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 Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:57 pm
((Edits in Orange))
"Are we going? Are we going????" Azrael asked for the billionth time. Her father had mentioned that he might be taking her to visit her Aunt, Uncle and cousin.
"Yes, yes!! Now calm down. Your mother says you have to have your stuff all packed tonight and that you're going to bed early. Oh, and you have to be on your best behavior." He said, looking quite serious. Azrael dashed off as soon as he had stopped speaking and heard his laughter resonating behind her.
The next day, Azrael jumped onto her parent's bed and greeted her parents enthusiastically. "Guess you had better start off before she goes off without you Felix." Sheba laughed. Azrael sat on the end of the bed bouncing; her dark brown hair in the messy pigtails she had put in.
"I'm up, I'm up!!!" Felix said groggily, swinging his legs over the side of the room.
"Come on, you!" Sheba said. "Let your father get ready. We'll make breakfast and I'll fix your hair." Azrael giggled at that and ran to get her brush.
An hour later, Felix and Azrael had started their half day journey. Azrael had a brand new sword strapped to her waist, a present from her father. It was a bit longer than was fitting for her size but her father told her she would grow into it and it would help her build the muscles she would need to use it.
When 6 year old Azrael got tired of walking, her father hoisted her up on his shoulders and carried her. Soon enough the two of them made it to NewVale. It was a beautiful day. The sky was clear, there was a slight breeze, the sun was shining overhead and there had been no monsters on the way over.
Felix lifted Azrael off his shoulders and set her on the ground before walking to the door of the first house and knocking on the door. Soon a woman with red hair opened the door and looked at the guests. "Felix!! I was wondering when you were going to visit again!" She said happily. Azrael had hid behind Felix's legs as soon as the door opened. "And who do you have with you?" She asked, peeking around Felix.
"This is Azrael. Azrael, this is your Aunt Jenna." He said, moving to the side so she was within view.
"Mommy, who's there???" Asked a young voice from inside.
"It's Your Uncle Felix." She said, "Come inside, we're just sitting down to lunch." Felix moved into the house and Azrael rushed to follow him.
"Emily, come say hello to Felix and your cousin, Azrael." Jenna said to the red-headed girl sitting at the table, ready to eat. The little girl got up and obediently came over.
"Hello, Uncle Felix, Hello Azrael~!" The young girl said cutely. She looked to be around Azrael age.
"Hello...." Azrael said shyly from behind her father's legs. Emily walked back to her seat and Jenna pulled up more seats to the table. Azrael was seated next to Emily while Felix was given a seat next to Jenna. There was an empty seat on Jenna's other side.
"Where is Garret?" Felix asked, glancing at the empty seat.
"He's out exploring Mount Aleph.... He said he's be back by noon but he's probably to preoccupied to notice the time." Jenna said with a sigh.
They all started to eat and after lunch Emily took Azrael outside. "So, where's the other you?" She asked.
"What?" Azrael asked, shocked out of her shyness.
"You know, the other you. He was always right next to you before you moved away. And now no one talks about him... I don't remember his name. All I remember is that you two were inseparable." She explained.
"I don't know who you're talking about... I don’t remember anyone like that." Azrael told her.
"Oh well, It doesn’t really matter. What do you want to do?"
"I don’t know...."
"You wanna explore the town? I'm sure if I went with you Mama would allow me to~!" She said excitedly.
"Sure!"
Emily rushed into the house and came back a few minutes later with a huge grin on her face. "Let's go~!" She started off across the grass. Azrael trotted to catch up with her.
Hours later the two returned from their little adventure and Azrael was told it was time to leave. Azrael protested but finally said good-bye to Emily, Jenna, and Garret. Felix stopped by Isaac's house before he left home but was informed by Dora, Isaac's mother, that he was off visiting Pier's, Mia, and their little girl. Dora also fussed over Azrael, who hid behind her father now that she was among strangers again. After exclaiming about how cute she was and how much she looked like her father. Azrael was presented with a large cookie and left with a large smile on her face. In one hand she held the cookie and in the other was her father's hand.
On the long road home, Felix told Azrael some tips on the use of her sword. Though about three quarters of the way home, monsters flooded out of the forest and surrounded Felix and his daughter.
"Azrael! Get behind me!" Felix shouted. Azrael jumped behind her father and stayed low. Her father raised his hand and the ground started shaking and heaving about. In some places the ground opened under the monsters. Suddenly one monster loomed up next to Azrael and brought it's weapon down in a powerful swing. Azrael gasped and raised her arm to block it. Too late Felix realized what was happening and slew the monster. Azrael was sitting on the ground screaming over her arm. There was a nasty gash on it and it was twisted in a weird angle. He would have healed it but more monsters were already swarming out of the forest. "Put pressure on it!" He told her as he scooped her up and started running towards home. The monsters chased for a while but as they drew closer to Vault, the monsters started to drop away.
Azrael had stopped shrieking over her arm and was now whimpering softly. Sheba burst out of the door and lifted Azrael out of her father's arms. "What happened?" She asked urgently. Felix walked inside and collapsed into a chair at the table.
"Monsters. They attacked and one got to Azrael. Her arm looks broken and there is a slash across the top of the break."
"What about your-"
"I used it up. First to defeat the monsters and then to keep Azrael from bleeding too much. I had to carry her the rest of the way home." He told his wife.
"Is there any way I can help you? Oh! Ether!" Sheba exclaimed. She went to the wall and grabbed her staff. Grasping it she bowed her head in concentration before giving it a wave. Felix instantly looked better. He used his newly regained Psynergy to sew up Azrael's wound and mend the bone in her arm. Azrael had fainted minutes before and Sheba instructed her exhausted husband to lay her on her bed.
"Are you sure you're all right?" Sheba asked once her daughter was settled. Felix had his head in his hands as he sat at the table.
"It’s hard to carry someone and run at the same time." Felix said, "I ran at least a quarter of the way home with low Psynergy."
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She sat under one of the large trees at the edge of town; starring at the clouds; examining her memories. There had once been a boy, a very long time ago, who had always been by her side. They never went anywhere without each other.
She searched her memories. There was one where everyone was sad, before her parents moved, and she remembered feeling lost. The next day her parents moved away from that town. < I think I was three I remember asking for someone but everyone just shook their heads and cried. I don't remember who it was either Maybe it was the boy..... And last time I visited Emily said something about another me...>
"Azrael, Supper!" Her mother shouted. Azrael stood up and headed towards the house.
"When's Papa getting home?" She asked. Her father had gone out to visit his sister and parents again. Azrael's mother, Sheba, had stayed home. She said the town brought back unwanted memories.
"Felix should be back any day now." Sheba said.
"Can I go to NewVale and find him?" Azrael asked, she asked every time and already knew what she would be told.
"No."
"Please?"
"No!"
"But Mum! I'm 17! I can take care of myself!"
"I said No! Your father will be home in a day or two."
"If he's not home by tomorrow night can I go?"
Sheba paused what she was doing and was quiet for a minute. "Yes," Sheba said at last, "But only if he's not home."
They both sat down to eat and Azrael went straight to bed, willing the next day to come and go quickly.
((The next day))
Azrael spent the next day trying to keep busy. So she decided to do all the chores that needed to be done. She cleaned her room, washed all the dishes, washed the windows on the house, dusted, swept out the house, made lunch, watered the plants and gardens, washed the laundry and hung it out to dry, pulled weeds out of the garden, brought the laundry back in, folded it and put it away, made supper, cleaned up the dishes, and sat to read a book.
"Wow. Maybe I should let you do this more often..." Sheba said. She had spent the day relaxing and planned to do the same tomorrow since all the chores had been done.
"Funny." Azrael said dryly over the top of her book, she looked to the sky. "Sun's setting."
"*Sigh* I guess you'd better go pack up some supplies so you can leave first thing in the morning..." Sheba said.
"Do you want to come with me?" Azrael asked, knowing her mother didn't want her to leave.
"...No. You're old enough to take care of yourself. Besides, it's not that far away; just half a day's walk." Sheba stood as she said this. "I'll help you pack."
((The Next Day))
The next morning Azrael set out from Vault in the Direction of NewVale. She had a lunch in her backpack and a sword strapped to her waist. The sun was shining overhead and the birds were singing in the trees.
"I love spring." She said. "But I wonder where the monsters are. Mummy said there would be some hanging around the outskirts of the forest." She mused.
She walked for another hour and slowly got bored of the sameness of the road. "I should have brought a book." She looked to the sky. Almost eleven, I should get there soon... That is, if I took the right path. I always get left and right mixed up...
"Are you lost?" asked a voice. Azrael looked around for the source. "Who's there?" She asked, getting out her sword.
"Down over here!" The voice said. Azrael looked down off the side of the road and saw a very strange looking creature. "Maybe I can help you get where you need to go. I have nothing better to do."
"What are you?" Azrael asked it.
"I'm a Djinni of course! A sound Djinni to be exact. My name is Whisper." It said.
"So... What exactly were you doing by the side of the road?"
"Wha-? Oh, well, I landed in the forest and the monsters started coming at me so I ran this way and found the road. Then I decided to wait and see if someone would come by who I could travel with."
"Where are you headed?" Azrael asked, curious as to where he may have come from.
"Home; to Luna Sanctum."
"Luna Sanctum? Where's that?"
"On the Continent of Leoda, of course!" He said as though everyone should know that.
"Hmmm... I guess I can help you get there... but first you have to come with me to get my father and then it might take a while to convince my parents to let me out of their sight..."
"Yay!" Whisper jumped up and down excitedly before turning into what looked like a music staff and disappearing into Azrael.
Frowning, Azrael readjusted her pack and put her sword back in its sheath before heading on. As she walked she went over the conversation she had had with the Djinni and vowed to ask her father about it once she found him.
Before she knew it she had crested the top of a hill and saw NewVale laid out before her. "Now, Mum said the house was the first one on the left and that Isaac and Dora's was right next to it.…" Azrael murmured as she walked through the front gates. She took a moment to look around before heading up to the first house. She could hear laughter coming from behind the two houses and remembered Mum saying something about a cousin. I wonder how old she is... Azrael walked up to the door and knocked.
A tall man with red hair answered. "Hello? Who are you?"
"Umm... I'm Azrael. Sheba sent me to pick up my father, Felix." Azrael answered shyly.
"I'm afraid Felix isn't here... He did say he was going to come around this time in his last letter but he hasn't shown up yet. Knowing him he's probably out looking for an adventure..." The man looked troubled. "But come in! You can stay for a while before you head home."
"Thank You." Azrael said with a shy smile.
"Who was it, Garret?" A red headed woman asked.
"It's Azrael, Felix's and Sheba's daughter." Garret answered warmly. "Go get Emily, and Rika. We can introduce them and then Azrael won't get bored by us." He joked. Jenna went out the back door and called to the people in the back yard. She came back followed by two teens; a girl with very light bluish hair and blue eyes and a girl with light red hair and red-brown eyes.
"This is Rika. She's Piers' and Mia's daughter. Her parents visited a few years ago and she has been staying with us while her parents explore the continent. This is Emily. She's ours." Jenna said, presenting both of them. Rika and Emily both smiled and said their 'Hello's'. Azrael smiled and nodded to them. "Now why don't you three go out and play?" Jenna said. "Garret and I need to continue discussing a few things." She shooed them out the door after instructing Azrael to leave her pack by the door and shut it. "So, why did Felix's daughter show up at our house without warning?" She asked her husband, as soon as she knew the three had moved away from the door.
"She said she was looking for Felix; her mother sent her. Do you know where he could be if he's not here or at his house?" He asked, worried.
"He's probably off having a grand adventure on his own to fight of the sameness of a quiet life. That's where he was the first time he disappeared..." Jenna said.
"That's what I told her, hopefully we're right..." he sighed, "Should we tell Isaac?"
"Yes, let's go now." They both left quietly through the front door and walked next door to tell their news.
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There was a long silence as the three of them stood there looking at each other. Azrael was shy by nature and the other two were sizing her up.
"So, Whatcha wanna do?" Emily asked cheerfully; breaking the silence between them, she was a very upbeat person and hated awkward silences.
Azrael shrugged her shoulders and looked around. There was a tall, shady tree in the middle of the yard and plenty of space between Emily's house and the one next to it.
"Well, we were trying to find something to do... But we haven't come up with anything yet..." Emily said.
"Hmmm... How about a game of cards?" Rika asked, seeming to pull a deck of cards out of thin air. Azrael looked at the cards cautiously.
"Is there going to be gambling? 'Cause I haven't much gold with me..." Azrael said.
"There could be..." An evil smile played across her face.
"Then grab your gold, girls, and let's get to gambling." Azrael grinned and set her sword against the house. She unhooked a brown pouch from her belt and set it on a blanket Emily had laid on the ground earlier. The pouched clinked heavily with the gold coins she had earned over the years.
Rika set down her own, equally full money pouch next to Azrael's. "Gambled before?" She asked.
"There is a bar in Vault where you may find some gamblers." Azrael stated.
"I haven't!!!" Emily had just returned from getting her money pouch. It was considerably lighter than Rika's and Azrael's.
"We'll teach you! It's a great skill to know." Rika said. Azrael nodded.
"What game would you like to gamble on?" Azrael asked. "Poker is fun but we don't have chips so we'll run out of money fast... I've seen people gamble on other card games. Wanna try some of those?"
"Like...?" Rika asked.
"Well, I've seen it done with Goldfish, BS, Scat, old maid, and a couple others. Any favorites?"
"Ooo! I know how to play Scat!" Emily piped in before Rika could answer.
"Augh. Fine, I guess we can play that..." Rika said.
"Cards?" Azrael held a hand out for them.
"Right here, I'm dealing though." Rika said.
"You'll fix the cards!"
"Fine. Emily, shuffle the cards."
"'Kay!" Emily grabbed the cards and started to shuffle through them and then dealt them out to the three of them.
"Winner takes all or are we calling the winning suit?" Rika asked.
"Winner takes all. It's easier that way." Azrael said.
"Make your bets then!" Each girl tossed a few coins into the center of the blanket.
"So, did you pick up gambling from watching or did you learn from someone?" Rika asked, trying to make conversation.
"On rainy days my dad took me to the Inn or the Bar to learn to gamble. I got really good at it and he even let me play sometimes. How about you?"
"I picked it up on the way over here. My father doesn't believe in gambling but I disagree. I also picked up a few other tricks on the way over as well." She picked up a card and took her turn.
The three of them played for a few hours and Emily even managed to regain some of the money she lost to the other two but it was mostly a competition between Azrael and Riddle. The three finally decided to stop when Jenna called them in for supper.
"Your father will probably be here tomorrow and if not we'll escort you home and talk to your mother." Garret told her.
"Can we come too??" Emily asked. She made her eyes as big and cute as possible.
"I suppose so..." Garret said. He glanced at Jenna who nodded her head slightly.
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 6:33 pm
"Yay!!!!" Emily then proceeded to leap out of her chair and prance about the kitchen in a very excited fashion. Without finishing her supper she ran into her room and started packing.
"She doesn't travel much, does she?" Azrael whispered to Rika. Rika just laughed and finished eating.
When the meal was done, Emily had been convinced to finish her meal, Jenna cleaned up and the girls went back out and played a few more games before twilight came. When they all finally tramped back inside, Azrael saw a cot had been set up beside the fireplace for her to sleep on. She took her stuff from beside the front door and placed it next to the cot.
"What about my mother? She'll worry if I stay too long..."
"We've already contacted her and told her you are staying over." Jenna replied.
"How?"
"Carrier birds." Garet said after a brief hesitation. Azrael accepted his answer and went to bed. Emily and Rika had already gone into Emily's room and gone to bed.
Azrael, dispite her exhaustion, had a hard time getting to sleep. Every time she closed her eyes she got the sense of someone watching her. She even imagined a pair of yellow/green eyes staring through the window next to the door. When she finally did sleep her dreams were fitful and full of a longing loneliness for something she couldn't find.
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