***
The echoing of the school bells rode the wind straight into Cailean's ears. She weakly lifted her head up. Cailean let out a soft final snore as her eyes flitted open. Cailean had fallen asleep outside of Lena Holmes' house. Her eyes adjusted to the brightness. She was still in her school uniform and her hair was a gastly mess. Cailean sighed and adjusted the bun of her fiery, red hair. Cailean usually had a beauty about her that many girls envied. Her eyes were her most striking feature. They were a marvelous shade of emerald green. However this morning they seemed dampened by bags under her eyes.
Cailean shot up. "Oh no!" she cried glancing at her watch. She was late and she had undoubtly missed Lena. Cailean stood up. The night at the Holmes household had been pretty quiet. There had been a minor argument as of yesterday but nothing too dire. Or so it seemed.
"...Cailean you airhead..." she cursed herself. Cailean combed her fingers through her hair and sighed closing her eyes. A warm, sticky touch on her hands brought her back to reality. A bird tweetled contentedly over her head. She wailed. "Stupid bird!!" she cried glaring at the bird. Cailean frowned pawing flimsily at her now dirtied hair. Cailean whined "...Just wait...I'll come back and cook you tonight!"
The bird chirped happily once more as if to spite Cailean. Cailean grumbled and muttered once more "Stupid bird..."
***
Malik's whole week had been shot to hell. His body felt tired and worse his mind felt tore apart. He couldn't lie anymore. He missed Lena. He missed her smile. Worse yet he missed HER.
Malik didn't have to be a genius to see that Lena was really torn up over this whole ordeal with him and Hannah.
Malik just didn't see why.
He tried to theorize that maybe it was because he was with Lena's long time rival. He was pretty sure that was the case. Really in Malik's eyes Lena was acting like a child. She was a child who's "enemy" had gotten a new bright shiny toy she had wanted. So now Lena was doing the childish thing and acting pissy.
Malik still missed her.
He glanced over to her seat. She hadn't come to school today which in a way made him feel worse. "Lena please..." he muttered. He wanted his friend back.
Just then the door swung open interrupting his thoughts. A sullen Lena walked in. Her head was hung low so that her bangs seemed to cast a blackened shadow over her eyes.
The teacher glanced over. "Lena Holmes...you're late." he said, stating the obvious with a firm tone. Lena meekly bobbed her head in a small nod of understanding and took her seat.
Beside Malik.
Malik looked over feeling a bit guilty but sad as well. He'd never seen Lena look so desolate. Inside he felt something stir him but even he was unsure of what it was exactly. He had always made it a point to not care about other people's feelings. Lena was likewise in an odd way. Lena had a few friends but she was always a bit aloof from them. Now as Malik reflected back on it, he had really been the only one Lena had ever truly been open with. Otherwise she displayed a strong, willful image to others around her.
What had happened to the girl he had known?
"Lena...please...tell me what's wrong..." he whispered, watching her. Lena had her hands set out delicately in front of her. They were neatly clasped together, one over the other, but as he spoke to her they tightened into fists and he noticed her try and sink a bit further down in her seat.
Malik had no idea how to go about this. Was she honestly STILL mad at him?
Malik sighed and looked to the teacher. He had made up his mind about one thing.
He was going to talk to her after class.
***
"Prince Debiru...Winter has failed...many numerous times" Adriana said with a small twinge of impatience to her tone. Her plan had not worked out at all. It was no longer following the map she had laid out. After Winter's last failure, Adriana had been sure that Winter would be finished. But instead Prince Debiru had merely decided to "give her one more go". After THAT, there had been the appearance of the new warrior. Debiru then decided that perhaps Winter WAS on the right track after all.
"Patience...I have faith in Winter" Debiru said, watching the circular orb's display of the picture on Earth. "She is determined, Adriana...don't underestimate her. Determination can be a powerful tool to have" he said simply, placing a hand to his chin in contemplation.
Adriana sighed, unable to hold the disgust out of her voice. She turned to the monitor where they were watching a young school girl with wispy bluish white hair. Her eyes could easily stare down any feline.
Adriana glared daggers at the image. Mark my words Winter...You will perish...
***
The bell rang. It signaled the end.
Lena was the first out, but Malik followed quickly after. He dashed after her, determined as ever to end this stupid charade. "Lena-chan!" he yelled, catching her hand. She tried in vain to swipe it back but Lena held on firmly. "Lena stop it!!"
She turned and began to try and push back against him.
By this point Malik knew some people where staring and he could've cared less.
"Lena listen to me!!"
Lena tried once more to pull back but instead as she tried to get away, Malik lightly yanked her hand, pulling her back over. Lena landed against his chest and began to cry in deep, heavy sobs, finally giving up. Malik paused. Lena...crying?
Malik still held her hand, a bit stunned at the sudden outpouring of emotion.
"Lena...?"
"...M-malik...save...me..."she cried, her body trembling with each sob. She cried hard, her tears dampening Malik's vest of his school uniform.
"...It's okay...I'm here Lena..." he whispered, his hand still holding hers. Her hand gripped his in desperation, as he slid his other arm around her, holding her as she cried.
The students of Bright Star Highschool watched on.
Hannah Williams stormed off from the observing crowd, while a face, cold as ice watched with a bitter smile.
***
Brede Amgine smirked with delight. I've got my eye on you Malik...
Brede watched Malik pull the young girl away. The girl had somehow looked...familiar to Brede.
Brede shrugged her shoulders. She turned and bumped smack into another girl. Brede glared menacingly, facing whoever it was she had bumped into.
"Excuse me..." the girl said politely, putting a hand to her head and giggling nervously. Brede raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. The girl had vibrant red hair and a cute face. Brede wanted to slap that stupid grin off her face.
"Well...bye!" the girl said, suddenly darting off. Brede looked momentarily surprised. "Hmph...freak..." she muttered. She neglected to notice that the girl ran off in the direction of Malik and Lena.
***
Cailean had trouble placing her finger on exactly WHAT she had just felt. She remembered bumping into the girl and her body freezing over. It had been an icy feeling that had covered her very soul. The girl was very beautiful but she had scared the hell out of Cailean.
That can't even be possible for a normal human being...she thought in grim thoughts. Suddenly all at once her mind snapped back to the day she had just begun her watch over Lena. She had witnessed a battle between Malik and some other being. That girl...who could control ice...
Cailean gasped. It was her!! How could I have been so blind...
Cailean glanced back in the girl's general direction, however she was gone.
"Damnit..." she muttered, then glanced solemnly in Malik and Lena's direction. There was no doubt in Cailean's mind that this girl was pursuing Lena as she was.
Cailean glanced to the sky. "Becareful...Lena..."
***
Most students had gone home. The sky was a tired, fading orange. The sun was beginning it's gradual fall for the horizon.
Malik stood with Lena.
He no longer held her, but instead watched her. They were in a small alley by the gymnasium. Lena leaned against one wall, her head lowered as before. She had ceased her crying once they had left the crowd surrounding them.
Malik leaned against the other wall. He studied Lena seriously. She had been talking to him but in small sentences. Her voice sounded wounded. Worse yet broken.
"Lena...is this my fault?"
The question had slipped past his lips on accident. It had barged out and now there was no taking it back.
Lena looked up, surprised. Her surprise only lasted for a moment and her eyes dimmed. They took on a sad, glassy look.
"Malik...you..." she paused. She seemed to struggle to find the right words. Malik studied her. He felt the familiar stir deep within his heart once more. "Lena...I want to know..."
She gradually looked up and her eyes finally met his in what seemed like an eternity. Malik had found that he actually had missed looking into her eyes.
However the fragile moment was soon shattered.
An icy wind seeped through the alley. The clouds had turned a menacing gray. Malik instinctively pushed Lena back, putting his arms out to shield her. As he did a gust of icy wind pummeled his body. He gritted his teeth and opened one eye slightly.
A voice snickered icily.
"STOP HIDING!!!!" Malik challenged, yelling to the voice. He glanced around, narrowing his eyes. He was ready for the familiar , cold, icy smile of the girl he knew so well, yet also despised.
"Coward!!" Malik snapped once more. Suddenly Winter appeared in the air above him. She laughed as though he had made an incredibly funny joke. Her laughter shook his bones. It was inhumanly cruel.
He gasped as the realization hit him. "HANNAH!!!!!!!!!" he cried, a momentary look of worry crossing his face. Winter laughed harder and clutched the girl, her arm roughly around Hannah's neck.
Lena winced at Malik's desperation to save Hannah. She momentarily glanced down, feeling tears spring to her eyes. She didn't know why she felt so bad...she knew that had to save Hannah but part of her...
just wanted Hannah to die.
Lena looked up, a little shaken. How could she even think that...?
Lena shook her head backing up.
Malik glared, though he knew he could've never rivaled the naturally cold glare Winter had down perfectly.
"You never even told me your name! You want the damn savior? WHY?! and what's Hannah got to do with this?!"
Winter smirked, tilting her head to the side. She looked amused. "I'll explain...My name is Winter. Don't forget it. I need Hannah because I believe that either you or that mystery 'rescuer' of yours are the savior. And that person from last time only appeared when I attacked both of you...so..."
Winter threw Hannah's body into the wall so hard, the wall seemed to shake and tremble. Hannah cried out, her scream piercing the air. Her body collapsed but Malik managed to just barely catch her. "You...will...pay..." Malik muttered through clenched teeth. Winter only laughed once more, relishing in her power.
Her laugh was cut short as a black wave of energy seemed to hit her all at once. Winter was slammed into the same wall Hannah had previously hit, but she actually dented it. Malik looked over, half expecting to see the mystery person who had saved them last time. Instead stood a figure, shadowed by such darkness it could only have been imagined in a nightmare. The figure watched, unphased and it raised it's hand. A bolt of pure red lightening hit Winter, covering her body and causing her to seizure. Winter screamed in such terrible agony.
Malik dropped Hannah lightly to the ground and ran over. "STOP IT! That's enough!!" he cried. The dark figure tilted their head. Malik blinked once then twice. It was a woman...
The figure then clenched it's fist and Winter screamed even louder. Her body jumped and bucked from the electrical currents covering her.
"NO!!" Malik screamed.
There was a flash of light and an arrow pierced the dark figure's side. A boy about Malik's age jumped down from a nearby tree. He was dressed casually but held a bow and arrows on his back. The boy had sandy, hazel hair with blonde highlights. He had an attractive set of violet eyes. The boy looked serious as he landed. "Out of my way..." he demanded, shoving Malik aside. Malik glared, about to argue.
"..." the boy wordlessly glanced to where the figure had been. Whoever it was, was gone. The boy turned to Malik. "Are you okay?" he asked calmly, inspecting Malik. Malik barely had time to nod as the boy grabbed him and swung him around. A dagger of ice hit the boy in the back and he gritted his teeth, briefly turning back to face his attacker.
Winter stood, her crown still atop of her head but her hair disheveled. Her lip was bleeding. She seemed to have a crazed anger in her eyes. Winter's hand gingerly touched the blood at her lips and pulled back watching in awe. "So...this what...the others are ...all worked up over..." she muttered then looked back to the boy and Malik. "You..."
Suddenly Autumn appeared behind Winter. "Winter leave."
She turned and laughed harshly in his face. "How grand! You giving ME orders!"
Autumn only glared. "You've lost this fight..."
"Have I?"
Autumn eyed her, but Winter only grinned, fading out in a soft blue light. Autumn watched the boy and Malik and merely nodded, disappearing as well.
Both boys stared. Malik had a look of rage upon his face. Who the hell are these people anyway?! he screamed inside his head. The boy looked over and seemed to snap him back to reality. "You alright?"
Malik nodded once more and started over to Hannah. Only as he bent to pick her up did he notice Lena was gone. Malik looked about, holding Hannah's unconscious body in his arms. The sky had remained gray though Winter had left. Malik closed his eyes.
"Damnit..."
Episode 8: A Price to Pay
Note: Okay this was a LONG LONG chapter. So forgive me if I miss any typos. I went over it like two times. One last note is that you'll notice in the story when the villains show up the scenery changes. Well, this will become important to the story later but you may be wondering why no one else notices the change. Well, they do but I figure if you notice Cardcaptor Sakura and Sailor Moon, hell even Gundam Wing sometimes that when there's a disaster people (aside from the main characters) are like "Huh?" then go on with their normal lives. A PERFECT example of this is in the Sailor Moon S movie. The people become unfrozen then glance around briefly in wonder then continue shopping. HeeHeeHee!
I found this kinda funny but hey it seems to be a pattern. So I hope that kinda cleared it up for you.