(Continued From The Barracks)

Sire was resting his head on Aliwa’s shoulder, when she carried him into his office, half because he wanted to hide his face so no one would see him, the other reason because her skin felt so go against his feverish face. Even Nick’s fur was a welcomed relief when it occasionally stroked against him, and he did his best to not try and put all of his weight on the girl.

When they did finally make it to his office, he collapsed into his chair, turning his face from the girl but his hands still resting tiredly on her shoulder. “Thank you…Aliwa…” he said inbetween coughs and turned towards her, sweat dripping down his face as it grew paler and paler with each passing moment, his gray eyes no longer as sharp and steely but looked glazed over and lucid. The only color in his cheeks was the slight blush from the fever.

He willed his arm to move away from her shoulder but he couldn’t it. He had no strength to, and for some reason all of the objects around her became slightly blurred and she now seemed to resemble someone familiar to him. The fever spiked without him noticing and he was consciousness of the shift into the fever dream like he was before, and as he stared at Aliwa he saw someone he missed.

His mother.

“Mom…” He whispered as he twirled her hair a little in his fingers, a large, weak smile crossing his lips. “Mother is that really you…” and with what remaining strength he had he pulled Aliwa close towards him embracing her in a hug. “Mother…I missed you so much…I’m so sorry…I missed you…”

((Awww Sire! <8D))

Nick crawled up Sire's arm and placed his cool tiny paws on Sire's forhead. He didnt see Sire's condition as something to worry about, he saw it more as a perfect oportunity to go threw Sire's facinating hair. He pushed his cold wet nose threw Sire's scalp and sneezed alittle. The man's hair was warm and comfortable to the ferret. But then he started talking.

The word "Mother" was something neither Nick nor Aliwa understood very well. Aliwa had never even had the chance to say the word, and Nick had associated it with people who would hit him with brooms.

Aliwa didnt want to embarress her master, as she had been taught not to, and played along as best she could. "Uh,There there. 'Never really left... just, been hiding in your memories. Thats all." Cheesey? Much? She thought. It wasnt often that anyone hugged her... and she liked getting hugs. She wrapped her arms around Sire and burried her face in Sire's shoulder even though she knew it would only be a matter of time before he came back to his senses and would most likely snap at her for coming in physical contact with him.

The tears brimmed at the boys eyes as he gave a little sniffle, tightening his grip on his mother/Aliwa, and ignoring Nick’s paws slightly. Everything going on seemed to perfect for him, and even though he believed to be holding his beloved mother in his arms, the last shred of sanity knocked on the reality.

“I swear Mama,” He whispered, he voice shaking slightly, “I will kill them all…” There was a slight chuckle to his voice almost. “I will make them suffer for what they did to you…I will make it so they beg for death, I promised you…and I will see my promise through to the end…” He let go a little bit at this end, a goofy daze and confused smile on his face with tears slightly pouring down his face.

“My dear Mama, even in death I heard you were beautiful…I wish I was there…I wish I could have buried you…but no…” he let out a laugh and collapsed back in his chair, cracking up to himself. “They will die…I swear it…I will hang them from atop the highest tower, for all to see! All! All! They will bleed. I promise you my dear Mama, I promised you…”

His eyes scanned over towards Nick. “Hello Wilfred, now what are you doing here?” he asked the ferret laughing a bit more to himself.

Sire was begining to scare Aliwa. "S-son, You know you always made me proud. But I wont let you go face those.. demons alone. You'll kill yourself! Your better than that, Sire! Your smarter than that... i know you are." She placed her hand on his cheek and brushed away his tears.

Nick looked at Sire with so much frustration, he restrained himself from biting the smile right off his face. 'What'd you call me? What was that, PUNK? Say that shit again! Go on! Say it! See what happens when you get my name wrong!" Aliwa bit her lip nervously. In his state, Sire would probubly understand and start a conversation with Nick like Aliwa always did.

"Dear Sire, your so very unwell. You should get some sleep before you hurt yourself." Aliwa quickly yet calmly suggested. With the back of her hand, she brushed Sire's white hair to the side to reveal his tired eyes.

Sire’s smile disappeared off his face as he stared at Aliwa/Mother as he crossed his arms and dried his eyes with the sleeve of his robe. His words confused her, and he wasn’t sure why he was sweating so much of why Wilbur was here, he hadn’t seen him since the crusades. What baffled him the most was the what she was saying.

“What do you say Mother,” Sire sighed as he leaned back against the chair lazily and stroked his beard. “That I should not kill the men who…who took you from me! That I should not make them suffer for the unspeakable acts they did to you! You of all people should know that I no longer have to capacity for compassion or mercy…” he looked around his glazed eyes searching for something cool and icy to drink, and he heard through his muffled ears the sounds of steps outside his office.

“You’re husband…or “father”” He growled as he let out a couple of chesty coughs. “Made sure of that…” his eyebrows furrowed together in frustration as he ran a sweaty hand through his hair, and batted her hand away. “Any who, Wilbur, don’t be rude, and stop groping mother, you must get over your childhood infatuation with her…

Aliwa remembered why she had feared him. Her heart pounded so heard she could feel her pulse in her finger tips. One moment he was holding her in his arms and the next he was pushing her away and scolding Nick. Nick, ofcourse, was furious at Sire for using that tone with his master and once again calling him the wrong name. The ferret's ears flattend back and he jumped on the sickly man. With a single snarl, the animal bit him right on the bridge of his nose.

"Nick!" Aliwa yelped. She pulled Nickolas off Sire's face and stuffed him into her one pocket. "I am so sorry Sire! He just hasnt eaten yet, he gets nippy." Please tell me he woke up from that. Her mind pleaded.


((sorry, short post, g2g ^^; ))

Sire sat in his chair for a second, his fingers running up and down over the bite mark Nick had given him. He stood up and for a second said nothing at all, and his eyes looked down at the desk as he wore an expression of pure shock. “I should have known…” His voice quivered slightly and he sounded completely dejected and vulnerable. “Should have known that he had tainted you in such a way…”

The man sighed as he walked over. “Get out, get out now…” He hissed and when she did not leave immediately the grown man’s arms swept across his desk knocking everything out as he yelled at the top of his lungs. “GET OUT! GET OUT!” but his temporary strength failed him and he collapsed to his knees, gasping for air slightly. “Damn it…”He muttered and he began to regain his sanity back. “Call for the doctor…Aliwa…quickly…”

Aliwa's eyes turned light in her terror. She fell back against the wall with tears in her eyes. She didnt see an ill young man before her, but for a moment she saw Locien screaming at her. His long white hair in his face and dark eyes surrounded by dark circles making him look like he had no eyes to begin with. The black tattoos running down his face and his haunting glare. The woman cringed and looked away holding Nick for dear life as scarring memories flooded her mind. A tear rolled down her cheek and dripped off her chin. She looked back at Sire when she recognized her name.

"I-I cant just leave you here!" She pleaded. She looked at the door and back at Sire. "I'll be quick!" With that, she reluctantly dashed out of the room and sped down the halls calling for a doctor.

She returned in moments with a doctorly man who rushed to tend to Sire's illness. Aliwa kept her distance by leaning in the doorway. She was affraid Sire was truely angry with her and she sick for impersonating his mother even if it wouldn't have made a diffrence to him. She lingered in the thought of being hugged by him. Her eyes had even turned dreamy towards him, but she wasnt aware because she was lost in thought.

When the doctor came in, Sire looked up with his glassy eyes and waved a dismissive hand at her. “Leave,” He ordered sternly, and then went to the Doctor and ordered him to quickly close the door on her exit. “And do not mention to anyone…about the state I’m in…the last thing I need is another assassination attempt while I’m ill…” He said the last part mostly to himself.

(Bleh Short Post –cries-)

Aliwa inhailed deeply and nodded respectfully before she turned and walked down the hall. Though she had grown up with rejection and dismissal, she never really got over the awfull feeling in her heart every time she was dismissed. Is he really that mad? Nah, its probubly just because hes tired and sick.. She shook her head and tried to redirect her thoughts. Oh, well atleast I can go hang out with Shahin now. And I can get a drink! Suddenly she was sprinting out of the building.

She looked around outside. It had gotten pretty dark so it would be difficult to find her percheron. Her eyes scanned the ground for his four white socks. No sign of him. Maybe he went back to his stall. She ran down to the stable and found his stall. She noticed there was a plate on his stall which said 'Apollo.' Ali bridled Apollo and led him out of the stable and jumped on his back. Kicking his sides, the great horse broke into a gallope toward town.


MEANWHILE! Nick had been sitting in Sire's office completely oblivious of his surroundings. He crawled up on Sire's desk and looked at him. 'Did you see where my master went? Shes comming back, right?' He asked assuming the two men could understand him.

((BWAHAHAA your stuck with Niiiiick!))

The Doctor tried to convince Sire to head towards his room and get some sleep but the young man refused out right. Saying give him his medicine and then leave, he had things and paperwork to do, and no time to rest in bed. The old Doctor left, placing on his long beaked mask and shook his head as he walked down the hallway, the really superstitious backed as far away from the doctor as far as possible. He looked at the small ferret who was sitting on his desk and then reached into his desk drawer, pulling out a piece of dried meat and cured meat.

“You hungry boy?” The silver haired man asked, not quite understanding what the little sounds and movements the creature made meant. Though he was more comfortable around the ferret now than any other human, and he felt even better about the fact that no one was there to see him. He held out the meat, towards the ferret, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Nick sniffed Sire's meat and his hand. 'What? No! I want my human!' He ran up Sire's arm and pulled on the collar of his shirt. 'Where's my human? Tell me now!' He growled. He suddenly fell into the man's lap laying on his back like a clumsy kit. He took pride in being as smart as he was and knew that playing dead around a stranger usually got him a free ride back to his master. He laid there with his paws resting on his stomach, legs crossed, head tilted to the side and his fluffy tail twitching from side to side impatiently. 'Well? My human? We gonna find her or what?' He chittered waving a paw.

(( lol short post... not proud of myself))

Sire looked at the limp creature in his hand, a quizzical look over coming his face. Slowly he stood up, still slightly weak, but he could feel the effects of the medicine starting to kick in as he slid his hands in his robes and carefully cupped Nick in his hands. Hesitating only slightly he stared at the creatures beady eyes, as if debating some matter of grave importance, but the moment passed by quickly. Opening his window a crack, he chucked the “dead” ferret and chucked it out the window.

“Initiates, leaving their dead pets in my office, hells know not why,” He growled, as he went and washed his hands.

(>)

***

Part of Aliwa was eager to see Sire again as she walked toward his office. She tried to understand why she wanted to see him again so badly... but it wasnt hard to hide it. The sight of the closed door worried her a little, once again, no idea why.

She knocked on the door before she opened it cautiously. "S-Sire? Did I uh.. leave Nick in here by any chance?" She asked, her eyes scanning the room for the ferret. She took a step inside, curling her bangs around her finger. Light hit her lilac eyes in just the right way which made her eyes illuminate in the dim room as they gazed through Sire's mess of white hair covering his eyes. Nope.. i think Shahin's eyes are still prettier... why am I thinking this? She thought. Her eyes drifted down onto his desk where the meat still sat. Was he trying to feed him? If so, why wouldnt he accept it unless he-- "Did he trick you into thinking he was dead?" Her stance became a little more agressive and took a step closer to him. Blood from the hidden side of her face dripped down her chin onto her shirt.

((aaahhhh sorry... short post. Not alot goes on in my head in terms of writing.... plus im sleepy )

Sire looked up briefly from his paperwork, to look at her paled appearance. “Pretending…well…now..” He got up and slowly made his way towards the window, running a hand down his monastery robe to make sure that it was even and ruffle free before taking a peak out the window, looking around for the familiar ferret.

“Well then…if he wasn’t dead before, he might be now…”And with a certain amount of disturbing calmness, he walked over and sat down back in his desk, dipping his quill in ink. He looked up at the corner of his eye and gestured towards Aliwa’s robe. “you know… blood is really hard to get the stains out…and then you won’t pass inspection with the Quartermaster…”

(Sorry it is really short)