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 Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:54 pm
"Cabel?"
The voice was faint, but still he managed to hear his name being called. Cabel spun around, squinting into the inky darkness. "Hello? Is someone there?"
"Cabel?"
This time, the voice was louder and he recognized it. At least, he thought he did. "Nienna?" He was puzzled. If that was Nienna, where was she? Where was he for that matter? Something was strange about this whole scenario...
With a deafening shriek, a black shadow separated itself from the darkness and leapt at the Fae. Instinctively, the adult male spun around, swinging his staff at the creature. Though the staff passed harmlessly through the shadow, it leapt back nonetheless, giving Cabel a moment of breathing room. "Looks like growing up with Kane had its good points," he smirked darkly. He had no idea what he was up against, and he realized he had no way to fight it either.
Hoping he could come up with something soon, he dropped into a loose fighting stance, gripping his staff tightly. "Alright, show me what you've got, spooky."
Screeching at a near ear-piercing level, the shadow leapt, dark claws outstretched towards the Fae.
Barely responding to Nienna's words or touch, Cabel was tense, twitching a bit every once in a while as he did battle with his shadowy dream foe.
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:26 pm
Nienna face was full of worry as Cabel tensed up. Placing her hands lightly on his shoulder she pushes at him "Cabel please...wake up love. Its me Nienna." pushing her hair from her face she looks around trying to figure out what to do.
Looking back down she shook her head "Cabel..please...your scarying me." running her fingers through his hair, she was trying to remain calm even though she panicking on the inside.
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Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:30 pm
Panting and near exhaustion, Cabel wasn't sure how much longer he could last against the shadowy demon. No matter what he did, he couldn't harm the creature, although that didn't seem to work in reverse. He was practically covered with scratches and bruises already.
"So...that's the best...you can do?"
He was trying to sound confident...cocky even, like he remembered Kane. Unfortunately, he only sounded weak, at least to himself. Weak and scared...
Pathetic.
The shadow darted in and struck once more. Cabel swung his staff in a wide arc, but his ankle gave out on him and he was thrown off balance. The male Fae thudded to the ground roughly, cringing in pain. Within seconds, the shadow leapt on his back and forced the weakened Pae to the ground.
"You're alone and beaten...give up, Fae..."
The voice was harsh and practically dripping with hate. Shivers travelling down his spine, Cabel struggled to turn and face his foe to no avail. "I may be alone, but I'm not beaten yet."
"Not just now...you're more alone than you think, fool. Can you honestly say that you're NOT alone? A freak like you?"
"I'm not a freak," Cabel snapped back automatically, but there was a hint of doubt in his voice. So, he hadn't had the typical childhood...so what? He couldn't remember anything before that day by the river as a child. He'd seen Kane and without thinking, had leapt forward and hugged him. He remembered nothing before that. One day, during one of their usual squabbles, Kane had revealed that he'd found a strange looking plushie in the forest and next thing he knew, it was hugging him.
So...he was a plushie? How was that possible? It wasn't...was it?
Dark chuckling in his ear brought Cabel back to 'reality'...or whatever this was. "Of course you are. You certainly aren't normal by any standard. You weren't born like normal Pae'il. You don't even have any redeeming qualities. Name one thing that you're good at; I dare you. Hell, you can't even beat your own shadow. I thought I was supposed to be weaker than you too...you really are pathetic..."
Each word felt like a blow to the poor Fae. Each syllable seemed to strike some vital point within him; whether a doubt or a worry or fear... Nearly ready to collapse, he wondered if it would be easier to give up and admit the shadow was right. Glancing over his shoulder with sad eyes, he realized that the shadow's form had grown more solid...more distinct. It was...impossible, but...it really was himself.
A darker, warped version of himself, granted, but he could never mistake his own double. The glowing eyes radiated triumph as he gloated over his fallen foe. "Give up, little Cabel. You're all alone, unloved and useless."
With a quiet whimper, Cabel closed his eyes and sank towards the ground. Surrender seemed so much easier than fighting...what was the point in fighting anyway?
"Cabel please...wake up love. It's me Nienna."
The voice was faint at first, barely able to be heard over the hissings of the shadow. But Cabel heard it...and clung to it with all his remaining strength.
"Cabel...please...you're scaring me."
No...how could he give up like this now? More than anything else, he refused to cause Nienna to worry. He couldn't.
Wait...she was worried about him? Scared? That proved that he wasn't alone afterall! He had Nienna!
The heavy cloud of despair seemed to waver a bit.
Not only Nienna, but Eudora! And Takeko, and Aspen...and even Kane in his own warped way.
It was hard to notice just yet, but the darkness seemed to shimmer, growing just a bit brighter than it was.
Frowning, Cabel shot his shadow a look, raising his voice, much stronger now than it was moments ago. "I'm not as weak as you think I am..."
Cabel shifted in his sleep, no longer twitching, but still obviously asleep. Reaching out, he rested his hand on Nienna's arm, an odd sort of half-smile tugging at his mouth. He muttered in that sleepy-sort of voice, "...I have my own strength...in the ones I care about...and that care about me in return...like Nienna..."
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Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:35 pm
Nienna arches a brow before she place her hand over his. Taking it she places it against her cheek closing her eyes. As she heard his words she opens her eyes again looking down at him "Cabel, you have me...I'll be your strength. Just like you shall be mine. I love you, and I don't want you to leave me." swallowing she crawls over to her side of the bed before laying completely down.
Turning towards him she wraps her arms around his waist as she kisses at his cheek "Cabel, please just wake up and look at me. Know that I'm not going anywhere. Not ever..." biting her bottom lip she was slowly understand he was fighting something in his mind.
That alone made her feel helpless, she wanted so much just to help him. But she knew she couldn't. Laying her head down on his chest she chuckles "Remember Cabel..were one...." she didn't know it, but her fear for him got to the point that tears were running down her cheeks.
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:57 pm
Cabel gathered all that was left of his strength, heaving his body up off the ground and throwing the shadow away. "Get off my back, you obnoxious pest!"
The shadow hissed, landing close by. Something had changed; he looked...lighter. More transparent. Still furious and determined, however. Strangely, the area seemed to be growing lighter as well. Normally, one would think this would make a shadow more visible, but instead he seemed to be fading. "I'm not through with you..."
Picking up his staff, Cabel shook his head slowly. "Maybe not, but I'm most definitely through with you. I won't listen to your hissing and lies any more. I know better than to believe crap like that."
"So you say...but is that what you really believe? You said the same thing earlier, if I recall..."
"Yes, as a matter of fact, it IS what I believe." Cabel's voice was sure and confident, his eyes hard as he stared down his shadowy twin. Drawing from some unknown source of strength, he stalked slowly and calmly towards the hissing shadow. "Leave. And I never want to see you again."
"I'll leave...for now. But, I'll be back. In your darkest hour, when you begin to fear and doubt...I'll be here again, waiting for your eventual surrender. It will happen...mark my words, my weaker half..." Eyes darting towards the growing light, he shot Cabel a hate-filled glare before waving his arm and disappearing into the air, leaving nothing more than a small wisp of shadow to mark his exit.
The light grew steadily until the area was fully-lit. There was nothing remarkable to look at necessarily, though a few moments later a cool, soothing rain began to fall from the 'sky.' Cabel's tense visage gradually relaxed as the rain washed over his tired, wounded body. He closed his eyes and turned his face towards the 'sky,' relishing the soothing feeling of the rain, cleansing and healing his various cuts and bruises...
The rain was gone, though his eyes were still closed. In fact, instead of cold rain, it was warm and dry here. Well...mostly. Frowning, he opened his eyes and glanced down, realizing slowly that he was back in bed, no longer trapped in that nightmare world. "Nienna..." he whispered softly, painfully noting the tears that dripped from her cheeks onto his chest.
Carefully, so as not to alarm her, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "I'm so sorry, Nienna..." he murmured, his chest aching as he wondered just how much anxiety he'd caused his poor love. "I don't know what you did, love...but thank you." Still holding her close, he kissed the top of her head before resting his cheek in her soft hair. He closed his eyes tightly, fighting the telltale burning sensation with all he had left...which wasn't much.
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:08 pm
Jumping slightly when she felt the arms go around her, she glance up coughing softly. Shaking her head she holds Cabel close hiding her face against his neck "Cabel..I couldn't get you to wake up." she was trembling badly as she glance back up at him looking him over.
Running her fingers lightly over his chesy she attempts to calm herself down. Shaking her head she leans forward brushing her lips over his lips, she had to know that he was okay. She didn't understand fear until that moment. She wanted to just forget and feel he was okay, he wasn't going anywhere.
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 3:00 am
Cabel held her tightly, hoping to think of some way to stop her trembling. Too late. That was all it took. A tear dripped slowly from each of his tightly-closed eyes, blazing the trail for their bretheren to follow more swiftly after.
"I'm so, so sorry, Nienna. I really am," he muttered, practically drowning in regret and not knowing what else to say. He returned the kiss gently...tenderly. He was still a bit shaken, though he wondered if Nienna were even more so. He wanted more than anything else to just make sure that she was okay. He'd worry about himself later.
Maybe his struggles had been all in his mind...but he swore he could still feel the sting of each of the cuts he'd received from his dark twin. The ache of each bruise. A quick glance at his arms wrapped around Nienna proved what he already knew -- there were no marks. Not one. And yet...he was still exhausted, as if everything that had happened in his mind had been more than it really was... In fact, if he didn't know better, he'd swear that he'd been in a fight and just woken up with no memory of it occurring...
Brushing a loose lock of hair away from the female Fae's eyes, he looked deep into those beautiful orbs. Normally, he'd feel calmed and soothed by the sight, but he saw something now he'd never seen before.
Fear.
Frowning deeply, he let his hand drop slowly, caressing her cheek. "I'm sorry," he repeated, shaking his head slightly. "I wanted to come back, but...I couldn't. I tried. But, there was something I had to take care of first."
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 3:41 pm
Nienna pulls back running her fingers across his cheek to wipe the tears away. Shaking her head she she sits up as she attempts to take back the control her fears stole from her. Her heart was beating far to fast, and that scared her also. She wasn't use to this, feelings she never knew when it came to being with someone.
Looking back towards him she took his hand into hers, only because she couldn't be apart from him even for a moment at this point. She knew it, that he was the one keeping her from falling apart at this point. If he hadn't woken up, she knew she would have been lost.
Looking back down at the bed she squeezed his hand as the tears threaten to spill again "I was sacred...that..." she didn't say the words, hiccupping her hair fell in front of her face to hide the tears.
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:37 pm
"Shh..." Cabel shushed her softly, rubbing her back in slow, soothing circles. He'd never seen Nienna this shaken before and it was like a dagger stabbed straight into his heart. "It's alright now...I promise." He held her so tightly he could feel her heart pounding against his own chest.
After what he'd just been through, he could have sworn he'd end up like a sobbing, weakened child, needing to be taken care of and soothed...
Instead, he was drawing on some previously-unknown source of inner strength as he did all in his power to calm the frightened girl lying in his arms.
Odd.
"Now, now...stop crying, love. I'm okay now. Really." Wiping away her tears, he smiled at her warmly as he lifted her chin to look into her eyes again. Hoping to share some of this new strength with her, he gave her a short, tender kiss. "It's all over now and there's no need to worry anymore."
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:33 pm
Nienna felt foolish for crying, but she couldn't help it. Nodding against his chest she exhales again as she holds him close. Just being held by him was helping her calm down. Her mind was still racing though as she tries to figure out this feeling. She knew fear, but not like this.
Looking up at him, the fear was slowly slipping out of her eyes. Smiling alittle she kisses his chin then his nose "Sorry, I'm so emotional. I never been in love before, so this fear was very different then normal fear." laying on her side she lets her fingers dance across his chest.
She believe him that everythign was okay, but something inside her told her things weren't going to be okay. Lifting her hand she push her hair from her face. She would leave that feeling alone for now.
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Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:34 am
Cabel shook his head a bit, then realized it hurt and stopped. "No, don't appologize, love. You haven't done anything wrong... " He smiled gently, stroking her cheek. "I should be the one apologizing," he trailed off sadly.
Struggling to rise to more of a sitting position, then giving up halfway through, Cabel leaned back and cradled Nienna close, letting her rest on his chest. He really was exhausted; seems that dream took more out of him than he initially realized. "I know it's hard, my love. But, trust me. It is over...there's nothing more to fear now. He's gone..."
He never even realized what he'd said. He was too busy trying to make Nienna feel better. "I'm sorry...there's nothing else I can think of to say. Is there anything I can do to help you feel better?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:57 pm
Nienna looks over at him arching a brow, sitting up slowly she tilts her head "He's gone? Cabel who gone?" she just look down at him even more confused then before. Everything he said after that went pass her. At this point she was more curious about this other person Cabel was talking about.
Running her fingers carefully over his chest she tries to keep herself looking calm. She didn't want Cabel to worry that she was scared, because she wasn't. She was scared for him.
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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 12:00 am
Cabel blinked at her question, momentarily confused. Had he said...he had, hadn't he? He sighed softly, trying to figure out how to answer her. Taking Nienna's hand in his, he gently stroked it with his fingertips as he struggled to explain.
"Let's just say, I had some personal issues that needed to be dealt with. Perhaps the phrase 'personal demons' is more appropriate, considering," he muttered softly. "There was someone in my dream. I thought it was only a shadow at first, then some sort of monster." He shook his head a bit, both to clear his memory and in slight disbelief. "I suppose I really am my own worst enemy. There was a fight...and as I grew weaker, he grew stronger...and clearer. I was fighting...myself," he admitted in shame. "A darker, twisted version of myself...who used every doubt, insecurity, and fear I've ever had to tear me down. I thought I was lost...I was ready to give in...when I heard your voice."
He paused momentarily, glancing up and daring to meet her eyes as he stroked her cheek tenderly. An odd combination of sorrow and love seemed mixed in his eyes as he gazed at her. "I have no doubts that I would have been lost without you. Your love and concern is what saved me, Nienna. I owe you everything." Smiling warmly, he drew her into a close hug as he continued his story. "You reminded me that I have those that love me...and that I love back...that I have something to fight for afterall. And so I fought back. He's gone now, Nienna. Whatever he was, he's gone and I'll never believe lies like his ever again."
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:52 pm
Nienna didn't say a word as she took in the story, it was something she understood. Everyone had a dark side to them, she just was glad Cabel was able to get pass it. Closing her eyes she draws her finger along hi chest for a monent. She knew he said it was just a dream, but part of her wanted to be sure he was okay.
Remaining quiet she just holds him. It was all she could do without getting all emotional on him again.
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Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:32 am
Sighing softly, Cabel relished the quiet moment with his love; he could feel her heartbeat against his chest...it matched perfectly with his. He couldn't help but smile. They were one. Nothing would ever change that.
Although he'd thought he'd need help once he woke up, he was surprised to find that while tired, he felt fine otherwise. In fact, better than he'd felt in a long time. But, Nienna...
He frowned in concern. Something else seemed to be bothering her. She was taking this whole ordeal harder than he had, which seemed a bit unusual at the least to the confused Fae. Fortunately, his strength was returning and still holding Nienna close, he sat up.
"What is it, love?" he murmured softly, caressing her cheek. "Is there something else wrong? Something you're not telling me? Because, I'm fine...I swear it. I'm just fine now and I'm sorry that I scared you."
Guardians help him find the words to make her feel better!
It hurt to see her like this...
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