Never Forget Where You've Been
Soulless Doll
Well, hardly anyone reviewed the last chapters of Faith and I'm quite disappointed. I figured I'd spoil you lot by posting the first chapter to the sequel. I sure hope my generosity pays off in reviews. *nudge nudge wink wink* Anyway, hopefully this won't suck too much! Hope you enjoy. Also, continuing reminders: If you didn't read the last "chapter" posted, then you should look up a song called "Hammering in My Head" by Garbage. About the 1:55 mark there is a beautiful sound in the background, and this is the sound indicated in the second chapter! Hop to, you've got some homework! ;P Also, if you would like updates, email me and let me know what fic you want updates on- An Esoteric Love or Never Forget Where You've Been. That is all, Lady Alexandra has spoken!
Chapter 1: Soulless Doll
It was some time after midnight, the storm outside still raging frighteningly, when a knock came on Lady Catherina’s office door. She looked up to find Tres had already drawn his guns. His monotone voice broke the quiet of the room, dropping an annoyingly familiar phrase.
“State your business with Cardinal Sforza.”
No reply came, just another soft knock. Tres repeated his question, and again, received no answer. He turned to look at the Cardinal. She nodded her head and mouthed ‘be cautious’. Tres holstered a single gun and kept the other trained at eye level as he let the door creak open. The look of shock that painted the android’s face was amazing. He immediately retracted his weapon, replacing it in its holster. He turned to look at the Cardinal.
“My Lady.” Even his voice held a small tone of awe. Catherina got up and walked swiftly around her desk, completely unprepared for what she saw. Standing there, in front of her office door, was a face she had not seen in thirty years. There were two young boys with her, and she clutched a tiny bundle to her chest. The tiny bundle sniffled and shifted uncomfortably, the soaking wet cloak slipping to reveal a shock of gold hair.
“Mother.” The woman’s voice was raw and croaky, her throat wrung from crying. Her children looked despondent and woebegone. She wore no expression to speak of. The word she uttered was simple, pleading, full of lost hope. Catherina pulled her inside and ran a list to Tres of a dozen things to retrieve, all of which were brought back to her office in a matter of minutes. The children, as well as their mother, were all wrapped in warmed blankets and placed in front of the fire on a comfy couch. She knew the children must be tired, hungry and aching, but none of them uttered a word of complaint. They practically inhaled the warm bowls of soup they were offered, the tiniest bundle merely nuzzling closer to the numbed woman on the couch, refusing food. She whispered some quiet pleading words in beautifully lilting french, but the bundle merely shivered in an unmistakable head shake of negation and the mother gave in, too tired to force food. The boys curled up, one on either side of her and they soon drifted into sleep, the small bundle following suit, emitting the sounds of deep, even breathing that comes only in sleep. Their mother merely stared into the fire. She had returned as a soulless doll. Tres kneeled in front of her.
“Lady Alexandra. Is there anything you require? There is still some warm soup if you would like to try eating. I could take the child.” Alex’s face didn’t really acknowledge Tres immediately, taking a few moments before her eyes slowly turned to the side to gaze at him. Somewhere along the way, she realized that Tres had inflection in his voice. If her life hadn’t crumbled down around her, she would have been highly amused.
“Are they asleep, Tres?” Tres listened for a moment, noting the even breathing patterns of all three children.
“Yes, My Lady. I believe they are all asleep.” Alex took in a broken, shuddering breath, great blood tears rolling down her cheeks. She said nothing else and her eyes conveyed her broken heart in the most stifling manner. The android and the Cardinal questioned her gently, but she would offer nothing other than her tears. Perhaps just as unnerving as her silence was the fact that the blood tears flowed, though she remained in her Terran form.