Chapter 12: <Blessing in Disguise?>

N/A: There might be a few mistakes in this one, but, I really wanted to get this one out. :D

Warning: Mild Swearing.

Shit.

Elizabeth cognitively whispered, as she hastily plugged Neo's ears, feeling the blood she strenuously caged in her mouth, slip down the the corners of her lips. All before she couldn't help, but let hectically slithered out, and dye the dirt brown floor, a ruffled shade of maroon.

"Tink."

SHIT.

Elizabeth's body fell to the ground, as all blood she difficultly managed, to grit to the back of her throat, flush out without an intention of stopping.

Although the floor had absorbed the blood last time, the floor, had swelled beyond it's limit, and caved in; collecting every drop of sweat, swinging saliva, and everything that mercilessly came out of Elizabeth's throat.

With rippling, soundless creases on the surface, the glistening, ruby liquid, smoothed into a round puddle; reflecting the tiny, yet delicate stars above with a lucid clarity, like an obtainable astronomy map from the gods.

So enticing, yet perilous.

Elizabeth had already lost a lot of blood, and with each breath, she was losing more. It was something she refused to acknowledge, at the price of her own life, yet, it was more than clear to her;

Neo's body, which seemed weightless before, enough for her to effortless carry with one hand, suddenly became heavier. While her arms became meekly fragile; twisting and bending like thin, brittle willow branches.

Her knees forcefully bowed to the sky, and her rosy lips drained colourless, as her ghostly white teeth and lips were splashed in a dreadful red.

"Tink."

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"Tink."

Every single time the sound touched her ears, her body pulsed with an urge to run away from an non-existent leech, yet all she could do, was drop to the floor like a immobile, and vulnerable broom. The blood flowed uncontrollably up her now, coarse throat, and frankly, her slumped position made her seem like a quivering mouse; on the brink of death, but was simply scanning it's surroundings, in search of a glimmer of hope.

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Am I going to die?

I'm going to die.

I'm going to die, with Neo in my arms.

I'm going to die, and leave my mom, and Neo to fend for their own.

I can't do that...

I can't die.

Elizabeth repeated again;

I can't die.

"I can't die."

Elizabeth hugged Neo's head closer, and felt his warmth spread to her pale, chilled neck, as her fingers turned cold, and numb; yet, somehow, determination flickered in her eyes, and before long, her once shivering fingers, froze still.

"I'm not going to die."

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"How hilarious."

Elizabeth felt an invisible hand wrapping around her body, as if somebody started to possess her, but she didn't resist the abnormal force, because the dreading fear dissipated along with the blood;

Elizabeth's face forcefully contorted in a natural, and gentle manner; curling her previous terrified expression, into a contrasting, mocking smirk.

Elizabeth felt another hand, that instead, of her waist, tickle the skin on her leg; and like a small fairy, she flew a few centimeters off the floor, before landing on to the tender soles of her feet.

Just as she was about to calm down, the gentle touch suddenly turned violent, and jolted her head to face up; almost snapping her neck in the process.

As the sudden pain started to overwhelm her, she cognitively clenched her jaw, as a hand moved her mouth; completely oblivious to the pain it inflicted on her.

"I will defy you, as long as you come in my way. "

Elizabeth paused, before another hand appeared, lifting her arm to make her point towards the sky.

"I've died already. What makes you think you can kill me?"

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What the hell's this hand...

Honestly... It better not be a pervert-

Elizabeth's thoughts were interrupted, as a hand chopped onto her neck;

Overcame with an urge to fluttered her eyelids shut, Elizabeth followed her train of consciousness, and gladly abided; she was too tired to care, and honestly, her gut didn't alarm her of danger, so, she had nothing to worry about.

Well, it was mainly ignorance; but, sometimes, that's the best way to protect yourself.

Her eyes opened to a familiar, white setting, and she couldn't help but notice, that her body felt no pain, whatsoever; her throat didn't feel sore, her neck doesn't feel snapped, nor did her mind feel bothered.

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But, most importantly, the warmth returned back to her pale flesh, and air seemed to finally circulate in her lungs.

"Ah..." Elizabeth whispered, before she sighed in relief.

"Thank god."

Elizabeth couldn't explain just how grateful that she was suddenly teleported.

The pain started to rip her body apart; bone by bone, and each ligament separately tugging apart like a decomposing carpet.

To the point, where she couldn't have imagined of being under that tremendous pain again, and honestly, she wondered how she managed to not die from it; just the memories sufficed enough to make her shudder.

Maybe, if it wasn't for the fact, that she was conscious about Neo sleeping in her embrace; she might have long, crossed the gates of death, to hell.

But even though she curious about that, Elizabeth couldn't shake off her more dense wonders, about why she had a reaction to her mother's Ceres.

No matter what she thought, and how long she forced her brain to conjure theories, she just couldn't comprehend, why.

Perhaps... Maybe... I'm allergic to Ceres?

That...

That wouldn't make sense though...

I was fine few months ago...

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Maybe-

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Oh.

Crap.

Elizabeth lifted her head slightly, as she narrowed her eyes in contemplation.

I didn't even notice... Because I've been completely distracted, but...

Haven't I been here before?

Doesn't this seem... Like...

Like...

Ah!

I got it;

The space with the ginseng?

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If that's right then...

She curiously turned her head around, and low and behold; A tan coloured ginseng... And a cracked white sphere?

Aha, see, it's right there.

But, why does it look different?

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Wasn't there strands of red, or something on that ginseng?

Where are the red veins?

...

Oh, and what's that sphere?

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Y' know what, forget it.

I'm not getting a good feeling about staying here for too long...

So... I better leave...

"I... I don't know... My gut's telling me that if I stay here any longer, I'll suffer from something, I could never imagine..."

Elizabeth felt a shiver trickle down her spine, as she mutter those words under her breath.

Yeah...

Neo...

Sorry about that dear, we just had to take a quick trip, but let's go home now.

Elizabeth smiled warmly, and stretched out a hand, gently grazing against the solid, smooth surface of the root.

Her mind went blank, and soon, darkness veiled her sight, before the scenery hazzily returned back to the dark courtyard.

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"... I told you... The Loch Ness Fountain can't contain them anymore. If we stay here any longer..." A low voice expressed in a concerning tone, while his finger tenderly stroked a lady's cheek.

"... You know... We... Have to do this... Right?" The middle-aged lady sadly smiled, while she gazed to the man's face; completely blurred.

"... We don't-"

An earth-breaking rumble erupted, violently shaking the ground, creating cracks in the marble floor in a mere seconds; ones that seemed to dig hundreds of kilometres down, while continuing to threaten to burst everything in it's reach.

The fountain, assumingly the, "Loch Ness Fountain", followed it's initiative, and started to crack; starting from the jade sphere, which sat on the head of a small statue of a human head, before it spread towards the other 5 layers below.

The couple looked at each other with concern flaring in their eyes; more than what could be described;

If this thing collapsed, it would mean the end, not just for them, but for everyone who was in the area. Thousands of deaths were waiting.

"Elizabeth, let's-"

Before he could even finish his sentence, a red string came out of the lady's sleeve, and flicked him into the white portal, completely crowded with those who wished to survive. Yet, even in his desperate refusal, he could only helplessly watch the lady's sole silhouette disappear, before it all turned dark.

Huh?

Who's... Who are those people?-

"Thank god..."

"Hm?"

"Eliza... You mustn't ever do that again..."

With some difficulty, I forced my eyes open, while I felt small drops violently splash against my skin.

"You... You.. Mustn't... Ever.. D-Do..."

Ah, it's mother...

Oh...

She's...

Crying?

WAIT.

Who... What was that lady, and that fountain?

Not to mention-

Mother's sob interrupts my train of thought; straightening my priorities: "I could always think about it later."

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"Shhh... It's alright now... I'm alright." I comforted, while one of my hands tenderly held the side of her wrinkled face, stroking her wet skin; seemingly dampened by hundreds of shed tears.

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I continued to try and ease mother with huge efforts, but in my other tight hand, it held a cylinder-like object; almost... Like a ginseng?

"You aren't ordinary, eh?"

I sneered.

"Even bringing me a play of lovers."