes as he begins to sniff the platter in front of him. "Mmm, smells great..."

Then with his eyes still closed, he scoops up a handful, disregarding all manners and ignoring the spoon to the side, then leans over his plate as he begins to hungrily devour the food that is a mystery to him. Sofia shakes her head and starts picking up her silverware, muttering under her breath, "Ugghh."

Shalla serves herself portions of foods from several other dishes while Ger waits for his servings. While spooning out portions to herself and Ger, she glances up at the priest and asks casually, "So, do you have any place that we can start looking, or do you want us to just randomly wander about the wilderness?"

The priest casually places a napkin in his lap before glancing at back her. "Well, we're not certain exactly, but we have heard word that the last place he was seen, was on the Germinas Peak."

Angel suddenly opens his eyes and glances at the pinkish goo that he's feasting on. He swallows and begins to cough profusely as he drops the pink substance onto his plate. "Is that what I think it is?"

Sofia looks over at him and his plate, then sits back and asks, "From the way you were eating it, I thought you liked Pisco Demon brains?"

Angel's eyes grow wide as he looks over the substance. "Ohhh...I think I'm gonna be sick..."

The priest watches him curiously as he covers his mouth, trying to hold it in.

"Oh, come now," Says the priest. "Pisco Demon brains are considered a delicacy here."

"Not to me, they're not!" Angel exclaims, rising from the table. Shalla snickers at him and Sofia giggles, while Ger just shakes his head and returns to his meal. Angel quickly darts over to a nearby trashcan, holding his head over it, mouth open as he begins to groan. "Oh sure...you can all...URK! Laugh now...but I'll get you back..."

And with that last little bit, his stomach begins to empty itself into the trashcan. Sofia drops her fork and covers her eyes. "Oh, God...I can't eat any more..."

"Next time, look before you eat, Angel," Shalla says, not too hungry anymore, either.

The priest watches Angel intently, then begins to mumble under his breath, "The cardinal was right...they are animals..."

He turns his attention away, lightly cutting a small piece of Chocobo meat for himself and placing it upon his plate.

***

"I told yas duh ale wush good!"[/i] Angel yells while stumbling down the hallway. Ger rushes to his side and catches him before he falls over, throwing his arm over his shoulder to support him. Angel looks at him drunkenly and says, "Hey, did I ask fer yer help? NOPE! I don't need yer help!"

He burps and nearly falls over, and Shalla wraps his arm over her own shoulder, too. "Right, whatever you say."

Sofia walks ahead of them and opens their suite's door, holding it open while they carry him in. Angel stumbles drunkenly as he leans on Shalla and Ger. "I love you guysh."

He then turns his attention to Shalla, grinning stupidly. "Hey beautiful."

"Hey tall, dark, and drunk," She says sarcastically, letting him flop down on his own. Ger catches Angel, stopping him from smashing into the ground. Angel then continues to stare at Shalla. "Aw c'mon...yer a hot little monk...ya dun want some of Angel?"

He gives her a light wink -- actually, a rather exaggerated and drunken one -- before patting her shoulder. Shalla cocks her head at him and smiles sarcastically. At first she considers saying something smart and walking away, but then she gets an idea and walks over to him, swinging her hips suggestively. Ger looks at her oddly, but a wink and a nod of her head sets him turning away, leaving Angel to stand up on his own. Rather confused by her apparent sudden change of attitude, his eyes widen and he sways, looking over her whole form open-mouthed.

She walks up next to him and places her hands on his shoulders, then shoves him lightly onto the couch, straddling his lap. She places one finger on his head and says one word quietly, "Sleep."

And said spell wraps over his head and his eyes close as he drifts right off. Ger laughs slightly...well, it's a laugh for him, anyway. "He's going to be disappointed in the morning."

Shalla laughs as she gets off him, dusting herself off. Sofia, however, blushes and turns away, hiding her face. Seeing her in Angel's lap like that had aroused certain emotions in her, feelings that she doesn't care to discuss or acknowledge openly...but fortunately for her, Shalla doesn't notice, instead taking her leave and retiring to her bed. Ger does notice, however...but keeps his silence.

Ger walks over to a rather dark corner of the room, quietly leaning against the wall and seeming to disappear into the darkness as he watches Sofia.

"Anyone else need to use the bathroom?" Shalla asks from in there.

Sofia sits down on the edge of her bed and calls back, "No, I'm fine."

"All right," Comes the response, while Sofia lies down and pulls the sheets up to her neck. Kilu walks up beside the bed now and whimpers, and she leans over the side and scratches his ear.

"Good night, Kilu," She says, then glances at Ger. "Good night."

The dark samurai merely nods and tilts his head a bit as he begins to pace about the room. He continues this until he grows tired, and then heads to his respective area, slipping his katana under the mattress before lying down on the bed, not using any sheets for warmth. Shalla then comes out of the bathroom wearing a shirt and pants and stretching, yawning and looking around the room. Sofia had drifted right off to sleep and Ger...it's hard to tell when Ger's actually asleep or awake...as for Angel, she leans into the living room and checks on him, and seeing him soundly asleep, shrugs and yawns again.

'What a day...' She muses, then turns off the lights and crawls into bed, tucking herself in.

***

The Death Mage pulls away from his cauldron slowly as the image of Shalla sleeping fades into darkness. "She'll make an excellent addition, don't you think my pets?"

The small gathering of black mages nods quietly. One moves forward, speaking up a bit. "Yes master, she will make a great addition. And she's already been slightly corrupted. That will teach the filthy girl to underestimate the black arts."

The death mage raises a brow curiously, but then turns that to a nod, his eyes glowing an intent dark crimson red. As for the rest of him, he is clad completely in black...even his hat's colored black. The only thing that makes him not look like a shadow are, in fact, those fiery red eyes.

"Master Tora...forgive me for asking, but how will we convert her?" Another mage asks.

The death mage eyes the one that had spoken up for a moment. "Why it's quite simple: a small group of you shall be an assault team...granted you will probably die a miserable, miserable death. The key to this assault is to have our precious monk use her magical powers. Rather, get her to cast some dark spells like Fire or Death. The darker the spell, the more effect the dark powers will have on her. There's something that remained with her, and it's not just the knowledge of the spells, it's some sort of mystical force...like a dark cloud, it seeks to consume her, twisting her to its ways. It's probably a revenant or something of the like. All I know is it's doing what we want, and that's always good in my book."

Tora lets out another slight, almost giddy and yet evil chuckle before continuing to grin at the Black Mage. "And it appears you are the first volunteer for this suicide mission. How touching."

The black mage gulps. "But master I didn'--"

And abruptly he is cut off. "SILENCE! You dare disobey your master?!"

The Mage's yellow eyes glow solemnly as he knows that, either way, death awaits. "N-no...master, I obey."

Tora's fiendish grin never left his face. "Good..."

He then points to four other mages: a time mage, a summoner, and two more black mages. "Go now, my children! Show them the power of the Brood! And if you accidentally kill the Monk, bring back her soul crystal!"

And with that the small group of five leaves towards the Murond Holy Land, hoping to cut off Shalla's party.


This post has been edited by Zephir on 30th March 2004 06:59

--------------------

~Status Report~

* Completed... Dragon's Head
* Completed... Soldiers of the Empire: Disciples (release pending)
* In Progress/Undecided... Of Love and Betrayal
* Planning/Assembly... Where it all Began

I think this shows a good amount of promise. I agree with Rangers about the use of past tense verbs. It feels sorta like I'm reading a script for a movie or play with everything being present tense. Also, as was said above, some of the dialog doesn't seem to fit with the time period Ivalice is set in. Still I did enjoy reading this, and am looking forward to see how it progeresses.

This post has been edited by Hanyou on 30th March 2004 07:19

--------------------

"My impersonation of an ordinary person was flawless." - Neal

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss

Of Love and Betrayal

***

Chapter 3: The Brood

***

Angel leans forward on his chocobo and burps deeply. As he comes up for air again, he glances over to Sofia on his right and watches her shake her head. "What?"

She waves her hand at him, still shaking her head. "Ugh...nothing..."

"Whatever..." He says, burping again. He rubs his stomach with a free hand and bends over again, feeling sick. "Hey, how much longer 'til we get there?"

Shalla answers without turning her head, "Another few days."

"I don't think I'm gonna make it..." Angel replies, glancing at Ger. "Ger, if I don't make it...you can have my drawers."

Ger glances over to Angel coldly as he kicks his chocobo's sides, urging it to move faster. Angel sighs a bit. "Aw, none of you have a sense of humor..."

Shalla shakes her head, smiling. "No, we just don't think th--"

She snaps her head up quickly, opening her eyes wide and ahead while Kilu runs out in front of the group, growling. Sofia sits straight in her seat and Ger unsheathes his sword, looking alert. Angel glances around at everyone and asks, "What's goin' on?"

"Trouble," says Shalla.

Angel raises a brow curiously and laughs. "Oh, you're all nuts. There's no trouble ahe-"

But before he can finish, he finds himself thrown rather violently from his chocobo as it bucks...and straight into the midst of the enemy. Shalla immediately leaps from her chocobo and slashes at a cloaked figure in front of her, cutting its robe open but not scoring any significant hit. Ger leaps from his ride as well, assuming an attack stance while Sofia stays on her chocobo, readying a shielding spell for the whole party.

The Wizard glares a bit, his yellow eyes seeming to pulsate as he sees a shred of fabric fall from his robe. "I do believe you're the one we're looking for..."

He then extends his hands forth at Shalla as he begins the incantation for a spell. "Swirling bolts, gather and strike with power!"

As he finishes his incantation a rather mediocre bolt of lightning rains down from the sky and strikes her. She cringes and falls back, slightly singed, then turns to Sofia. "Now!"

Sofia finishes her incantation with closed eyes and outstretched hands. "Enduring light, shield from roaring magic!"

A field of energy surrounds each ally in turn, shielding him or her slightly from magical attacks. Ger takes the opportunity to make a move on the Summoner, advancing rapidly in a very short time with his sword drawn and ready. Before anything else happens, however, the Time Mage finishes his incantation and unleashes his spell. "Time, rest and give your kindness to the worthy! Slow!"

Sofia suddenly feels herself moving very slowly compared with everyone else...painfully slow, even. She looks around at everyone moving much faster than she and exclaims, "No! I've gotta help them!"

Elsewhere, the summoner backs away from Ger as he approaches, his staff held high. He then begins his incantation as he glares at him. "Wind, fade to silence and light, give us power!"

The lead Wizard quickly moves out of the way as the summoned monster Shiva appears, raining down a shower of ice upon Angel and Ger as well as the area around them. Ger slows and grimaces under his mask, but doesn't halt in his advance and leaps at the summoner, striking with all his might. Meanwhile, Angel falls backwards, reeling from Shiva's power. "Bloody hell!"

He falls to his knees and pants, feeling a part of his mind slip away, allowing another to seep in and take its place...

When he next lifts his head, he looks up with fire in his eyes as he pulls out his daggers, licking them clean before approaching the nearby Time Mage. "HAHAHA! You're all against me! BUT -- that's okay! Now...die!"

The Time Mage tries to move away, but he's too slow. Angel swiftly plants his daggers into the pressure points to the sides of the Time Mage's shoulder blades, then commences to rip his blades up and down. "BLEED MY PRECIOUS."

He then removes his blades, the mage whimpering pathetically as he just lies there and bleeds out. Angel proceeds to lick his daggers clean of the blood before giving the time mage a swift kick in the ass. "SEE WHAT YOU MADE ME DO?"

Several meters away, a fierce rolling battle has ensued between Ger and the summoner. Each of them attacks with their fiercest of maneuvers, and each one either manages to avoid them or is still standing after the other's offense. Kilu and one of the black mages, also, get into a heated battle, with Sofia pulling support for him and Shalla, who is engaged with their leader.

He launches spell after spell at her, each low level and designed to get her angry, not injure her. A lightning spell again finds it mark on her and she falls back, feeling her protective barrier falter. Gritting her teeth, she rushes forward suddenly and begins attacking him, straight to his face. She punches and kicks, landing several blows but missing others. She rears back for an extra strong punch to his face when she sees him stumble, but is surprised to see him suddenly disappear, teleporting backwards. He crosses his arms and levels his staff at her, eyes narrowing and glowing a brighter shade of yellow. "Infidel! Feel the power that you deny yourself!"

He stands straighter and chants loudly, calling up another spell at her. "Destruction of nature, gather in flame! Fire!"

The spell would ordinarily be considered weak, but from his distance the spell gains strength, engulfing Shalla in flames. She stumbles backwards again, this time feeling much weaker...almost unable to use her hands. "It's like they're leaving me with only one choice..."

She begins to move away quickly, crouching to the ground weakly as she backs away, then stands up, putting her weight on her left leg to maintain her balance. She grimaces as she feels a twinge of pain shoot through her body and pulls her fist back as she prepares to shoot a wave of energy at the Wizard. "Burning anger rising...Burst! Wave Fist!"

She then smashes her hand forward, shooting a large, purple, fist-shaped ball of energy at the Wizard. It hurtles rapidly towards him, blowing grass blades aside as it closes in, then smashes fiercely into the Wizard's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. They both in turn fall to one knee as he gazes at her. "Uhn..."

Nearby, a snap and thump are heard immediately before the dead body of one of the black mages hits the ground, neck broken. Kilu stands over it and growls, blood dripping from his fangs, then looks up to see Ger across the way, engaged hand-to-hand with the summoner. Having gotten so close to him that any magic he might use would harm him as well, the summoner had resorted to using his staff...which proves to be his undoing.

He swings his staff downward at a crucial moment, but has it caught easily in hand by Ger, who spinkicks him and brings his sword blade across the summoner's throat in one fell motion, slashing it open cleanly. The summoner gasps and makes gurgling noises, then falls first to his knees, and then his face. Ger looks at him for a moment, then turns to see a black mage standing across from him, his staff's end in the ground and eyes leveled.

The black mage's bright yellow eyes pulsate from the darkness caused by his hat. "Prepare to face your undoing naive samurai!"

The black mage looks a little weakened as his eyes pulsate faster, his hands extended forth as he prepares to call upon the most powerful of Ice magics. "Effortless water, break your silence, attack!"

And a massive shower of icy crystals begins to rain down upon Ger, each easily piercing through his armor. Each crystal finds itself embedded somewhere else; his knees, his forearms, his chest and stomach...though luckily none lodge in a vital area. Ger falls to the ground for a moment but catches himself, standing up weakly as he extends his katana blade's point towards the Black Mage. The mage looks worried for all of one second, then smirks and asks cockily, "And just what do you think you'll do with that, samurai?"

Ger lowers his head and shuts his eyes, for once smiling beneath that unemotional veneer. "This."

Suddenly he leaps through the air at him, screaming madly and bringing his sword around for a massive attack. "Meatbone slash!"

The mage tries to summon a fireball in defense, but it's too late. The slash comes down with a heavy hand, cleaving him completely in two with one stroke. Ger lands on the ground in front of him and watches as the top half of the mage slides sideways and falls over, the mage's face locked in an expression of total shock.

Angel sits cross-legged on the ground, licking his knife clean and giggling madly. "YES! Blood, my dear Ger, BLOOD!"

Ger turns back to look at him and gives him a flat stare. "Thanks for the help."

Angel laughs maniacally and replies, "You seemed ta 'ave things well in 'and, ol' chum."

He then blinks and stares ahead blankly, suddenly looking surprised to be licking his knife. He pulls it away from his mouth and looks at it oddly, muttering to himself, "And how...?"

The lead Wizard glares a bit as he sees that all his comrades have fallen to this group of measly warriors. "You've left me with only one choice! I shall kill you all! NONE shall be left standing when my havoc is brought to an end. And you, my dear," He gestures to Shalla. "Your precious soul crystal shall be mine!"

The wizard's eyes look dull for a moment as he teleports away from them all, reappearing several yards away. He extends his rod to the sky as he begins chanting, those eyes pulsating once more as he summons a spell powerful enough to consume Ger, Angel, Sofia, and Kilu. "Inscript the dark god into a rotting body! FLARE!"

As he finishes his incantation a massive fiery ball, almost as large as the sun itself, falls from the sky, sending shards of rock and fire flying everywhere and consuming the landscape as well as the four individuals he's targeted.

Each of the four either growls or cries out in pain as the spell tears at their bodies, but Shalla, being left alone, rises to one knee and lowers her head. "No..."

She lifts her head again, and now her eyes glow with an inhuman yellow aura. She growls from deep in her throat and mutters, "I won't let you..."

She rises to her feet now and raises her palm out to him, chanting steadily, "Death gods carving life, take their souls! Death!"

The Wizard's eyes bulge wide for a moment. "Excellent...you're...ours now..."

And then he feels the last bit of life torn from his body as the grim reaper strikes him a deadly blow. Shalla, unable to continue after what that last attack took out of her, falls to her knees and then collapses forward, sprawling out on the ground. The last thing she remembers before her eyes close and she fades from consciousness is Sofia's kind and gentle face kneeling next to her, asking if she's all right...and the singular, dark thought of wanting to kill...everything.

***

Tora leans away from his viewing orb, smiling almost gleefully to himself as he watches the scene swirl and fade away from its surface. "And so it begins."

He chuckles to himself and mutters under his breath, "You will be ours, precious."


--------------------

~Status Report~

* Completed... Dragon's Head
* Completed... Soldiers of the Empire: Disciples (release pending)
* In Progress/Undecided... Of Love and Betrayal
* Planning/Assembly... Where it all Began

Of Love and Betrayal

***

Chapter 4: Some things never change...

***

"Hey, she's waking up!" Sofia leans over Shalla, wiping a few bangs away from her face with her fingers and whispering, "Shalla? Shalla?"

Ger stands and moves closer, while Angel walks over and kneels next to her, silently concerned. Shalla opens her eyes groggily, blinks, and glances around quietly, not seeming remotely glad to see any of them...rather, she feels something she can't explain, can't identify even, deep inside herself. At last she gives a quick, silent question. "What happened?"

Sofia leans closer to answer. "You were getting roughed up by the wizard really badly...then he cast Flare on us, but then you cast..."

She looks up to Angel, biting her lip, then looks down at her again. "You cast Death on him...and then you passed out. I guess it was just too much for you..."

Shalla sighs before deciding to speak once more, her voice sounding rather distant compared to usual. "Yeah...I guess I'm just not that strong..."

Angel whistles and leans back on his feet. "Not from what I saw, you aren't."

She glares at him stonily for a moment, but the look quickly fades as she finds herself coughing profusely. Sofia immediately puts her hands on her shoulders and tries to ease her. "Whoa, whoa..."

She lies her down on the ground again and pats her gently. "Easy...where did you learn to use black magic, anyway?"

Shalla thinks hard for a moment trying to think of a way out of the question...but coming up with nothing, she reluctantly answers with a sigh. "I...spent a short time as a black mage once..."

"You never told me that..." Sofia says softly.

Angel tilts his head curiously and adds, "Yeah, you never told me that, either."

Shalla shoots both of them a quick, scornful look as she replies swiftly, "It's not something I like to talk about."

She looks around at all three of them and lays her head back on the ground, swallowing and muttering under her breath, "Especially not with someone like you, Angel..."

Angel gives her a look of curiosity, feeling almost hurt for once. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Ger watches the entire scene unfold, remaining silent all along. Shalla looks over at him and sighs loudly, then turns her head back away. "Well, you know how it is? You're just...ahhh, forget it."

She crosses her arms and looks away, scowling. Sofia watches her for a moment in dead silence, and then asks her quietly, "Shalla, please tell us? We are your friends, aren't we?"

Shalla watches Sofia for a moment as she thinks to herself, 'Friends? Why don't I feel like it?...'

She forces a weak smile to Sofia. "Tell you what?"

Sofia crosses her arms and leans back, arching an eyebrow. Shalla stares at her as long as she can, then sighs, defeated. "All right, all right..."

She looks at them all and goes on. "It's kind of a long story..."

"We kinda got a lot of time," Sofia says with a smile.

Shalla sighs a bit. "I'm still not sure..."

She feels a slight ting of evil in her back. Angel glances around as he vaguely notices that dark cloud once more, and sits up, alert. Sofia ignores him for now, given that he seems to have a few screws loose.

"Go on," She implores Shalla.

Shalla sits up on her elbows and looks to one side. "It happened a couple years ago, when I was fresh from training..."

She stretches out a bit. "A group of rogue mages burned down my village, killed a few people. They weren't looking for anything, or looting our homes, they were just...leveling it for fun. I tried to fight them back but...I failed...with little choice left I decided to blend in with them so that I could destroy them..."

She gives out a loud sigh. "I tried to recall the few spells I'd read about in the texts, and the first one that came to mind was Fire. I started matching with them and beating them, and the only one left was a Ghoul, a Revenant. We fought for, pfft, must've been a half hour, before I could finally summon a level two fire spell and kill it for good. I'm not sure what happened after that, I think it attacked me one last time, but..."

She shakes her head, closing her eyes. "I lost consciousness. When I woke up again, they told me I'd destroyed half the town with my magic. I made a vow never to use black magic again...and I haven't, until today."

Angel raises a brow curiously, placing his hand on a tree trunk and looking down at her. He had slunk away from them slowly to chase after that cloud earlier, but with no success. "Wow, that's kinda deep Shalla..."

She sighs again and shakes her head, sitting forward with some trouble and burying her head in her knees. "...Promise me, guys...promise me you'll never let me use that power again...please..."

She shuts her eyes hard and lowers her head further, wishing so much that she could cry and just let all her pain free, but the odd coldness in her heart won't let her. Sofia scoots closer to her and tries to look in her face. "I promise, Shalla."

Angel glances over her for a quick moment. "Don't get too close now girls, we already know you're too friendly..."

He grins fiendishly before returning his gaze to the cloud. It had moved only barely, as if it hadn't noticed him, and capitalizing on that, he inches closer, almost close enough to grab it. While he stalks his old nemesis, Shalla looks up at him curiously and squints one eye at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

But before he can answer, Kilu starts barking and she suddenly jumps to her feet and looks alert, staring off after him. Sofia stands and holds her staff ready, leaning close and asking, "More trouble?"

Shalla stares blankly ahead and shakes her head gently. "I don't know..."

And it's then that a flock of Cocatoris dives at them from the trees, five in all. Angel loses sight of the cloud as he quickly ducks under the talons of one Cocatoris. "Damn it all! Do these fights never end?!"

He grabs a small throwing dagger from a pouch on his belt and throws it at the cocatoris mightily, embedding it deeply in its throat. The bird tries to cry in pain, but only manages a gurgle as it falls. Shalla hops back a moment and readies her fists, while Sofia takes up the rear ranks, next to Ger. A Cocatoris swoops down at Shalla then, wailing, while Ger steps forth to engage one of the lower-flying ones as it makes a pass at them.

He smashes the flat of his katana fiercely into the Cocatoris' wing, nearly smashing it, also causing the bird to land. It pulls its head back a bit before pecking at Ger with its needle like beak, leaving rather large indentations on his armor. Ger, however, just looks down at it and smirks confidently before rearing back and thrusting his katana straight into the heart of the animal, silencing it forever.

Across the field, Shalla lands a hard blow on the bird as he dives, but receives a hard slash by his talons while he flies past her. She recoils and hangs one arm low, watching with narrowed eyes as another one swoops down at her. It gets closer and closer, until it's so close that she can smell its foul breath, then reaches up and swings with all her might, landing a hard uppercut on it and sending it flying back into a tree.

The bird smashes against the tree with a sickening noise, leaving only about 2 left.

Meanwhile, Angel had entered close combat with a cocatoris, both exchanging deadly blows. Angel slashes across the bird's chest with his daggers, but misses. The bird in turn quickly counters with a blow of its beak, smashing into his chest furiously and causing him to begin bleeding profusely. He clutches his wound and grunts, falling back against a tree and looking up to see the bird fly low at him, then get swatted aside by Shalla as an especially hard punch lands on its face. He looks her over and nods. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," She says, moving off to find the last bird.

Sofia comes up behind her and raises her hands to Angel, casting a quick healing spell on him. "Life's refreshing breeze, heal from the sky! Cure Two!"

The spell seals up his wounds and cleanses the blood, and he nods and rubs his chest, making sure he is actually whole. She doesn't look long, for floating high in the sky is the last Cocatoris, circling around for one last, foolhardy run at them. She raises her fists and clenches them, waiting for it to come in range. Angel readies himself behind her, twirling a knife around his fingers and licking his lips, while Ger stands off to one side, katana down at his side. The bird swings around and swoops low, baring his fangs and talons and screaming with a high-pitched wail.

Behind Shalla, Sofia holds her gun up high as she prepares a shot, pulling a small pouch of mythril bullets up and loading the gun before putting it away. She then aims at him carefully, lining up her sights to get the best shot possible...however, something she wasn't counting on happens...Shalla moves into the way just as she fires the shot.

Her eyes open wide and her jaw drops, and although she tries to pull her gun away at the last moment, she's too late. The firing hammer clicks and the bullet explodes from the barrel, then rips into her shoulder and exits, leaving a small, clean hole where it had exited. Shalla screams, then growls as she falls to her knees, cradling the shot with her hand. Sofia drops her gun and rushes straight over to her side, her face growing pale and clammy and her heart racing. "Oh God, Shalla! I didn't mean to!"

Angel swears and throws his knife at the bird, catching it clean in his wing while Ger rushes over and decapitates it with a spinning move. He sheathes his katana quickly and hurries over to where everyone else is, arriving behind Angel and Kilu.

There, Shalla clutches her chest as she groans in pain. Sofia had struck a vital nerve and she can barely move. "Ungh...it hurts..."

Shalla cries out as she rolls on the ground. Sofia kneels next to her and tries to steady her, talking through a near sob. "Oh, God...I'm sorry, Shalla, I didn't mean to...I'm sorry!"

"Just shut up and heal me, already!" Shalla suddenly snaps. Even Ger raises an eyebrow at her sudden outburst; she's never done that before.

Sofia sits back on her knees, surprised, then bites her lip and leans forward again, holding her hands out over Shalla's body. "Life's refreshing breeze, heal from the sky! Cure Two!"

Angel scratches his chin a bit as he watches Shalla...and that's when he realizes that the cloud has disappeared. "Odd..."

Shalla's eyes twinkle some, and in a moment she seems to be herself again. "What's odd...?"

He points behind him, glancing back for a moment before looking back at her. "Well, the black cloud...it's gone..."

Ger grunts a bit as he looks over to Angel. "Semantic nonsense...it's all in your mind. There are no black clouds except for rain clouds."

And that's his two cents. Angel crosses his arms and cocks his head back at Ger. "Yeah, all the rain clouds hangin' over your head, old man."

Ger glares stonily for a minute, but they are caught by yet another surprise. Shalla quickly shoots her hand out, snatching Angel's ankle and squeezing it furiously, almost enough to crush it.

"Don't speak to him like that," She suddenly blurts out. Angel gulps as he loses balance, stumbling off to the side.

"S-ssorry..." He mutters, wrenching his ankle free and scrambling backwards. "Didn't mean to hit no nerves..."

"Just...quiet," She snaps, standing up and thinking to herself, 'Sometimes he really gets on my nerves.'

Ger raises his brow softly and watches her curiously as she rises to her feet and looks around at everyone, remaining nonetheless quiet, though a bit taken aback by Shalla's sudden outbursts as of late. She notes their dead silence and so asks, "Well? Are we doing anything besides standing around?"

She then walks past them towards their campsite, intending to pack her things and get ready to leave. Angel, being the only one who didn't seem completely dumbstruck, steps forward and walks along behind her. "Shalla, what's gotten into you? Why so angry all of a sudden...?"

She glances back to him for a second, then turns around again. "What? Me, angry?"

Angel raises a brow slightly as he takes a step back. "Yeah, just a, uh...tad."

She turns her head to the side, pursing her lips and scowling, then lets air out through her nose and, thinking quickly, mutters, "It's just that time of the month."

Angel sighs with relief. "Oh...okay...

...Hey wait, how come Sofia never gets like this when it's that time of the month?"

She sighs deeply and tells him, "Look, some women handle it differently than others and isn't there something you should be stealing right about now?"

"What?"

"Exactly." Then she moves ahead of him and into the campsite, making a beeline for the tents.

Angel grunts a bit as he scratches his head. "Man, I tell ya...I just don't understand women..."

Sofia steps up behind him then and pats him on his shoulder, nodding and biting her lower lip. "Mmmm...and no offense, but I don't think you ever will."

He stops and gives her a funny look, to which she smiles and goes on, helping Shalla gather up their things.

"What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying I can't get a girlfriend?! Oh, c'mon, Sofia! You know you're attracted to me!" He exclaims, making yet another feeble pass.

She stops to turn back and look at him, appearing mildly -- and maybe even, playfully -- disgusted. "UH! As iiif."

She looks to her side and waves to Kilu, clucking her tongue. "Come on, Kilu, let's pack up our stuff."

Ger enters their camp then, shaking his head at their hijinx. 'Well...at least they're not at each other's throats anymore,' He muses.

Angel follows behind Sofia slowly. "Oh c'mon, you don't honestly mean that..."

Sofia looks at him funny again while folding a tent up, then sighs. "You never give up, do you?"

He smiles and strikes a pose. "That's my trademark."

Ger shakes his head again. 'At least...'


--------------------

~Status Report~

* Completed... Dragon's Head
* Completed... Soldiers of the Empire: Disciples (release pending)
* In Progress/Undecided... Of Love and Betrayal
* Planning/Assembly... Where it all Began

Of Love and Betrayal

***

Chapter 5: Breaking the Ice

***

Tora steps away from his viewing orb, throwing his cape in a wide arc as he spins around. He faces his congregation and walks down the short flight of steps leading downwards, addressing them as he goes. "So it is true...a Revenant has her in its control. We can use this to our advantage."

He stops and looks around at everyone, pausing for effect. "...We will bring her to us."

A Wizard steps forth, gulping slightly as his eyes pulsate. "Forgive one for asking...master Tora, but the last plan failed...so how exactly will we get her...?"

The Wizard commences to look down at the ground, kicking dirt with his feet. Tora faces him and stands glaring at him for a second...then tells him rather sternly, "The decision is not yours to make. You will follow my orders."

"Yes, Master..." The Wizard mutters feebly.

Tora looks at him a moment longer, then glances around at everyone else, making sure that his point has been driven in. Satisfied with the results, he turns and heads for his private chambers, telling them on the way out, "I will adjourn to my quarters. You will all receive your orders upon my return."

He walks through the small group of mages and such, keeping his straight ahead as they part to form a corridor for him. He smirks to himself as he leaves, keeping a restrained air of arrogant enjoyment about himself as he watches them bow their heads low, some whimpering almost inaudibly for fear of his wrath. He finally exits through a door in the side and shuts the door behind him, letting it close with a heavy thud.

Then a small explosion of talking and chattering suddenly breaks amongst the many assorted mages.

"He'll send us all to our death!" Says one Wizard.

"We're doomed one way or another!" Says a Time Mage.

"He doesn't care for our well-being..." Another mage adds.

"He'll do whatever it takes to get his goals, and that means using us as cannon fodder," Declares a Summoner.

"Well what do you propose we do?" Asks another Summoner finally.

"I'm not sure..." Responds the Wizard who had started the whole commotion.

They all turn and stare at the door again, as if looking past it to see him in his chambers, plotting their inevitable doom...

***

Angel grunts loudly, because he'd been forced to carry the majority of the equipment...again. "This isn't fair! Sofia is carrying a bloody food pack, Ger has all the stakes, and you, Shalla, you have nothing. Why am I forced to be the damnable pack mule?"

"But you're so good at it," Shalla quips.

'Boy, at least she's honest about it...' He muses. "Maybe I don't wanna be?"

"Look, it could be worse..." Shalla grins fiendishly as she adds, "We could make you give us rides."

He pauses for a moment as he considers this...then finally says, "...Equipment's good."

Shalla nods a bit. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

Sofia cuts in right here, pointing ahead of her. "Hey, there's an Inn right up the street."

"YES! Rest!" Angel exclaims, suddenly picking up his pace, which almost erupts into a mad dash as he approaches the inn, far before anyone else. "SALVATION...SANCTUARY! SAAAANCTUARRRRY!"

Shalla stops in her tracks, smacking her forehead as she does so.

'God, what an idiot...' She thinks. A tap on her shoulder brings her head to snap up and look around, finding Sofia walking beside her.

"Coming?" Sofia asks her.

Shalla looks about and notices that she's fallen behind, so she hurries up to catch them. "Uh...yeah."

Angel enters the inn, tosses his bags onto the ground, and falls to his knees, giving thanks. "Glorious rest stop, how I praise thee!"

"That's nice, sir...will you be spending the night?" The reception guy asks.

Angel looks up quickly, having not realized the man was there. "Oh...yeah, definitely! Just wait for the boss lady with the money to get here!"

"Which she has," Shalla says while walking through the door. "Four and one pet to spend the night."

"But, Madam, pets aren't allow--"

"Four and one pet for the night, sir," She repeats slowly and firmly, placing a bag of money on the desk and brushing her coat aside to reveal a pair of brass knucks.

The receptionist blinks for a moment as he begins to reach around behind the counter. "Are you threatening me, miss?"

She looks off to the side for moment and licks her lips, thinking. 'Playing tough...' She can't just beat on him, no matter how much she wants to, or she'll start a scene...but other than that, there aren't many options left. She looks back up and leans forward on the desk, putting her weight on her hands. "Let me put it another way...how much extra would it take for us to get one pet in a room with four people?"

Kilu murrs inquisitively, glancing between Sofia, Shalla, and the receptionist. The clerk keeps a steady grip on the mythril gun he'd reached for, ready to bring it out if need be. "At least double what you've offered."

Shalla looks like she'll fly off the handle and jump him right then and there, but instead she decides against it and bites down on her lips, looking to the side. "...Sofia...another bag..."

Sofia reaches in a bag reluctantly and pulls out another sack of gold equal to the first, then tosses it on the counter.

"Excellent..." The clerk says, one hand remaining on that gun as the other reaches for a room key. He slowly sets the room key on the counter and then grabs the gold, hiding it away in the safe. "Last room down the hall, on the right."

Shalla rocks forward a bit as she answers, nodding her head once in clear exasperation. "Thank you."

She then snatches up the key and spins, facing the hallway to their right. Sofia follows right behind her with Kilu at her side, while Ger follows wordlessly behind them. Bringing up the rear -- and bringing all the equipment -- Angel walks past the clerk and stops, looking at him and shaking his head. He pauses for a bit, then walks off, too. Ger mumbles a bit as he leans against a wall, waiting for Shalla to unlock the door.

Angel in turn leans against Ger with all the equipment, nearly toppling him.

"What the--?!" Ger exclaims, stumbling over to the side.

Angel has a hearty chuckle at his expense while Shalla unlocks their room's door. "All right, guys."

"Yay!" Angel pushes Shalla aside, allowing himself to enter the room first. He hurls all the supplies to the floor and hops onto the nearest bed, jumping on it happily. It's just then that he notices something... "There's only three beds, guys..."

Shalla scoffs and places a hand on her hip. "That crook gave us a room with three beds for four people?"

She shakes her head and turns to head back out. "I'm gonna have a little chat with our 'host'."

"Aww c'mon, Shalla, don't worry about it," Angel responds. "You can sleep with me. Y'know I'll whisper sweet nothings in your ear...you can call me honey!"

"Angel...you're incorrigible," Shalla states, tilting her head sideways and shaking it.

Sofia then steps up and asks, almost blushing and dropping her voice to a near-whisper, almost timid, even. "We could, uh...well, y'know Shalla, we could share a bed...you know, us being the two girls and all, heh."

"Or we could all three share a bed, and Kilu can use mine." He winks fiendishly as he grins.

"Uh, let's not," Shalla says. She looks at Sofia, then Ger, and tells them, "All right, so Ger's got one bed, and Kilu's on the floor--"

Kilu whines a bit. Shalla looks at him softly and remarks, "You know you like it there. Anyway, Angel gets another bed -- to himself -- and me and Sofia get a bed?"

Sofia closes her eyes and pumps a fist slightly. "Yes! Err, I mean, okay!"

She grins at Shalla innocently, who just looks at her blankly and says, "Riiiiight..."

Angel's grin widens, feeling like he knows what's going on all too well. He quickly slinks around, popping up behind Sofia and placing a hand on her shoulder softly. "I didn't think you were like that Sofia...I mean, after all I thought you were just playing hard to get, beautiful."

He keeps grinning at her confidently, to which she takes his hand and lifts it up and over her head, bringing it back over to his side. "What? Angel, please...I'm sure you've got better things to do than fantasize."

Shalla steps past them, trying to change the subject. "She's right. We do have better things to do. Me and Ger will go out and see if we can find out anything about Ramza here in town. You two can..."

She waves a hand at them floatingly. "Talk or something."

Angel sighs a bit as he falls to his knees, clutching Sofia's hand. "It's...tough to just talk, when I'm surrounded by such a vision of beauty each and every day..."

He then bursts into tears. "Sofia, please don't do this to me!"

He hugs her arm close, almost snuggling with it. She looks at him oddly, then glances up to see Shalla closing the door behind her and Ger. "Bye! Have fun, you two."

Sofia raises a desperate hand to them and stammers, "But-but...!"

She looks down to see Angel sobbing against her arm. "Please, Sofia! Not another word! The pain, it's...just too much to bear...!"

She stares at him, totally at a loss, and whimpers, "...Help..."

Angel continues to sob and hug her arm. "Please Sofia, don't deny our love any longer, for it is the one pure thing in this sick twisted world."

He glances up with his watery eyes, looking deeply into hers.

"Uh, errr, uh..." She stammers, looking around desperately for a way out. "I, uhhh...think I got some laundry that I can do for a bit over here, yeah, laundry..."

Angel stands up, putting a single finger to her lips. "Shh, don't speak...that would only cheapen what we have. Just let me be close to you."

He rests his head on her shoulders and closes his eyes. She stares past him, observing the far wall in detail. Interesting pictures hanging up there. She then reaches up and pats him on his back with a hand, laughing very softly and nervously. "Angel...maybe you should take a bath...a cold bath. A nice, long, cold one."

"But...if I take a bath, our love might be gone when I return!" Angel whimpers a bit as he pulls his head up, looking into her eyes deeply.

She looks away for a second, looking as if she's contemplating. "Well, look at it this way...if that were the case, then it wasn't much of a love life, was it?"

She holds a hand up and looks at him with a half-smile on her face. 'Dear God, let him be playing with me...'

He smiles at her lightly. "So you're saying you'll love me when I get back?"

He continues to look into her eyes, never once glancing away. Kind of creepy, actually. She smiles again and pats him on his shoulder. "Sure thing. Just, bath. A cold one."

"As you wish, my love." He plants a quick kiss on her cheek and winks before glancing around the room for the restroom. Finding it in short order, he hops off in its direction, nearly entering when he stops and turns back around. "I shall return!"

She smiles and chuckles nervously back at him, waving weakly. "And I'll...be waiting."

He nods with a big grin on his face and finally disappears, leaving her alone. With a heavy sigh of relief and a rustling of sheets, she walks over and drops down on a bed, lying out with her arms and legs all over the place, feeling exhausted.


--------------------

~Status Report~

* Completed... Dragon's Head
* Completed... Soldiers of the Empire: Disciples (release pending)
* In Progress/Undecided... Of Love and Betrayal
* Planning/Assembly... Where it all Began

Of Love and Betrayal

***

Chapter 6: Angels will be Angels...

***

The day passes along quickly as Shalla walks down the street, looking for a good place to start hunting for clues. She and Ger had split up soon after leaving the Inn to go look for leads in their own ways, and she'd decided on a bar, since she feels comfortable in those kinds of places...and not to forget that there're usually drifters and travelers frequenting those joints, too. Getting bored with watching people and carts go by, she glances up to the sky to watch the sun slide slowly down in the sky and drop behind a cloud momentarily. She begins walking slower, suddenly coming to an abrupt stop as a flower seller approaches her. She looks the girl over for a moment and smiles.

"Hi! Would you like to buy my flowers?" The little girl asks.

Shalla bends lower, coming down to her level. "What're you offering, young lady?"

"Just the bestest tulips around, ma'am!" She says cheerily.

"Really? Well, I just might have to buy some of your bestest flowers, miss," Shalla responds with a grin.

"Oh wow, really? Mama will be so happy!" The little girl seems very giddy all of a sudden, fidgeting and very nearly bouncing on her toes. "One gold piece each, ma'am!"

The girl then twirls about in a small circle before offering forth the basket of flowers for Shalla to pick from, but then she abruptly points to a small pair of flowers. "Those're the best, I promise!"

She looks up into Shalla's eyes happily, who looks at her full selection before nodding and saying, "Hmmm, I agree with you...I'll take these two, miss."

She reaches in her pocket and removes two gold pieces, holding them out to her in her palm. The girl reaches for the two gold pieces, her eyes alit with happiness, then runs off back down the ally. "Mama, I made some money! Mama!"

Shalla watches her scamper off with a smile on her face, and then rises to her feet and sighs, twirling her new flowers over in her hands and admiring them. Their aroma makes their way up to her nose and she breathes it in deeply, then takes them and slides them into her hair, making sure that only the buds stick out, one on each side of her head. She looks back up the sun again and shields her eyes as she tilts her head back, watching a bird fly by overhead and head off in the distance, too concerned with its own daily troubles to worry about a dot on the ground below. She sighs before a sign catches her eye, imploring her to lower her head and read it: 'Sojourner Bar and Grill'. 'Looks like a good place to start,' She tells herself.

Shalla would've entered the bar, but a small shriek comes from the alleyway, followed by, "No! What'd you do to mama? We're getting the money! Don't hurt mama!"

She hesitates for the shortest of moments, then swears under her breath and makes a mad dash for the alley, getting ready to fight if she has to. She rounds the corner and darts into the shadows, where she sees a rather rugged looking thug standing there, holding what she assumes to be the young girl's mother by the throat. She watches in stunned silence as he delivered a swift punch to her gut. "We said to have the money yesterday..."

"Don't you lay your hand on her again!" Shalla commands, walking towards them. He glances back at her, mildly surprised, then pulls out a small knife and holds it to the woman's throat. She groans weakly and grows stiff under his blade.

"Or you'll what?" He asks.

A long silence comes from her end, and he adds, "Thought so."

He then reaches back and punches the woman dead in her face, knocking her backwards. The girl screams and sobs, and that's when Shalla turns his mistake. She charges at him quickly, grabbing his arm and twisting it back sharply, then reaches over and shoves the girl's mom away, yelling, "Get back!"

The man grunts in pain before swinging his free hand backwards, attempting to stab the woman. "Let me go you stupid bi--"

Shalla wrenches his arm tighter, cutting off his sentence. She then takes that arm and shoves him against a wall with it, grinding his face into the building's stone face. "A word of advice: find a new day job."

Then she punches him hard in the back of his head, knocking him out. She steps back from him, letting his body slump to the ground, while the woman holds her daughter close, a little shaken by the whole matter. "Th-thank you..."

Shalla looks her over carefully for a moment, panting lightly from the effort. "What was that all about?"

The woman looks away. "Loan shark collectors...we couldn't pay them back yet..."

Shalla looks at her, then at the girl, and feels a slight pang of hurt for them knowing that loan sharks won't stop until they get paid. She frowns lightly, then steps closer. "Tell ya what...if you can give me some names, I'll handle this for you. They won't bother you again."

The little girl looks up, feeling happiness once more. "You mean...they won't hurt Mama anymore?"

Shalla kneels next to her, her face as sincere as she can be. "No, sweetie, they won't. I promise."

The little girl pulls free of her mother's grasp, rushing over to hug Shalla's leg. "Oh, thank you!"

Shalla pats her on her back gently, smiling some. She then looks up at her mother to ask, "So, will you help me help you?"

The mother nods lightly. "They're all inside that bar you passed...their names are Rufis and McNorton."

Shalla repeats their names in her head, making sure they stick. "All right...you go along now, and I'll clear this up."

The mother grabs her child's arm and runs off quickly towards their home, while her daughter scampers along behind her, trying to keep pace. Shalla's smile fades as she stands to her feet and turns around, looking down the alley and up at the sign on the bar. 'Sojourner Bar and Grill it is...'

***

Back in their suite's bathroom at the Inn, Angel strips down to nakedness quickly and glances around the bathroom, noting the tub, but finding no matches for lighting the water warmers... "Well...she did say take a cold one..."

He shrugs and jumps into the water, shivering a bit at first but getting used to it before long. After settling in a bit, he glances over to the mirror on the wall and flexes briefly as he admires himself. "Oh yeah baby, she is so into you."

He kisses his right shoulder before looking deeply into the eyes of his reflection. "Yeah...nobody can resist an Angel!"

He chuckles rather loudly and settles back in the tub, relaxing and staring ahead at the wall. He looks at it for a long time, just sitting there, when his eyes seem to change slightly... "...Hey...those are...some pwetty flowers..."

Back out in the living room, Sofia puts herself to work straightening everything up. Having little else to do besides stare at walls, she figures she can at least make herself useful. She tosses a bag over onto the couch and pauses to look around at her work, then sighs and bends over to scoop up a pile of papers and shove them into a sack.

Sofia sighs a bit as she finishes her ministrations to the sack, then goes about digging through her sack for her special toy. Suddenly a crash comes out from the bathroom and she jumps in the air, startled. "Meep!"

She pauses and stares for a moment, listening hard to the odd noises coming from back there. Finally she bites down on her lip and creeps towards the room, whispering, "Hello? Angel? ...Angel?"

She's about to open the door when it swings open abruptly, followed by Angel bounding out of the room and riding a broomstick. "Whee! Go Horsie!"

She jumps back and stares at him bouncing around, blinking. "Angel...?"

"Hi Sofie!" He says in an odd, childlike voice.

"Sofie?"

"Sofie! Sofie Sofie!" He repeats, jumping up on the couch and hopping on it over and over. "Sofie!"

Sofia walks over to the couch, somewhat aghast at his couch-jumping. "Angel, get done from there!"

"No!"

"Angel, what's gotten into you?" She asks, getting a little worried.

"Wheee!" Is all he says, still jumping up and down.

Sofia places her hands on his hips and demands in a stern voice, "Angel, get done from there right this instant!"

He hops down right away, but immediately sprints away and into the kitchen. She shakes her head and starts following him. "Angel, what in the world do you think you're--?"

Pots and pans come crashing down in the kitchen, making a very noisy racket that she cringes to. When she peeks her head in, she sees Angel pulling cooking utensils out of drawers and cabinets and throwing them on the floor. "Angel!"

He ignores her grabs a large pot and a metal spoon, then proceeds to sit down and start banging on it repeatedly. "Boom! Boom! Boom!"

"Angel, gimme the pot," She says, stepping towards him.

"NO!" He jumps on his feet and runs around her and back in the living room, banging on his little drum.

She spins around, nearly slipping and falling over on the slick floor. "Angel!"

She hurries into the living room, where she finds him standing on top of the coffee table this time, with the pot on his head and the spoon in his hand. "Arrr! Avast, ye mateys!"

She sighs and shakes her head, hanging it low. "Angel, what's gotten into you, boy?"

He strikes a pose with the spoon pointed towards her menacingly...or as menacingly as a wooden cooking spoon can be. "Ahoy, lan'lubber! Gimme me treasure an' I'll be on me way!"

She looks up at him, tilting her head to one side deeply, with a blank stare on her face. She finally sighs at length and leans against the wall heavily. "Ugh...I'm never having kids..."

"Arrr!" He exclaims, jumping down again and running off to the bathroom.

Suddenly she has a flash of insight and snaps her fingers. 'Back in the church! It worked then, would it work now?'

A loud bang comes from the bathroom and she sighs again. 'It better work...'

She goes over and leans in the doorway. "Angel? Angeeeel? I've got something for you..."

"Really?! Whatwhatwhat?!"

"Heavenly wind, carry us to a fountain of power! Esuna!" She says, but before the spell's effects can fall on him, he darts of the bathroom and back in the living room, avoiding the spell completely.

"ANGEL!" She shouts, getting frustrated. She spins around and starts chasing after him, to which he laughs gleefully and runs faster, staying well out of her reach.

"Gotta catch me first! Heeheehee!"

"ANGEL!"

***

Shalla glances up at the sign on the building, shielding her eyes once more as she enters the Sojourner Bar and Grill. She takes a whiff of the air, foul and smoke-filled. She glances around at the people, also; loud, rude, and rambunctious, throwing their beers around and singing bad tavern songs...then sighs deeply and smiles. Just her kind of joint. She takes a few small steps as she tries to take a wild guess at who Rufis and McNorton are, but coming up blank, she makes her way over to the bar, sitting upon an empty stool and waiting for the bartender.

A few tables away, tucked neatly into a corner, Rufis and McNorton talk silently with themselves, accompanied by a goon. She glances over them for a moment as she scans the room again but thinks nothing of them, looking at the bartender as he asks if he can help her. "Uh, just one Igrosian whiskey, please."

The bartender finishes wiping a glass as he glances at her. "That's not a very common drink...where exactly are you from young lady?"

He pulls a bottle of Igrosian whiskey out from under the counter and sets it in front of her. She shifts in her seat to face him better, glancing between him and the bottle with her eyes. "Murond."

He scratches his chin for a moment. "Hmm, what are you doing all the way out here?"

"Well..." She checks his eyes, looking for signs that he might not be trustworthy, and satisfied that he might be, goes on. "I'm a bounty hunter, looking for Ramza."

"Ramza, eh? Don't know anything about any Ramza..." He stretches his neck a bit before smiling slightly, a hint of greed hidden deep within. "Anything else I can help you with?"

She takes her glass in her hand and raises it some, staring back at him. "Actually, yes...I'm looking for Rufis and McNorton. I have some business I need to take care of, and someone pointed me their way."

"Oooh...I know where they are, but it'll cost you a pretty penny for that knowledge." He flashes a grin, showing all his teeth.

She takes a sip from her glass slowly, looking back at all those...big...yellow, ugly teeth... "Money I have, price you name."

"One thousand gil." His grin widens even more.

She swallows and lowers her glass, glancing at the liquid inside. "This is some nice whiskey...good taste, good feel...rolls right down the tongue. Unfortunately, I don't know if I can afford much more..."

"Well, I'm sorry about that. You won't find any more of that where it came from." He starts going back to cleaning glasses, stepping away.

She leans in closer and presses him. "I would, however, be able to if it were a little less. The life of a bounty hunter's not really such a profitable one."

He looks up at her, considering her offer carefully, and sighing. "Eight hundred."

"I'm afraid seven's all I have," She replies, sitting back and taking another sip.

He sighs again and scowls at her, then looks off to Rufis and McNorton's corner and nods at them. She follows his gaze and notes their faces, then finishes her glass and sets it down. "Thank you. You've been most helpful."

She rises from her stool and reaches into her money pouch, discreetly removing enough for her drink, a bottle of whiskey, and his payment plus some more on top of that. "I think I'll take this bottle, too."

She tosses the money in a small sack on the bar and steps back. "And a little extra for your trouble."

She walks away from the bar then and heads in their direction, pausing first to swipe the bottle of whiskey from the bar. She takes a swig straight from the bottle on her way over, making sure she stays inconspicuous in the crowd as she checks for anyone that might potentially be a bodyguard.

In the corner the bartender had indicated there are four rather gruff looking men. A monk stands and leans against a wall, looking rather muscular. Sitting at the table is a Chemist with a gun resting in front of him on the table, and next to the gun is a bottle of whiskey. On the opposite side of the table sits a man who looks surprisingly clean for the crowd he's with. He, too, has a gun resting in front of him, but next to that gun is a small sack of various knifes. He reaches up to his head, tightening his bandana before taking a sip of whiskey. She walks up to the four men and takes another swig from her bottle. "I'm looking for Rufis and McNorton."

The Chemist reaches for his gun as he watches her. "And who might you be?"

She raises her palms to him, one of them only half-open since she has to hold the bottle with it. "Just a potential customer."

The thief takes the lead as he tightens his bandanna again. "Oh, and what might we help you with, little lady?"

She steps closer to the table, noting the monk's stony gaze. "Collections."

"Collections?"

She takes another drink from her bottle, nodding, and then reaches over and slams the bottle straight into the monk's face, knocking him out cleanly. The Chemist rises to his feet, grabbing his gun, as does the other man, but both spin to meet a newcomer in the hulking figure of Ger. With two quick swings he disarms them both, knocking their guns away. The clean-dressed man starts to run away, but he's caught in one of Ger's arms and thrown up in the air and down again on the table. Meanwhile, Shalla jumps in the booth and starts pummeling on the Chemist before he can grab his knives, making a bloody, unconscious mess of him in short order. The clean-dressed man starts squirming under Ger's hand but gets nowhere, and Shalla leans over him, panting. The clean-dressed man pulls against Ger's arm strongly. "W-what do you want from me?"

"You sent one of your men after this nice little lady with a daughter. I don't quite appreciate that," She answers, panting. "Now, I'm going to give two choices: one, you can take my money and leave them alone from now on, or two, I can beat you to death right now."

He whimpers a bit. "Uh...yeah, yeah that's good, we'll leave them alone."

She looks at Ger and nods, and he releases him with a lightly rough shove and stands back. She steps away and reaches into her pocket, removing and tossing a bag of money onto his chest. "Keep the change."

As she steps away from the table, she sees the monk getting back to his feet and staring at her angrily.

"Glass jaw, huh?" She flicks a coin at him. "Have a drink on me."

The monk catches the coin, grumbling angrily.

The clean-dressed man then runs out of the bar quickly, money in hand. She walks away from them and out of the bar, ignoring the people's stunned stares, then glances to the side and remarks to Ger under her breath, "I knew I could count on you."

He just nods at her and follows her out. Back at the table, the chemist wakes up and sits up in the booth, rubbing his face and panting. He glances over to the monk and asks, "What happened?"

"I don't know..." He answers, flipping his coin over.

"Oh, she's gonna get it..."

***

Shalla steps up to their room's door and places her hand on the knob, and she's about to enter when she hears a loud crash and yelling coming from inside. She tilts her head curiously and stares, then turns the knob and pushes the door open, stepping in to see Sofia chasing Angel all around the room. Ger peers over Shalla's shoulder, remaining silent as he watches the scene unfold. Shalla in turn raises a brow high. "What the--?"

"Angel! Somebody catch him, please!" Sofia yells, leaping over the couch after him as he sprints away, dressed in bed sheets and towels.

Shalla sighs a bit. "Mind telling us what happened first?"

"I'll tell ya later, just grab him!" She says, diving after him and landing flat on her face. "Oof!"

Angel then springs over by Shalla and Ger, screaming, "Hi Auntie Shalla, Uncle Ger!"

Shalla looks at him oddly and asks, "Auntie Shalla!?"

"Yeah! Me an' Mommy are pwaying!"

"I'm not your mama!" Sofia yells, scrambling back to her feet.

Angel then dashes out in front of Ger, who steps forward and snatches him up in a bear hug, squeezing him tightly and not releasing him.

Shalla in turn looks Angel over. "What'd you do to him Sofia?"

"It's not what I did to him, it's what he's been doing to me!" She says, exasperated. She then steps up in front of him and raises her hands. "Heavenly wind, carry us to a fountain of power! Esuna!"

The spell washes down over Angel, shedding his madness from his mind. His eyes seem to sparkle and clear up, and he blinks a few times while looking around at everyone. "Wh-what?"

Sofia slumps down on the couch, hair strung out all over the place in messy mats and hanging down in strings all over her face. "Glad to have you back, Angel."

Angel grins wickedly. "You look like a mess, Sofia."

He then attempts to pull free of Ger's grasp, who lets him go reluctantly, looking at Sofia. Shalla shakes her head and asks her again, "Now, mind telling us happened?"

Sofia glances over to her and looks away again, panting. "I don't know...he was in the bathroom one minute, and the next he thinks he's a five-year-old on a sugar rush. I don't know..."

"Mmm, I could go for some sugar...you mind helping me out?" He winks at Sofia as he grins fiendishly.

She looks over at him flatly and says, "No, thanks."

Looking away again, she adds, "I just want a hot bath..."

"I think I liked him better the other way," Shalla observes, walking off to the bedroom. Ger follows her, humming in agreement, while Sofia gets up and goes to the bathroom, telling him on her way out with a tired wave, "See ya in a bit, Angel."

"Okay Sofia, see ya when you get back honey." He smiles at her warmly for a moment and then begins to pace about the room idly...and seeing as he's the only one left in the room, boredom soon overtakes him.


--------------------

~Status Report~

* Completed... Dragon's Head
* Completed... Soldiers of the Empire: Disciples (release pending)
* In Progress/Undecided... Of Love and Betrayal
* Planning/Assembly... Where it all Began

Of Love and Betrayal

***

Chapter 7: Strangers in the Night

***

Tora paces about his room slowly, having recently stirred from his slumber. He smacks a small sword against the ground as he thinks. 'How will we succeed in mastering them? How will we get Shalla to come to us...?' This was all he could think...that is, until he heads to the door, opening it and heading out into the great hall towards his Orb. He walks out there with a purpose, and that purpose being...to find a purpose...

At any rate, he gets there and summons visions of her into his Orb, watching her mill about her room and talking with Ger. He leans in closer and inspects the scene carefully, stroking his chin. 'How can I do it?' Then it hits him: his temple. A wry smile crosses his lips and he snaps his fingers, and directly on cue, every torch in his temple grows a blue flame, indicating that he wishes to gather the mages together for an announcement, or a meeting. Each mage opens the door to their room and comes out into the main chamber, then turns towards Tora and begins to walk single file as they gather in front of him.

All grows silent as he raises his hands to them and addresses the assembly. "Your task is ready. I need one volunteer."

They all look around at each other before one very brave individual steps forth. Tora looks him over and lowers his hands. "I need you to visit them tonight and cast a spell."

"Which spell, master?"

"Come with me, and I will teach you," He answers, turning around and heading out the room.

***

Angel leans against the wall, slumping almost as he waits for Sofia. "Aww, your baths take too long, Sofia...I wish you'd hurry up..."

He stretches out idly before resuming his paces. In the next room, Shalla sits down on the edge of her bed, chatting with Ger. "I just wish we could hurry up and catch this punk Ramza so I can get this whole ordeal behind us."

Ger nods and answers in a quiet voice, "Angel can be a bit trying at times, but he's proven himself useful many times."

Shalla shakes her head. "No, that's not it...it's this..."

Ger leans off the wall, lowering his hand from his chin. "Yes?"

She looks up at him and sighs, lowering her head again. "Ever since that fight with the mages, I've been feeling...I dunno, odd, lately..."

"In what way?"

"I feel...cold...as if my emotions are leaving me..." She answers silently.

Ger watches her silently for a moment, curiosity taking him over. "What do you mean...?"

"Ger...I used to love just...smelling the flowers, or enjoying a good drink, or, hell, even messing around with Angel. But...Ger...since that fight, I haven't been able to feel any of that. Not like I used to, anyway...everything's dull."

"So that's what you meant by 'cold'..." Ger sighs a bit, not sure of what to tell her.

"Yeah...it's really tearing me up, Ger. It's like I want to feel, but I can't, and I've been getting more violent, too. It's scaring me."

Ger reaches over, placing a hand on her shoulder gently. "I really don't know what to tell you Shalla...besides 'I'm sorry'."

She reaches up and places her hand on his, looking at the floor. "It's okay, Ger...maybe I'm just -- stressed."

She sighs again, feeling relieved now that she's gotten that off her chest. "Well. Time to pack up and go to sleep?"

Noises come from the living room beyond the shut door, sounding like speech, which Ger looks at and then back at her. "Perhaps."

"How was your bath, Sofia?" Angel asks back in the living room as he smiles at her, noting that she's hiding in a white robe. "Don't you ever get tired of those things?"

She slips her feet into a pair of slippers she'd set aside earlier, glancing up at him briefly and shaking her head softly, casually. "Nope."

"Honestly? Oh, c'mon! It's all you wear!" He exclaims, then raises a brow curiously. "Cute slippers."

Blushing ever so slightly, almost unnoticeably, she looks down at her feet and up again. "Thank you. And I like them 'cause they're comfortable."

She walks past him to their bags of things, digging through her bag for something. He squints for a moment, swearing he saw something, but merely shrugs it off as he walks up behind her, looking over her shoulder. "Whatcha looking for?"

She glances back at him and tries to shrug him off. "My diary."

She removes it and turns around, showing it to him and then squeezing beside him, making for the table.

He smiles at her a bit as he follows her to the table. "Since when do you have a diary?"

"Since forever," She says, sitting down. She then takes out a pen and is about to open it up when she looks up at him. "A little privacy, please?"

"Aww...it's not like I'm gonna read it or anything..." Angel frowns a bit as he heads back to his dark corner.

"Oh, Angel...I didn't mean anything by it," She says while penning a few words. "I just don't like people standing over me when I'm writing personal stuff, you know what I mean? ...Angel? Angel?"

She turns around to look at him, but sees that he's fallen fast asleep in the corner, head leaned down against his chest and his arms folded. She looks at him for a moment and relaxes, tilting her head at him a bit. 'Poor guy...he's had a pretty rough day.'

She then turns back forward with a small shrug and finishes her diary entry in silence. When she's done, she folds it closed and blows out the candles, then goes into the bedroom quietly, sneaking on her tiptoes. She goes over to the last open bed and crawls in, grinning wickedly as she realizes something... 'Heh heh heh...I got a bed to myself, after all...'

Angel murmurs lightly in his sleep as he stands there. "Sofia...I really like you..."

He then of course falls forward, his limp body smashing into the ground. "Oww..." He utters weakly.

***

The five of them sleep soundly that night, recovering from wounds and fatigue brought on by their fighting that day. So deep in sleep are they that no one wakes when a swirling column of blue lights appears in the living room, depositing a mage in heavy cloak in its place. Even Angel isn't disturbed by the noise, dreaming sweet dreams of chocolates, pink pillows and...other things. The mage sneaks silently through the room, first checking Angel before going into the bedroom. He goes to each bed, checking the person's level of sleep before stepping into the center of the room.

He raises his arms in the arm and faces Shalla, making sure to keep his incantation to a whisper. Energy begins to spin around his hands as he chants, then once he's finished, it flings forth and enters Shalla's mind, disappearing harmlessly into its recesses. He lowers his hands again and stands still, listening to everyone's breathing. Ger snorts and rolls over, and the mage stands stiff, but he stays asleep, much to his relief.

The mage glances around again, ready to make his quick escape, and quietly heads back out into the main room, tripping over Angel as he does so. Angel snorts and falls over, making the situation worse by getting tangled up in his legs. The mage then scrambles to his feet while Angel, very confused, starts hurling random obscenities and getting up to his feet as well. Their commotion wakes first Shalla, then Sofia and Ger, who rush into the living room in time to see the mage get up and raise a hand in the air, casting a spell hastily. "My life is not in vain, for I die in service without pain!"

A dark wind then overtakes him, searing his body through while he gasps for air. They all stand back and shield their eyes as he disappears in a blaze of cold, black fire, disintegrating. The winds dissipate slowly, and they all lower their arms and stare at the spot where the mage used to be, though Angel stretches out a bit as he looks at the small pile of ash. "Well...that was new..."

"Yeah..." Sofia agrees.

Ger shakes his head, while Shalla asks, "I wonder what that was all about?"

"Maybe he was trying to steal something?" Sofia suggests.

"Doesn't seem like his style..." Ger observes.

"Still...have a look around," Shalla starts. "And look for--"

Angel cuts her off. "Yeah, yeah, look for anything suspicious, gotcha."

Sofia lights a few candles and they all break up to search the suite, but Shalla stands for a moment, staring at the ashes and shaking her head. 'I wonder what he was doing...?'

Angel searches through a small sack, pulling out several random things. "Where did these pickles come from...?"

He tossed them aside as he continues his search. "Nothing missing over here."

Ger kneels down and picks up the pickles. "So that's what happened to them...huh."

He tosses them over his shoulder, too, and goes back to looking around the room. Sofia makes a search of the table, while Shalla goes into the kitchen. In the end, they find nothing missing whatsoever or vaguely out of the ordinary. They gather back together in the living and stand around, scratching their heads or arms. Shalla addresses them, hands on her hips. "Anything?"

Angel stands and moves around, popping up behind Sofia. "I didn't see anything missing."

Sofia glances back at him, first to her right, then her left. "What're you doing back there?"

Angel smiles at her as he gets as close as he can without touching her. "Appreciating you, of course."

She gets a little nervous and scuffs a foot, shaking her head and sighing. "Ugh...men."

Shalla glances at them sideways and says, "Well, if he didn't take anything and nothing's out of place, then...I guess we just go back to bed."

"Right," Sofia says, walking off to the bedroom.

Angel follows behind her, holding his hands up. "What? What did I say?"

Ger falls in line, too, waving his hand to Kilu, who follows him. Shalla uncrosses her arms and shakes her head, filing into the bedroom last.

"Hey, what's that? Is that a blush? Aw, c'mon, you know you like me, girl," Angel says, posing in front of Sofia.

"It's remarks like that that'll get you sleeping on the floor again," Sofia retorts.

"Aw...and I thought you liked me..." Angel says, pouting and hanging his head.

Sofia, too tired to care much right now, just giggles and shoves his shoulder gently. "Go to bed, Angel!"

He obliges her with a pout, crawling into his bed, while Sofia flings the sheets back on the other bed and waits for Shalla. "So, we share the bed?"

Shalla looks at her and nods reluctantly. "Yeah, we share the bed."

Sofia smiles slightly and waits while Shalla climbs in first, then sits down and scoots under the sheets, trying to avoid as much skin contact as she can with Shalla and hiding a deep blush with her sheets. Ger blows out the candles in the suite and also gets in his bed, while Kilu curls up in front of Shalla and Sofia's bed. They each say good night to each other one by one and fall asleep soon enough, but Sofia lies awake for a while longer, unable to get Shalla out of her head. 'Is it time yet? Should I just ask? Ohh, but is this a good time to tell her?! Ohhh...' She turns around and looks at her sleeping peacefully, and just watches her for a moment, her face softening.

'Someday soon...' She tells herself, rolling on her back and closing her eyes. 'Someday soon...'

--------------------

~Status Report~

* Completed... Dragon's Head
* Completed... Soldiers of the Empire: Disciples (release pending)
* In Progress/Undecided... Of Love and Betrayal
* Planning/Assembly... Where it all Began

Of Love and Betrayal

***

Chapter 8: More Questions Than Answers

***

Angel stirs slowly, taking in small rays of light as he opens his eyes.

"Thank God the blinds are closed..." He mumbles softly before climbing from bed. He yawns and stretches, then walks over to Sofia and Shalla's bed, stopping for a moment to stare at Sofia. "She's so beautiful..."

He then moves over to the side of the bed, nearly tripping over Kilu. "Damn you, Kilu..." He whispers quietly. When he finally gets to the side of the bed -- Sofia's side -- he takes her hand and shakes her arm a bit. "Hey, Sofia, time to wake up!"

She stirs slowly, opening her eyes to look into his. Then she sits up with a light groan, pulling fallen bangs of hair from her face as she does so. "Ohhh...morning already?"

"Yeah, it is." He holds her hand for a moment longer before realizing what he's doing, then lets go very quickly and glances away. He then makes his way to the other side of the bed, nearly tripping over Kilu again, and nudges Shalla. "Time to wake up, Shalla."

She grumbles and rolls over, mumbling something under her breath. "--Over there...and get me more beer!"

He gives her another nudge and insists. "Wakey wakey, Shalla."

"Hey, I'll leave when I'm -- oh...morning, Angel," She says, batting her eyes for the light coming in the windows.

"Morning," Angel responds, before turning to Ger, nudging him a bit and backing away quickly, in case Ger's instincts take over.

Which they do. He lashes out at Angel with a fist, narrowly missing his chin with a wide left hook. Once he's sitting up and staring at Angel, arm on the other side of his body, he relaxes and sighs. "I told you to stop doing that."

Angel grins at him demonically. "But it's oh so much fun!"

Ger scoffs and rises from bed, gesturing for Kilu to move and walking across the room.

***

Shalla shuts and locks the door behind them, then swings the key around her finger and gestures for them to go on ahead of her. Angel raises a brow as he watches her. "What are you gonna do?"

"Follow you and return the key. What, are you getting paranoid?"

"Aren't I always?" He shrugs a bit as he moves down the hall and out the door of the inn, waiting against the wall on the outside.

Soon Sofia exits behind him, standing off to one side, and then Kilu and Ger. They wait around for a short moment, milling about aimlessly. At length Angel gets bored and just asks, "So, how are we gonna find this Ramza guy?"

Ger leans against the wall and adjusts his facemask. "I got a good lead on him yesterday."

"Oh?" Angels asks. "What would that be?"

Just then Shalla exits the inn and goes out in front of them, looking back once and gesturing with her head to follow her. Ger leans off the wall and walks to her side, telling her, "Angel was just asking how we're going to find Ramza."

"Yeah? You tell them?"

"I was about to." Ger looks back at Angel. "I heard from a source that he'll be passing through a town ahead of us in a few days. We should be able to catch up with him there."

Angel sighs a bit. "You wouldn't think a heretic would travel around so freely. So I take it we have to move fast?"

Ger nods once. "That is correct."

Angel looks down as he kicks some dirt. "Greaaaat."

Ahead of him, Shalla seems to grow distant and deep in thought, her eyes glazing over. Her lips then move, uttering a few words quietly. "I think I know a shortcut..."

She then turns and heads towards a chocobo stable, not truly sure why she's so confident about something she just now had a vision of...just that she is.

***

"Yes. Everything is proceeding as planned." Tora bows his head as he speaks, crossing an arm over his stomach.

"Good..." Replies the voice from the orb. "Still...matters must be expedited. She must be turned as soon as possible."

"It will take some time, as I've explained--" Tora begins.

"No more excuses," Says the voice sharply. "Time is a luxury we both don't have. We cannot wait much longer."

"Yes, my lord..." Tora pulls away from his orb as he glances around the hall, preparing to address his mages. With a wave of his hand and a swish of his cape the call is sent, and within moments all of his mages are gathered around him, keeping silent as usual, although this time a lone summoner stands before everyone else, seeming to be singled out. He reaches up to his forehead and rubs a hand across his black horn as he awaits to hear from Tora.

"The time has come to make her turn to our cause," He begins. "Soon, we will be able to manipulate the Revenant. To do that, I will need an escort guard to accompany me."

The Summoner steps forth. "I gladly volunteer for such a task."

There is a hint of cockiness in his voice as he speaks, which Tora takes in with a scrutinous eye. "Very well."

He then points to two other mages. "You and you. You are also with us."

He then grabs his cape and swings it around, wrapping its cloth over his chest as he descends the steps. "The rest of you wait for our return. Prepare the inner chambers for our new...acquisition."

The mages all nod in turn and the summoner takes his role, following behind Tora patiently and still rubbing that black horn.

***

"How much longer until we get to this stupid place of yours?" Angel asks, impatient.

"Not long," Shalla answers, her voice flat and devoid of emotion, just as her face is, too.

"That's what you said an hour ago!" He shouts back at her. He looks around as everyone save Shalla gives him an odd or exasperated look, then turns back around on his chocobo and rattles the reigns, muttering under his breath, "Shoulda been there by now..."

Shalla just continues to ride forth, emotionless and empty, and kicks the chocobo's sides, making it utter a loud "KWEH!" as it gains speed. The wind whips her hair around as she leans into it, and all the while she can only think of one thing...that whatever it is she's drawn to in this place, whomever it is she's looking for, or for whatever reason she's doing this, she just has to do it. They pass through the edge of an orchard and emerge from the other side, leaping over a thin and shallow brook as they ride onwards, when a sudden gust of wind picks up and scatters grass and leaves about. She shields her eyes and leans back, pulling up on the reigns such that her chocobo rears up on his legs, exclaiming, "WARK!"

Ahead of them, a black portal begins to form, pushing a shallow depression in the ground and expanding in a mass of smoke and small whips of crackling electricity. Angel glances ahead, barely noticing the portal in the distance. "Guys, what the hell is that...?"

Before anyone has a chance to answer him, several large bolts of lightning arc from the portal and smash into three trees, breaking branches off. The rift then expands once more and snaps, disappearing into a haze of smoke that spreads out and over the band, clouding their vision. When the smoke clears again, four men stand across from them, with one of them standing in front of all the others. Angel dismounts his chocobo, in efforts to avoid being thrown from it later. Ger in turn quickly jumps from his, while Sofia remains mounted and a distance away from them, but close enough to cast magic.

"This doesn't look good..." Says Angel.

Shalla steps down from her ride, keeping a hand on his reigns and her eyes on Tora. "Wh...who?"

"Are we?" Tora finishes for her. He looks to his sides and then back at her, smiling confidently under his hood. "We are the future."

He holds his hands out to her, palms up, and tells her soothingly, "Come, Shalla...join your new family."

She stares at them for a long, tense moment before releasing his reigns and taking a step forward. "I..."

Angel looks between her and Tora, then hurries towards her and grabs her arm, "Shalla, what're you doing?!"

She throws him off violently, without even looking back at him, and continues walking. "I..."

"Shalla, stop!" Sofia pleads, dismounting.

Ger walks up behind Shalla, holding her tightly. "Shalla, NO!"

This was said firmly with more than enough aggression. He looks over to Tora, eyes alit with fury as he holds not only Shalla's arms, but also Shalla herself, as firmly as possible. Tora's eyes narrow and he grins at the whole scene, enjoying it immensely. "Yes, that's right, our precious. Show them what you want...show them who you are."

He waves his hand sideways in a gentle wafting motion, as if washing his command over her mind. She tilts her head at him understandingly, then turns around in Ger's arms and looks up in his face briefly. Their eyes connect for the briefest of moments, and then their foreheads connect as she head butts him. He staggers back a step, confused, and she wastes no time in breaking her arms free and punching him in the face. He trips over a log and falls back while she turns around and marches towards Tora again. Ger rubs his forehead a bit and sighs. Angel quickly moves over to Ger, disregarding Shalla completely. "Ger? Are you all right?!"

Ger rises to his feet again, pushing up with his hands and trying to push Angel aside. "Don't worry about me, worry about her!"

She walks closer still to them, while Sofia lets go of her chocobo and runs at a dead sprint over to her. "Shalla! Shalla! Shalla, wait! Don't!"

Angel watches silently as he sees Sofia running after Shalla. "What exactly is going on...?"

"Shalla, what are you doing?!" Sofia screams.

Shalla ignores her, continuing in her steady march towards Tora. Finally Sofia catches up with her and grabs her by the arm, spinning her around. "Shalla, please just explain to us!"

She spins her around to see the blank, dark look in her eyes, far different from anything she'd ever seen. She gasps and steps back, aghast, then reels as Shalla delivers a swift backhand to her chin. Shalla looks down at her cradling her jaw, then spins back around and continues. Sofia looks up and watches her walk away, panting breathlessly. "That's not...Shalla..."

Angel then rises to his feet slowly, his eyes open wide at the sight before him. He raises his hand and points, for once seeing the apparition that had so plagued him all these years. "The black cloud...the cloud, Ger! It has her!"

Ger sighs a bit as he gets ready to smack Angel. "This is serious Angel, all right? There is NO black cloud!"

He ignores Angel as he begins moving towards Shalla quickly.

Angel follows along behind him, almost pleading with him. "But, but...I AM serious! Just look!"

When Ger waves him off with his hand, he sighs and hangs his head. "Why is it no one believes me when I tell the truth?"

Nearby, Sofia gets up to her feet again, shaking her head. "No, Ger...something's wrong..."

She raises her hands out to Shalla and begins to chant, praying to the heavens that this works, since it has twice already. "Heavenly wind, carry us to a fountain of power! Esuna!"

Shalla walks a couple more steps, slowing to stop as Esuna's winds wash over her. She comes to a full standstill and stares out ahead of her and at Tora, blinking. "Wh...what...?"

Angel moves over to Shalla quickly again, this time daggers wielded as he stands beside her. "Thank god that worked..."

Shalla turns her head slowly to look at him, blinking more. "Huh?"

Sofia walks up next to them and looks into her face with a very concerned look. "Are you okay?"

Shalla looks down at her hands and answers in a whisper, "I don't know..."

Across from them Tora scowls and draws up his staff. "They have dispelled my charm...nevertheless, the seed has been planted."

Sofia turns and steps towards them, defiant in spite of their aura of power. "Who are you?! What do you want with her!?"

"It's of no concern to you, woman," Tora answers, then pauses as he looks her over. "The Brood will have her, and there is nothing you will be able to do to stop us."

"Don't be so sure about that," Angel says as he steps forward with a snarl, daggers ready.

"The Brood won't be having anyone, I'm afraid," Angel says as he moves right next to Tora, staring defiantly in his face.

The Summoner moves to stand between Tora and Angel, shoving his face into Angel's and pushing against him roughly. "Don't dare address the Master in that manner again!"

Tora places his hand on the Summoner's shoulder, telling him in a low and calm voice, "Now, now...your vigilance is admirable, but hardly necessary. We will leave them be..."

He looks Angel straight in his eyes and smiles confidently. "For now."

They turn to leave, but Sofia hurries after them. "Hey! You can't leave yet! I won't let you until you tell us what you did to Shalla!"

Tora waves his hand in the air at her nonchalantly, beginning to cast a teleportation spell. "As I said, it is none of your concern. Until next we meet."

"Wait! No! Get back here!" She presses, breaking into a jog as they disappear into a portal. "NO!"

Angel sighs a bit as he sheathes his daggers. "What was that all about...?"

He then turns to Shalla, looking her over for a moment. "Are you all right?"

She looks up at him from her hands slowly, his words barely registering. "Hm? ...I...think so...I'm not hurt, but...I feel like there's something in me, something I need to remember...but I don't know what it is..."

Angel instinctively places a hand on her shoulder as he tries to look into her eyes. "Something you can't remember...? Is there anything I can do to help?"

She looks up from the ground at him, moving her head and eyes slowly. She gazes back into his eyes for a moment, then shakes her head softly. "I don't think anyone can help me with this."

"I don't see why you say that..."

She shakes her head again, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Angel, my memories, my...fears...I think I'm the only one who can help me. I'm sorry."

She turns away from him and walks off, covering her face with her hands as she tries to stifle tears. 'First I want to hurt everything I touch...and now I'm deserting my friends...why am I doing this?! WHY?!' "Sorry."

Angel follows behind her quickly. "C-c'mon Shalla...there's got to be something I can do for you."

She wipes her eyes and looks aside to him. She looks in his face, then up to Sofia as she walks up next to them and stops, looking worried. Shalla glances between both of them and places her hands on Angel's shoulders again. "Just tell me...tell me I'm not who I am. Please, tell me I'm not a monster..."

She starts crying, but doesn't even care to stop the tears anymore. "Please."

Angel puts his arms around Shalla, hugging her gently as he attempts to comfort her. "No Shalla...you're not a monster...and you never will be. You're a good person, great even."

"...Thank you..." She whispers, sobbing quietly into his shoulder. 'Then why don't I feel like it...?'


--------------------

~Status Report~

* Completed... Dragon's Head
* Completed... Soldiers of the Empire: Disciples (release pending)
* In Progress/Undecided... Of Love and Betrayal
* Planning/Assembly... Where it all Began

Of Love and Betrayal

***

Chapter 9: Of Love

***

They rode back to the town that night in silence, the only sound that accompanied them being Shalla's occasional soft sob. During the whole ride Sofia had been at Shalla's side to comfort her, while Angel stayed close behind, Ger and Kilu bringing up the tail. Upon reaching the outskirts of town, they dismount and release their chocobos, then collect themselves and return to the Moonlight Inn. A figure leans out from behind a wall as they pass through town, hiding in the shadows and peering out at them...especially at Shalla. He narrows his eyes when she glances over in his direction for a moment, just long enough for him to make sure. "That's her...that's the bitch."

He spins around and heads into the darkness, disappearing towards the Sojourner to relay the news. Angel leads the party to the Inn in the meantime, flinging open the door softly and stepping inside. The receptionist looks him over once and remembers him in an instant.

"Oh, back again, I see?" He asks.

"Yeah. We need our room back," Angel responds, going over to the desk and dropping down a bag of gold.

The man looks him over again and inspects the bag, reaching for it slowly. "Really? I figured guys like you'd be halfway across the country by now."

"Believe me, I wish we were..." Angel says, glancing back to Shalla. He watches her come in, eyes red and swollen, holding onto Sofia as she helps her walk. He turns back around and adds, "Anyway, we'll be gone by tomorrow."

"Whatever you say," He answers as he takes out their old room key and hands it to him with a toothy grin. "You have a good night, sir."

Angel snatches the key from him, halfway glaring and turning away to walk off towards their room. Once there he unlocks the room and enters first, followed on his heels by Sofia and Shalla.

"Here, rest on the couch while me and Angel cook up dinner," Sofia tells her softly as she sets her down on the couch.

"Thank you..." Shalla whispers, looking around at everyone. "Thank you for everything."

Sofia smiles and stands, stepping away. "It'll be okay, Shalla, you'll see."

She glances to Angel, who nods and gives one last glance at Shalla before following her into the kitchen; Kilu wanders in after them a moment later, looking for scraps. Ger and Shalla end up in the living room together, alone, she slumping back on the couch and he leaning against the wall. A long pause ensues before Ger breaks the silence, asking, "Are you going to tell me what happened?"

She stares at the floor for a moment, then looks up at him slowly, her face expressionless but her eyes and voice thick with sorrow. "I don't know what happened. Ger, something's happening to me. I'm turning into someone I'm not, and I don't know why. It's like there's someone else inside me that's taking over, and there's nothing I can do to stop it."

She stares at him for another long moment, shivering slightly. "I'm scared."

Ger lowers his head and shuts his eyes, contemplating. The stone face remains calm behind his crossed arms, but beneath the skin he feels concerned for his troubled friend. At last he raises his face to her and opens his eyes, telling her in a soft voice, "Don't worry, Shalla. We will get to the root of this. I promise you that."

"I promise you, too," Sofia adds, stepping close. She looks at Shalla and then at Ger. "Can we be alone for a minute?"

Ger glances between them, then bows reluctantly. "If you wish."

He turns and heads into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him and leaving the girls to talk between themselves. Shalla watches him leave and turns her head to look at Sofia as she speaks, her face devoid of most emotion except for a hint of sadness.

"How're you feeling?" Sofia asks, sitting next to her.

Shalla pauses for a moment and shifts, stretching her legs and arms. "Better."

She glances to the ground and back again, settling back into her seat again as she shuffles to face Sofia. "But still terrible."

Sofia's face softens along with her posture. "Oh...better's good, though..."

She looks at Shalla's attempt at a small smile and smiles back at her, then bites her lip when Shalla looks away again, mustering together enough confidence to tell her what she wants to. "Shalla...I want to tell you something..."

Shalla looks over to her again and sees her glance away somewhat shyly. "...Yeah?"

Sofia gathers the strength to look in her eyes again and stares, sighing softly. "Shalla...I love you."

There. I said it. "I don't know when it happened, or how, but I do. I love you more than words can say. If you can't make it through this because of yourself, then please...make it through for me. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Sofia looks at Shalla's blank stare -- an almost surprised, shocked, confused stare -- and feels her heart skip a beat. Maybe she doesn't understand? Or maybe...she doesn't, or can't, feel the same... "Shalla...please say something. Tell me you love me. Tell me you hate me, just tell me...something. ...Please?"

Shalla opens her mouth to say something, but instead just moves her jaw up and down, unable to make any sounds. Her face seems to get sadder, though her body won't move. Sofia sits back and sighs, hanging her head slightly. "I'm sorry...I just...sorry..."

She starts to get up to move but Shalla reaches over quickly, grabbing her by her shoulders and kissing her deeply on her lips. They both close their eyes and relax, letting whatever twisted emotions they feel run freely, letting whatever thoughts they have disappear into nothing, letting whatever doubts they feel and whatever negative feelings go away, feeling nothing but the kiss. Finally Shalla pulls away from Sofia and lets go of her shoulders gently, letting her hands slide down her arms to her elbows. Sofia opens her eyes to see Shalla looking back at her, and lets her hands reach up to hold onto Shalla's elbows.

They stare at each other in silence for a long moment, until they lean in again and embrace, kissing each other another time before falling into a gentle hug. Back in the kitchen, Kilu whines and sits down, tilting his head at them curiously. Angel looks down at him and pats his head, then glances back up at them and turns around, leaning heavily against the wall next to the door. He sighs deeply and closes his eyes, fighting back a tear. Ha...crying. Crying 'cause of them. I...guess I should've known, actually. Nobody can love me...I'm just... At least they found each other. Yeah...they'll be...so happy...

He opens his eyes again and wipes the back of his hand across his nose, then pushes off the wall and goes back to cooking, hoping to take his mind off things for a while.

***

Forks clink on empty plates as everyone finishes eating dinner...in silence. Ger keeps his peace as usual, while Sofia and Shalla stay unusually quiet all evening. All throughout dinner Angel keeps glancing over at Sofia and Shalla, being sure to look away again when they look up, trying to be conspicuous but only making them uncomfortable. Forks clink on the plates again, the only sounds punctuating the long, awkward silence until Ger's chair slides across the floor, making a loud scraping noise. Angel sighs quietly as he stands from his chair, making his way around the table and gathering everyone's plates.

Ger watches Angel with silent curiosity. Considering the way he'd been looking at the girls, he must've seen something unsettling or out of the ordinary happen...but also considering Angel, he figures he should let him be for the moment. "I shall retire."

Angel glances over to him, thinking his sleeping habits to be somewhat odd. "Suit yourself..."

He then makes his way over to the counter and places the dishes on it, before walking off to the main room himself. The girls watch him go off into the kitchen and come back again, then glance at each other and whisper between themselves.

"I think something's bothering him," Sofia observes.

"No kidding..." Shalla says back.

Sofia looks in the living room after him, a look of slight worry on her face. "Wanna go talk to him?"

"You go!"

"Me?!" Sofia asks, drawing back defensively.

Back in the living room, Angel leans against a wall idly in the dark corner, his fingers slowly strumming along the wall. "Great...just great..."

Finally Sofia sighs. "Okay. I'll go."

"Good girl," Shalla says with a smile.

Sofia makes a wry face and leaves, sneaking quietly towards the living room so as not to disturb him. She leans out from the doorway carefully and looks at him in his corner, fingering the wall. Biting her lip one last time and sighing softly, she walks in and asks in a quiet voice, "Angel...is something bothering you?"

Angel looks up for just a moment. "No, nothing," He says quite simply before looking down and closing his eyes once more.

She stares at him for a moment and sits cross-legged beside him, folding her arms in her lap. "I know you better that that, Angel. What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong." He tilts his head up for a moment as he begins to scratch his chin.

"Yes there is," She says, looking straight at him. "You shouldn't be so quiet...you should be up and annoying the hell out of Shalla by now."

"I don't annoy you guys on purpose, it's just who I am." He mumbles something to himself before giving a grunt.

She pulls back a bit, feeling hurt and shameful. She then bites her lip and leans in again, putting her hand on his arm. "I don't mean you annoy us in a bad way...I mean, it's kinda fun, actually..."

He shrugs a bit. "Whatever."

She stares at him for another silent moment, then tries to catch his eye again as she leans in closer, pivoting around to his front. "Angel, why won't you tell me what's wrong?"

He watches her for a moment and then moves away from the wall, walking over to the couch without so much as a word. Sofia sits back and sighs softly, shaking her head and crossing her hands in her lap. Ugh...men. She gets up from the floor and starts to walk over, but stops herself short and stands still, deciding that he should probably best be left alone. She walks closer to him but keeps her distance, telling him in a soft voice, "If you ever want to talk, Angel...I'll listen."

She stands for a moment watching him, then nods once and turns to talk away. His face soon turns to a glare as he watches her, feeling a blind rage washing over him. "YOU PEOPLE NEED TO MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!"

He pulls a dagger from his sheath and sends it sailing through the air right past Sofia's head. It hits the wall and sticks there with a satisfactory thunk, bringing a quick grin to his face. She screams and jumps in the air, spinning around and backing up against the wall, chest and heart pounding. Shalla leaps into the room immediately, scrambling over a chair, followed by Ger and a very rattled and excited Kilu a second later. Shalla finally rights herself and looks around wildly. "What happened?!"

He looks at them all, fury in his eyes, but he holds it at bay for the moment. Across from him, Sofia trembles and cowers against the wall, shrinking away from them timidly. Shalla hurries over and scoops her into her arms, holding her and asking, "Sofia, tell me what happened!"

Sofia simply points her finger at the dagger and cries silently, unable to speak. Shalla looks at the dagger and then at Angel, demanding to know in an angry tone, "Did you do this?!"

He glares at her and backs up a step, raising his voice to a shout. "She had no right!"

She lets go of Sofia and marches towards him, getting in his face. "No right to do what?!"

He scoffs and storms past her, making for the door. Unwilling to settle for that response, Shalla spins around and hurries after him, grabbing him by his arm. "Angel--"

He stops her abruptly when he spins around and gives her a hard backhand slap to her face. Sofia gasps and Ger steps next to her, while Shalla just looks down and to her side, facing in the direction her head had moved when he slapped her. She pants heavily for a moment and touches her palm to her cheek, her face obscured by her hair. Ger is about to something when Shalla raises her hand, signaling him to stop. Angel stands across from her, glaring rigidly, his body trembling with hate. Shalla looks up at him slowly with an angry look on her face, and stares...then swings her left arm in a wide left hook, catching him dead on his chin.

Angel growls as he feels the fury entering him, the blow being just the ignition to the fuse. He reaches up to his chin, tilting his head back as he chuckles. "Oh...I'm so sorry..."

He unsheathes his dagger and quickly slams the hilt of it into Shalla's stomach with all his might. She doubles over only for an instant and reaches up with a quick uppercut, rolling straight into a high roundhouse kick that sends him in the air and rolling in the air to his side. She's about to jump back on top of him again, but Ger grabs her right arm while Sofia grabs her left arm, trying to hold her back as she screams nonsense. Poor Kilu can only pace back and forth nervously as this goes on, whining softly. Angel sits up on the floor, rubbing his bleeding lip slowly as he watches her, another dark chuckle shaking his chest. "No, c'mon, let her finish it off...I know she wants to. I just annoy you all and make you hate me, remember?"

He begins to brandish his dagger slowly with his free hand, stroking it slowly across his wrist, his eyes still heavily upon Shalla. Sofia cringes at the sight of that and screams at him, "Angel, what the hell is wrong with you?!"

"Nothing at all." He smiles coldly as he climbs to his feet, and looks Shalla dead in the eyes, taunting her. He then begins to slowly run the tip of his dagger down his wrist again, a small bit of blood appearing as he does so.

"The hell there isn't!" Sofia yells, then steps forward and grabs his knife, trying to take it away from him.

Instead of relenting, however, he growls deeply and rips his hand away, then gives her a hard backhand slap that sends her stumbling into Shalla's arms. "DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME, DAMM YOU! DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME!"

In shock, Sofia just holds her face with her jaw hanging open, relying on Shalla to hold her up. Ger glances between all three and steps out from behind Shalla, unsheathing his sword. "Should I subdue him?"

Angel just watches him maniacally. "Yeah, c'mon, Ger, Big man! Subdue me. Do everyone a favor. Besides, if you don't subdue me, I'll subdue myself."

He runs that dagger across his wrist again, this time making it go much deeper, the blood flowing freely again. "C'mon, show me the power of your anger--your hatred towards me!"

"...No," Sofia chokes through a sob. "I won't hurt you, Angel. I don't want to."

He narrows his eyes and growls at her, then flicks his blade to the side, light glinting from the metal. "Fine... but I do!"

He lunges at her with his dagger ready, screeching a howling battle cry, but before he can get close enough to lash out at her he finds himself being grabbed by his arm and hurled onto his back. He rolls around for a moment in a stunned state, then flips over and claws back onto his feet. "Angel, stop!" Shalla demands.

"No! I won't be calm! I refuse to be calm! I've been calm long-damn-enough!" He spins in circles as he shouts, staying on the defensive. "Calm never got me anything -- but pain -- and misery!"

Sofia places her hand on his shoulder. "Angel--"

He slaps it aside and makes a threatening cut at her face with his dagger, barely missing her face by only a few centimeters. "NO! You stay away from me, bitch!"

He spins and glares at Shalla, who moves closer to Sofia. "And that goes for you, too!"

He spins in another circle and raises his dagger, making his point. "That goes for all of ya!"

"You aren't accomplishing anything, Ang--" Ger starts.

"The hell I'm not!" Angel cuts him off, backing towards the door. "I don't want anything to do with you people anymore. You hear me? Nothing! All anyone ever gives me is grief... and pain..."

A tear rolls down his face as he reaches for the doorknob behind him, keeping his front towards them. They begin to back away and form a half-ring around him, indecisive about what they should do. "I'm through with you. I'm through with everyone."

His hand finally finds the knob and he thrusts the door open and rushes out, slamming it shut behind him. His footsteps clatter on the wood outside while he mutters obscenities under his breath, directed at everyone and no one in particular. He storms out into the street and keeps going... to where he doesn't know, but he passes by a dark shadow hanging on a corner as he marches. He pays it no mind, while the shadow gives him all his attention, and immediately deciphers that something is afoot with the lot. I wonder if we can use this to our advantage...

The man glances around him once more before disappearing into the darkness again.

***

A dark, wry grin adorns Tora's face, hidden beneath a veil of black shadows. "Most fortunate, indeed..."

***

While back in the Inn, Shalla has to console Sofia, holding her sobbing, quivering form in her arms. "Why?! Why?!" she asks Shalla, confused, hurt and angry all at once. "He didn't have to leave us!"

"Shhh, shhhh..." is all Shalla can whisper to her. She glances up at Ger and the two stare for a moment, saying much without needing words. She nods at him, and he back at her, and with a step and pivot he's out the door after Angel, leaving Shalla to hold Sofia's head against her cheek. "I don't know why... I wish I knew why..."

A tear of her own forms in her eye and rolls into Sofia's hair. "Oh, Sofia... everything's going to be all right... you'll see..."


--------------------

~Status Report~

* Completed... Dragon's Head
* Completed... Soldiers of the Empire: Disciples (release pending)
* In Progress/Undecided... Of Love and Betrayal
* Planning/Assembly... Where it all Began

Finally back, it's going to be finished. Here you go, enjoy a delicious tenth chapter.

***

Of Love and Betrayal

***

Chapter 10: Bloody Atrophy

***

Angel can't beleive it, can't beleive he's been driven to the streets, driven by the likes of them. Oh they'll rue the day they crossed him, hurt him... betrayed him.

"Killing them... it would be SO easy. They aren't smart... not like me... they don't see it, how the world exists to kick us in the ass!" Angel takes a turn down a dark alley, and then another, keeping at it until he' so lost that he has absolutely no shot of finding his way back, and this is where he will... attempt to regain his composure.

"Bastards and tricksters... all of em... lead you on in their sick little game 'til you can't stand it no more!" Eyes widen, flaring with an intense rage. He slams a dagger into the brick wall, the dagger sticking easily from the sheer force of the wiry man's blow.

"Tsk, tsk. Poor boy, wasting your energy on such trivial things as damaging your surroundings?" A small echo of a voice rang throughout the dark alleyway.

Angel's eyes flare again as he growls intensely, perhaps in one of his most psychotic states of mind.

"WHO ARE YOU?!"

"SHOW YOURSELF SO I CAN REMOVE THOSE BOTHERSOME VOCAL CORDS!"

"Oh, but I don't think that would be in your best interest, Mr. Angel." A dark sounding man creeps from the alley, veiled in shadows.

"What're you getting at?" Angel's voice calms slightly as he brushes a gloved hand across his chest, eyes focused intently upon the dark man.

"You see Angel. We both want something. We can work together to get what we want. Do you understand?" The shadowy man's demonic voice is a shadowy rasp that seek to consume Angel as it echoes throughout the alley.

"How do you know what I want?" Angel's voice begins to grow in power again, anger coursing through his veins as he brandishes a dagger and charges the shadow "NOBODY KNOWS WHAT I WANT!"

The dagger cuts through the shadow with ease, but doesn't seem to wound the creature even remotely, which leaves Angel flabbergasted as he unleashes a flurry of slashes upon the creature, each tearing a piece of shadow off that is instantly replaced.

"WHY CAN'T I HURT YOU?!" Angel finally cries out as he collapses to the ground, feeling broken as tears cascade down his cheeks. "I failed again..."

"No, quite the contrary, my sadistic friend. You have proven yourself worthy of the cause. And whether you like it or not, soon you WILL be mine." The creature sets down upon Angel, shadows consuming him and slowly shrinking, until the two vanish.

***

The group spends the next few hours searching for Angel after he storms off, Ger and Shalla in one group, and Sofia and Kilu in another. Sofia takes slow, nimble steps along, watching where she's going more than calling out for Angel. The whole situation has her rather nervous and flustered. Kilu gives a small growl as he follows Angel's trail, that is, until it abruptly ends. Eyes dart up to stare at Sofia who is clutching a pendant tightly.

"Lose him Kilu? I guess we'll have to go meet them at the pub like Shalla said to..." Sofia gives a small murmur, accompanied with a sigh as she turns around, a small shiver runs down her spine as she swears she feels something.

Sofia shakes the feeling off, she quickly heads to the pub, getting out of the alley with ease, Kilu in tow. A few moments later she reaches the pub, and in she goes. Her keen eyesight helps her to spot Shalla and Ger right away. They are seated at a table in a back corner, which Sofia promptly heads to, taking her seat next to Shalla.

"Did you find him?" Sofia asks quickly. Her only response however is a grim head shake from Ger.

"I don't know if we'll ever see him again-" Shalla tries to say, but before she can finish her statement, something in the corner of her eye catches her attention.

Without even a word to the others she hops from her chair and runs out the door.

"What happened?" Sofia asks quietly.

"Angel is outside the window." Ger responds as he slowly stands and heads out.

Shalla runs with all the speed she possibly could for Angel, ready to tackle him into oblivion, but Angel has other intentions. He slowly backs into the darkness of the alley. Shalla dives for him, but hits nothing.

"WE HAVE YOU NOW!" says the familiar dark presence.

Shalla hits the ground, and lays there weakly struggling against the shadows that were trying to consume her. Primarily, those of Tora's. But she couldn't last long. Angel gives a demonic cackle, and Shalla gives out a scream, as the burning poison of the shadows consume her, eating away her conscience until all that is left, is the evil.

Sofia, Kilu and Ger arrive on the scene all too late; for as they watch the shadows, Shalla shambls out, eyes glowing fiercely, a deathly glow about her as she closes in upon them. "Fools... leave now, lest you suffer a legendary death!"

Ger brings out his sword, ready to strike her down, but the shadows interrupt. "Enough Shalla. We have no time for these games, come Shalla, Angel. We must return to the brood haven and plan destruction."

"Coming master Tora" both Angel and Shalla say, as they move to him, and the three vanish into the shadows.They Leave a very stupefied trio, Ger, Sofia and Kilu.

"Ger... now we lost both of them." Sofia sobs softly as they move back to the pub, to figure out what exactly they should do.

Ger takes slow heavy steps through the pub, trying to see if there is anyone of significance, but failing he sits at a table. "Sofia, I fear we may have lost them both to this 'Tora', forever."

"It's not fair!" Sofia gives a small sob as she sat across from Ger. "Why did they get taken?"

A rather short shadowy figure begins to move toward the duo, which causes Kilu to growl somewhat with each step. His robed visage causes Ger to place a hand on his blade's hilt. The figure doesn't seem worried at all though.

"Tora you say? I know that Tora guy. Big pain in the ass... loves to screw people over." The mage says, butting in. "Converts any would be mage to meet his 'sinister' goals. Loves to talk too."

Ger glares somewhat, causing the mage to be taken aback, Sofia is the first to talk "So... do you know where he is?"

The mage gives a sly grin in return as he rubs his hands together. "I might..."

Ger reaches over, his big strong hands clutching the mages throat, ready to snap it in two "Answer."

The mage coughs a bit as he tries to wriggle free "OHH! Tora? Yeah! I know where Tora is! There's some abandoned temple about ten miles northwest. They've taken up residence there."

Ger grunts a bit as he releases the mage, Sofia winces a bit. "Well, um... thanks." She says as the two stand and began to exit, wasting no time to track down Shalla and Angel.

The walk for them is grueling, but surprisingly monster free, for once, which is really rather odd. Since the walk is through some usually goblin and skeleton infested woods, and past a behemoth covered volcano. Silence consumes the entire walk that is shrouded in a cloudy darkness.

"There it is Ger! At least... I think." Sofia motions to something off in the distance, a large structure that they slowly approach with each step.

Ger responds with a firm nod, not saying a thing. The silence drives Sofia nearly mad, she isn'tt used to it, but now she just has Ger, and he's a deadly silent person. The temple begins to tower over them as they get closer to it, each step causing it to grow what seems to be an entire foot. The complex is indeed a massive structure. The door to the temple opens, out walks Tora, Angel, Shalla, and a small legion of mages, at least twelve, but a wave of Tora's hand causes them to fall back, remaining against the temples wall. He savors the sweet anguish Ger and Sofia have gone through from fighting their friends.

"We've been awaiting you, oh doomed warriors." Tora says, a small demonic grin appearing on his shadowy figure.

Kilu gives a loud, fierce growl, darting forth from behind Ger and Sofia, knocking Sofia down in his frenzy. A quick frenzied dash is made, loud angered pants heard and a trail of spit hitting the ground before Kilu leaps into the air, seeking to topple Tora. Tora doesn't seem even remotely phased however, the moment Kilu is about to tear his fangs into Tora's throat, Tora simply teleports out of the way, moving off to the other side of Shalla.

"Kilu, no!" Sofia cries as she watches the mages begin to surround him.

Tora motions his hand to stay the mages once more "Angel, take care of it."

Angel's lips curve into a dark smile as he brandishes both his daggers and turns to focus on Kilu. "As you wish, master Tora."

Shalla turns to watch the delightful battle between Kilu and Angel. Sofia and Ger climb to their feet, and attempt to come to Kilu's aid, but a mere wave of his hand causes the mages to rush over, coming between them. Six mages to each. Ger brandishes his blade, Sofia draws her gun, and the fight is on. Kilu jumps up at Angel, but he takes a quick step back and Kilu misses, receiving two fierce slashes across his back for punishment. Sofia tries to cast a healing spell on Kilu to tend his wounds, but a thick rod to her thigh makes her lose her train of thought.

"We're getting overwhelmed Ger..." Sofia whimpers as she shoots one of the mages in the throat, making him fall over, instantly dead.

Ger gives simply a nod in response, swinging to cut an enemy down, but the enemy blocks with his staff. Kilu is bleeding profusely from his fight with Angel, while Angel has suffered barely even a scratch. It seems that Tora has made Angel much stronger, much faster than originally. Kilu gives one final lunge at Angel's throat to take him down, to stop Angel from getting to Sofia to hurt her, but Angel moves, and all Kilu gets instead is a jagged dagger planted firmly in his belly, ripping up and down. Blood flows freely from Kilu, entrails spilling out of his stomach as he gives a shriek of death.

"Kilu..." Seeing Kilu's death causes Sofia to lose her footing, now she has lost everything she loves.

The mages take advantage of this opportunity, each blunt instrument coming to strike Sofia in the head, skull cracking as she falls unconscious. Ger has to take up a more defensive step as the numbers against him increase, since he has only cut down two so far, Sofia one, leaving nine for him to kill. Tora grins delightfully, as does Angel.

"Go my pets! Destroy the intruder!" Tora commands.

"I don't quite think so." Shalla says quite suddenly, turning upon Tora, fiendish look in her eyes.

"What did you say?" Tora glares furiously at this girl how dare she speak to him so insolently. "Destroy them!"

"You heard me!" Shalla says, eyes flashing violently before she swings a fist at Tora fiercely, making a loud crunching sound.

Tora spits up a bit of blood, enraged by her action. "Your life is... THROUGH!"

"Inscript the dark god into a rotting body!" Tora's eyes flash violently, his dark robes flying up about him as he snaps his fingers "Flare!" A huge fiery ball sails down from the sky, heading straight for Shalla, ready to destroy her.

Shalla doesn't seem remotely phased though, her hands rise and a dark aura emits from her palms as the magic strikes her, only to stop abruptly. "Is that your best?!" Quickly she throws the massive ball of rock and fire forth, striking Tora down with it.

"Auggh!" Tora cries out as the flames engulf his body, burning him to cinders, the hundred thousand degree inferno disintegrates him into the atmosphere, and in an instant both Tora and the ball are gone.

Ger manages to cut down two more of the weakening mages, but the overwhelming number is putting up quite a fight, and he is getting very weak. With Tora's death, the sinister hold upon Angel has gone and he snaps back into reality. Angel looks around slowly, senses taken aback by the immense feeling of death surrounding them.

"Sofia?..." Angel gives a soft whimper as his eyes fall upon her.

"Go! Destroy Ger before I destroy you!" Shalla yells to Angel "I'm your leader now!"

"You're not my leader! Nobody leads me anymore! ...nobody." Angel gives a valiant cry as he dashes at Shalla recklessly, daggers held high before he slashes at her.

Shalla moves to the side, easily avoiding the foolish attack, but Angel doesn't let up, unleashing a frenzied attack upon her. Shalla in turn gives Angel a fierce jab to the jaw, then another. Angel takes a step back then dashes at her again, forehead ramming into her chest, knocking her down. Angel jumps down on top of her, pinning her down before unleashing another frenzy of weak slashes. Shalla gives Angel a quick punch to the throat, knocking him back, making him very weak, and that is when she gets him in a choke hold.

"You won't win..." Angel rasps as he slams a dagger into Shalla's chest.

Shalla coughs up some blood and a sick, freely flowing trickle begins in that spot where the dagger lay. "Neither will you, you waste of life..." she coughs as she tightens the grip, nearly crushing his throat.

"You took her from me... it's right... you... die by... my hand..." he manages to whisper as he plunges his second dagger into Shalla, into her heart.

The two fall over, on top of one another, a sick pool of blood forming up under the bodies. Shalla closes her eyes, never to open them again.

Ger has managed to strike down another mage, leaving him still fighting six, and he is getting very weak. His meatbone slash is saving him, but with every mage he weakens. Another mage promptly took the fallen's spot. Just as they're about to strike down though, a loud shout is heard from higher ground.

"Look for survivors. Seek out and destroy the mages!" The mysterious voice shouts.

A whir sails past Ger, and one of the mages drops dead. He puts up his blade to defend himself from another blow, but before the mage can even strike someone shouts out "Life is short...Bury! Steady Sword!", and an icy chasm engulfs the mage and shatters, killing him.

Next a lancer drops from the sky, descending upon the third remaining mage, killing him with ease. Ger, not one to be outdone, takes this opportunity to meatbone slash the two stragglers, easily killing them.

"Are you alright?" Ramza asks as he hurries over to Ger, offering him assistance.

Ger recognizes him immediately, but doesn't attack; he's in quite the situation. A white mage rushes over to Sofia, tending to her wounds. Ger watches silently as Ramza calls out orders to his squad of five, not including himself.

"Agrias, Peter, Martin, storm the place. Mustadio, snipe off anyone that might try to cast a spell. Melissa, heal them if they get hurt. I'll go in from the side and strike off any stragglers." Ramza yells out his orders and begins to do so.

"Wait." Ger says to Ramza. "Let me join you."

Ramza nods slowly. "Melissa heal him up quickly so he can come with me."

The white mage Melissa nods and moves to Ger to tends his wounds. She extends arms over him, hands open, palms begin to glow.

"Blessing breeze, blow in energy!" Melissa shouts, a rush of warmth pouring from her hands over Ger healing all his wounds.

Ger climbs to his feet immediately and moves to follow Ramza, who leads the way around, straight into the enemies back, of course, they're already preoccupied with Agrias the Holy Knight, Peter the Ninja, and Martin the Dragoon, so it's easy for Ger and Ramza to overwhelm them, Ger cuts down several in one wicked swing, Ramza cuts down several more in another.

Agrias brings down many with each cry of "Absorb power in the sky and strike! Lightning Stab!" which causes lightning to strike down many mages.

In the end of the massacre, not one mage of the brood is left standing. Ger, after a small conference with himself, has decided to go with Ramza. Ramza who is in a bit of a hurry, permits Ger a small amount of time to part with Sofia, who wants nothing more to do with the matter. She is suffering more than enough on the inside, without the constant reminder that it wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Ramza.

"So this is it?... it was all for nothing?..." Sofia asks.

Ger sort of looks on, unsure of what to do.

"You're still as cold as ice... goodbye Ger..." Sofia gives Ger a small hug, before wandering off into the night tears streaking down her cheeks.

This post has been edited by Zero_Hawk on 9th November 2004 06:06

--------------------

This one time I punched a bear in the forehead TO DEATH! I still have the scars on my chest. I am the manliest man that ever did man.

League: Z3roHawk
Steam: Zero_Hawk
Wii U: Zero_Hawk
FF14 - Goblin - Zero Hawk <Fiend>

w00t, final chapter (I think) coming sometime soon... =D

--------------------

~Status Report~

* Completed... Dragon's Head
* Completed... Soldiers of the Empire: Disciples (release pending)
* In Progress/Undecided... Of Love and Betrayal
* Planning/Assembly... Where it all Began