Where are you, Kitten? How can I find you before it's too late?
Selah stood on a hill just a short stride from the Lancer's Guild, overlooking the lake that separated the city from the rest of the vast Twelveswood. The breeze tossed her hair around, which had grown out longer than she had allowed to it grow in years.
Short cut hair, or a simple ponytail were much prefered to this shoulder-length mess her hair was becoming, but there hadn't been time to style it like she wanted, or to reapply the violet dye that had finally washed out. Recent weeks had been too, damnably, frustratingly, unjustly busy to allow any true reprieve or indulgence.
All because I was a stupid, pathetic coward. I should have throw that damn letter back at Mother and told her to piss off. I should have sent for a courier to demand Geoffrey's signature on the divorce declaration, and stayed with Ginal. I shouldn't have allowed any of this to have happened, but I did. Whatever happens from here on, I will do whatever I have to do to save Ginal and protect her from those hunting her.
Even if it means losing her love.
She hung her head, and allowed a regretful sigh.
Hear... Feel... Think... Beloved daughter...follow your soul's pull.
That voice again! That warm, motherly voice that is as comforting as it is confusing. But where in the hells is it coming from?
As Selah glanced about her surroundings, her gaze was drawn, again and again, across the lake and to the east. She could feel Ginal's presence that way, somehow. Could hear her mischievous giggle, and smell that gentle musk. The Bramble Patch, where Ywain had sent me once for one of his trials. That's where I'll find her. It didn't matter how she knew, and she didn't care.
She didn't care about anything else, anymore. Not Mother, not duty, not the denizens of Coerthas, not Geoffrey, not the helpless, not divorcing. It was all about Ginal, now, as it should have been all along.
I kept telling myself there would time enough for everything, that there was no need to rush. We could be bonded in due time, have a family in due time, work out our issues in due time, and I could become less detached from the world in due time.
But there is no such thing as due time. Your entire life can fall apart in a single moment. You can lose everything you didn't realize you loved so much just by walking away when you should have stood your ground. The world can eat you and shit you out, just by allowing someone to have more power over you than they deserve.
Never again.
If I can save Ginal, I'll spend the rest of my life holding on like I should. I'll fight every battle that comes my way instead of walking away. I'll try to not be so damned detached, and show a little passion for once. I'll give her the most elaborate and grand Bonding ceremony I can, I'll even wear that damn dress for her.
Selah wiped the frustrated tears from her eyes and headed toward the aetheryte plaza. Ride the aethernet to the Hawthorne Hut, then it's about a day's ride by chocobo to the Bramble Patch, as long as the bird doesnt tire out.
I'm coming, Kitten.
The house, by the hotspring, on a cliff, sat still and silent.
Except for the Amalj'aa Warrior, who loomed over the simple, wooden table in the middle of the small building, grinning malciciously as he looked upon the cards on the table. He chortled and smacked the table, nodding in satisfaction.
"Yes... Even better than we had planned."
Aether of gold and silver began to swirl around on the opposite side of the table, creating wind currents that pulled books from shelves and tossed cabinet doors open and closed. The aether stretched out, growing legs and arms, and finally coalescing into the form of the Elezen Lady. She glanced about the dimly lit space, and fixed her outraged expression upon The Warrior.
"What's happening here?" she demanded. "What have you dark ones been playing at?"
The Warrior guffawed his answer, and eagerly motioned The Lady over. "Come and see, now that you have come! Witness the darkness that has taken hold of Emera, and what our guidance has led the Nobleman to become!"
The Lady dashed to the table and shoved the Warrior aside, leaning in to examine the cards carefully. The card of the Emerald was ripped in two as it sat alongside the card of the Sapphire. The card of the Nobleman's family crest was inverted, with a card bearing the image of a Vanguard machine overlapping.
"What have you dark ones done?!"
"Come, now." The Warrior scoffed. "Did you Twelve really believe we would just play along in this game against Emera and Sapphine? That we had no ulterior motives? Tell us you were never so naive."
"No, not naive. We never trusted you dark ones. Perhaps, though, we were arrogant in assuming we would see any trickery before you could conceal it from us."
The Lady cried out in frustrstion and threw the table aside, shattering it and scattering the cards. The Warrior bellowed in mockery as his body began to shimmer and crackle with energy, until it came apart in streams of aether that scattered to the winds.
The Lady sighed, and stayed in the dark room.
Ginal is near, I can feel it.
The chocobo was going on its twentieth or so hour of non-stop running, and Selah knew it was long beyond the exhaustion point. But time was against them all.
As if the bird heard its rider's thoughts, its legs buckled and it crashed into the grassy earth. Selah was tossed from the saddle, but retained her wits enough coil her legs and kick off from the tree she was careening toward. Upon landing, she rushed to her mount's side, and found the creature panting and wheezing.
"I'm sorry, poor dear. But you've done well to take me this far. Thank you."
The great bird had its head on a rock, too exhausted to respond. After leaving a gift of the same root Dinornis favored, Selah set off on her own.
Where are you, Kitten?
Concentrating, she realized there was no birdsong here, and even the woodland breeze was mostly still. She heard no distant mating calls of roaming ziz, and the packs of boars that she remembered made this area their home were nowhere to be seen.
The entire Twelveswood is waiting to see what happens, isn't it?
The clanging of metal meeting metal. Anguished and angry shouting in the distance. An aetheric presence so strong it was almost disorienting.
Ginal.
Selah whirled around, and soared to the top of a nearby tree. Over hills, trees both fallen and standing, and thick patches of thorny briars, her vantage point let her see. From a clearing a short distance away, the motion of warriors locked in battle, and the bright flashes of magical energies caught her attention. She focused her gaze on the figure at the center of the ordeal as rays of sunlight highlighted the dress of shimmering green. It was the eyes, though, that gave her pause.
Oh my gods... Her eyes really are aflame. What has happened to you, Kitten? How could a person carry so much raw aether within themselves?
And look at all of them, trying to fight her. Is that Tim? And Ely? Everyone who's ever supported us. They must be trying to subdue her, it looks like they're pulling their punches.
But Ginal won't. She'll give everything she has, and then she'll find more. She always struggled with restraint. I've got to get down there.
Motion in the corner of her vision caught her attention, and her heart sank when she looked. Armor made of leather dyed dark green, masks carved from wood that covered the eyes, and lances whose tips were carved from bone. A small troop of Wood Wailers were we on the march, steadily heading toward the clearing from the west.
"Oh shit."
They won't pull their punches. They don't know who Ginal is, and it's not their job to care. They'll fight to the last and kill Ginal, if she doesn't kill them first.
Wind tossed Selah's hair back as she leaped from her perch. As she landed on a cliff overlooking the clearing, pools of dark energies formed all across the clearing, and exploded in brilliant flashes of black and purple, all while spines of energy made solid angrily erupted from the soil. It was too much too look upon, and when Selah's vision had cleared, all of those she considered friend and comrade were sprawled upon the ground around Ginal.
Gods, No! Are they dead?! I was too damn slow!
Her heart thundered with anxiety, guilt and sorrow to see what had become of her beloved. Her fists trembled, her legs felt weak, and tears left trails in the dirt on her face.
Lance forward, ever on the attack!
Ywain's words steadied her breathing.
We yield not to pain, and we acknowledge no despair.
She rose to her feet.
We rise to the heights that others cannot, because we must!
Ser Alberic... I tried so hard to forget you, to forget all of Ishgard. Another grave error.
Fear is the one true foe of us all. Ignore it, and you strip it of its power over you.
Selah swallowed her despair and pushed the fear from her heart. Surely not all was lost. Even a fool's hope is hope at all.
"Hello, beloved." Ginal purred.
Wind tossed Selah's hair back as she leaped from her perch. As she landed on a cliff overlooking the clearing, pools of dark energies formed all across the clearing, and exploded in brilliant flashes of black and purple, all while spines of energy made solid angrily erupted from the soil. It was too much too look upon, and when Selah's vision had cleared, all of those she considered friend and comrade were sprawled upon the ground around Ginal.
Gods, No! Are they dead?! I was too damn slow!
Her heart thundered with anxiety, guilt and sorrow to see what had become of her beloved. Her fists trembled, her legs felt weak, and tears left trails in the dirt on her face.
Lance forward, ever on the attack!
Ywain's words steadied her breathing.
We yield not to pain, and we acknowledge no despair.
She rose to her feet.
We rise to the heights that others cannot, because we must!
Ser Alberic... I tried so hard to forget you, to forget all of Ishgard. Another grave error.
Fear is the one true foe of us all. Ignore it, and you strip it of its power over you.
Selah swallowed her despair and pushed the fear from her heart. Surely not all was lost. Even a fool's hope is hope at all.
"Hello, beloved." Ginal purred.
But it wasn't the same affectionate and contented purr Selah knew and loved. This was lusty and predatory. A huntress on the prowl, but not the same way she knew her wife could be. Hunting to deliver vengeance, rather than from necessity. Something else was different, she realized. The aetheric aura around Ginal felt weaker than it was a moment ago. Did she lose strength with that massive outburst?
Can I lessen her threat? Maybe by making her burn off this rage?
"Ginal...my Kitten. You look as lovely as ever."
A dismissive snort was the response as Ginal looked herself over. "Not likely. My dress is torn, I'm dirty and I've been bleeding. Our old friends have been less than gracious toward me today." An irritated frown was her only expression.
Selah glanced around at the bodies around her. Kraio, Elysande, Timothy, Ozalie, Lupe, Aerick, Historia, Six, Astania, Miku, and others she couldn't immediately identify or didn't know. And thanks the gods, they weren't dead. Some were unconscious yet breathing, some were groaning and stirring. She caught Elysande and Kraio both glancing around, but staying on the ground to feign death.
I've got to get Ginal away from here, and give them time to recoup. What can I do?
"No, I mean it. You look gorgeous, Kitten."
Offering the most sincere smile she could force, she approached the twisted image of her wife and offered an embrace. Ginal came, wrapping her arms around Selah and nuzzling her chest.
"Mmm... Should I forgive you for leaving me so quickly?" Ginal purred.
"Maybe not. I've been terribly naughty, haven't I? I should probably be punished."
As their lips connected, Selah felt Ginal's arousal pressing against her. She took Ginal's hand and lowered it to her backside, offering an encouraging grin.
Your libido is easy to play, isn't it? Suggest sex at all and you're all over me. Suggest something I normally don't want and you go crazy.
I already hate myself for using this against her.
With a squeeze and a smack, Ginal's purrs had escalated to a growl. The flame in her eyes blazed brighter, and a predatory grin filled her features.
"You really do want to apologize, don't you? Naughty, naughty, Selah."
"But not here. No audience...just us, and you can do what you please."
There, that sloping hill.
Selah slowly withdrew, and a controlled bound put her yards away from her wife onto a hill that gradually sloped up and bent around the edge of the clearing.
"Come catch me, Kitten!"
But Ginal was already surging forth, grinning and growling. Her speed was amazing, easily twice, maybe three times, as fast as she had ever run before. Selah leaped ahead again, and again, up and up, all the while with Ginal on her heel.
Gods damn, she's fast.
"Oh, you're too naughty, Selah! I'm going to do so much to you!"
Can I lessen her threat? Maybe by making her burn off this rage?
"Ginal...my Kitten. You look as lovely as ever."
A dismissive snort was the response as Ginal looked herself over. "Not likely. My dress is torn, I'm dirty and I've been bleeding. Our old friends have been less than gracious toward me today." An irritated frown was her only expression.
Selah glanced around at the bodies around her. Kraio, Elysande, Timothy, Ozalie, Lupe, Aerick, Historia, Six, Astania, Miku, and others she couldn't immediately identify or didn't know. And thanks the gods, they weren't dead. Some were unconscious yet breathing, some were groaning and stirring. She caught Elysande and Kraio both glancing around, but staying on the ground to feign death.
I've got to get Ginal away from here, and give them time to recoup. What can I do?
"No, I mean it. You look gorgeous, Kitten."
Offering the most sincere smile she could force, she approached the twisted image of her wife and offered an embrace. Ginal came, wrapping her arms around Selah and nuzzling her chest.
"Mmm... Should I forgive you for leaving me so quickly?" Ginal purred.
"Maybe not. I've been terribly naughty, haven't I? I should probably be punished."
As their lips connected, Selah felt Ginal's arousal pressing against her. She took Ginal's hand and lowered it to her backside, offering an encouraging grin.
Your libido is easy to play, isn't it? Suggest sex at all and you're all over me. Suggest something I normally don't want and you go crazy.
I already hate myself for using this against her.
With a squeeze and a smack, Ginal's purrs had escalated to a growl. The flame in her eyes blazed brighter, and a predatory grin filled her features.
"You really do want to apologize, don't you? Naughty, naughty, Selah."
"But not here. No audience...just us, and you can do what you please."
There, that sloping hill.
Selah slowly withdrew, and a controlled bound put her yards away from her wife onto a hill that gradually sloped up and bent around the edge of the clearing.
"Come catch me, Kitten!"
But Ginal was already surging forth, grinning and growling. Her speed was amazing, easily twice, maybe three times, as fast as she had ever run before. Selah leaped ahead again, and again, up and up, all the while with Ginal on her heel.
Gods damn, she's fast.
"Oh, you're too naughty, Selah! I'm going to do so much to you!"
More long, controlled jumps, more running in pursuit. They reached the tip of the hill, and Selah glanced down where they had come.
How far have we traveled, now? Half a mile, maybe? I can see them down there, rising and helping each other.
How far have we traveled, now? Half a mile, maybe? I can see them down there, rising and helping each other.
So what do I do? How can I enrage her enough to get her to burn off this dark energy?
Selah looked upon her bride with a pout, arms folded over her chest. "I've changed my mind. I'm not in the mood anymore."
"Excuse me?" Ginal stopped mid-stride, the look of disbelief clear. "You can't just get me all hot and riled like that and not follow through."
"I'm sorry, I just don't want it."
Ginal's fists tightened. "It doesn't matter if you don't want it. You're my wife, it's your duty."
It's your duty, girl. It's what you agreed to when you bonded to me. Now, shut up and get on your knees.
Selah's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't control the angry sneer that formed on her lips.
Like the hells it's my duty.
"No, I told you, you don't own me, Ginal."
Dark aether gathered and swirled about Ginal's fists as her breath came in angry bursts. Her tail flicked sharply as she showed her canines.
"Then I'll take what's owed me."
Selah flipped away, her weapon free of its harness as she landed, and Ginal was on top of her. The spirit sword cleaved through the steel haft of the lance as though paper, and Selah tumbled out of the way.
Well, fuck. Where's one of those enchanted relic weapons you hear about when you need one?
Ginal threw the spirit weapon aside, and it dissipated into strands of aether.
"Come now, love, don't be so hard to get. You know it only makes me want you more."
Bounding up onto a thick tree limb, Selah looked upon her wife with genuine fear. Have I teased too much? Am I in over my head? Can she overpower me? Will she force herself on me if she can?
I'll never forget how a simple, single choice can change everything, ever again.
"And why should I give myself to you, anyway, Ginal? I don't love you anymore."
It wasn't true, of course, and the words had to be forced out as they caught in her throat.
She landed before Ginal, and her heart shattered in her chest as she looked upon her. Ginal's ears had folded down, her tail dangled limp, and her mouth agape.
"You...don't love me?"
Selah had witnessed, months ago, how Ginal flew off the handle and attacked her friend Grezel. She remember how Ginal had screamed and clawed, and may very well have sincerely harmed the dragoon if Selah hadn't stepped in.
But now, the howl that escaped Ginal, equal parts sorrow and rage, was enough to turn Selah's blood cold. No treant, or giant boar, dragon or even Primal had ever carried so much unbridled rage and pain.
A heavy, blunt pain in her gut overtook Selah's senses, with another across her face, and still more. She finally realized that it was Ginal's fists, but she was already breathless and on her knees. Ginal grabbed Selah's long hair and pulled back, hard enough to elicit a pained cry. As Selah met her wife's gaze, she found herself completely unsure how to feel. Ginal's eyes were filled with enough rage and anger to allow her to do terrible things, but equal amounts and sadness, sorrow, loss and pain, that it almost seemed excusable.
"You promised yourself to me! I was your first and only love! You can't just take that back!"
With nails as sharp as ziz talons, Ginal cut a slit in Selah's shirt to expose her bust. She fondled, squeezed, and pinched as she held Selah on forest floor, growling hungrily.
"And look at that...your body still says "yes" to my touch." She licked the length of Selah's cheek and nipped her ear, "You know, love, I had almost forgotten how brilliant a blue your eyes are. It's almost as though they glow." She giggled, "You're going to love me. You're going to be mine. Nobody says "no" to me anymore, Selah."
The backside of a palm connected to Selah's cheek, knocking her to the cold stone floor. She was hoisted up, and Geoffrey ripped her bodice open. His eyes were filled with lust and disdain as he fondled her
"You're mine, girl, whether you like it or not. Nobody says "no" to me, especially my own wife!"
No. No! NO!!
Never again!
Sapphire light filled Selah's eyes as she threw Ginal's arms up, and was on her feet. With feet apart and fists ready, she dropped low and struck. A kick to the gut followed, then another fist met Ginal's cheek. Selah watched in horror as her beloved reeled from the blows, and shook herself free of the creeping anger.
Dammit. I just keep hurting her.
She wanted to cry, and fall to her knees and beg for forgiveness. She wanted to swear to never hurt her again, and always be at her side, no matter how dark her heart may have become. But as much as it hurt to admit it, Ginal was too dangerous this way. She had to be stopped, and saved if it was still possible.
And why does this feel so familiar to be in battle with her?
A dark skinned miqo'te woman, wielding sword and shield and clad in shining steel boots and breastplate, roared a warning as she swung her blade. Selah felt the air rush past her long, pointed ears as she ducked, and the blade struck the tall tree behind her. Squirrels chattered anxiously as the kept their distance from the two combatants, and the various woodland birds flew away, taking their songs with them.
The elezen reached a hand up, then pointed at the swordswoman. A bolt of lightning fell from the heavens, striking the spot where the miqo'te had been a moment before.
"Please, put your sword away!" Selah pleaded. "It doesn't matter who's champions we are! We don't need to fight!"
We've done this before... But...when? These damn dreams are driving me crazy.
Enough of that! Make her MAD! Piss her the hells off like only you can!
Selah leaped ahead again, and used her lead to sprint as fast as she was able. Down an old, long worn paved road that cut between hills, outcrops and thick patches of sharp brambles. She heard the crunch of dry leave and twigs under Ginal's sandals, and knew she was closing in. Another bound forward, and another. The lead never lasted, and even though these leaps didn't use as much energy as running, Selah felt fatigue beginning to set in.
As the brambles parted, they came upon a worn stone bridge. It was covered with moss in places, and sconces housed within stone casings bordered the sides. A gatehouse sat at the height of the bridge, with towering walls covered in ornate swirls and patterns. The walls themselves were flanked by spires that ended is moss-covered points, and pane of stained glass rested in the stone directly above the tremendous wrought-iron gate.
True old world beauty. Would that I had time to properly appreciate it.
She jumped and kicked off the gate, sending herself soaring to the top of the gatehouse before bounding down to the other side.
The sight of the gigantic, ancient cathedral before her forced her to stop mid-stride, with mouth agape. Towering spires that dwarfed the gatehouse and huge, vertical panes of stained glass. A massive archway set with the symbols of each of the twelve gods to introduce a structure that stretched on for what must have been two or three miles. All carved from the same ancient, graying stone as the gatehouse, with splashes of green mosses and algae in places. All rising up from a lake that rested at the end a miles-long bridge, bordered by the same ornate stone encased scones, with massive, winding stairwells that led into what must have once been a courtyard, but was now overflowing with water and lilypads.
It puts anything I've ever seen back home to shame. Almost makes you want to believe, doesn't it?
A thundering crash, followed by another, as the gates baring entry were thrown open by Ginal's rage-fueled magics. She approached Selah, eyes ablaze, tail whipping and canines on display. She growled and clenched her aether-covered fists, and struck out at her wife.
"You can't just decide you don't love me anymore! You said I was your first and only!"
Selah caught once punch and dodged another. She deflected wrathful kicks and flipped away to avoid magical projectiles. Reaching for her boot, she drew a small dagger she kept for emergencies.
Here goes...
"Well, I was wrong. You're not my either. In fact, I'm going to go back to Geoffrey and beg his forgiveness."
Ginal howled as she threw more orbs of darkness, then pounced upon Selah with a vicious assault of punching and clawing. Selah deflected the fists, but was caught on the forearm by Ginal's talon-like nails. Blood was drawn, and it hurt like all hells, but she forced herself to choke back the pained noises.
"And...I'm going to...to find potions to restore my womb, and give him all the children he wants!"
The very thought made Selah nauseous, but saying it out loud almost made her vomit.
And the look in Ginal's eyes at the sentence spoken made Selah ashamed to have ever thought she could be good enough to be her spouse.
Tears were now streaming down Ginal's face as she trembled with such a violent heartache that Selah thought she may cause a quake. Her breathing was rapid and shallow, clear signs of hyperventilating. Shimmering black aether formed over Ginal's entire body as she snarled, and began hurling magical orbs at Selah, one after another, after another.
Selah spun, flipped, jumped and dove, narrowly evading each attack. She allowed a brief pause to concentrate, and felt that the aetheric aura around Ginal had diminished somewhat more.
It's working. Just a little more, maybe.
"In fact, we'll have a new bonding ceremony to celebrate. And everyone will be there, Ely, Kraio, Tim and Oz. Even Grezel, Ywain and Miounne. They'll cheer and cheer, and tell us how wonderful it is that I came to my senses!"
Ginal closed the distance again, kicking, clawing and crying her frustrations. Selah wasn't so lucky this time, and felt the kick to her chest and claws across her thigh. With instinctual retaliation, she lashed out with her dagger and drew blood from Ginal's own arm, and mentally chided herself for the lack of control.
"Besides, who would ever want to be with a freak like you?"
Ginal stopped her assault, and stood silent.
Oh, gods. Did I really just say that? What the hells is wrong with me?!
Selah had long since learned to read every nuance of Ginal's expressions. Every twitch of her tail, folding of the ears, sparkle of the eyes, and curve of her lips. She knew silence meant anger, and purring meant contentment. She knew that smirk meant the huntress was on the prowl, and those types of tears meant a sadness that cut to the core.
And here, in this most beautiful and sacred place, Selah had no idea what she had just done to the only person she had ever loved. Ginal's ears lay flat, and her tail hung limp. Tears and trembling fists, quivering lips and an almost hollow look in her eyes.
Selah's heart had shattered as she looked upon her beloved. This was the most sincere sadness and most profound guilt she had ever experienced. She had finally learned what it was to truly hate herself.
Even in this state, she can't stand to be called that word. And coming from me, it must... Gods dammit, I've hurt her so damn much. Over and over, I keep fucking up. I can't stand to do this anymore.
The dagger clanged against the stone of the bridge, and Selah was silent. Whatever was to be her fate now, she readily accepted. She had crossed lines no lover should ever cross, and could go no further.
The ends don't justify the means. Would that I wasn't too stupid to realize that earlier.
Ginal stalked toward her wife and grabbed her by the throat. Their gazes locked as she drew her hand back, claws facing forward. Selah offered no resistance, nor she could any longer fight back her own tears.
"It's no less than I deserve, Ginal. I've hurt you so much."
The darkness-consumed miqo'te trembled as she seemed to be trying to force herself to deliver the killing blow. She growled and grimaced, but couldn't follow through.
You can't do it either, can you, Kitten? We can't love each other, and we can't kill each other. What's going to happen to us?
Ginal released her wife and turned away. From the core of her being rose a roar of fury and despair like nothing Selah had ever heard. Even a dragon's roar of rage was insignificant here. Pools of dark energy formed all around and detonated, throwing curved spines of magic up from the bridge's surface. More pools formed, more spines jutted skyward, again and again and again, all while Ginal continued to scream her rage that even the gods in their celestial halls could hear.
Finally, it ended.
The spines and pools of darkness faded into nothing, and Ginal stood panting and dripping sweat. She turned to face Selah, and her eyes were no longer blazing with that emerald flame. She blinked rapidly as she looked about, lost in disorientation.
"Selah...I..."
Her eyes glazed over as her body went limp. She began to fall down from the top of a stairwell, headed for the waters below, but Selah leaped to her side and caught her.
"Ginal! GINAL!!"
Selah looked upon her bride with a pout, arms folded over her chest. "I've changed my mind. I'm not in the mood anymore."
"Excuse me?" Ginal stopped mid-stride, the look of disbelief clear. "You can't just get me all hot and riled like that and not follow through."
"I'm sorry, I just don't want it."
Ginal's fists tightened. "It doesn't matter if you don't want it. You're my wife, it's your duty."
It's your duty, girl. It's what you agreed to when you bonded to me. Now, shut up and get on your knees.
Selah's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't control the angry sneer that formed on her lips.
Like the hells it's my duty.
"No, I told you, you don't own me, Ginal."
Dark aether gathered and swirled about Ginal's fists as her breath came in angry bursts. Her tail flicked sharply as she showed her canines.
"Then I'll take what's owed me."
Selah flipped away, her weapon free of its harness as she landed, and Ginal was on top of her. The spirit sword cleaved through the steel haft of the lance as though paper, and Selah tumbled out of the way.
Well, fuck. Where's one of those enchanted relic weapons you hear about when you need one?
Ginal threw the spirit weapon aside, and it dissipated into strands of aether.
"Come now, love, don't be so hard to get. You know it only makes me want you more."
Bounding up onto a thick tree limb, Selah looked upon her wife with genuine fear. Have I teased too much? Am I in over my head? Can she overpower me? Will she force herself on me if she can?
I'll never forget how a simple, single choice can change everything, ever again.
"And why should I give myself to you, anyway, Ginal? I don't love you anymore."
It wasn't true, of course, and the words had to be forced out as they caught in her throat.
She landed before Ginal, and her heart shattered in her chest as she looked upon her. Ginal's ears had folded down, her tail dangled limp, and her mouth agape.
"You...don't love me?"
Selah had witnessed, months ago, how Ginal flew off the handle and attacked her friend Grezel. She remember how Ginal had screamed and clawed, and may very well have sincerely harmed the dragoon if Selah hadn't stepped in.
But now, the howl that escaped Ginal, equal parts sorrow and rage, was enough to turn Selah's blood cold. No treant, or giant boar, dragon or even Primal had ever carried so much unbridled rage and pain.
A heavy, blunt pain in her gut overtook Selah's senses, with another across her face, and still more. She finally realized that it was Ginal's fists, but she was already breathless and on her knees. Ginal grabbed Selah's long hair and pulled back, hard enough to elicit a pained cry. As Selah met her wife's gaze, she found herself completely unsure how to feel. Ginal's eyes were filled with enough rage and anger to allow her to do terrible things, but equal amounts and sadness, sorrow, loss and pain, that it almost seemed excusable.
"You promised yourself to me! I was your first and only love! You can't just take that back!"
With nails as sharp as ziz talons, Ginal cut a slit in Selah's shirt to expose her bust. She fondled, squeezed, and pinched as she held Selah on forest floor, growling hungrily.
"And look at that...your body still says "yes" to my touch." She licked the length of Selah's cheek and nipped her ear, "You know, love, I had almost forgotten how brilliant a blue your eyes are. It's almost as though they glow." She giggled, "You're going to love me. You're going to be mine. Nobody says "no" to me anymore, Selah."
The backside of a palm connected to Selah's cheek, knocking her to the cold stone floor. She was hoisted up, and Geoffrey ripped her bodice open. His eyes were filled with lust and disdain as he fondled her
"You're mine, girl, whether you like it or not. Nobody says "no" to me, especially my own wife!"
No. No! NO!!
Never again!
Sapphire light filled Selah's eyes as she threw Ginal's arms up, and was on her feet. With feet apart and fists ready, she dropped low and struck. A kick to the gut followed, then another fist met Ginal's cheek. Selah watched in horror as her beloved reeled from the blows, and shook herself free of the creeping anger.
Dammit. I just keep hurting her.
She wanted to cry, and fall to her knees and beg for forgiveness. She wanted to swear to never hurt her again, and always be at her side, no matter how dark her heart may have become. But as much as it hurt to admit it, Ginal was too dangerous this way. She had to be stopped, and saved if it was still possible.
And why does this feel so familiar to be in battle with her?
A dark skinned miqo'te woman, wielding sword and shield and clad in shining steel boots and breastplate, roared a warning as she swung her blade. Selah felt the air rush past her long, pointed ears as she ducked, and the blade struck the tall tree behind her. Squirrels chattered anxiously as the kept their distance from the two combatants, and the various woodland birds flew away, taking their songs with them.
The elezen reached a hand up, then pointed at the swordswoman. A bolt of lightning fell from the heavens, striking the spot where the miqo'te had been a moment before.
"Please, put your sword away!" Selah pleaded. "It doesn't matter who's champions we are! We don't need to fight!"
We've done this before... But...when? These damn dreams are driving me crazy.
Enough of that! Make her MAD! Piss her the hells off like only you can!
Selah leaped ahead again, and used her lead to sprint as fast as she was able. Down an old, long worn paved road that cut between hills, outcrops and thick patches of sharp brambles. She heard the crunch of dry leave and twigs under Ginal's sandals, and knew she was closing in. Another bound forward, and another. The lead never lasted, and even though these leaps didn't use as much energy as running, Selah felt fatigue beginning to set in.
As the brambles parted, they came upon a worn stone bridge. It was covered with moss in places, and sconces housed within stone casings bordered the sides. A gatehouse sat at the height of the bridge, with towering walls covered in ornate swirls and patterns. The walls themselves were flanked by spires that ended is moss-covered points, and pane of stained glass rested in the stone directly above the tremendous wrought-iron gate.
True old world beauty. Would that I had time to properly appreciate it.
She jumped and kicked off the gate, sending herself soaring to the top of the gatehouse before bounding down to the other side.
The sight of the gigantic, ancient cathedral before her forced her to stop mid-stride, with mouth agape. Towering spires that dwarfed the gatehouse and huge, vertical panes of stained glass. A massive archway set with the symbols of each of the twelve gods to introduce a structure that stretched on for what must have been two or three miles. All carved from the same ancient, graying stone as the gatehouse, with splashes of green mosses and algae in places. All rising up from a lake that rested at the end a miles-long bridge, bordered by the same ornate stone encased scones, with massive, winding stairwells that led into what must have once been a courtyard, but was now overflowing with water and lilypads.
It puts anything I've ever seen back home to shame. Almost makes you want to believe, doesn't it?
A thundering crash, followed by another, as the gates baring entry were thrown open by Ginal's rage-fueled magics. She approached Selah, eyes ablaze, tail whipping and canines on display. She growled and clenched her aether-covered fists, and struck out at her wife.
"You can't just decide you don't love me anymore! You said I was your first and only!"
Selah caught once punch and dodged another. She deflected wrathful kicks and flipped away to avoid magical projectiles. Reaching for her boot, she drew a small dagger she kept for emergencies.
Here goes...
"Well, I was wrong. You're not my either. In fact, I'm going to go back to Geoffrey and beg his forgiveness."
Ginal howled as she threw more orbs of darkness, then pounced upon Selah with a vicious assault of punching and clawing. Selah deflected the fists, but was caught on the forearm by Ginal's talon-like nails. Blood was drawn, and it hurt like all hells, but she forced herself to choke back the pained noises.
"And...I'm going to...to find potions to restore my womb, and give him all the children he wants!"
The very thought made Selah nauseous, but saying it out loud almost made her vomit.
And the look in Ginal's eyes at the sentence spoken made Selah ashamed to have ever thought she could be good enough to be her spouse.
Tears were now streaming down Ginal's face as she trembled with such a violent heartache that Selah thought she may cause a quake. Her breathing was rapid and shallow, clear signs of hyperventilating. Shimmering black aether formed over Ginal's entire body as she snarled, and began hurling magical orbs at Selah, one after another, after another.
Selah spun, flipped, jumped and dove, narrowly evading each attack. She allowed a brief pause to concentrate, and felt that the aetheric aura around Ginal had diminished somewhat more.
It's working. Just a little more, maybe.
"In fact, we'll have a new bonding ceremony to celebrate. And everyone will be there, Ely, Kraio, Tim and Oz. Even Grezel, Ywain and Miounne. They'll cheer and cheer, and tell us how wonderful it is that I came to my senses!"
Ginal closed the distance again, kicking, clawing and crying her frustrations. Selah wasn't so lucky this time, and felt the kick to her chest and claws across her thigh. With instinctual retaliation, she lashed out with her dagger and drew blood from Ginal's own arm, and mentally chided herself for the lack of control.
"Besides, who would ever want to be with a freak like you?"
Ginal stopped her assault, and stood silent.
Oh, gods. Did I really just say that? What the hells is wrong with me?!
Selah had long since learned to read every nuance of Ginal's expressions. Every twitch of her tail, folding of the ears, sparkle of the eyes, and curve of her lips. She knew silence meant anger, and purring meant contentment. She knew that smirk meant the huntress was on the prowl, and those types of tears meant a sadness that cut to the core.
And here, in this most beautiful and sacred place, Selah had no idea what she had just done to the only person she had ever loved. Ginal's ears lay flat, and her tail hung limp. Tears and trembling fists, quivering lips and an almost hollow look in her eyes.
Selah's heart had shattered as she looked upon her beloved. This was the most sincere sadness and most profound guilt she had ever experienced. She had finally learned what it was to truly hate herself.
Even in this state, she can't stand to be called that word. And coming from me, it must... Gods dammit, I've hurt her so damn much. Over and over, I keep fucking up. I can't stand to do this anymore.
The dagger clanged against the stone of the bridge, and Selah was silent. Whatever was to be her fate now, she readily accepted. She had crossed lines no lover should ever cross, and could go no further.
The ends don't justify the means. Would that I wasn't too stupid to realize that earlier.
Ginal stalked toward her wife and grabbed her by the throat. Their gazes locked as she drew her hand back, claws facing forward. Selah offered no resistance, nor she could any longer fight back her own tears.
"It's no less than I deserve, Ginal. I've hurt you so much."
The darkness-consumed miqo'te trembled as she seemed to be trying to force herself to deliver the killing blow. She growled and grimaced, but couldn't follow through.
You can't do it either, can you, Kitten? We can't love each other, and we can't kill each other. What's going to happen to us?
Ginal released her wife and turned away. From the core of her being rose a roar of fury and despair like nothing Selah had ever heard. Even a dragon's roar of rage was insignificant here. Pools of dark energy formed all around and detonated, throwing curved spines of magic up from the bridge's surface. More pools formed, more spines jutted skyward, again and again and again, all while Ginal continued to scream her rage that even the gods in their celestial halls could hear.
Finally, it ended.
The spines and pools of darkness faded into nothing, and Ginal stood panting and dripping sweat. She turned to face Selah, and her eyes were no longer blazing with that emerald flame. She blinked rapidly as she looked about, lost in disorientation.
"Selah...I..."
Her eyes glazed over as her body went limp. She began to fall down from the top of a stairwell, headed for the waters below, but Selah leaped to her side and caught her.
"Ginal! GINAL!!"
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