Chapter 10

Lynne Soyokaze runs. Like Seryph Gibbons, Lynne runs from a past that is best left forgotten. The fall of Inusaka High. The supposed murder of her brother Devyn at the hands of the Majestics. Lost friendships, lost love, lost souls. Yet compared to many of the other actors in our comedy of manners she has lived a life of relative normality. Granted, we are not all rising rock stars with a newly signed record contract. At the same time, even fewer people are immortal warriors defending the universe or corrupted beings bent on the destruction of all we hold dear.

You and I are like Lynne. Her troubles are your troubles. Despite any oddity in her past, she still wants what you and I want. But given that chance to step beyond the mundane-- to take the world by the reigns and say "I will do what no one else has done before," even if in doing so would destroy you... would you take it? Will Lynne take it? And if so, would any of us be capable of remaining the people we were before we shattered that wall? Would we want to be the same?

Dance that dance of destiny and find out.

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Tomorrow night, Khazan will know its next leader. No... no great uprising will occur. No megalomaniacal fiend will finally conquer the world and throw its inhabitants into his thrall. No whim of fate will resolve and change the course of history forever. Sometimes... the changing of the guard on the Nexus of all Realities is as mundane as a Presidential election.

The odds-on favorite to cease the Presidency is one Ryoko Pharis: Sorcerer, Humanitarian, and former Inusaka student. Yet despite the animosity that the Majestics hold towards the man that spearheaded the revolt that led to the fall of their empire-in-training, his would-be assassin this evening is a fellow fugitive from that tyranical institution.

Devyn Soyokaze harbors no ill-feeling towards Ryoko Pharis or his wife Elwin D'Larthi, who shares the ticket with her husband as his running mate. Like many of Devyn's recent targets, at one time he called Ryoko "friend," despite being on opposite sides of the Covenant of Mystra/Concil of Iolus feud during their schooldays. Each man, in their own way, was a distinguished leader in their youth, and from their positions of leadership grew a healthy and friendly rivalry. Pity that the rivalry must grow into something far more bitter...

"What is on your mind, Devyn?" Kyoko whispers as the two waltz into the Khazanian Regent Hotel's lobby. "You seem troubled. I thought this was supposed to be a night to forget our duty and enjoy what little time we have left."

And indeed that is what Devyn wishes Kyoko to believe. After the look he saw on Kyoko's face this morning in the aftermath of confronting her former true love, he simply couldn't bear to tell her the truth of their evening on the town. He knew that he would be shattering her heart no matter which way he presented her with their mission... so is it not the best thing to allow her just a few more minutes of blissful ignorance?

Knowing that their mission was to end a life before it even had the chance to experience life...

"Nothing, Kyoko... nothing. I am only distracted by your enchanting visage this evening. Nothing more."

Kyoko knows those words are nothing but an eloquent lie, but she allows herself to believe those words and quietly blushes.

As the coldly beautiful couple makes its way towards the ballroom, the music from within begins to wander its way into Devyn and Kyoko's ears. Devyn's feet react in the only way they know how, and before he and Kyoko have reached the entrance to the ballroom, Devyn has whisked Kyoko off of her feet and proceeds to lead her into a waltz.

"Look at those two, Ryoko." Elwin says as she nudges her husband in the side, directing his attention towards Devyn and Kyoko as they make their grand entrance into the party. "Why don't you ever do that with me? I'm not all fireballs and chainmail, you know."

Ryoko smiles for a brief second, amused with his wife's banter, but as soon as he recognizes who exactly it is that's making their appearance, his expression quickly sours.

"Something wrong, Ryoko?"

"Umm... let's dance."

Ryoko and Elwin's entrance onto the dancefloor wasn't nearly as elegant as Devyn and Kyoko's. Akward would be a polite way to describe Ryoko's initial steps. Not that Elwin minded, and not that anyone would dare critique the inevitable future President's dancing skills on the eve of his inevitable election at his own rally. Elwin simply smiles as she and her husband quickly adjust their battle-weary feet to the more refined arena of the ballroom.

"Good to see you this evening, old friend." Devyn says as he and Kyoko cross the path of Ryoko and Elwin. "I thank you for inviting us to your party. You, by all means, have my vote."

"Well, we always appreciate support for our campaign," Ryoko responds, faltering in his rythym for a few steps, "even when it comes from unexpected sources. I didn't know you were in Khazan. What brings you and your lady friend to this part of the universe?"

"This and that. Buisness, pleasure, the whole spectrum of experience."

"Is that so."

"I love your dress..." Elwin begins to strike up a conversation with Kyoko while Devyn and Ryoko lead their partners towards the center of the dance floor, each man keeping the other within earshot, as if they were dancing with one another, taking turns leading the other, measuring the other's strength in some sort of duel of wits and grace.

Devyn clearly owns the advantage in this situation. Despite the strategic advantage, Devyn hesitates. He slows his pace by a few deliberate milliseconds. He listens to Elwin and Kyoko's conversation. Nothing remarkable. Simple smalltalk. Just a few more minutes. No need to shatter the illusion just yet. No need to ruin such a... normal evening.

"Sometimes, my friend, even those that revel in their damnation find the downward spiral painful and regret their decision."

Devyn stops in mid-dance, nearly throwing the enthraled Kyoko offbalance. Ryoko and Elwin also come to a halt, and soon the entire congregation has centered its attention on the four figures in the middle of the dance floor.

"Devyn..." Kyoko squeezes Devyn's hand, letting him know her displeasure with what she sees coming. "Why...?"

"Yes, Devyn." Ryoko adds. "Why?"

"Not tonight. This can wait. One last gesture of friendship. I... want the two of you to be happy. Someone has to be happy."

With that comment, Devyn leaves the ballroom, letting go of Kyoko as if he were abandoning her to do as she wished. Without hesitation, Kyoko follows.

"He was within inches of killing the both of us." Ryoko whispers to his wife.

"And I was within inches of returning the favor." Elwin responds, revealing her sword which is artfully tucked away on her side, blending in with the folds of her dress. "Why do you think he hesitated. Do you believe that rubbish about friendship?"

"Right now, I don't care what the reason is. All that matters to me is that you're safe."

"You're such a sap. And I love you for it."

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"Why did we come here tonight?" Kyoko demands as she and Devyn enter their limo and head for home. "What was it that Lovecraft commanded you to do?"

"Something that not even I could go through with." Devyn vaguely responds. "That should be enough of an answer."

"Can you imagine not being able to live your life? Can you imagine having your life stolen from you before you have the opportunity to experience it? Can you imagine returning to whence you came before ever leaving?"

"No, I obviously can't. What does that have to do with why we confronted those two?"

"I simply did not wish to take away all of those experiences from someone who had yet to have that chance. While our dance partners were the targets, the objective was to halt their bloodline."

Kyoko's heart sunk and she felt herself become sickened by the very notion. The illusion was finally shattered.

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Lynne gazes into her dressing room mirror. She's only in her 20's, but she could see the distainful and tired look of an old soul in her otherwise youthful eyes. She wonders when it was when she lost her love for life. Was it when Inusaka fell? Was it when she was forced to change her entire identity just to remain alive? Or was there never love to begin with? She distinctly remembers there being some time period in her life filled with some semblance of joy, but now... she can't quite recall when that was. A mere shadow of her past emotional self lingers in the hollow coil she now considers life. Was this how her brother felt? Were these the feelings that have led him on his maddening quest for power and chaos? What could she do to regain that love for life, so that she could share it with her brother and save both of their souls before it was too late.

Lynne lets her consciousness drift away, meditiating on how to recapture those lost days of joy and happiness.

A voice penetrates her silence.

"Troubles, Lady Soyokaze?"

Lynne looks about her dressing room and sees a man lurking over her shoulder reflected in the mirror. She jumps straight up, spinning in midjump to face whomever it is that has snuck into her dressing room... only to find no one.

"Corporeal formalities... I'm not in the mood for them." the mirror image murmurs.

Lynne lets out a scream, or to be more precise, a high-pitched note, which shatters the mirror. The man's image scatters about the cracked mirror shards.

"I see you don't share your brother's manners." he says as the mirror slowly starts to mend itself to its original position. "How you two could ever be siblings is beyond me. Seems to me you two only share the same hair color... and eyes." The image of the man was fully reforms in the now intact mirror. His visage peers straight into Lynne's eyes. "Like brother, like sister."

A sudden chill comes over Lynne. "I... I... I'm nothing like Devyn. Anyway, how do you..."

"How do I know your brother? Quite simple. He is who he is because of me."

"You? You! You're the one that twisted his soul!? Turned him into the.. the... the creature he is today?!"

"My, such harsh words. Certainly you don't think such things about him. He IS your brother after all. Do you really think him a 'creature?' Is he truly something unhuman?"

Lynne hesitates for a moment, but right before she is about to respond, the man steps out of the mirror and into her dressing room.

Lynne hops back a few steps out of reflex, her eyes darting around the room looking for any means to escape from this bizzare situation. Lynne's fear soon squelches any notion of escape and she resigns herself to her situaiton.

"What...Why are you here?" She manags to stammer.

"I'm here to give you that which you long for. Come with me."

The man takes Lynne's hand, and before she realizes her situation, Lynne finds herself no longer within her dressing room. Lynne finds herself in a courtyard, filled with trees and buildings.

This is Inusaka High.

Memories flood through Lynne's mind. Her last days at the high school-- The violence-- The carnage-- The bloodshed. Oblivious to her surrondings, her entire Psyche wraps itself in its psychological torment and she lets out an agonized cry from deep within her soul.

"Hmm... you only see the pain. Look around you, do you see any of that? There is no death and violence here. Hear the birds chirping in the distance. Their song is nothing but that of happiness. They sing of the days you forget. Look around."

The man points in the distance to a young girl about 15 years old, talking with a few other girls. She seems familiar to Lynne. She soon realizes that its her. Happy. Laughing. Alive.

"It seems so long ago..." Lynne says, her voice vacant. She reaches out, seeming to try and pierce some self imagined bubble. "Why... why do you show me this?"

"This is merely a token of kindness from me. I only wish to help you." And with those words, the image of Inusaka dissipate, and Lynne now finds herself in a large room, not unlike an entry hall in a large mansion. Lynne can hear running coming from another room, and two children appear from around the corner. First, a young boy about 7 years old, followed by a girl, about 5. There is no mistake about who they were.

"DEV-YN!" The Girl cries as she stumbles. Devyn looks back and frowns, helping his little sister up. He sighs and gives her back the doll he had grabbed from her room, and the 2 run out of the hall laughing and gigling.

Lynne bites her lip and tries to hold back her tears. "Thank you for you kindness... but this is dredging up more bad memorys then good..."

"Really? Do you just say that because they truly are memories meant to be lost, or because you're so used to sorrow you can't fathom anything else? One last thing." Again the scenery changes, and Lynne is now in a small restauraunt.

Lynne remembers this place. It was a few blocks away from Inusaka's campus. She looks towards the back of the restaurant and shes herself sitting in a booth, talking with someone. As she looks closer, she can see Yushiro sitting across from her.

Lynne turns away. "No... Don't... DON'T MAKE ME REMEMBER THIS!!"

"Truly you have sunk into the pits of dismay if the happy moments of your life only bring out the worst in you." Suddenly the room darkens and nothing can be seen. No vague outline of a room, no end and no begining in sight. Various vague colors start to swirl about and fall to the area below Lynne's feet. Lynne finds herself hovering in a void, with these swirling colors swimming below her.

"You can find release from these distraught memories and find peace once more. Just give the word and I'll give you the release that you brother, along with many others, have received. If not, then you return to your former life, and your former pain. Your choice. Everyone has free will."

Lynn closes her eyes, trying to blot out the images this little trip had wrought. She thinks of Deyvn, and their meeting at the night club. And she thinks of his eyes.

"So vacant... as if something was missing."

Steeling herself, mustering the self discipline she has practiced for all these long years, Lynne stares her companion straight in the eye.

"A life lived in the past has no meaning. Even if it is full of suffering, if it is filled of sorrow and pain, at least I know I'm LIVING. The past has come and gone, and even if it looks bleak, the future awaits me. As tempting as your offer may be... I cannot accept. My brother is my brother no longer, his eyes are not his own."

"So be it. But be warned. Is the present you live in the truth, or a lie you have concocted to avoid the true pain you suffer. To live a life sheltered from the truth may bring happiness, but it is still a lie. When the time comes, can you accept your decision?"

And with that, Lynne finds herself back in her dressing room.

One of her stagehands opens her door.

"Five minutes 'till showtime!"

Lynn blinks a few times, wondering if what she just experiences was just some sort of dream. She had been in the room for a long time... no matter. She fixes up her hair one last time, takes a deep breath, and goes out once more to let her soul float upon the waves of her music.

After all, this was the one thing that made her truly feel alive.