Kristin crouched down to pick up Gea and stayed there
horrified. She was yet again about to lose her sister. She was
about to say something when she heard a tiny voice in the back of
her mind.... "Kristin put the crystal around Ayanna's neck,
hurry!"
Kristin did as she was asked and looked at Lacey who had her eyes
closed, and fists clenched.
Lacey waited until she was sure Ayanna had the crystal and then
asked Ayanna the question that would change her life forever.
Ayanna's eyes began to tear, she was honored and she replied.
"Yes, of course I will."
Iris smiled, she had picked the right woman after all. Rufus
began to get edgy and pushed Lacey on, toward the alter. Iris out
her hands on Lacey's shoulders, allowing Rufus to hold the dagger
at throat point.
Lacey was just about to start the incantation when Rufus realized
his mistake. "Wait just a minute" Rufus shouted, and
Lacey stopped and turned as much as she could without being cut.
"If she dies so do I, this is useless."
Lacey laughed. "We all know your an idiot, it's about time
you found out" Not finding this funny Rufus lunged to his
right and caught Ayanna off guard. Rufus caught another victim.
Ayanna was now at dagger point. Lacey shrugged and walked back to
the alter-this was perfect.
Lacey smiled at Iris and put Iris's hand in hers. Lacey winked at
Iris and began. "What belongs to Iris and now to me I pass
on to this that be. What's hers be mine, and mine be hers. I pass
on this blessing for better or worse." Lacey's hands glowed
blue and Iris smiled. "Touch your chosen." Lacey turned
around and began to walk toward Rufus.
She slowly bent down to put her hands on his shoulders. Rufus
grinned. Slowly, but gracefully Lacey brought out her leg and
kicked away the dagger and lunged for Ayanna. Lacey's hands met
Ayanna's shoulders and the transformation began. Iris began to
look a deathly pale and Ayanna began to turn blue. They were both
suddenly gone.
Lacey stared in awe, not noticing Rufus who was charging after
Kristin. "You, this is all your fault!" Rufus shouted,
and he plunged his dagger into Kristin's side. Kristin's eyes
went wide at the pain, and crimson red blood beaded out of the
wound. Kristin fell to the floor as Lacey rushed to her side.
Rufus quickly escaped the cave, but Lacey didn't notice. Lacey
ripped off a strip of her tunic and wrapped it around Kristin's
side. Lacey smiled. "Annoying man isn't he?" Kristin
smiled back.
"Yeah and I married him, I could only put up with him for a
week, how did you last two months?"
Lacey's face went red. "I was asleep the whole time thanks
to "Hojo". Plus, I suppose I am an excellent faker"
Kristin laughed, her sides heaving. She gasped for breath and
began to cough up small bursts of blood. Lacey frowned. The wound
was bad. Lacey quickly leaned Kristin against the wall and
reached for her shacrum.
Lacey removed a young cure materia that she had just bought not
even three months ago. Lacey feared the materia was too
inexperienced to heal the wound. She tried anyway. The wound
stopped bleeding, but Kristin still coughed up crimson blood that
was now beginning to turn brown on her white blouse.
Lacey put her palm to Kristin's forehead and began to tear. If
Kristin didn't die from the wound she would die from the wound
fever. It turned Kristin's cheeks red and her head was so hot it
could fry a chocobo egg.
Gea and Lacey were just about to give up when a bright light
flashed behind them startling them all out of their wits. On the
alter lay a middle aged woman with dark brown hair and pale skin.
Lacey ran to the alter to see if the woman was all right. Lacey
looked at the woman as she opened her eyes.
"Purple eyes-long hair- you're.." Lacey was cut off by
the woman. "I was a goddess tis true, but after 10,000 years
I became weak and could not do my job any longer, but she will do
well I think." she said.
Lacey wiped the sweat off the woman's face. "What is your
name?"
The woman smiled. "Alfana if you please."
Lacey frowned "Alfana, you're....."
"Yes dear, I am dying, and let it be so ten thousand years
is enough for me, just remember who you are Lacey." Lacey
turned as she heard a groan come from Kristin. The angels would
come for her soon if something was not done.
Just then Lacey felt an icy touch on one shoulder and a warm
touch on the other. To Lacey's left stood Shiva and on Lacey's
right stood... "Ayanna!!"
Ayanna stared at Lacey with a kind smile on her face. Slowly she
walked to Kristin and touched her wounds. The red foam around
Kristin's lips disappeared and the wounds were replaced with thin
white scars. "You saved my life, now it is time o repay the
favor. Thank you." Ayanna said as she disappeared, Lacey
knew she would be happy.
Lacey again turned her attention to Alfana. "It has been
long hasn't it, sis?" Alfana said to Shiva and Lacey turned
pale. Shiva smiled "Yes it has, and now it is time for you
to go home, wait for me" Shiva said as she took her hand off
of Lacey's trembling shoulders.
Alfana smiled and turned her attention back to Lacey. "Never
forget who you are, look in your heart for the answer you seek.
Don't worry you have found what you searched for and now you must
go back to him- because he loves-" Alfana was cut off by her
bodies violent shuddering. She finally lay still her violet eyes
looking toward the sky. She was at last at rest.