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 Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:40 pm
I still see them. I still hear everything, I feel everything. Will this place never be happy again? It happened yesterday but at the same time it feels as though it happened a lifetime ago and I've been living with it for far too long. I want to forget, but I don't.
I want it to go away, but I don't. Because if it goes away, I'm not punished and I need to be. Two people are dead, because of me. I'm only alive because two other people are gone. Two children are without their guardians, their mothers, because I wasn't brave or strong enough.
How can I live with that? How can I live with the fact that someone else died so I could live? I suppose it's selfish of me to think that way. After all, they died so I COULD live.
But...I don't know. I don't know.
I don't even want to write about all that happened in you, journal. To fill you with horrors. I don't need a written record of it, besides, I don't I think I could speak it - okay, write it, anyway. I don't need a reminder. I'll live with it forever.
So instead I'll just write this, my feelings, here. To get them all out. I failed, and I know I failed. I'm not as strong or as good as I thought that I was. I need to be better.
I need to make myself worth their lives to make them proud. They shouldn't have died for a coward.
-Coailiann
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:41 pm
Christmas Deck the halls with boughs of holly....
The cheerful Christmas music in the store did wonders for cheering Coailiann up. Perhaps it was the jumping beats or the happy voices, but the sidhe was smiling for the first time since the incident at her home.
It had been a horrible experiance but, really, she was very slowly getting better at hiding how hurt she still was.
Fa la la la la la la la la la
Presents were picked with painstaking effort for her family. A book for Ianna, a new earring for Malen, a pretty orb for Lethe, a pretty necklace for Callix. Kishi got a very pretty dagger that she knew Malen would have a ball teaching her with.
Of course, by the end of that, money was scarce and all she could afford was a nice gel pen and some stationary. Christmas letters to the others, it was.
Coailiann brought her meager savings to the front counter and paid for it, having exactly fifty gold left over which she used to buy a pack of gum. Apple flavored. Then, the girl headed home.
~
Gifts were waiting for her when she got home that weren't from her family. The pretty little hourglass type thing from Callix just made her smile and the ornament from Lethe was placed in a place of honor on the small tree that the family had gotten to cheer up the dismal lobby. Her own presents were wrapped and sent out to those who weren't in her family.
The rest were wrapped, carefully, and placed under the tree. There. With a small smile, the sidhe returned to her room.
Wouldn't her family be surprised?
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:43 pm
Consolation In Friends Kay breaks down, leaves, and moves in with Callix here.
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:45 pm
The Phone Call The night was a long one. It had been hours since the children went to bed, and as much as she wanted to, Luciel wasn't sure she trusted her own child. He wasn't hers technically, no, but she wished she could treat him as such. Other people were in the same position. Ianna, for one, had a missing daughter and probably didn't even know her whereabouts. Sitting up from her place at the kitchen table where she'd spent the last few hours in silent though, she went to the phone. Numbly, the Guardian dialed the number she'd memorized in the past few hours. Ianna was hopefully home.
Ring.... ring.... ring...
Ianna reached for the phone tiredly and clicked it on, holding it to her ear. She had been asleep and it was...three in the morning? Groggily the woman spoke into the phone, "Hello...?"
Truthfully, Ianna had been so busy she just figured Coailiann was still in her room, brooding about all of what happened. She had rarely left her room since that day and honestly the woman had no reason to think she had. It wasn't unusual for Kay to be gone for a full day.
When someone picked up, Lu took a breath. "Miss Ianna? ...This is Luciel. I have something important I think you'd like to know." How would the woman on the other end react? Did she even know her daughter was gone? With the way Kay was acting, she might not have any idea. But at least her daughter was in a safe house, right?
"Have you seen Kay lately?"
"Last night," Ianna said softly, "Mm, why, is something wrong?"
You'd think Ianna would be used to being woken up at odd hours of the night by women who wanted something. God knew she dealt with wand findings and Matilda. Why couldn't this phone call have waited until a decent hour? "Is Callix missing or something?"
Luciel shook her head, though she knew Ianna couldn't see it. Despite that, the simple gesture somehow made her feel a bit more at ease. She would have preferred to wait to discuss this matter until the morning hours, but she felt that any parent should be notified of their child's disappearance, no matter what the time of day.
"No, Callix isn't missing. It's Kay. She... showed up at our doorstep this evening, and she's sleeping upstairs. I thought you would like to know where she was." Quieting down, Lu prepared for what she thought would be a horrific reaction.
"Oh. Okay. So long as she's all right..." Ianna sat up slowly and brushed her silver hair from her face, "She is all right, right? There...uh...Well, I figured she'd leave the house soon. It hurts her to stay here."
The woman slid out of bed, not wanting to wake up her fiance, and went into lobby, "Did she tell you what happened?"
That certainly wasn't what she expected, but she liked the reaction nonetheless. Ianna sounded exhausted both mentally and physically. "No, she didn't tell me what happened. At least, not that I could hear. She seems really upset, but hopefully some sleep and some breakfast will help clear her mind. You're more than welcome to come pick her up when you feel up to it. I'll keep her safe, don't worry."
The poor woman must have been through hell and back, the way she sounded. Frowning, she hoped the thought of Kay being safe and sound would ease her mind a little bit.
Ianna sat down on the couch and closed her eyes, "I hate to ask it, but I don't think she'll come back willingly. You're likely going to find my daughter in your son's room every night due to her sneaking out and right now I don't think I can stop her. There's too much going on, what with our home pretty much in shambles. You wouldn't mind letting her stay for a bit, would you? Just until things are better...? I'll pay you but honestly, she's not getting the attention she needs here, right now. Two of her friends' parents are dead and she's taking it kind of hard...."
"Oh my god..."
Luciel was quiet for a moment. Kay would have probably told Callix about the incident, but she did not hear a thing since she was in the kitchen. Placing an unsteady hand over her mouth, the woman finally realized what all might have happened. While she didn't know why these people died, that kind of toll on a child? It was a very steep price to pay. She breathed out again and began speaking. "You don't have to pay me, really. It's my pleasure. She's welcome to stay here as long as she needs to, really. As long as you're alright with that..."
Their home was in shambles, good god. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"I'm fine with it...It's been hard on all of us but Coailiann thinks it's her fault. In a way, it is, but she really doesn't need to think that way." A pause. A horrible thing to say about her own daughter but from what she had heard, really..."Don't think I'm horrible for saying that. Please. It's just, she did play a key factor in all that happened."
God, she really did sound horrible. "She doesn't need to be around here to think about it, though. And we both know how attatched our kids are...."
"It's fine, really. Think on it no more, please. I understand the gravity of the lives of our children. At least, I think I do. Believe me, I'll do anything I can to ease the process. Our kids have a lot of growing up to do, so much they have to come to understand." A pause. "At least here, they can forget about all that has happened, and maybe live for a little while without that pressure."
What was she saying? They couldn't just lie to their children, pretend no terrible things happened in the past, or were happening right now. Kay could not just forget that trauma, just as Callix could not forget his own. But living in a dream could at least ease the pain. Living in a dream of perfect paradise in a house with no ghosts or death.
"They are quite attached, aren't they?" she finally said with a laugh, hoping the change of subject would help everyone rest easier.
"Thank you, that means a lot...Kay's my life, my only real daughter..." Matilda didn't really count, did she? "Of course I love my others but...they're not mine like she is." Ianna shifted the phone to her other ear. She knew that they would eventually have to face everything and get through it, but perhaps it was better to do so after a rest. Everything at once had a way of seeming scarier than bits and pieces, didn't it?
"Yes, I think it's adorable how close they are. Callix is her best friend - she talks about him constantly. It's almost like those little puppy crushes." A soft laugh. Her little girl was growing up - and holy hell that was a scary thought.
Luciel laughed as well, smiling on the other end of the receiver. "I understand too. Callix may not be my biological child like Nephilim is, but he's certainly taken the more effort. I'm sure you can relate." Another laugh before it turned into a chuckle, which then died down. Were they fooling themselves with this laughter, pretending it wasn't so serious?
"Yes, I agree. He always lights up when Kay is mentioned. How cute, isn't it? They're growing up so fast. I told Callix not to try anything funny while she's staying here, and believe me, if anything happens, it's coming out on his hide."
"I trust them both," Ianna said, "I mean, they are just kids...right? It's not as though they know what sex is, or how it really works...I mean, Malen tried to explain it to Kay but she just got confused and muttered something about fish omelettes...What about Callix?"
...They were just kids, right?
"We... won't go there. But not to worry. I don't think sex will be an issue at all. Kissing maybe, but not anything beyond that. Callix knows I'd skin him alive if he tried anything, and besides, I highly doubt he really understands anything." Hopefully that set the other woman's mind at ease. They had "the talk" some time ago, and despite his nature, she doubted he cared much at all.
Still. The thought of puppy love going on in her house made Lu smile.
"Kissing, I don't so much mind. It's sort of like...Holy gods, our kids are growing up...But at the same time, it's...Oh, wow, our kids are growing up. Parenting should come with a freaking handbook...Don't worry. I trust you and Callix. Kay, well, she's a little imp but I doubt she understands too much."
A firm nod of her head, even if Lu couldn't see it. At least she was smiling now.
Lu nodded. "Yeah, it's strange to know how much they've grown since we first found them. Life can be hard, but at least we all have some sort of support network, you know? Kay will be fine here, don't worry. If you like, you can always call me for an update weekly or something, or I could call you. Whichever you'd prefer."
Standing up from her place near the phone, Luciel walked back to its holder. "You have my number. But I should let you get back to sleep, and I should be in bed as well. I think we both have long weeks ahead of us."
"I agree. Thank you for letting me know, Luciel. Kay can come pick up some of her clothing if she'd like, I'll have a bag ready for her. She doesn't have to, of course...Then again, I don't know how she'd fare wearing Callix's clothing, or if he'd allow that." a soft laugh, "Have a good night. And thank you again."
The phone was hung up and Ianna sighed, rubbing her temples before crawling back into bed. Yes, it would be a long few weeks. Very long.
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 5:23 pm
Sisters Need Eachother Too Kishi & Kay
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 5:24 pm
Heart To Heart Talk with (or rather, to) Neamh.
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 5:25 pm
Old Friends Meet Again The headquarters was slowly coming together again. Ianna had ordered a complete remodel - new couches, a Television that was bolted into the wall so it couldn't fall over. The bar had been removed and placed with a larger play area, the hallway had been repaired but there was still no garden door. The chandellier had been shattered and had yet to be replaced - actually, most of the glass was still piled off aside the wall. The floor was scarred and bloodstained from the activities previous and the windows were all broken. The gardens were still completely level and it didn't look like the place that it had been once before. The dark energy still hadn't left.
It was why Coailiann had left and moved in with Callix. She couldn't handle the memories that she had each time she walked into the lobby. She still saw Neveah and Danny fall and it hurt her, badly. Today she was there simply to pack more of her clothes and she was currently wearing some of Callix's clothing which was definitely a little too big on her. Her hair was braided loosely and she...Didn't look like the princess she normally did either. She looked tired. Currently the sidhe was standing in the center of the room, eyes closed, and trying to will herself to move out of the lobby.
Levis was clearly devastated. She was outside, staring at what had become of the gardens, tears in her red eyes. Malum, frowning, touched his sister's shoulder in a surprisingly caring way, and turned his blue eyes to the rest of the headquarters. It was a disaster. What had happened during their coma? Leaving his sister to mourn, the boy strolled into the lobby, and didn't hesitate when he saw Coailiann, in the middle of the place. She didn't look like her usual self.
"Coailiann...?"
There was a slight smirk on his face, but it was just a mask. Malum was confused. Bloodstains... glass... There must have been a battle.
Coailiann jumped at the voice and cowered - definitely not something she would have done before. The little sidhe had been quite fearless, snarky even at some points. She didn't recognize the voice at all and she slowly turned her head. Green eyes blinked at the sight of a grown up Malum and she slowly straightened up again, brushing a piece of loose white hair from her pale face. "M..Malum? You grew..?"
He certainly looked much different from the baby and toddler. The only reason she recognized him was the fact he had the angelic wings and nobody else she knew had them. They were bigger, but they were very much Mal.
"It appears so." His face was blank now, but he stepped closer quickly, impudently holding her face by her chin, and leaning close to stare at her. "What happened to you?" Footsteps approached, and he let her go, leaning back to frown slightly as Levis walked into the building. The tomboyish girl let out a gasp as she examined the place, and approached the two, eyes wide at the sight of Coailiann.
"Kay...? What did we... miss?"
Because they'd definately missed SOMETHING.
Kay definitely didn't like being touched. She flinched backwards and took a breath, looking up at Lee. She definitely looked different as well. "Well...You missed a lot," she said softly, moving to the new couch and lowering herself down slowly, "Including the deaths of two guardians. Because of me."
Speaking it out loud was hard to do but Kay figured that the twins deserved to know. After all, wasn't it their reason for being? Wasn't that what Matilda said? To guard the headquarters? Had her sister known this would happen?
God she was still so confused.
"Don't be so arrogant, I'm sure you weren't the only reason." Malum's tone was submissive, and he took a seat on the arm of the couch, legs crossing in a slightly effeminant manner at the knee, while Levis joined Kay on the couch.
"Kay... can you explain a little more...?" Levis got the feeling there was a lot more to the story. Were she and Malum supposed to have been here? What was going on? Since their flashbacks, she'd been feeling oddly, like she'd failed at something while they'd slept.
Malum earned a glare from the sidhe, "Danny died trying to save my life and Neveah died because I pissed Jorianth off." She snapped, "How can that not be my fault?" A deep breath, calming herself down as she closed her eyes again. Damnit. She was getting angrier lately.
"The headquarters was sucked into a place called the in between. The place where you two were found." Her head lifted again to look at the twins. She probably shouldn't let them know THAT - but it was the truth, "There are two types of spirits there. Light and Dark. WE got attacked by dark ones. One troll...Uh...I can't remember his name," she frowned, "Not that it matters. He attacked first and that's when Danny died, taking the gun from me because I couldn't shoot him because I was too scared. Then Jorianth came. Then..." she didn't know if she could continue explaining everything without breaking down again.
It had been hard enough letting Callix know. "It was just bad. Really, really bad."
"Honestly, I think you were rather unimportant to their deaths. They probably would've gone anyways. And if not them, some other guardians. Or worse, a child. Wouldn't that be worse?" Malum's own special brand of 'comforting'. Frowning slightly at the knowledge they'd just recieved, Levis held up a finger, stopping the storytelling.
"Wait, found? As babies? Rather than wands? Isn't that... strange?" Her eyes met her brother's and he continued for her, smiling slightly.
"Is Ianna here?"
"I don't know. I don't live here anymore," Coailiann answered, "And I suppose that would have been worse but...You wouldn't understand."
The sidhe was definitely in pity party mode - it seemed the only time she was out was when Neamh and Callix were around, oddly enough. "I can go see if she's in her room, though."
The silver haired woman was entering as her daughter spoke and frowned. This didn't seem like her daughter at all - but that was niether here nor there. "No need, I'm here. Hello, Lee. Malum. You've grown I see." A smile then, "You certainly missed a lot."
"Indeed, it seems we have. Care to fill us in, instead of stating the obvious?" That from the blonde boy, whol let his arm trail along the back of the couch, almost touching Kay's hair. Malum was the type to push buttons, and he certainly didn't like the timidity that'd appeared in his old... foe? friend? who knew. Levis cleared her throat, and spoke up, running her fingers through dark hair.
"What we mean is that, was there a reason it happened while we were growing? What's going on? Why did you find us as babies?"
Ianna nodded her head, "Yes, I'll fill you in. And I'll answer your questions." The woman went to get a chair from beside her desk and brought it back into the area, settling herself on the small cushion, "I don't know, for sure, if there is a reason why it happened when you were growing. I have a theory and that theory is because you have very important roles in our story. You two are two halves of one soul - as I'm sure you've figured out by now, or at least, have started to. You are Yin and you are Yang." a pause as she tried to word it correctly, "You are the guardians of the portal to Matilda's worlds. As long as you're in balance, in tune with eachother - and alert - you protect us. Well, you're supposed to. Matilda has something to give you, soon. But not now. Now...Well, now is not the time for you to receive your burden."
The woman sighed, "I don't know why you were found as infants. But you were found curled around your wand - only one. It's how we know you're one soul."
Coailiann listened quietly. It wasn't something she hadn't heard before and her head was now leaning into Malum's touch.
It was something the twins hadn't heard before, and even as Mal stroked Coailiann's hair, he was looking at Lee, thinking. They were both thinking, in a strange sort of blending that wasn't quite telepathy, but more a continuation of a thought process. I'll never be Yang, Lee.... But you are becoming Yang, as I am becoming Yin.... It starts on the outside...? It must, Mal.
"Guardians?" Malum looked incredulous. Who would trust him to watch anything?!
"Yes, Guardians. Your soul is the key to the portals. You two are who will guard Matilda, and this place, from anything that seeks to harm it. You two will be the only holders of the keys." She paused, "Because of this, you two will...Well, you two are likely going to be in danger. We have always known Matilda has enemies. What she's doing here...Bringing you all back to life...Uh, well, it's not the most smiled upon. In fact, I don't think anyone's too pleased by it."
Ianna bit her lip, "This recent attack has opened our eyes - it's worse than we thought."
Levis didn't like that. Her red eyes darkened slightly, and she, for a moment, appeared to be the more frightening of the two, clentching the arm of the couch she was closest too. "Malum and I can take danger." Mal, looking extremely relaxed, rolled his shoulders, yawning and tousling his hair.
"When are we supposed to be ready?"
"I don't know. Matilda will call you when it's time. You'll be able to hear her, you know. If you haven't heard her already it should start soon."
Coailiann yawned as well, "Yawning is contageous, Malum," she said softly, trying to smile.
-TBC-
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 12:18 pm
Reserved For Reserved Stuff
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:17 pm
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:20 pm
Reserved Talk with Morty, Callix's Gift
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:22 pm
Reserved Valentines with Callix
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:23 pm
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:24 pm
Reserved Talk with Ianna - Matilda's Dead
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:25 pm
Teen Quest i. - Don't Leave Without Me He walked to the desk, over his sleeping friend, and pulled a note from the bottom desk drawer. He'd written it earlier that night in a fit of confusion, yet it seemed very appropriate now. He folded it over in his hands several times before placing it open on the desk. She'd find it, no doubt, and throw some sort of fit. He smiled at the thought and traced over the dried in with a finger.Quote: Luciel, Do not worry about me. Keep Kay safe. I don't know when I will be back, but do not explode all over Morty like you did when the meatloaf wouldn't cook. And please move his litterbox. Callix
The boy struggled to put the backpack on, but was eventually successful (and cursed his wings for the first time in his life). Spreading his wings, Callix drifted to the ground to make his way towards the lights of the city.
Unfortunately for Callix, the sleeping Sidhe had become quite the light sleeper after incidents at home and she had woken up when Callix had gone for the note in the desk. Green eyes were open and watching him busily move around and she remained perfectly still when he stepped over her. Where on earth was he going? Watching him soar out the window, Coailiann carefully pushed herself up. She'd have to hurry if she wanted to figure out what all of it was about. Scurrying about to put on some proper clothes (Callix's, since hers were dirty) she quickly went to the window herself.
Then came the trouble of how to get out of the house without wings. Sighing, she went to the drain pipe and clung to it, carefully letting herself down inch by inch. Callix was gone by the time she got down and a curse found her lips. This was not good.
Scurrying in the direction she saw him go in, the sidhe finally caught up with him. Deciding it was a bad idea to let him know she was following him, Coailiann remained a decent distance behind him.
Trees flew passed him as he ran. The cool air kept Callix somewhat comfortable as he made his way to the city. He knew it would probably take hours at this pace, and he stopped at several trees to catch his breath. The forest thinned and thickened in waves, and Callix leaned against one of the trees and wheezed. He was still getting sweaty despite the temperature. There was a road nearby, but no one came. There were no cars, no motorcycles. Nothing. He saw the pavement through the greenery and knew he was going the right way. He could possibly be picked up by someone he didn't know if he traveled the road, and continued parallel for hours.
Hours and hours and hours, he thought. La Voix, this thing in the city you say to go towards… it had better be worth it. Otherwise I am going to be in such big trouble, you won't ever be bothering me again. He looked up to the moon as it crept across the sky. I know you want me to go very desperately. I want to go too, but why? Why is the city such an interesting place? Lu says only bad people go there at night. The doll-woman says I am evil… is that why we go to the city?
With renewed breath, Callix continued on.
~~~
It wasn't until they were in the city and she accidently tripped over something that Callix would have had a hint of being followed. The loud sound made Coailiann wince and she instantly rolled herself into the nearby alley to avoid being heard. She stood up and dusted herself off, leaning tiredly against the wall. God. She was tired....And getting so sluggish....
The city was disgusting - grime littered the streets, the smell of loneliness and despair hung in the air like a fog. Callix kept his eyes high, watching and taking in everything he could find. Neon signs advertising seedy services, men and women pushing passed each other to get to their destination. The smell of dirt and sludge and cheap perfume filled his nose. He breathed it all in - the smell of humanity at its lowest. One would think he would have been repelled by this stink, the dirt, the sweat and tears. But instead, he was drawn to it like a bee to honey, curious as to its inner workings and meaning. He stepped in between people, weaving between the sections of pavement that were busy. They cast strange glances at the boy, wondering why he was out all alone without his mother. The women he thought would be motherly toward him merely looked away. They'd been shunned too many times in life and, once bitten, twice shy, or so sad a song he'd heard only part of long ago.
He was so wrapped up in exploring the inner city that he barely heard a strange sound. Absently, he turned around and noticed nothing but a sparcely-populated street. He thought maybe he was being followed, but he'd caught glances of older men who would stalk young boys like himself. He thought himself too proud to be a victim, his wings and tail mostly warding off the humans. Other creatures lurked here, but Callix did his best to duck behind trashcans or disappear into alleys when they appeared. The city was rough, but the child was disillusioned, never once thinking anything could happen to him.
Ignoring the nagging feeling he was being followed, Callix took to shadowing a young woman, her bright green dress a breath of fresh air in the dingy brown. She walked into a store and he followed, sitting around the corner by the door to listen to the inner thump of the bass and watching the reflection of the woman in the puddle near the door. She had bright earrings and jewelry, speaking with a strange accent to the man at the counter. He had spikes coming from his ears and wagged his tongue at her. Through the wall, he could sense he moving in and out of the innards of the shop with a grace he didn't think she should possess. How strange she was, having high heels like a woman of stature, yet she had a presence about her that spoke otherwise. A liar she was, weaving an illusion about herself. She wasn't what the boy thought she was. She was merely an actress. His knees grew damp in the filmy puddles of the alley. Callix stood in disgust and brushed off his fine clothing. It was getting more and more filthy the longer he stood there, as if the air itself was pure grime.
Coailiann had long since lost track of him, now, and was breathing heavily. Her head was clouding up and her vision fading, a wave of panic hitting her before fading completely as she fell backwards onto a thankfully soft pile of trash bags in that alley. No longer able to so much as move with the weariness that was taking over, Coailiann sunk into an unconsciousness that would bring her something more than she ever expected to know about her past.
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:27 pm
Teen Quest ii. - This...Was My Life? The room around her was blurry and distorted, the colors swimming brightly before her eyes as they fluttered open. Once they settled and the room didn’t seem so mobile, Coailiann tried to lift herself up into a sitting position. Unfortunately, gravity or some other entity had other plans. The girl was unable to move anything, including her head. Immobilized completely, panic began to flood the child. Had she been captured? Had Callix been killed? She didn’t remember much past passing out in a heap of garbage.
The only thing that kept her from a complete freak out was the fact that she couldn’t feel restraints on her arms or legs. Logic would tell her that she couldn’t have been captured if she wasn’t restrained. The television always had the kidnap victims tied up with a gag and she definitely didn’t have one in her mouth.
Relief flooded through her as the realization hit her. Now remained the problem of figuring out where she was. The comfortable and lavish bed she was reclining in most definitely wasn’t a dirty garbage heap. Her limited vision from her position told her that she had to be in a REALLY nice place. After all, the ceilings looked more lavish than the headquarters had been.
That was something she really didn’t want to think about at the current moment, though. Kay closed her eyes and concentrated on attempting to move. First, her little toe, then her foot. When she was satisfied with her progress, she attempted to move her leg. That was slow going and the child tried for a good ten minutes before her legs began to work correctly. Another ten before her arms and finally she was able to sit herself up completely and look around.
It was decorated in lavish white and red with velvet drapes sweeping across the floor and fine walls. The floors were covered in a sea of lush red carpet that, when Coailiann finally slid her legs over the edge, felt heavenly against her bare feet.
Bare feet? The Sidhe looked down and stared. When had she lost her shoes? Walking in that neighborhood along the dirty streets would have cut up her flesh, not kept it perfect and smooth.
She didn't have long to contemplate it, however, since when she was about to check the bottom of her feet for wear-and-tear the door opened and voices could be heard. The voices weren't particularly loud but there was the sound of a baby crying.
"She's remarkable, isn't she?" A woman's voice said, "Perfect in every single way." She had to be the mother. Only mothers could see perfection in babies – that much Coailiann knew. Yes, babies were cute…But that was when they weren't pooping, screaming, and spitting up all over the place which was incredibly rare.
"Aye, perfect as you." Ahh and the proud father. Nobody but a new father could spout THAT kind of cheesiness. Coailiann fidgeted a little bit. Should she leave? Were these the people who brought here here?
"The king has been alerted!" The third voice, "He will be pleased." Coailiann was absolutely confused about who that voice belonged to but, considering it didn't seem to be any of her immediate business, concentrated on the conversation between the parents. Maybe they had wanted another child?
Movies had that, too. Kids being kidnapped to be adopted.
The owners of the three voices entered the room single file, one of them dressed like one of those old-fashioned nurses in the old movies and carrying the baby. The other two, a relatively tall gentleman in royal blue and a soft-featured brunette with brown eyes following and holding hands. She looked oddly familiar, though the male didn't seem to ring any bells for the child.
Several bells went off, though, when the woman sat down on the bed – right on top of Coailiann – and passed right through her. Kay's eyes went wide and she rolled away, quickly, falling onto the floor with a thud. Weirder still, nobody seemed to notice her in the room. "Hello?!"
No answer, the three just continued talking to each other as if she wasn't in the room. It was then that Coailiann realized that she most definitely was NOT in their room. She was a ghost. She HAD to be a ghost. Ghosts couldn't be seen, or talked to.
Did that mean she was dead? Coailiann began to freak out just a bit at the thought of being dead. Being dead meant her body was somewhere. If she was dead here then her body would be close by, wouldn't it? It would explain her lack of being able to move, anyway.
There was no body that she could see and she bit her lip, hard. She couldn't be dead if there was no body, right? Her train of thought was interrupted by a fourth voice – a rich voice that sounded oddly familiar.
"Is she here? Truly?" The king pushed his way into the room and stood over the infant in the crib, a look of complete pleasure on his face at the fair-skinned child. If the little girl in the crib was truly her then his reign would be one to go down in their history. His name would be known for centuries to come!
"We believe so, Your Highness." the nurse answered, "She is just as the stories say."
"If she truly is The Chosen, I will take her as my own daughter, he turned to the couple sitting on the bed, You two should be quite proud of yourselves."
Giving them no chance to respond, he lifted the infant and swept her out of the room for the mages of his court to perform the proper ceremonies to test the girl's magic and spirit. Perhaps after a hundred years it was finally time for a new Blessed to be born.
As the king left, Coailiann sat on the floor quietly. Why was she here? What the hell was going on? She certainly didn't feel dead and if she was dead wouldn't she remember dying? She sighed and looked around the room, taking in the beauty of the murals on the wall and the pretty lace decorating the edge of the draperies.
Why did it seem so damn familiar? Why did the dark haired woman feel so familiar? The sidhe was lost in thought, ignoring the chittering of the three others in the room for some time before the King entered with a triumphant gleam in his eye.
The babe was no longer wrapped in the simple blanket of before but one of soft pink silk, "She is the chosen one."
The two Coailiann had dubbed the parents stood up immediately and gave a respectful vow to the king, "It is our honor to have blessed the court with the Chosen One."
Handing over the infant to the unnamed nurse, the king, Diarmaid, turned to the two standing before him. It was a shame that he'd have to do what he had to do to make sure that his was the name that everyone would speak for a hundred years. The couple was incredibly handsome and their magic was particularly strong.
"Eileesh, Fiachra, I want to thank you for ensuring my reign as King and ensuring my name to be known even after I am dead." He pulled out an iron dagger slowly from beneath his robes, eying the two of them quietly for some time. He would take down the male first, he decided. Eileesh wouldn't attack him in return.
As Fiachra was about to respond, the king twisted and shoved the blade between his ribs, twisting upward with just a bit of effort. Blood bloomed from the man's chest and covered Diarmaid's hands, but he simply pulled the dagger from the man and watched him crumple to the floor.
It took a moment for Eileesh to realize what had happened and as she did, her eyes widened and she screamed. The king, however, did not give her a chance to scream for much longer, bringing the same blade that had just killed her husband up and across her neck. A spray of blood covered his robes and the glorious bedthings and carpet. She dropped to the ground, grasping her throat – but it didn't take long at all for her to go as limp as the man she had married.
Coailiann watched in sick horror as the king calmly slid the dagger back into place under his robes. Had he just killed those two? Really? Her eyes wandered to the two piled on the floor and her small hands crept to her stomach and held it. Hadn't she seen enough death in her life? Was this some kind of sick joke? The girl crawled quickly over to the two and stroked gently at their cheeks as best she could without physically being able to touch them.
They still seemed so familiar. Or, at least, the female did. Where had she seen that face before?
"What is the child's name?" The king's voice broke through Coailian's thoughts and she looked up, angrily, at him.
The nurse stood there, wide eyed and blood spattered, clutching the child tightly to her bosom. How could her king be so absolutely merciless? Having no choice but to answer due to fear of being cut down herself, the woman named Aillil forced out his answer, "I..It's Bébhinn, M'lord…"
Bébhinn. Coailiann froze as the name was spoken and a moment later turned her head to look at the two laying beside her. Those…were her parents. That's why the female looked so damn familiar. She saw her face in her own every single day. Her features.
Tears welled in the child's eyes and she lay her head gently against the woman's, "Momma…I'm so sorry…" Pain bloomed in her chest as the realization that just because she was born her parents were dead.
She felt sick, and the fact that the king was demanding the nurse kept quiet and treasured her as if she were her own made her stomach turn. As the king left, Coailiann turned and promptly lost the contents of her dinner on the floor, tears streaming down her face.
Coailiann was in her past for only a short time and already she wanted to go home.
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