Guilty Scarring Fair Love:
The sun rested on the horizon of a beautifully changing blue sky. The blue color framing the yellow burning orb was fading from the sky being replaced by colors of red, orange, yellow, and pink. Out in an open area stood proudly in silence was a sea of tombstones. In this sea of gravestones rested on their feet a young woman with black hair pulled back into a ponytail, eyes of blue resting on one stone. It couldn’t be helped, right? This just happened to be on her way while looking for new flora to research. There was no real reason that she would admit to, to explain why she had come to the place she most despised. She closed her eyes to try and settle her busy thoughts. It was still so stupid to her mind for the living to visit petrified souls of the dead. The dead could not come back. They could never return to the living no matter what, even if one person’s heart desperately desired one to.
She took a breath then exhaled through parted lips, opening her eyes to stare at the cold gray stone. It wasn’t going to change. He wasn’t coming back. A soft, comforting wind blew to play with a few loose black strains of her hair, almost seeming it wished to help her feel better. “This is stupid.” Alisia muttered coldly, turning sharply on her heel with a stiff back, starting to make her way away from the grave. She left behind flowers at the base of the marker consisting of blue and black roses, wrapped in paper which crinkled softly in the blowing wind. It wasn’t like she cared or so that was what she told herself. She did miss him but it was still a pointless act to mourn the dead. Somehow, no matter how hard she tried, she still felt herself mourning the loss of that family member and she hated it. It felt like an illness that would not leave and held no known quick cure.
Inhaling a frustrated breath she wanted these thoughts and emotions gone. She exhaled the growing frustration towards herself, her eyes closing while her legs continued to carry her down the small elevated piece of land. She heard the sound of stone and dirt crunch under her boots as she came to pause at the base of the hill. Her blue eyes reopened to take in her darkening surroundings and, after looking around some, she began walking towards the north to search for new flowers.
Flora was a sub-country known for its many types of flowers and plants on Indu’s side. It was her job to research, find, and help create new plants that could survive in their unique soil. There were several reasons for the need of this research, medical purposes being the main use for their rare plants. Another use was simply for decoration. It was exhausting work but was something she preoccupied her time with. She almost would do anything to keep her mind busy and focused on something other than the past.
Strapped to her back, hidden under a jean jacket and dark blue shirt, rested a gun holster. Inside this holster that was attached to her waist and resting on the brim of her jeans, slept one of two silver revolvers. They had been gifts from her Grandfather and something she treasured the most. They were one of the few things she held so close to her heart. She had even shot her own family once with one for touching the other. They felt like family to her, closer than family some had said based on how protective she was of the lifeless weapons. They were cold steel, unloving and uncaring. It was this inanimate trait that somehow felt like they cared to her, perhaps it was just a warped way for her mind to find comfort in something that couldn’t speak back. They couldn’t judge her. They couldn’t order her around or tell her what she should and should not be doing.
Passing by some red lilies mixed with orange flowers called Carrot’s Flora, the color mixture catching her sight reminded her of a nickname one of her sisters had given her: Red Moon Assassin. She hadn’t consciously taken notice that her legs had come to a stop, with her eyes set on the soft red and orange colors blowing to and fro in the wind. Flashes of a memory came to her mind of her a few short years earlier in life, standing outside with her siblings, showing off her firing skills.
They clapped and cheered at her accuracy. It was after she had shot down another empty can, hitting its center easily from a few feet to a couple miles away. Alisia looked to her siblings as words rang though the static white noise. “You’re so awesome, Alisia. I bet you could be a red moon assassin.” Her little sister said with a giggle in the playing memory. Alisia recalled her response, asking to why she would be a red moon assassin with a smile on her face. “Why that’s easy silly. Your eyes go red like a harvest moon when you are shooting off your guns.” The echoing laugh from her sister and the agreement from her other siblings filled her ears.
Her blue eyes closed a bit more, still lost in the soft puddle of colors. “…maybe she was onto something there…” the words were very soft exiting Alisia’s barely moving lips. Forcing her eyes to eventually break away from the plants, she forced her legs to continue forwards along the dirt road. A slow numbness felt to be spreading through her body with the memory repeating in flashes. It wasn’t like a film reel but more like pictures in a photo album being flipped through slow then quick. She had to focus on something else, anything else to end the creeping numbness.
She decided to review over the information she had learned about the Shadows Kiss a few days ago. She had learned it toxic, the petals and leaves absorbed light from the sun when closed, and when they would open at night they took in the nourishment from the moonlight while releasing the warmth it had absorbed from the daylight. Now she wanted other flowers to attempt cross pollination. There wasn’t a lot she had learned to her dismay besides how it took in food and it held some toxic residue on its being. There was also the change in its petals and leaves as it acquired more or less light. She hadn’t figured out if there was any medical benefit to the plant or not yet, but was attempting to figure that out.
The sun continued to set as she continued on in silence, eyeing her surroundings for any signs of flowers or plants she could use. She wasn’t positive of the full extent of the Shadows Kiss but wanted to know if there was some way of making it, into a better medicine for a few ails. “Some of the rarest flowers should be coming into bloom soon. Most common are those in the daylight. Most rare are those able to feed off the moonlight. Isn’t that right?” Alisia questioned quietly with her review over what she knew, her head tilting back to gaze her blue orbs up to the sky as she went silent, listening to her steps crunch small stones and earth under her feet.
Farther down the pathway she would come to a stop, her sight following the pale glow from the moon on the landscape to a field of flora. Blossoms began to open their petals to take in the beautiful moonlight as it rose into the sky. Moonflowers, Bell flowers, Starry Lilies, Night Glories, Violets, and other flowers stood out to Alisia. Shifting her position she stepped into and through the ankle high grass, starting to look over the different flowers hoping to find some to take back with her. This was to further expand study and to test for any new uses. It also would allow her for more reasons to distract her-self from ‘properly grieving’ as her brother had put it. The wind blew softly while she carefully gathered some flowers. Using her pocket knife she removed them cleanly from the ground so she could transplant them later in her study.
She ignored it when a sudden stronger wind blew over the land, hitting her body like it wanted her to fall over. Her mind was focused currently on carefully removing enough of the Starry Roses thorns for her to have a safe space to grab. With the silence and noise of nature filling her ears, it wasn’t difficult for her hearing to notice a change in the night’s song. When the crack of a branch sang its tune it didn’t take but a few mere seconds for Alisia to whip around while standing upright, her free hand wrenching behind her under the cotton clothing to grasp the chilly steel. She pulled one of her guns out, aiming it in the direction of the noise. “Who’s there? Show your-self!” she snapped coldly, pulling the hammer back. She didn’t care that her flowers, freshly picked, rested in a messed up pile at her feet. Her other hand reached carefully inside her jacket, putting away the knife before slipping under her shirt at her side to get her second gun. Nothing was going to sneak up on her and get the upper hand.
When no one and nothing came out she was not pleased. She aimed her second gun in the same direction, clicking its hammer back as the cool night air made her skin crawl under her jacket. That also could be due to the fact whatever it was that lurked, hidden in the shadows, wasn’t coming out. Alisia tightened her jaw, eyes narrowing and gained a slight tint of red in the moonlight. “I said to come out, now.” Her words came as a growl with frustration at being ignored.
“Oh why the hostility?” a feminine voice inquired from a patch of plants around the base of a tree. “Don’t you want help? Your heart and soul seem to have been crying for some time now, you poor soul.”
“I don’t talk to disembodied voices. And what you said doesn’t make sense.” Alisia pointed out sharply, not understanding how a heart and soul could cry. They were simply things existing inside a body made from flesh to house organs, and a life granted by The Great One. “You have to either be human or demon. Now, you either come out or I’ll kill you then see what you are.”
“Aw such cruel words towards a friend.” The female voice pouted before sighing. “Very well, I shall show myself to you.” The female voice said with another sigh. Rustling sounds filled the air as the brush from around the tree began to shake and move. Then into view came a fox with a coat as black as night and dark fire around its ankles to match. The flames though held some red and yellow as the coat appeared to hold some blue tones to it.
Alisia hadn’t thought she would see an animal come out. She was aware demons had animal forms and some others were animals with demonic abilities, and no ability to disguise themselves as full humans. This small creature wasn’t what she expected and quickly aimed her guns down at the beast. “We aren’t friends. I don’t have any friends that come from the filth that is the demon race.” The black haired female snarled coldly, fingers ready on the triggers.
The fox seemed to tilt its head to one side as if confused before clicking its tongue against the roof of its mouth, seeming disappointed in the young woman before her. “Oh so you denounce that side of your bloods tree? Very well then, to each their own as they say I suppose.” A chuckle exited the fox’s throat, humored by her own choice of words. The fox closed her almost glowing eyes while speaking matter-of-factly with her next words. “Before you ask I was not spying. I simply came to answer the crying call of your soul and heart. It seems they are pleading for release and aid.” The fox’s replied was calm as she starting to wash her face with one paw.
What was this fox meaning? Alisia wasn’t aware of herself making any cries for release at any point in her life. “Explain yourself, demon. What do you mean by you are here to answer the plea from my soul and heart?” Alisia’s firm words drew the fox to cease her washing and make eye contact. Her bright yellow almost orange eyes set on Alisia’s blue distrusting orbs.
“It is as I said.” The fox responded with a bored tone, shrugging her shoulders from her sitting place. “You see, you call me a demon when I am no simple demon. Please take better note.” The female’s tone had fallen an octave with the last sentence, sounding displeased to be compared to some common beast with any amount of intelligence. This same distaste reflected on her fallen furry face and her narrowed eyes. “Have you never seen a God before?” the fox asked almost with a sly tongue, a careful smirk beginning to pull into place on her lips gradually.
Alisia didn’t know how to really respond to that. She knew Gods and Goddesses existed based on what others had said. Plus it was the only way to explain how their world had come into creation, and how the land of death dividing the country came into existence. “I’ve never seen a God or Goddess with my own eyes. Why would you come to me now? I’ve never requested anything from the Heavens.”
A breath left the fox’s open mouth with a roll of her eyes. How these mortals managed to breathe was beyond her knowledge. “You must be daft. It is neither impossible nor difficult for a God, such as my-self, to hear the wishes from the mortal souls.” She boasted about herself, one paw lifting up to be placed upon her fluffy, puffed out chest. “Yours is crying out for relief from its yearlong heartache. You did lose a loved one, did you not?” the fox’s feminine voice had grown softer as she spoke, craftier with elegant knowing eyes. Alisia held her tongue, an ugly taste seeping over her taste buds. This fox was right. She had lost someone close to her a year ago and it did hurt. That pain was why she continued to focus and work on her research almost nonstop. It was the force that drove her to work harder. It was a force she used daily but after seeing the perceptive reflection of light in the fox’s eyes, she began to question herself. Could she really sustain her pace and keep bettering her work, and the sub-country of Flora? Would she eventually run out of drive and end up messing things up?
Seeing the young woman’s shoulders tense brought a small smirk to the fox’s lips. It was working nicely. She could see the gears turning in Alisia’s head. Her paw lowered and her fox tail began to curl around her legs on one side then split into a second tail. The second tail curled around her legs on the other side. Both tails began to ignite in a slow rising, dark orange flame which began to consume the animal’s body.
As the flames rose, the fox’s body began to shift and change, taking on the form of a lovely woman in her mid to late twenties. The flames started to fade with little sound as the transformation completed, leaving her human form to stand clad in snug dark pants, dark red heeled boots with five buttons up the outer sides, and her upper body dressed in a white shirt resting under a bronze colored under buster vest. A final touch was a light colored jacket coming just past her elbows for sleeve length, and just past her breast line for body length. Around her neck rested a thin gold chained necklace with a purple and green gemstone dangling in the center. On one wrist rested two bracelets which clanked together when she began walking towards Alisia. A final touch was her hair of dark brown, almost black, falling past her shoulders loose with four stripes of dark green highlighting it. Two of the green stripes rested over her right shoulder as the other two fell behind her left shoulder. Her yellow almost orange eyes were set on Alisia.
Once close enough she reached a hand out to gently touch and lift Alisia’s fallen head by the chin. Her touch with her fingertips was delicate as if she were touching untreated glass. “I can make what you want become true. I can end that pain buried so deeply inside. You don’t even need to do a thing except help me find a friend of mine.” The woman negotiated sweetly, looking to be in her late thirties or early forties up close. She was ensuring to keep eye contact with her target, not wanting anything left to chance. “I think that sounds fair, don’t you?”
“But…how do I know you aren’t going to betray me?” Alisia asked sounding almost like she was lost in a distant thought. She felt the woman push her body closer, placing pressure on both barrels with her stomach. This reminded Alisia that she hadn’t lowered her weapons for some reason even during her considering this self-claimed God’s words. With this push it forced Alisia’s arms to bend, bringing the guns closers to her body. This move was weird but the black haired young woman felt part of her wishing to know if this female could help without trickery involved.
This question brought an amused smile to pull gently at the woman’s lips from their straight line. Humans or half breeds were so easy, it was almost insulting yet it brought so much enjoyment to her when she could work them like wet clay. “Would one who has the power of a God lie to you? Also if I did have any plans to betray you then why would I so easily leave myself open for pointblank injuries?” The woman asked quietly, a confused look entering her expression. Alisia had to admit to herself the woman had a point. Even if she truly was a God there was no way one would be so foolish. Gods were Immortal but rumors had spread at some point about even they could be killed by mortal weapons, if that weapon were to hit the right spot of their body. At least that was what Alisia was telling herself was true. Inside she deeply hoped it was true and not simply gossip. She wanted to believe even a God had to have their limits. After some moments of quiet the woman parted her lips to release her soft sweet voice. “Well? Do we have an agreement? I grant you your deepest wish from the center of your soul. In exchange you only have to help me find my dear, lost friend.” The woman laid out the terms with a small pout like sound lacing her luring voice.
It was stupid. Why was she even considering this woman’s offer? She didn’t even know what kind of wish was so deep inside that was being referred to. One thing Alisia wondered was if it wanted her Grandfather back. But that sort of thing couldn’t happen. You couldn’t revive the dead and even if the dead could be revived, they wouldn’t have peace. The other complication would be those who came to peace with that persons passing. They would have to readjust to the once deceased being alive again. Yet what else could be a wish found inside her soul? She couldn’t think of anything else besides that. But that thought brought her to wonder, was that wish a surface wish hiding something deeper or was it a true wish? Thinking this over further, she began to ponder requesting proof of this woman to show she truly was what she claimed. “…Can you show me proof you are truly a God?” Alisia finally asked after moments of silent staring into this woman’s entrancing eyes.
The woman paused, a little taken by the question. No one on the other side or here had ever asked that when approached. Normally there would be talk then her offer and finally their agreement to the terms. It was short, simple and to the point, normally. But this mortal wanted proof for some reason. Oh well, this would be easy enough to prove. “I will prove to you of my word being true. To start with I know your mother is not as she appears, you have three siblings, and your prized guns were gifts from your late Grandfather. They are the most valuable thing you cherish. You keep them on you constantly. You also keep on your person at all times, three refills of bullets for your revolvers and you clean them weekly if not every other week.” She was confident she had just nailed it, the eye contact remaining unbroken.
Hearing all this at first did not stun Alisia but when the woman spoke about her two guns that did. That wasn’t something just anyone would know unless she told them, or they witnesses her being given the weapons. There also was no way anyone who didn’t see or wasn’t told by her would know her cleaning schedule, or how many refills she carried on her. “Do you believe me now, dear Alisia Silverlight?” The woman asked with a smug tone. Gently sliding her fingers along Alisia’s chin, she followed the jawbone to the joint, then down her neck as she felt and traced Alisia’s vocal cords. She had her. The woman could tell by the distant look in the stunned blue orbs.
One step then another to the side she removed her body from the young woman’s guns, slipping behind her as smooth as a snake. She wrapped her arms around and over Alisia’s shoulders, lowering her head to speak softly into Alisia’s ear. “What is your answer?” The woman whispered softer than any breeze to ever cross the landscape. “I am a very busy person and I would just hate to leave because another being also has a loudly crying wish.” Her words were like silk, so smooth with sadness lining every word choice as the woman’s hot breath caused goose bumps to prickle along her flesh.
Alisia wasn’t sure what to do. No one could have known all that about her, except her family. They knew about the guns and about how many refills she kept on herself. But this woman wasn’t family nor was she any family friend, that much Alisia was sure. Could she trust her? If she could then would that improve her ability to work without risking losing her drive, without fear she would start crying with a simple memory? Eventually Alisia finally swallowed, staring blankly ahead before lowering her eyes to the ground. Her two guns slowly lowered now to rest at either side. “…Alright…I’ll agree to your deal. But…can you tell me what wish it is you are hearing from my soul? I want to know before you start using any magic.”
The woman almost snorted in laughter at the request but held her control. “Trust me. You will be quite pleased, that I can assure you.” The woman’s voice had lowered and held amusement with each word. Carefully she shifted her stance just a bit so to seal the deal. “Just one tiny touch…” she muttered in an elegant voice, sliding her head from Alisia’s shoulder to behind her neck, watching a dark shadow slip from her person to push her target’s hair out of the way. At the base of Alisia’s neck she eyed where it met the shoulders near between the shoulder blades, this was where the woman gently placed a kiss, leaving behind a dark tinted kiss shaped mark. Seeing the lovely dark lipstick stain brought her pleasure, causing a smirk gently stay on her smooth skinned face. “There we go. You’ll get your wish granted and to be ever kinder I’ll even help you better your work.” Her voice had never lost its composure. She carefully began to un-wrap her arms from Alisia’s form, removing her warm body away from her now contracted target’s back. “I also have a gift for you.” She informed once she had slipped her being from Alisia.
Feeling this change seemed to snap the black haired female out of her daze, registering the ending words spoken to her. “You do?” Alisia asked while blinking her eyes a few times to clear her foggy mind, starting to turn around once it fully registered the woman’s arms was off of her shoulders.
Alisia turned to see the woman now holding a paper of wrapped flowers. The woman nodded, a pleasant and warm expression painting her face. “Yes and I’m sure it will help you. Try breeding this Tear Bell with your Shadows Kiss. I promise you will get something most magnificent.” There being held out to her was a wrap of paper holding inside pale colored flowers. They were small like a Bluebell but their color was a pale indigo with strips of midnight blue, almost like veins, following from the base to end of the petals.
“I’ve never seen a plant like this before…” Alisia was stunned and carefully accepted the flowers from the woman. With Alisia’s eyes now fixed on the new flower type, the woman held a hand out with palm up, using dark flaming shadows to make a bag for Alisia.
“And here is another gift for you, my dear friend. This should make it easier for travel with your flowers. It has a special lining enchanted to prolong the life of any plants inside its fabric walls.” The woman explained as the blue eyed female turned her eyes up away from the first gift. As Alisia did, she was greeted with the sight of the bag. It was similar to a messenger bag but appeared to be crafted with a sturdier structure.
“Thank you…” Alisia spoke breathlessly, hesitating before speaking again. “Um what’s your name again?” She inquired as it dawned on her this woman never gave her a name. She also moved the flowers from one hand to the other, putting away one gun then the other. She started to feel embarrassed for holding the flowers with both guns in her hands. It wasn’t until she had snapped out of her awe that she realized how uncomfortable her hands felt, holding both the flowers and guns together.
The woman was quiet, watching Alisia take the bag and place the flowers inside before starting to pick up the ones she had previously dropped. “Just call me Vixen Rose. I’ll be in touch later. ‘Til then, I bid you the best on your research. Don’t forget our small deal.” The woman named Vixen reminded, stepping backwards gracefully with each word.
“I won’t, don’t worry. I don’t forget my deals or promises.” Alisia replied, slipping the bag over her head so its strap rested across her chest.
“Then I bid you, adieu.” With those last words the woman who had been stepping back placed one arm across her midsection. This lead into one foot going behind her, crossing the other leg as she bowed to Alisia. Standing upright she locked eyes once more, smirking quietly. A powerful wind suddenly blew, sending up leaves and flower petals into the air. It was so strong Alisia had to close her eyes looking away. Once it quieted she opened her eyes to look and see the woman was gone. Was that really the right choice? She wasn’t sure but it was too late now. They had already agreed on the deal. Alisia would help the woman find her friend and the woman would grant Alisia’s deepest wish.
While making her way back home, it was some miles down the road when she felt a sharp burning in the back of her neck. “Gah what the hell?!” she quickly reached back swatting, thinking it was a bug only to find nothing there. “Did that woman…no she gave her word to not betray me. I’ve not heard of any stories about Gods that lie for self-gain. Then again…” her voice trailed off, glancing behind her shoulder trying unsuccessfully to see the back of her neck. The burning started to die down then vanished as oddly as it came. At least whatever it was had finished.
Continuing on her way it felt as if eyes were on her following her every move, which caused her body to start producing sweat from an internal fear most creatures had when they felt they were being followed. This only ended after she made it inside her home. It had been a long night and sleep sounded good. She could start researching in the morning. Once in her room she began to undress to change into looser clothing for sleep. As she did this it exposed her back, showing on the back of her neck close to the middle of her shoulder blades, rested now a burn mark in the shape of a kiss. The ends of that kiss had started to spread out though. They were slightly extending and rising up, looking to be aiming for a specific shape. The kiss became hidden after Alisia finished changing into her pajama’s and went to bed. Her mind thought nothing more about the burning sensation as it had remained inactive.