Hidden Pasts Chapter 10
By Katie Herdman
“Thanks
for coming everyone.”
Andria
glanced to see if everyone was there, yes they were.
“…I
learned a few minutes ago that very soon the final battle will begin and
Leraikhe will be attacking here, because … well he wants me.”
Confusion
lay on almost everyone’s faces, except Squall’s. Naturally Sati
would have told him everything, apart from what Sati had just told her.
Andria
thought it was best not to tell them.
Rinoa
brought her out of her thoughts.
“Why?”
“…
Huh? …Oh, right. There is an ancient legend about monsters walked this
world long ago. There was a struggle between good and evil, until good conquered
and the dark angels and their master hid away under the earth, waiting until
they were risen up again. It has been millennia since they last walked here
and only their spirits remain now. They need a lot of energy to revitalize
them. Mine and Leraikhe’s blood sacrificed will give them all the energy
they need to rise up.”
“How
do we stop them,” Rinoa asked.
“We
don’t let the ritual take place, once it has, they can’t be stopped,
they will destroy everything.”
“So
what do we do,” Quistis said, her cold blue eyes levelled at Andria.
Andria
wished at that point that she could swap places with Quistis, asking the
questions, not answering them, there were no answers, no roads to take, no
choices left to make.
No,
there was always a choice, that was what Father Enki had always told her,
but he was dead now, he could not help her.
She
was alone again, a child running through the forest, running from the beast
that would now finally catch her.
“…
I won’t lie to you Quistis; there are no real answers. We can’t
make the first move in this battle, we have to wait and prepare.”
“So
were just gonna sit here on our butts doin’ nothing and let them come
to us,” burst out Seifer, yelling with anger.
“No,”
Andria said slowly, “when they come, we are gonna battle them. That’s
all we can do. The ceremony must take place tonight, or it won’t happen
for another thousand years. This is our only chance.”
*****
“Are you sure he’ll come Andria,” Vincent asked.
The
sun had set over an hour ago. They had spent most of the day preparing the
Garden for a war.
All
of the students and Junior Class men had been evacuated into Galbadia Garden.
Only the SeeD’s were left, hiding around the Garden, waiting for something
to slip into the Garden and attack them.
Vincent
and Andria were hiding on the second floor.
“…He’ll
come, I know it. Hey Vincent,” Vincent turned to look at Andria, “in
case one of us doesn’t make it… thanks for sticking by me. You’ve
always been my best friend and you’ve helped me through so much…
I…”
Vincent
shushed her. She didn’t have to say anything; he knew she was thanking
him.
Andria
thought she suddenly heard a noise. She stopped moving and listened. Vincent
was sure he couldn’t hear her breathing and he looked to see if she
was still alive.
“Why-.”
“Shhh,” she whispered very quietly. Andria knew Vincent couldn’t
hear the footsteps coming along the corridor.
When
they got closer, Vincent heard them too.
Andria
saw Leraikhe come out of the darkness; he was alone.
“Why
have you an Army when I am alone, do you not trust me.” He was playing
games and she knew it.
“You
can’t take me by yourself Leraikhe, not anymore. I will fight. If I
fight you can’t win alone.”
“On
the contrary,” he said, “what makes you think I will fight you.”
Beside
her Vincent growled and he pointed the crossbow levelly at Leraikhe’s
chest.
Andria
walked in front of the crossbow; she didn’t want Vincent to attack Leraikhe.
“Why
do you want the ritual to go ahead Leraikhe, you will die if it does.”
Leraikhe
laughed hollowly, “my life must be sacrificed for the higher powers
Andria, I am willing to give it up.”
“But
is that Leraikhe my brother speaking or the demon who is controlling him.”
Andria
waited to see what he would say to that.
“Either
way it doesn’t matter,” he said, “I am in control of this
body so therefore it is my choice.”
Arrows struck both Andria and Vincent; there was poison on the tip. They
fell straight away; the poison was fast to work.
“Sleep
tight,” whispered Leraikhe to Vincent, and then he picked up Andria’s
comatose body and walked away, the two vampires following
him.
*****
“What do you mean she’s gone?” Sia yelled so loudly that Vincent
thought his head would explode. He still had a headache. The poison wasn’t
lethal, it was just meant to put him out for a while.
When
they had found him Andria was gone, taken by Leraikhe.
“Sia,
shut up,” moaned Vincent, “Squall, you’re in charge, what
now?”
Squall
glared; suddenly he was the leader again. It wasn’t fair; he didn’t
have a clue what to do. When Andria had come he was no longer in charge,
she had taken over and he could see why. She knew what she was doing. Squall
was out of his league.
Finally
he answered, “…We have to find her and stop the ritual before it
starts.”
“Great,”
said Seifer sarcastically, “so, o brilliant leader, how are you planning
on doing that in the few hours that we have.”
Squall
considered it for a moment, Seifer was right. Then Squall hit on an idea.
“…I’ll be back soon.”
*****
“Sati, Sati,” Squall shouted out on the balcony.
He
had to go to a place where he could talk to Sati alone for a few moments.
“I
don’t know exactly where she is Squall.” Sati appeared in front
of him, she had anticipated his question.
Squall
was no longer in the mood for playing games, “…tell me where you
think she is then.”
Squall
spat out the words, he had to know now.
“Why
are you in such a rush Squall, are you afraid she might get hurt. The ritual
cannot be the only reason. There must be some feelings that you have for
her somewhere.”
“I’m
sick of these games Sati, where is she.”
Squall
grabbed her arm and held in a vice grip. He squeezed hard; Sati was obviously
uncomfortable.
“The…
the ritual must be performed at a certain place at the right time. I think
it’s at the Centra ruins. You should find her there.”
Squall
let go of her arm and walked away. “Squall,” Sati called after
him, but he didn’t stop.
“Good
luck,” she whispered after him.
.