Diablo Arma'Dare
9:43am, March 16, 2015
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[Delete] | The following is a 2200 word short story in response to Ghostly Visits and Diablo's encounter therein. Honestly, given what I wanted to do with this once I found out I was going to be a part of it was -way- too voluminous to just put a few posts about. I'd end up coating the chat in gold posts and I figured this would be a bit more elegant and less of an eyesore.
So! Without further ado, I present to you "The Grace of a Goddess," by Adam.
>><<
The quiet of the Xenshinese nights was perfect to him – one of the many reasons he chose to settle here in the first place. Its beauty was second to none and the people were hospitable, if not a little put-off by his appearance. It took him ages to with their complete trust, only lately being validated with the Order of the Dragon reward for his heroism during the invasion some time ago. Today had been nothing special. He spent some of it nursing his chicken scratches and some more training Lei as was his duty to the royal family. Once that session had completed and Lei had departed for the evening, Diablo decided to indulge himself in one of the many amenities of his estate: the hot springs.
Its naturally generated heat would made for an exemplary way to soak his aches away and what more, he could be accompanied by his holographic companions: Arthur, Oxford and Talia. It'd almost be like old times, minus actually having his companions around and the need for bathing suits to preserve dignity. He found that merely feeling as though they were there, in front of him, was enough to set his soul at ease. Lord only knew that they would never actually join him anymore. No, he'd seen to that ages ago through a series of tragic and unfortunate events. It haunted him day and night. In his mind, he could still recite the conversation he and Oxford had that one Thursday evening at the café. He could remember the regret he felt over running his friend through...and the first time he had to confront Arthur and Talia over the development...
He could still smell Talia's lingering scent in the air. It was soft, like lilac and jasmine with the faintest touch of citrus. The look of incredulous disbelief on her face and the look of anger on Arthur's...
Diablo frowned and heaved a heavy sigh. It was torture, plain and simple. Worse than anything anyone had ever put him through. It was true what they said; that you were your own worst enemy at times. Still, the memory lingered, as did the scents and sights. He closed his eyes and laid back on the stones that made up the hot spring's seats. As he did, he felt a pair of hands come to rest on his shoulders, beginning to work the knotted muscle within.
“I always said that you could take a jackhammer to your back and nothing would get solved...”
The voice was unmistakably Talia's. Diablo let the remark slide, passing it off as Sierra Actual's A.I program attempting to comfort him.
“You did. And you always worked like one when that time came. ...and I always felt better.”
“It looks like you could do with one now. Would you ...mind?”
Diablo frowned again.
“I've never shied from your touch and you've no reason to ask permission.”
The hands upon his shoulders continued to kneed, pushing a little harder. Talia spoke up again after a lingering moment.
“I just figured ... that with all that's come to pass ...that you wouldn't want us to be close again.”
Once more, Diablo frowned. His concern was growing. Sierra Actual's programming wasn't meant to be this lax.
“Don't be foolish. I may not have wanted to d-... do to what I did... but I wasn't given much choice. If I could tell you all the things I felt and wanted to say... “
The hands continued to work, though just easing up just a hint.
“So ...tell me then. We have the time.”
Diablo's eyes shot open. Across from him were the three holograms of his team mates, glowing verdantly and resting at the edge of the pool. Hesitantly, he tilted his head back, catching the smiling face of the same woman across from him. One quick squirm and a couple of lofty hops and he was out from her grasp with a look of utter disbelief. Talia smiled, canting her head to the right before speaking up.
“What? Is it so hard to believe? After you've fought the undead, courted a true-to-life goddess and survived against all odds so far?”
He shook his head vehemently, turning to look at his hologram then back to the ...imposter.
“No...nooo no no no no. I ... I killed you. And Arthur.”
“And Oxford too,” added Talia, “Both of us on the top of a mountain and him on a Thursday afternoon. In broad daylight. I never did approve of that...”
Diablo frowned yet again. “How do you know this. I've not told anyone and that took place at least eighty years ago.”
Now it was Talia's turn to frown. “You used to be a crimson red, Arturo's nickname seems to be your moniker now and your real name is R- ...”
Diablo's hands shot up. “Okay. I get it. What I don't get ...is how. How you're here. You three are buried beneath the obsidian monument at four nineteen, in the tomb of the unknowns.”
Talia smirked. “Yes and its a very wonderful monument. We've all seen it. I'm honestly surprised you put us there given what we did.”
He shook his head, looking away from the woman for a long while. “I am not having this conversation right now. I'm ...I'm dreaming. I've fallen asleep and am having a lucid dream.”
Talia sighed. “You were always a stubborn fool too...”
“Okay. Say this is completely real. You're here now, alive enough for me to smell and touch... You're implying that there's an afterlife. That you've met up with Arthur and Oxford. And the kids.”
Now Talia burst into a wide, dazzling smile. “Was that so hard?”
Diablo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Yes. You divorced me after the kids died and you were out for blood after I killed Oxford.”
Talia cast a long look down at her reflection on the pool's surface. She sat still for a long while, trying to come up with the right words to say. Eventually, she nodded, looking back up at her former husband.
“It...that was a sad day... and a hard one to swallow. When I think back on it, I remember how much it hurt me and how angry I was that you left your sword so ...open. Accessible. Even they forgive you. They know it was an accident and I do too. I ...couldn't get over it at the time.”
As he listened, his stony demeanor began to crack. His lips pursed to avoid quivering and his hands began to shake oh so gently. Talia continued, speaking softly on the delicate topic.
“You ...me. Arthur...everyone. We're bound by our understanding and knowledge at this very moment. You're as wise and as intelligent as you're meant to be because it's what you've learned and what you have yet to learn that makes you who you are in mind and body. ...and the same thing applied to us all. You had no idea the depression Oxford had until he told you and just the same, you have no idea how happy he is to have been set free by a man he still considers one of his best friends.
Crimson and Tay'La didn't know at the time that their father's swords were off limits. Children learn by the guidance of their parents. In their case...it was a fatal mistake and one not caught in time to be rectified. They know now and neither of them blame you.”
A pair of tears rolled down the man's cheeks. “But you...”
Talia smiled softly.
“I thought you were stupid and careless to have put them in their display rack but it's where they went all the time. The children even admitted it; they got curious. I also thought you had lost your mind and went mad with power. You and I both know insanity can't be reasoned with. You've a red headed adversary who's walking testament to that. ...but once I had passed on I reconnected with Oxford and learned just what had happened. You were just doing as you were asked. You, who are so brave and dedicated...”
“Stop...” Diablo shuddering a breath as though to hold back a sob.
“No... this is something you need to hear. You live your life anchored by such heavy guilt over extraordinary circumstances. You need to be free of it and we've all wanted to tell you for so long that ...it's okay. The seven of us? We don't hold any grudges against you. Rather, we're in awe at your strength of spirit. Were it any one of us in your shoes, we'd have given up long...long ago.”
Up to the sky, down to his reflection, even off to his personal training grounds...Diablo couldn't decide where to look. Anywhere but at her. He couldn't see through the tears in his eyes and frustration overwhelmed him. He'd not felt like this in so very long.
Diablo caught motion out of the corner of his eye and watched as Talia stood. She was as naked as he, her rose-colored perfection every bit as alluring as he remembered it. Cautiously, she dipped a foot into the hot spring, finding one of the stones that served as both a seat and a step. Once she'd found her footing, she slipped gracefully in, wading up to take her ex husband in a tight hug – one he gladly accepted. Her scent was everywhere now, the feeling of her body taking him back to a time when he was much happier. A time when he was embraced like this daily and felt complete. He took in deep breaths through his nose, slowly ebbing into tears again.
The two stayed motionless for a while. He dare not let go and Talia showed no signs of releasing him. He spoke up softly, being so near her.
“You said ...seven.”
Talia nodded, rubbing Diablo's back softly. “Teagen and Tay, too.”
Diablo huffed another breath as another wave of tears escaped.
“They also say hello to their darling baby boy.”
“They know too, I guess...?”
Talia nodded.
“...Figures.”
She let a giggle out before pulling away a little. Diablo pulled back to look at the woman in his arms and their eyes met. Talia reached up, brushing the tears from Diablo's face, making the man smile from the gesture.
“You know,” he said, breaking the silence, “They call us devils now.”
“Ohh?” Talia sounded intrigued.
Diablo nodded. “You would be the Rose Devil. Arthur the Ebony, Oxford the Azure. There's a Jade Devil somewhere out in the world and a Violet Devil.”
Talia smirked, tapping Diablo's nose. “And you, the Golden. The most ostentatious of them all.”
He laughed softly, watching Talia's finger drop. “Hardly. How ...long are you here for?”
Jovial looks disappeared, replaced by forlorn looks and gazes of longing. Talia spoke up, keeping her eyes on Diablo's damp chest for a moment before looking up to meet his eyes.
“Not ...not long. I can't tell you who it is that's granted us this opportunity but ...I'm eternally thankful for it. All of us – especially me – wanted a way to deliver our messages to you but there was no way.”
“Is there a way to make it permanent? For you to come back to life?” Diablo sounded hopeful.
Talia smiled wistfully.
“Your heart wants to be loved again. I can feel it...” She placed a hand over his heart and continued. “...but to be honest, I don't feel as though any of us would want to come back again. Our times have come and gone and yours ....it's not yet arrived. There's still more for you to do. More to learn.”
“...b-but. I ...I want you back,” Diablo sputtered.
Talia nodded, slipping out of the hug reluctantly. “I know...but even though I can't be here physically for you? I ...all of us... we're here for you in spirit.”
Again, tears began to well in Diablo's eyes. All around Talia, an eerie blue glow emanated. She only smiled, climbing out of the pool to sit once more at the edge. Diablo raced to the stony lip, throwing his hands around Talia once more.
“Don't go, please...” he begged.
“I have to... My time is up.” Talia took his hands and pulled him in.
Diablo shook his head, lower lip quivering uncontrollably. “T-tell. Tell them I say ...hi. And that I'm sorry. And that I ...”
Gently, Talia laid a finger over his lips, silencing her once partner. Diablo could only sigh, trying to keep himself contained as her rosy form began to fade.
“I love you. Don't ever forget that. We all do.”
She leaned in, lowering her finger to kiss him. As they embraced, Talia disappeared. Her scent began to wash away from the breeze, leaving Diablo at the edge of the hot springs to sob and grasp as the grass where she once sat, still damp from her presence.
“Goodbye, my Venus. I'll miss you.”
>><<
Edited 9:44am, March 16, 2015 by Diablo Arma'Dare, author. |
