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Deviation Actions
Just a head up, I did do an excerpt of Haden's point of view. It'll be coming up soon too!
But, this next part might be a little... unnerving.
But anyway, enjoy!
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"Did Haden even tell you were this healer is," I asked as we walked.
"Well, not really," Kant responded. "He more of less keeps to himself."
"Oh, well -"
When we got to the main building, Kant and I stopped in our tracks. People were outside in clusters murmuring and children were being taken away. The entire crowd was surrounding the front steps of the building. When we approached, they turned around to stare at us. I felt like a mouse caught alive in a trap. Their cruel eyes glared at me as we got closer. A child pointed at me and looked up at his mother and began to speak.
"Mommy, it's that lady," he said, not at all keeping his voice down. Her face twisted in disgust at me then she took him away. I watched everyone's face shift to the same nasty expression. This time it wasn't at anyone else but me.
Kant glared at them and stood in front of me. "Move out of the way, please," he commanded, not at all sounding polite. They didn't budge an inch. "I said, move!" He bared his sharp teeth at them with a growl and they stumbled away from us. Kant grabbed me by the forearm and dragged me through the crowd to the front step.
What I saw I almost couldn't believe.
Victor was on his hands and knees with his head bowed to the ground. A small puddle of blood was just beneath his head and still blood was dripping from his mouth. His body trembled and his shirt was torn from what looked like whip marks on his back. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest at the sight. My breathing turned quick and panicked, almost making me light headed. He was bleeding.
A man stood in front of Victor with a long whip in hand. His extremely long blonde hair was neatly tied back in a low ponytail with a silver ribbon but save a few strands that dangled in his face. He wore a black duster and a white button up shirt that matched his pants. His jaw had three scars staring from the cheek and his satin black eyes glared at Victor. He whipped Victor again causing Victor to release a low scream.
I lost all reason and stomped up the steps with Kant trying to pull me back. "Rogue," he kept shouting. I shook off Kant's desperate attempt to restrain me. The man went to hit Victor again but it caught my arm instead. I spun the thin leather around my arm and hand before jerking it out if his grasp. Everyone went quiet as I stood in front of the man and got in his face. "What do you think you're doing," I snarled at him.
His expression was blank as he stared at me. He raised an eyebrow at me as he gave me a once over. "Who are you to get in my way," he asked as his face twisted to one of anger. "If you're smart, you'll get out of the way, little girl."
When I didn't move an inch, he gritted his teeth. "I warned you," he said slowly as he drew his sword. He pointed the tip of the blade at me. I didn't even move, but simply glared at him. "You're a brave one, huh?" He pointed his blade down to the center of my chest then pulled up, pulling off my scarf. The tip of his sword now touched my chin.
A cruel smile grew on my face. I wasn't one for courage or fights usually, but this was different. He'd hurt Victor, someone I held close to my heart. No one was allowed to get away with that. I'd never felt so enraged in my life. So with a fire much worse than his, I pinched the dull side of his blade and shoved it aside violently. "I won't let you hurt him anymore," I said defiantly. Victor was getting to his feet slowly and I pulled him up by his arm for support. Once on his feet, he leaned into me and I held him upright as best as I could while glaring at his abuser. "I won't let you hurt him. Not unless you go through me."
The man before me stared at us in shock, then it settled into hate. "That boy has brought trouble within these walls," he said in a low voice. "We can't afford people turning on each other in this safe haven again. These people are here for safety, not to kill each other. He caused a disturbance and must be punished."
"For what," I snapped.
"Bringing a threat within the walls of Sanctuary," he shouted.
"What ever may that be," I questioned. "I don't see him threatening anybody!"
"He brought you here," he screamed loudly, his words wounding my confidence. "You're a threat to us all. You are both a threat! He needs to be punished then I'll kill you when I'm finished. So step aside, little bitch."
Moving to stand in front of Victor protectively, I said loud and clear, "Over my dead body."
A malicious grin crossed his face. "That is doable," he snapped and drew his sword back. "I'll be sure to send my regards to your family." He laughed before he swung his sword at me and I closed my eyes waiting for it to end. My life didn't flash before my eyes or anything, but I did remember the dance with my brother and the date on the beach with Victor. If I were to die here, those would be the memories I'd left them with as well.
But instead of being cut in two, the sound of clashing metal met my ears instead. I opened my eyes cautiously to see my brother standing between us, a sword drawn and blocking the man's blade. His head was tilted down causing his black hair to hide his expression. The man leaned into the blade, trying to break my brother's guard. My brother didn't even budge. He looked up at the man and said in a calm voice, "You have no right to execute either of them, Peter."
Peter snarled at him. "Please move, Captain Haden. This woman was interfering with a punishment," he snarled, directing his attention to me again. "She's causing problems."
"She's my responsibility so I'll handle it," my brother said, raising his voice slightly. My brother shoved him back and the man stumbled several feet then fell to the crowd's feet. "Now, back off or I'll throw you out of here, Peter. And if you ever try to kill her again.... Well, I'll be doing the executing."
The man glared at my brother as he got to his feet. "Yes, sir," he said reluctantly then stalked off around the side of the building. From the bottom step, Kant began to instruct people to clear the scene and go about their day. Victor leaned into me so heavily that I nearly fell over. I held him up as my brother put away his sword then turned to me.
His deep green eyes stared at me with something I couldn't quite read. His black hair fell slightly onto his face until he brushed it back. He looked a little older than the last time I saw him, like more mature. A scar on his right eyebrow and left cheek were also new. He now looked barely anything like the brother I had grown up with. He gave me a worried look, then stared at Victor. "Are you two alright," he asked carefully as he took Victor off of me and held him up.
I unwrapped the whip from my arm and threw it aside. Blood tricked down from a cut across my shoulder. "I'm fine, but," I began then stopped. The thought of blood caused me to feel sick and I focused on Victor, who looked awful. His right eye was black and his bottom lip busted. He gave a weak smile, but didn't say a word. "I'm sorry, Victor," I told him. "Because of me...."
"No," my brother interrupted. I stared at him strangely and he looked away from me. "I called you here in the first place. It's my fault, Rogue. I'm sorry I got your friend hurt."
"Hey," Victor said, his voice hoarse and scratchy, "I can't let you blame yourselves. I wasn't supposed to come in the first place. It's no one's fault but mine. Rose, I'm just glad you weren't here earlier or he'd really have killed you." Victor stood straight and came to me. He smiled weakly at me then pulled me into a hug. "Don't ever put your life on the line for me again, okay? I can't loose you."
He then collapsed and I struggled to hold him up. "Okay, Victor," I muttered quietly.
I glanced to my brother who's eyes were wide and staring at us. His lips slightly parted as if to interrupt, but he didn't make a sound. Realizing how uncomfortable he was, I broke Victor's embrace and put some space between us. My brother looked from one to the other in question.
Victor held out his hand to him. "I'm Victor Trinity," he introduced with a smile. "I'm Rose's boyfriend." My brother's expression shifted to something a little darker, but Victor didn't notice it. "Rose has told me a lot about you."
"I wish I could say the same," my brother said neutrally. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "So that's why you came with her."
"Of course," Victor said with a cheeky smile. "For her protection and company."
"So explain her hand and nose then," my brother snapped, turning his anger on Victor like a snake. He raised his voice slightly and said, "Did you do this to her, dumb ass?"
Victor's jaw dropped and he got angry. "No, why the hell would I hurt her? I love Rose. I love her. I would never lay a hand on her -at least, not in anger."
"Sick bastard," my brother snapped and drew back a fist.
I got between them and held my hands up to stop them. I held up a hand to Victor but pushed back against Haden's chest. They stared down at me, almost as if they were just remembering I had been there at all. "That's enough," I told them quietly as I glared at both of them. Victor tried to touch my hand but I shook it off. "I'm still upset with you," I whispered to him then looked at my brother. I pointed at his chest and glared at him. "And I have a lot to say to you. Now if you both want to kill each other then do it some other time and place. I don't want to watch."
My brother dropped his fist and sighed. Victor wasn't so easily pacified, he scoffed at my brother's willingness to give in. I gave him a dirty look and his angry glare at my brother dropped. I shook my head in disapproval and went to stand in front of my brother, who stared down at me with soft eyes. At least the hard part was over now.
My brother offered a slight smile and was about to say something when Victor butted in. "So what's the plan, Rose," he asked me, totally aware of the fact my brother was trying to speak. I glared at Victor and put a hand on my hip. "What I do now," he asked, playing dumb.
"Nothing," I sighed in annoyance and glanced at Kant who was ascending the steps. "But you're staying here with Kant," I told him. Before he could protest, I added, "You're unfit to travel. If you come you will only slow us down." I gave the sweetest most kindest smile I could manage through my boiling anger. "Besides, I'll be back in no time with the healer."
"How do you know this healer will help," Victor pointed out.
I pulled my hair free of the ponytail and shook it out, letting the question hang in the air for a moment. "Well," I said as I began to tie it back up, "I guess I'll just have to convince him, won't I?"
"But Rose," he tried.
"But nothing," I said bluntly, "we've got no time to waste. And we should at least try."
"The healer might listen to her more than anyone," my brother added, standing next to me so close I got nervous. "Rogue is good at convincing people, I should know. She's suckered me into things before, right?" He patted my head playfully and I scrunched up my nose.
"Rogue?" Victor repeated my first name like it was a foreign word.
"Oh? You don't even know her first name? Shame," my brother said. "Her middle name is Rose."
"I know that," Victor snapped, his face flushing. "She lets me call her that. She even told me to."
"Please.... Just stop it," I said before it escalated again. My brother's toying smile faded instantly while Victor snarled at him. "Victor, please."
"Yes, my love," he says specifically to spite my brother, who glared at him with pure rage.
"Stop it, both of you," Kant interrupted now as he stepped between them. "We don't need another scene here, let's take him to the infirmary -"
Before Victor could argue, I nodded in reply. Kant stepped up and supported Victor then began to escort him inside. My brother gave me a worried look and I plastered a smile to hide my concern. He held out his elbow for me to loop my arm with his, but I shook my head and went to catch up with Victor and Kant. Big brother followed along behind me.
As we rushed through the building, people stared with wide eyes as we passed. But it was only at me this time. I meet each daze I could to try to read each one's thoughts. Some showed hatred and fear while a few others showed fondness and admiration. Those ones nodded my way in approval. Kant, from the other side of Victor, noticed a young child who laid a white rose on the ground near me. I looked at it strangely then picked it up. Kant smiled and told me it was okay to accept it.
As we neared the infirmary, my brother caught up to me and tugged me to a halt as Kant entered with Victor. "Rogue," he told me as his eyes brewed a little storm, "we need to get you out of here." I shook my head and looked to where Victor had left. Before I could say anything, he added, "He'll be okay. We need to go -"
"Lorena Sage? Is that you," someone called. My blood ran cold at the name and my body froze. My brother grabbed my shoulders and shook me, lightly and looked past me. "Captain Haden," the person said, "is that woman Lorena Sage?"
I swallowed hard and without turning around I said carefully, "No, but that is my mother." I turned around and looked at the man walking over to us. He stopped in his tracks about five feet away from me. He was tall and lanky, but had this atmosphere of power and strength. He wore a white cloak with dark metal buckles and his short stark white hair was slicked back. His electric blue eyes watched mine carefully. "I'm Rogue, Lorena's daughter," I said and extended my hand to him.
He shook my hand firmly, then didn't let go. "I'm Commander Mercer," he tells me. "I'm a friend of your mother's. Sorry to confuse you with her, it's just you two look so much alike." I raised my eyebrow but didn't say a word to correct him. "Haden, is this your lovely and beautiful sister," he asked my brother. He leaned down and kissed the back of my hand lightly.
Beside me, my brother looked like he was trying to hold his tongue. But when the commander stood, he looked at Haden with a questioning look and prodded him to speak, "Captain?" Haden looked at me and nodded stiffly. I tilted my head then looked at the commander. "If you don't mind, Haden, I need to speak with her. Will you walk with me, Lady Sage," the commander asked.
"Wherever she goes, I go," my brother says quickly. The commander's eyes turned fierce ad he looked at my brother. "I promised to defend her myself."
"It's just me. There's nothing for you to be concerned with. Lady Sage will be safe with me," the commander promised him.
My brother narrowed his eyes at him. "It's my job to protect her, Commander. Please -"
"I'm more than capable of protecting her."
"But..." My brother looked at me. "Will you be okay?"
"Yeah," I swore to him with a bright smile. "I'll be back here when it's done, I promise."
"Then that's that. Come, my lady," the commander said as he began walking. I gave a final nod to my neither and followed the commander further down the hall, past the infirmary.
As we walked in silence, I couldn't help but grow nervous about this decision. I went ahead and asked, "Commander, what is it that you needed to speak to me about exactly?"
He sighed and stopped by a large window. He looked out at the little town that laid behind the building. It had small shops with vendors from other cities supplying the refugees here. A small crowd of people adopted among the shops to get the food and supplies they needed. Small clusters of children weaved through the people and played in the dirt path. "Do you see all those people, my lady?" I nodded and tilted my head as I watched a vendor hand a woman a folded fabric, then not accept get money. She bowed in thanks and left his stand. "These people, having already been forced out of their homes and cities, are now living here is a state of fear of the council's quarreling and wrath. Those fools have broken the foundation these cities had been built on." He slid open the window and picked up a stone off the seal. He held the fiat stone in his hand for a moment before snapping it in half. "If not repaired, we'll all fall into the ruin of yet another war. These people here will either be in the most danger or none, all depending on the Core."
"The Core, sir?"
"Yes, the forces that protect sanctuary. Sanctuary Guardian Core, or as the people call it, Guardian. Myself and your brother, along with the men that have chosen to protect these people, are the guardians of these refugees. Without us, they'd die."
"How do you guys prepare for that? I mean, to fight for these people's lives is...."
"It's a heavy burden, but it's one we choose to take. We choose to fight for those who can't fight for themselves." He tightens his hold on the stone until dust falls.
I glanced back to the way we had came and could see my brother Haden leaning on a wall a few ways back. He was watching us closely. "He really cares about you, ya know," the commander tells me. I look back at him quickly and stare at him. "It's obvious. He isn't one to challenge my orders. If he's breaking them right now to keep an eye on you, then you are very important to him."
"I don't know about that," I muttered and looked out the window.
The commander sighed and patted my shoulder lightly. "If you hold a grudge for his leaving and absence, know it's by my request he left Nora. I needed him here for all these people. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Commander," I say politely.
"Please, Lady Sage. You can call me Michael or Mike for short."
"I'll stick to formalities," I tell him without hesitation. "But my name is Rogue, sir. There's no reason to -"
"If you don't call me by my name, then I will not call you by yours. Deal?"
"Sure."
"Now, Lady Sage. Shall I return you to your over protective keeper?" He looped my arm with his again and began to escort me back to my waiting brother. "You should know that Sam and Kant are very devoted to your brother. So in turn they will be just as devoted to you. They may seem a bit rough, but they are also the best in the SGC."
I nodded slowly to his words and he looked back at the window. "These people will fear you for awhile, but eventually they will learn to put faith into you. Just give it time. They won't harm you, my lady." Before I could answer, he added in a really low tone, "Say nothing about this conversation to your brother, please."
Though he had said please it didn't sound like a request, but an order. I bit my lip as we neared my brother. Once we got close enough Haden jerked me by my elbow to his side and looked at his commander with a fierce expression. His commander sighed and waved to me before waking away without a single word. My brother didn't remove his eyes from him until he rounded a corner and was out of sight. He looked down at me and whispered, "You okay?" I nodded and wiggled out of his hold then put some distance between us. He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Are you mad that I was rough with you?"
"No," I sighed and looked at the infirmary door. "Did they say anything about him?" I got on my toes to peek through the tiny window and could see a doctor trending to Victor's back.
"He'll be fine, but sore for several days," my brother tells me. I relax and look back at him with a forced smile. "By the way," he said quickly, "what you did back there really surprised me. I actually didn't think you'd ever do something like that."
"He was hurting Victor. What else was I supposed to do? That Peter guy wanted to kill Victor right there on those steps. How can anyone be so cruel, Big Brother?" I folded my arms and leaned against the wall next to the door. My brother was quiet for a moment as he watched me. "How could he execute him in front of a crowd that came here to escape death. I don't understand -"
Next thing I knew, I was in my brother's embrace. My face was buried into his chest and he brushed my hair gently as he held me. "You are so innocent, Rogue," he tells me. "Very pure hearted." He leaned back to look down at my face. "You care so much for others that you were willing to sacrifice yourself to save them. If I hadn't stepped in, Peter would have killed you. Did you ever consider what I would do if you died? What about father and how devastated he'd be? You didn't think of that, now did you? Why is that?"
I wasn't even allowed to answer for Kant walked up to us and jerked me free from my brother. "Nice family reunion, but you two need to be going. I'll get Victor and we'll see you leave, alright?"
"To hell with that," Victor said as he stumbled out of the room. He was propped up on a cane with the doctor telling him to go back into the room. I sighed heavily and faced Victor, but my heart sank. The bandages that were wrapped about his torso and the patches on his face gave him the look of an abuse victim. His eyes looked at me sadly. "You're going to leave me here? I came to help -"
"But you can't. Not in that condition," I told him, keeping my voice from shaking from how abandoned he looked. He was like a little puppy in this state, weak and needy. "I need every second that I have, remember? I'll be back soon."
"Then," Victor said, "we'll go home? Together?"
I swallowed hard and lowered my eyes. "Sure," I mumbled and Victor's face fell even more, then he looked at the ground in dismay. I turned to my brother and shook it off though it stung my heart to hurt him. Again. "We should be going," I say with more confidence, "unless, you're tired, Big Brother?"
"Not at all," he says with a grin and glances to Victor for a brief second. "Let's go." He moved his eyes to Kant next. "Watch over him while we are gone. Permit no one to question him about the incident today. Understood?" Kant nodded affirmatively. My brother faced me. "It'll be a day's ride, do you have everything you need?"
I held up the bag and a pleased smile crossed his face. "Good," he says a few times then gives a final goodbye to Kant. He lead me away from the infirmary quickly leaving Victor and Kant behind as we went through the building. Once outside, he practically dragged me to the stables. As we passed them, people stared at us. I lowered my eyes and did my best to at least keep up with him.
When we entered the stables, Selka tossed her head several times when she saw me approaching and I waved at her. My brother laughed lightly as Sam brought his horse. Selka nudged my arm with her head then I pet her neck gently. My brother laughed again as he strapped on a saddle to his horse. I ask him carefully, "What's funny, Big Brother?"
He tried to stifle his laughter but his shoulders shook lightly with his amusement. "You're the first person I've seen her act like that with," he admitted with a grin. "But you can't ride her, she -"
"She can ride her," Sam interrupted as he walked over to us. Big brother stared at him in disbelief. "That horse loves Rose. And Rose can ride her better than even you, especially since she threw you off." Sam grinned. "That horse threw you off when -" My brother shushed him with an evil glare. And upon noticing my curiosity in the matter, my brother's cheeks flushed pink and he looked away muttering.
"Selka, you threw him off," I asked the horse quietly. She nodded her head before resting it on my shoulder. I laughed and petted her neck again. "Big Brother, did it hurt," I teased him as I glanced over my shoulder. He didn't answer. "Big Brother?"
"We should go," he said and got on his horse. Sam handed me a saddle and grinned. "Sam," my brother grumbled, "no one can get a saddle on her."
Sam ignored him and smiled at me kindly. "Make sure you don't fall off the horse this time," he teased and grabbed my elbow when I tried to move away from him. "I won't be there to catch you again," he said as his face drew closer to mine. My pulse quickened and I felt my face grow hot. Behind him, big brother was cursing under his breath and he jerked Sam away from me.
"Get going Sam," he ordered. Sam chucked then went to another stall and began to brush another horse. I fiddled with the buckle of one of the straps. Big brother said quietly, "Rogue, you don't have to..."
"I've got this," I told him as I looked at the saddle then at Selka. She didn't look at me as I put the saddle on her back and strapped it on properly. She looked at my brother the whole time as I buckled the straps, just like she was daring him to stop me. Once done, she got down on her knees and looked at me expectantly. I put the reins in her mouth and held the leather straps in hand. "Looks like she's being nice today," my brother says, sounding a little surprised. He steers his horse to stand by us as I got on Selka's back. She got to her feet again and whinnied at the other horse. My brother looked at us for a moment before giving an approving nod. "Truthfully, I didn't think you could even ride a horse," he tells me. Because I was confused as to the level we were at right now, I simply glared at him. He sighed and said, "Then we're off."
He lead us through the stables and to the main gate. Kant and Victor were waiting for us patiently. Victor was leaning into Kant for support as he looked up at us. My brother stopped in front of them to speak to Kant. "Give us four days, if we're not back by then send a search party." Kant nodded.
Victor came up to me and patted my leg. He looked at the ground as he said, "Be sure to come back to me safely. Promise?" He looked up at me with pleading eyes. I gave a forced smile and a nod. "I love you," he said quietly.
I still couldn't respond so I merely looked up to the opening gate. His words pained my heart and I forced myself to resolve to being quiet. He backed away from the horse in defeat. He looked so small as he stood beneath me, like a tiny child being dropped off at an orphanage. Kant waved us a goodbye then we bolted through the gates, leaving behind Sanctuary and the safety of it's walls.
But, this next part might be a little... unnerving.
But anyway, enjoy!
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"Did Haden even tell you were this healer is," I asked as we walked.
"Well, not really," Kant responded. "He more of less keeps to himself."
"Oh, well -"
When we got to the main building, Kant and I stopped in our tracks. People were outside in clusters murmuring and children were being taken away. The entire crowd was surrounding the front steps of the building. When we approached, they turned around to stare at us. I felt like a mouse caught alive in a trap. Their cruel eyes glared at me as we got closer. A child pointed at me and looked up at his mother and began to speak.
"Mommy, it's that lady," he said, not at all keeping his voice down. Her face twisted in disgust at me then she took him away. I watched everyone's face shift to the same nasty expression. This time it wasn't at anyone else but me.
Kant glared at them and stood in front of me. "Move out of the way, please," he commanded, not at all sounding polite. They didn't budge an inch. "I said, move!" He bared his sharp teeth at them with a growl and they stumbled away from us. Kant grabbed me by the forearm and dragged me through the crowd to the front step.
What I saw I almost couldn't believe.
Victor was on his hands and knees with his head bowed to the ground. A small puddle of blood was just beneath his head and still blood was dripping from his mouth. His body trembled and his shirt was torn from what looked like whip marks on his back. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest at the sight. My breathing turned quick and panicked, almost making me light headed. He was bleeding.
A man stood in front of Victor with a long whip in hand. His extremely long blonde hair was neatly tied back in a low ponytail with a silver ribbon but save a few strands that dangled in his face. He wore a black duster and a white button up shirt that matched his pants. His jaw had three scars staring from the cheek and his satin black eyes glared at Victor. He whipped Victor again causing Victor to release a low scream.
I lost all reason and stomped up the steps with Kant trying to pull me back. "Rogue," he kept shouting. I shook off Kant's desperate attempt to restrain me. The man went to hit Victor again but it caught my arm instead. I spun the thin leather around my arm and hand before jerking it out if his grasp. Everyone went quiet as I stood in front of the man and got in his face. "What do you think you're doing," I snarled at him.
His expression was blank as he stared at me. He raised an eyebrow at me as he gave me a once over. "Who are you to get in my way," he asked as his face twisted to one of anger. "If you're smart, you'll get out of the way, little girl."
When I didn't move an inch, he gritted his teeth. "I warned you," he said slowly as he drew his sword. He pointed the tip of the blade at me. I didn't even move, but simply glared at him. "You're a brave one, huh?" He pointed his blade down to the center of my chest then pulled up, pulling off my scarf. The tip of his sword now touched my chin.
A cruel smile grew on my face. I wasn't one for courage or fights usually, but this was different. He'd hurt Victor, someone I held close to my heart. No one was allowed to get away with that. I'd never felt so enraged in my life. So with a fire much worse than his, I pinched the dull side of his blade and shoved it aside violently. "I won't let you hurt him anymore," I said defiantly. Victor was getting to his feet slowly and I pulled him up by his arm for support. Once on his feet, he leaned into me and I held him upright as best as I could while glaring at his abuser. "I won't let you hurt him. Not unless you go through me."
The man before me stared at us in shock, then it settled into hate. "That boy has brought trouble within these walls," he said in a low voice. "We can't afford people turning on each other in this safe haven again. These people are here for safety, not to kill each other. He caused a disturbance and must be punished."
"For what," I snapped.
"Bringing a threat within the walls of Sanctuary," he shouted.
"What ever may that be," I questioned. "I don't see him threatening anybody!"
"He brought you here," he screamed loudly, his words wounding my confidence. "You're a threat to us all. You are both a threat! He needs to be punished then I'll kill you when I'm finished. So step aside, little bitch."
Moving to stand in front of Victor protectively, I said loud and clear, "Over my dead body."
A malicious grin crossed his face. "That is doable," he snapped and drew his sword back. "I'll be sure to send my regards to your family." He laughed before he swung his sword at me and I closed my eyes waiting for it to end. My life didn't flash before my eyes or anything, but I did remember the dance with my brother and the date on the beach with Victor. If I were to die here, those would be the memories I'd left them with as well.
But instead of being cut in two, the sound of clashing metal met my ears instead. I opened my eyes cautiously to see my brother standing between us, a sword drawn and blocking the man's blade. His head was tilted down causing his black hair to hide his expression. The man leaned into the blade, trying to break my brother's guard. My brother didn't even budge. He looked up at the man and said in a calm voice, "You have no right to execute either of them, Peter."
Peter snarled at him. "Please move, Captain Haden. This woman was interfering with a punishment," he snarled, directing his attention to me again. "She's causing problems."
"She's my responsibility so I'll handle it," my brother said, raising his voice slightly. My brother shoved him back and the man stumbled several feet then fell to the crowd's feet. "Now, back off or I'll throw you out of here, Peter. And if you ever try to kill her again.... Well, I'll be doing the executing."
The man glared at my brother as he got to his feet. "Yes, sir," he said reluctantly then stalked off around the side of the building. From the bottom step, Kant began to instruct people to clear the scene and go about their day. Victor leaned into me so heavily that I nearly fell over. I held him up as my brother put away his sword then turned to me.
His deep green eyes stared at me with something I couldn't quite read. His black hair fell slightly onto his face until he brushed it back. He looked a little older than the last time I saw him, like more mature. A scar on his right eyebrow and left cheek were also new. He now looked barely anything like the brother I had grown up with. He gave me a worried look, then stared at Victor. "Are you two alright," he asked carefully as he took Victor off of me and held him up.
I unwrapped the whip from my arm and threw it aside. Blood tricked down from a cut across my shoulder. "I'm fine, but," I began then stopped. The thought of blood caused me to feel sick and I focused on Victor, who looked awful. His right eye was black and his bottom lip busted. He gave a weak smile, but didn't say a word. "I'm sorry, Victor," I told him. "Because of me...."
"No," my brother interrupted. I stared at him strangely and he looked away from me. "I called you here in the first place. It's my fault, Rogue. I'm sorry I got your friend hurt."
"Hey," Victor said, his voice hoarse and scratchy, "I can't let you blame yourselves. I wasn't supposed to come in the first place. It's no one's fault but mine. Rose, I'm just glad you weren't here earlier or he'd really have killed you." Victor stood straight and came to me. He smiled weakly at me then pulled me into a hug. "Don't ever put your life on the line for me again, okay? I can't loose you."
He then collapsed and I struggled to hold him up. "Okay, Victor," I muttered quietly.
I glanced to my brother who's eyes were wide and staring at us. His lips slightly parted as if to interrupt, but he didn't make a sound. Realizing how uncomfortable he was, I broke Victor's embrace and put some space between us. My brother looked from one to the other in question.
Victor held out his hand to him. "I'm Victor Trinity," he introduced with a smile. "I'm Rose's boyfriend." My brother's expression shifted to something a little darker, but Victor didn't notice it. "Rose has told me a lot about you."
"I wish I could say the same," my brother said neutrally. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "So that's why you came with her."
"Of course," Victor said with a cheeky smile. "For her protection and company."
"So explain her hand and nose then," my brother snapped, turning his anger on Victor like a snake. He raised his voice slightly and said, "Did you do this to her, dumb ass?"
Victor's jaw dropped and he got angry. "No, why the hell would I hurt her? I love Rose. I love her. I would never lay a hand on her -at least, not in anger."
"Sick bastard," my brother snapped and drew back a fist.
I got between them and held my hands up to stop them. I held up a hand to Victor but pushed back against Haden's chest. They stared down at me, almost as if they were just remembering I had been there at all. "That's enough," I told them quietly as I glared at both of them. Victor tried to touch my hand but I shook it off. "I'm still upset with you," I whispered to him then looked at my brother. I pointed at his chest and glared at him. "And I have a lot to say to you. Now if you both want to kill each other then do it some other time and place. I don't want to watch."
My brother dropped his fist and sighed. Victor wasn't so easily pacified, he scoffed at my brother's willingness to give in. I gave him a dirty look and his angry glare at my brother dropped. I shook my head in disapproval and went to stand in front of my brother, who stared down at me with soft eyes. At least the hard part was over now.
My brother offered a slight smile and was about to say something when Victor butted in. "So what's the plan, Rose," he asked me, totally aware of the fact my brother was trying to speak. I glared at Victor and put a hand on my hip. "What I do now," he asked, playing dumb.
"Nothing," I sighed in annoyance and glanced at Kant who was ascending the steps. "But you're staying here with Kant," I told him. Before he could protest, I added, "You're unfit to travel. If you come you will only slow us down." I gave the sweetest most kindest smile I could manage through my boiling anger. "Besides, I'll be back in no time with the healer."
"How do you know this healer will help," Victor pointed out.
I pulled my hair free of the ponytail and shook it out, letting the question hang in the air for a moment. "Well," I said as I began to tie it back up, "I guess I'll just have to convince him, won't I?"
"But Rose," he tried.
"But nothing," I said bluntly, "we've got no time to waste. And we should at least try."
"The healer might listen to her more than anyone," my brother added, standing next to me so close I got nervous. "Rogue is good at convincing people, I should know. She's suckered me into things before, right?" He patted my head playfully and I scrunched up my nose.
"Rogue?" Victor repeated my first name like it was a foreign word.
"Oh? You don't even know her first name? Shame," my brother said. "Her middle name is Rose."
"I know that," Victor snapped, his face flushing. "She lets me call her that. She even told me to."
"Please.... Just stop it," I said before it escalated again. My brother's toying smile faded instantly while Victor snarled at him. "Victor, please."
"Yes, my love," he says specifically to spite my brother, who glared at him with pure rage.
"Stop it, both of you," Kant interrupted now as he stepped between them. "We don't need another scene here, let's take him to the infirmary -"
Before Victor could argue, I nodded in reply. Kant stepped up and supported Victor then began to escort him inside. My brother gave me a worried look and I plastered a smile to hide my concern. He held out his elbow for me to loop my arm with his, but I shook my head and went to catch up with Victor and Kant. Big brother followed along behind me.
As we rushed through the building, people stared with wide eyes as we passed. But it was only at me this time. I meet each daze I could to try to read each one's thoughts. Some showed hatred and fear while a few others showed fondness and admiration. Those ones nodded my way in approval. Kant, from the other side of Victor, noticed a young child who laid a white rose on the ground near me. I looked at it strangely then picked it up. Kant smiled and told me it was okay to accept it.
As we neared the infirmary, my brother caught up to me and tugged me to a halt as Kant entered with Victor. "Rogue," he told me as his eyes brewed a little storm, "we need to get you out of here." I shook my head and looked to where Victor had left. Before I could say anything, he added, "He'll be okay. We need to go -"
"Lorena Sage? Is that you," someone called. My blood ran cold at the name and my body froze. My brother grabbed my shoulders and shook me, lightly and looked past me. "Captain Haden," the person said, "is that woman Lorena Sage?"
I swallowed hard and without turning around I said carefully, "No, but that is my mother." I turned around and looked at the man walking over to us. He stopped in his tracks about five feet away from me. He was tall and lanky, but had this atmosphere of power and strength. He wore a white cloak with dark metal buckles and his short stark white hair was slicked back. His electric blue eyes watched mine carefully. "I'm Rogue, Lorena's daughter," I said and extended my hand to him.
He shook my hand firmly, then didn't let go. "I'm Commander Mercer," he tells me. "I'm a friend of your mother's. Sorry to confuse you with her, it's just you two look so much alike." I raised my eyebrow but didn't say a word to correct him. "Haden, is this your lovely and beautiful sister," he asked my brother. He leaned down and kissed the back of my hand lightly.
Beside me, my brother looked like he was trying to hold his tongue. But when the commander stood, he looked at Haden with a questioning look and prodded him to speak, "Captain?" Haden looked at me and nodded stiffly. I tilted my head then looked at the commander. "If you don't mind, Haden, I need to speak with her. Will you walk with me, Lady Sage," the commander asked.
"Wherever she goes, I go," my brother says quickly. The commander's eyes turned fierce ad he looked at my brother. "I promised to defend her myself."
"It's just me. There's nothing for you to be concerned with. Lady Sage will be safe with me," the commander promised him.
My brother narrowed his eyes at him. "It's my job to protect her, Commander. Please -"
"I'm more than capable of protecting her."
"But..." My brother looked at me. "Will you be okay?"
"Yeah," I swore to him with a bright smile. "I'll be back here when it's done, I promise."
"Then that's that. Come, my lady," the commander said as he began walking. I gave a final nod to my neither and followed the commander further down the hall, past the infirmary.
As we walked in silence, I couldn't help but grow nervous about this decision. I went ahead and asked, "Commander, what is it that you needed to speak to me about exactly?"
He sighed and stopped by a large window. He looked out at the little town that laid behind the building. It had small shops with vendors from other cities supplying the refugees here. A small crowd of people adopted among the shops to get the food and supplies they needed. Small clusters of children weaved through the people and played in the dirt path. "Do you see all those people, my lady?" I nodded and tilted my head as I watched a vendor hand a woman a folded fabric, then not accept get money. She bowed in thanks and left his stand. "These people, having already been forced out of their homes and cities, are now living here is a state of fear of the council's quarreling and wrath. Those fools have broken the foundation these cities had been built on." He slid open the window and picked up a stone off the seal. He held the fiat stone in his hand for a moment before snapping it in half. "If not repaired, we'll all fall into the ruin of yet another war. These people here will either be in the most danger or none, all depending on the Core."
"The Core, sir?"
"Yes, the forces that protect sanctuary. Sanctuary Guardian Core, or as the people call it, Guardian. Myself and your brother, along with the men that have chosen to protect these people, are the guardians of these refugees. Without us, they'd die."
"How do you guys prepare for that? I mean, to fight for these people's lives is...."
"It's a heavy burden, but it's one we choose to take. We choose to fight for those who can't fight for themselves." He tightens his hold on the stone until dust falls.
I glanced back to the way we had came and could see my brother Haden leaning on a wall a few ways back. He was watching us closely. "He really cares about you, ya know," the commander tells me. I look back at him quickly and stare at him. "It's obvious. He isn't one to challenge my orders. If he's breaking them right now to keep an eye on you, then you are very important to him."
"I don't know about that," I muttered and looked out the window.
The commander sighed and patted my shoulder lightly. "If you hold a grudge for his leaving and absence, know it's by my request he left Nora. I needed him here for all these people. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Commander," I say politely.
"Please, Lady Sage. You can call me Michael or Mike for short."
"I'll stick to formalities," I tell him without hesitation. "But my name is Rogue, sir. There's no reason to -"
"If you don't call me by my name, then I will not call you by yours. Deal?"
"Sure."
"Now, Lady Sage. Shall I return you to your over protective keeper?" He looped my arm with his again and began to escort me back to my waiting brother. "You should know that Sam and Kant are very devoted to your brother. So in turn they will be just as devoted to you. They may seem a bit rough, but they are also the best in the SGC."
I nodded slowly to his words and he looked back at the window. "These people will fear you for awhile, but eventually they will learn to put faith into you. Just give it time. They won't harm you, my lady." Before I could answer, he added in a really low tone, "Say nothing about this conversation to your brother, please."
Though he had said please it didn't sound like a request, but an order. I bit my lip as we neared my brother. Once we got close enough Haden jerked me by my elbow to his side and looked at his commander with a fierce expression. His commander sighed and waved to me before waking away without a single word. My brother didn't remove his eyes from him until he rounded a corner and was out of sight. He looked down at me and whispered, "You okay?" I nodded and wiggled out of his hold then put some distance between us. He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Are you mad that I was rough with you?"
"No," I sighed and looked at the infirmary door. "Did they say anything about him?" I got on my toes to peek through the tiny window and could see a doctor trending to Victor's back.
"He'll be fine, but sore for several days," my brother tells me. I relax and look back at him with a forced smile. "By the way," he said quickly, "what you did back there really surprised me. I actually didn't think you'd ever do something like that."
"He was hurting Victor. What else was I supposed to do? That Peter guy wanted to kill Victor right there on those steps. How can anyone be so cruel, Big Brother?" I folded my arms and leaned against the wall next to the door. My brother was quiet for a moment as he watched me. "How could he execute him in front of a crowd that came here to escape death. I don't understand -"
Next thing I knew, I was in my brother's embrace. My face was buried into his chest and he brushed my hair gently as he held me. "You are so innocent, Rogue," he tells me. "Very pure hearted." He leaned back to look down at my face. "You care so much for others that you were willing to sacrifice yourself to save them. If I hadn't stepped in, Peter would have killed you. Did you ever consider what I would do if you died? What about father and how devastated he'd be? You didn't think of that, now did you? Why is that?"
I wasn't even allowed to answer for Kant walked up to us and jerked me free from my brother. "Nice family reunion, but you two need to be going. I'll get Victor and we'll see you leave, alright?"
"To hell with that," Victor said as he stumbled out of the room. He was propped up on a cane with the doctor telling him to go back into the room. I sighed heavily and faced Victor, but my heart sank. The bandages that were wrapped about his torso and the patches on his face gave him the look of an abuse victim. His eyes looked at me sadly. "You're going to leave me here? I came to help -"
"But you can't. Not in that condition," I told him, keeping my voice from shaking from how abandoned he looked. He was like a little puppy in this state, weak and needy. "I need every second that I have, remember? I'll be back soon."
"Then," Victor said, "we'll go home? Together?"
I swallowed hard and lowered my eyes. "Sure," I mumbled and Victor's face fell even more, then he looked at the ground in dismay. I turned to my brother and shook it off though it stung my heart to hurt him. Again. "We should be going," I say with more confidence, "unless, you're tired, Big Brother?"
"Not at all," he says with a grin and glances to Victor for a brief second. "Let's go." He moved his eyes to Kant next. "Watch over him while we are gone. Permit no one to question him about the incident today. Understood?" Kant nodded affirmatively. My brother faced me. "It'll be a day's ride, do you have everything you need?"
I held up the bag and a pleased smile crossed his face. "Good," he says a few times then gives a final goodbye to Kant. He lead me away from the infirmary quickly leaving Victor and Kant behind as we went through the building. Once outside, he practically dragged me to the stables. As we passed them, people stared at us. I lowered my eyes and did my best to at least keep up with him.
When we entered the stables, Selka tossed her head several times when she saw me approaching and I waved at her. My brother laughed lightly as Sam brought his horse. Selka nudged my arm with her head then I pet her neck gently. My brother laughed again as he strapped on a saddle to his horse. I ask him carefully, "What's funny, Big Brother?"
He tried to stifle his laughter but his shoulders shook lightly with his amusement. "You're the first person I've seen her act like that with," he admitted with a grin. "But you can't ride her, she -"
"She can ride her," Sam interrupted as he walked over to us. Big brother stared at him in disbelief. "That horse loves Rose. And Rose can ride her better than even you, especially since she threw you off." Sam grinned. "That horse threw you off when -" My brother shushed him with an evil glare. And upon noticing my curiosity in the matter, my brother's cheeks flushed pink and he looked away muttering.
"Selka, you threw him off," I asked the horse quietly. She nodded her head before resting it on my shoulder. I laughed and petted her neck again. "Big Brother, did it hurt," I teased him as I glanced over my shoulder. He didn't answer. "Big Brother?"
"We should go," he said and got on his horse. Sam handed me a saddle and grinned. "Sam," my brother grumbled, "no one can get a saddle on her."
Sam ignored him and smiled at me kindly. "Make sure you don't fall off the horse this time," he teased and grabbed my elbow when I tried to move away from him. "I won't be there to catch you again," he said as his face drew closer to mine. My pulse quickened and I felt my face grow hot. Behind him, big brother was cursing under his breath and he jerked Sam away from me.
"Get going Sam," he ordered. Sam chucked then went to another stall and began to brush another horse. I fiddled with the buckle of one of the straps. Big brother said quietly, "Rogue, you don't have to..."
"I've got this," I told him as I looked at the saddle then at Selka. She didn't look at me as I put the saddle on her back and strapped it on properly. She looked at my brother the whole time as I buckled the straps, just like she was daring him to stop me. Once done, she got down on her knees and looked at me expectantly. I put the reins in her mouth and held the leather straps in hand. "Looks like she's being nice today," my brother says, sounding a little surprised. He steers his horse to stand by us as I got on Selka's back. She got to her feet again and whinnied at the other horse. My brother looked at us for a moment before giving an approving nod. "Truthfully, I didn't think you could even ride a horse," he tells me. Because I was confused as to the level we were at right now, I simply glared at him. He sighed and said, "Then we're off."
He lead us through the stables and to the main gate. Kant and Victor were waiting for us patiently. Victor was leaning into Kant for support as he looked up at us. My brother stopped in front of them to speak to Kant. "Give us four days, if we're not back by then send a search party." Kant nodded.
Victor came up to me and patted my leg. He looked at the ground as he said, "Be sure to come back to me safely. Promise?" He looked up at me with pleading eyes. I gave a forced smile and a nod. "I love you," he said quietly.
I still couldn't respond so I merely looked up to the opening gate. His words pained my heart and I forced myself to resolve to being quiet. He backed away from the horse in defeat. He looked so small as he stood beneath me, like a tiny child being dropped off at an orphanage. Kant waved us a goodbye then we bolted through the gates, leaving behind Sanctuary and the safety of it's walls.
Soldier: Chapter One - Amnesia
Humming, that's what I hear. It's not a melody kind of humming, but more like a humming in my head from something loud blasting past. But of course, nothing passed....
I can feel only the cold metal pressing onto my back at first. And slowly, I can feel my own limbs returning to feeling. And the only thing I hear now, is the incoherent humming of voices.
Where the hell am I, I thought as I finally began to come to. The humming slowly turns into a conversation.
"Can she hear us," someone new asks.
"We don't know. She's not responsive," the older man's voice from before stated.
"What about her wounds," the newer voice asks.
"She's h
Soldier: Prologue
Hello, my lovely people!
So, I'm starting a new project... *cheering*
Anyway, I'll still be finishing up Bloodlust as I go along, but for now all fan fictions will be put on hold until I have time to actually sit and figure out what to do with them.
However, unlike those, the POV changes a lot. So, be aware of the different fonts within each section!
Without further a do, here is another one!
At one point or another in our lives, we try to recall the beginning of our chain of memories. We all try to recall our first Christmas or our first time riding a bike. But hardly ever do we actually remember any of that. We learn pieces of it,
Bloodlust: Chapter Thirteen
"So this is Para Carta," Kant said as we approached the large door of the city laying in front of us. The walls stood as high as Nora's but were much more elaborate, looking like giant trees had melded together to make an impenetrable wall. There was carvings on every inch of the wall. Some of it was a language that only one kind spoke. This is how you knew it was a Terr city. A Terr was a classification for elves and fairies alike. Para Carta was their home. And here, they could practice their way of life freely. Although they did have two representatives in the council, they had their own government here. Usually, it was a sort of
Bloodlust: Chapter Twelve
Marisol wasn't injured, but was a bit shaken up. She stayed next to Marissa and clung to her as her mom healed my broken ankle with delicate hands. Marissa kept thanking me for protecting her daughter while Daniel tried to soothe Marisol. He didn't even glance my way which lead me to believe he blamed me for putting her in danger in the first place. I couldn't argue that, since it was indeed my fault. Marisol had done wonderfully and I was actually glad for that, seeing as most children would have panicked in her shoes. If she hadn't came up with the idea to run however, we could have been ambushed and killed in the worst case scenario.
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