Dragon Quest VIII (Dhoulmagus/Jessica)

[dragovianknight.livejournal.com]

Title: Souls Forsaken
Author/Artist: dragovianknight
Rating: PG
Warnings: Bit depressing, really. I mean, look at the prompt.
Word count: 500 words
Prompt: July 19 - #9 - Dhoulmagus/Jessica: Spirit Sex/Surreal - remnants of past hosts, trapped by the darkness.

Things slither in the darkness, hidden by chill fog and shadows so that she can only hear them. Her skin aches with cold; her eyes strain to capture a hint of what lies beyond the dim light haloing her.

She thinks, sometimes, that she should be afraid; the reasons why, like the fear itself, elude her.

She stands in the darkness a moment, an eternity, before a flash of silver hair - blue eyes, red uniform - draws her attention, but the figure approaching her is too tall, dressed in a jester's motley of red and purple, face painted with a grin that sends a shiver down her spine.

"Well, well." One long finger traces a line down her cheek to her chin; he tilts her head back. "I hardly expected to see you here."

Anger flares a heartbeat before memory, bringing a phantom warmth. "Dhoulmagus," she spits, taking a step back. She reaches for - weapons, magic, something - nothing, mist coiling and vanishing at her waist; her hand hovers a moment before it drops, and she clings to the spark of anger, because she isn't sure there's anything else left to her. "You murdered my brother."

"Indeed?" He studies her, speculation and something else in his eyes. "Blood of the sages, if not the actual heir. What a prize you must have been."

"I'll kill you for what you did to Alistair." Her breath steams in the air between them when she speaks, and she realizes that his does not.

Beneath the paint, his smile is amused, and maybe a little sad. "I'm afraid it's a bit late for that, my dear." Something moves in the darkness, and his eyes narrow, a quick glance up, as if he can see what she can't. "You're quite lucky I found you. I suspect we're the only sane ones here."

Sane isn't the word she'd use, certainly not for him, perhaps not for herself. She steps back as he reaches for her.

"Come now; you won't last long when you're not..." He stops and frowns at her.

"Not what?"

"All here. Literally, it seems." He circles her, and she lets him, though her shoulders tighten when he's behind her. "Still alive, then. Your friends must have been truly determined to get you back. A pity they weren't quite able to get all of you."

"I don't..." Understand. Believe you.

The trouble is, she does, and Goddess help her, she does.

"Come with me."

She realizes she's shaking, and tries to blame the cold. "Why?"

"Because this is a lonely place to spend eternity," he says; his voice sounds different without the mockery.

She closes her eyes and tries to remember - the sun, Alistair's laugh, Angelo's smile - but it seems those memories are no longer a part of her.

Dhoulmagus moves closer. "The things in the darkness won't kill you," he says, and that decides her.

To her surprise, his hands, when they cup around her shoulders, are warm.

Comments

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

Dude! Awesome indeed.

[dragovianknight.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

It's very creepy. I love the mood and feel of it.

[dragovianknight.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I finished it and thought, "Wow, that's pretty damn depressing, innit?"

Poor, poor fragment. Perhaps someday she'll fade away completely.

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

Or perhaps those who love her can bring her back?

[dragovianknight.livejournal.com]

Ahh, but they have no way of knowing a bit of Jessica was left behind.

[melodywilde.livejournal.com]

Woah, depressing much...but beautifully written.

[dragovianknight.livejournal.com]

Woah, depressing much

I didn't think it was going to be that bad when I started. :-/

Thank you.

[zeph-miran.livejournal.com]

*waves* flyby comment.

Good stuff.

[dragovianknight.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[raisedbymoogles.livejournal.com]

I love how everything's slowly slipping away from her. *purrs*

[dragovianknight.livejournal.com]

Thank you. ::beams::