Answers

 Arasoi 

 

Chapter 10- Answers

 

 

I ran to the forest as fast a s my feet would take me, but they’re not taking me there fast enough. I don’t believe what’s going on….I mean Rue can’t be a bad person right? She couldn’t have done such a thing as causing this war. I pushed my legs to the limit. Come on legs…move! I finally made it to the clearing and bent down to catch my breath. I looked around, but I saw no Rue. Did I miss her? I started to think a little more. Where would she be at this hour in the forest? The image of the cut down tree comes to mind. Could she be there? I walked further in. Too tired to run and my feet as heavy as steal girders. Sinking deeper into the mud created from the heavy rain brought from dark clouds with thunder. I chuckled to myself. Funny…it was sunny just a minute ago. I guess….the goddess of the weather thought this would be appropriate weather for the mood of the situation at hand. A large rock appeared before me. With drops of rain hitting some areas while shadowed ones remained untouched. I guess I’ll sit here for now and wait until she arrives. Minutes passed and my clothes are soaked to my underwear. My bright colored shirt now darkened, my black pants even blacker. I sighed. Maybe she really isn’t going to show. Maybe she heard about what I know or Shadow must have gotten to her…..

 

“I didn’t think you’d actually show….You’ve got some real guts boy….” said a rhythmic voice as soft as an angel, but with a certain hard edge to it. Only one person could have a voice like that. I looked up to find long, orange ponytails swinging in the air above. Rue was floating above and started to gently land on the rock beside me. Her grey skirt flowed furiously as the wind picked up speed. Her eyes were their usual shade of red, a. crimson almost. Their powerful dagger like glare made me freeze from the sight. Like Medusa turning you into stone from just one look. I looked at her closely trying to avoid her gaze. Huh? This is strange….The rain doesn’t even seem to be touching her and even if one drop managed to reach her…..it seems to disappear. The wind isn’t hitting her as hard now as it did before, as it hit’s the trees and make the star-like leaves snap off their branches. She caught my curious look. “I was going to ask if you knew shield magic….but from your confused face…it seems I got my answer….” I looked at her. So this is shield magic? But what kind?

 

“I know some forms of shield magic. It doesn’t mean that I’m very good though…..” I said but then remembered what I came for. I didn’t come here to learn some magic! I came here for some answers! I glared at Rue, my mouth opened to speak. “Rue I want--- “ She raised her hand to stop me. My eyes grew wide as I sank back on the rock. What is going on here? And why did she stop me? Rue stood straight and tall. Her face emotionless while her eyes showed sadness. She raised her hand and in a flash of sparking red light that made more noise than the thunder, she summoned her scythe. The scythe shined bright silver  when put against the rock and had grown so long that the end  almost looped around itself. What is this? Why has it gotten bigger each time? She raised it high above her head and stared down at me.

“You want some answers am I right?” she said matter-of-factly. She started to swing her scythe in the air above. “First we need to be able to hear each other….and that won’t happen with all this wind in the way….” What is she gonna do? The wind howls louder as it picks up the rain and blows it into my eyes. Well at least when the hard times come I could already say I shed my tears. She looked down at my forlorn face and tattered clothes from my trek to this isolated part of the forest. She smiled faintly. “Don’t worry….just extending my shield to protect us both.: Oh so that’s what she’s doing. I can’t believe this girl can have so much power and yet not be weighted down by any of it. Soon I couldn’t feel any of the wind or rain drops and noise couldn’t even penetrate the shield. Rue sat down on the stone before me looking into my eyes the way she always did with sadness and uncertainty. “It is alright to ask now…..” I took in a deep breath. Even inside the shield it smelled of dried leaves and smelly earth soil.

 

“Rue who are you really? What is your purpose for collecting these souls and why are you always alone?” I asked in a quick tongue that she probably couldn’t even catch the first question, but she did. She moved the bangs from her eyes to look at my with seriousness that I had never seen before. She furrowed her brow and her jaw tightened, but she was still very beautiful. 

 

“You already know who I am…I am the Ursenfold princess Rue Desdemonna…..your friends already told you who I am…am I right? Now is there a message that Hime has for me?” she said then started to chuckle softly. She probably already knows what she said, but is just toying with me.  I’ll play along for now….

 

“Yes…she said that your rein of terror is coming to an end….” I said. She looked at me, a frown quickly placed on her lips then she smirked as if it was something funny to her. This is getting me nowhere. She just changed the topic and didn’t answer my other questions. “Rue I’ll ask again….why are you collecting souls?” She frowned once again. A sad expression flickered across her face. Why do I see those eyes every time? Why? 

 

“Im…I’m trying to gain the power to revive a hell god….” she said hesitantly. I blinked my eyes. A hell god? Why a hell god? Even so I can’t let her do that because it will cause destruction and devastation in all of the kingdoms. She looked at me displeasure as if she were unsatisfied with the confused look on my face. “I will tell you straight out……I stole the orb of Pure Souls and the orb of the Strong Willed. I would’ve taken the orb of the Heartless but the king had destroyed it along time ago……so now in order to create a new one I have to collect  a million souls of those  who passed on and take the blood of  a thousand Egos…….This scythe…” She raised her scythe in the air. “Has been created for such a task. My mother created it for me…….” Her eyes seemed to tear when she said the word mother. Did something happen to her mother? There seems to be a bigger reason behind this…..

 

“Rue….what do you plan to do with the hell god once you summon him?” I asked. Her eyes turned cold then a hint of a smile appeared on her lips. That’s unusual.  She stood up and turned her back to me.

“I’ve…I’ve told you enough…” she said hesitantly. I looked up to the back of her head. Her shoulders seemed to sag like she has lost all feeling in them. “Let me just put it to you like this……..I am the villain in this kingdom…if you know what’s good for you, you’d stay away…….However you’re bound to me by contract  so there’s not much I can do to keep you away.” Some how I caught a glimpse of a tear coming down her face and her eyes flickered three emotions: content, sadness, and helplessness.  A faint smirk appeared on the side of her lips as she turned to me. “Don’t worry…you won’t be bound to me much longer….” Wait? What? What does she mean by that?! Black feathers started appear around her. Is she leaving?!

 

“Rue wai--” I called out but she put a hand up to stop me. Her eyes turned gentle if only for a moment and she spoke one last time.

 

“I have to go….. I have one more ego and ten souls to collect….Goodbye Duran and even though I did not want you to…I appreciate you trying to help me….” she said as her voice was fading.  Then she disappeared with the shield leaving sitting alone in the pouring rain. 

 

“Rue…..” I said softly. Just what is happening with you?

 

End of Chapter 

 

 

Author's Note

Anything goes.

Reviews

[Livana Lowell]

Oh my gosh, I love the feeling you've put into describing Rue.

I don't have any suggestions at this point, just aching curiosity.

I chuckled at some parts and it's already enough that you have made me feel for these characters. That there's good writing, I say.

Though one thing puzzles me. Why in the world did she bind him to her if she truly didn't want him unless she likes him too. Oooh, I love getting these small, anxious assumptions. I can't wait to read more. Thanks for actually updating this time.

N'ways, love it, please continue, I really want to know what is going on with Rue.