The Tristessa Sisters

[Divineheart]

Sakura Tristessa held her scimiatar up as the sun went down. She looked at her reflection on the blade as she recalled the day when she first got it. Her sister had earned enough from her beautiful singing to earn her some clothing and Sakura a sword as her bodyguard. Sakura was born an albino though her eyes managed to remain a pale blue, she found herself to be quite ugly. Though her face fair and her hair white, it wasn't something she found beautiful. As she stared at the scimitar, blood seemed to leak from it. She blink quickly thinking she was imagining it. She lowered her blade and found herself in the house where her sister and her spent most of their childhood. Her elven uncle, seemingly sleeping, in his own blood, a dagger in his hand. She felt herself panting as she turns and looked at Nimue. She was curled up in the corner with a bruse to her arm as she held it tightly to her.
Sakura lowered the blade and held out her hand to her sister. Nimue nodded and griped her sister's hand and they left.

Sakura blinked as she realized she was standing back in Peridotia by the portal. She looked to her sister who looked nothing like her. Her beauty match the beauty of her voice. Sakura admited that she was jealous of her sister. As a paladin of Sune, she was expect to be beautiful. She knew she wasn't so she did what she could do as a Sunite, protect beauty and that has been her mission since they left the slums of Lom.
She smiled at her sister but looked to the grass and muttered softly to herself.
"Will I ever forgive myself for killing him?"
She tugged on her hood to cover up her shame and lack of beauty.
"Stop doing that." Nimue scolded.
Sakura just smiled and kept an eye out for elf snatching perverts.

[Divineheart]

Sakura sat on the edge of the ocean. The sound of it flowing in and out of the coast filled the air. The sweet and gentle sound only increased when the warm tropical rains of Peridotia began to soak her. She closed her eyes as she recalled nothing else having such a beautiful sound. Her mind wondered as she sat there, enjoying the wonders of Peridotia.
The human Sunite, Aiden, has seemed to drawn the eye of her sister, Nimue. She wasn't sure of Aiden's intension, if any, when it came to her sister. She couldn't help but feel protective of her.
Then there was the elf Parex. He was so mysterious. She enjoys his company though their views were so different.
Then there was the elf known as Preacher. He speaks nothing besides the word he writes. His hand writing so delicate and smooth as if every thought was carefully planned. She recalled him touching her cheek when she finally revealed her face to him. The albino face that she feared would repulse everyone. And yet, her very face is what sets herself apart.
She lowered her head. Then there was Sariel who had been missing for some time now. They had bonded over the fact that they share the same albino curse. Though he was blind, he could sense things no one else could. He understood her more than most.
Yet, her mind returned to Preacher. She had confided in him and he listed. She laughed at the thought. He HAD to listen. Then her heart sank as she recalled the words of that beast-like mage, Dante. Her mind wondered as she remembered Preacher sought to harm an innocent child. She closed her eyes. She may never forget that moment. His weakness was great. She sighed again and set it behind her.
She then took up her helmet and put it on as the sun rose. She grabbed her shield and newly won Scimitar from the lizard Chieftain and headed out. She sought to up root the evils of undead. She gather her courage and went to Lom. She traveled many days and fell upon the blue river. She head into the cascades and found an old crypt. There she cut down the ugly undead creatures with her sword and banished others with but a turn of her courage.
(turn undead if anyone doesn't get it. XD)

She heard a voice, a deep one in the distance. The male voice was covered up by the gurgling of the undead creature meeting his death. She turned her head to see a elevated platform. She slowly walked up the ramp to find Preacher standing by a set of fallen bones. He turned to her.
"Hello Dear." He greeted her with a deep and inviting voice.
Sakura's eyes widened. "You speak." She said in surprise.
"Oh yes." He replied.
"Why speak now?" Her mind now flooding with thoughts.
"I guess I have no reason to remain silent now that the end draws near." He looked her over. "What are you doing down here?"
"I was hunting." She replied. Suddenly the openness she had toward him had vanished.
"I was doing the same." He turned to the pile of bones beside him.
(To be continued)

[Divineheart]

“What interest do you have in me?” Sakura asked.
Preacher sneered under his helmet in amusement. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
Not long after she had arrived a woman named Meg appeared. Vile creature that she was and the man known to Sakura as Preacher, expressed his undying hatred toward her. It seemed to Sakura that they knew each other well, though, Meg, herself, did not know of him at first.
“Such hatred was only wroth by one that I know to be dead.” She said.
Preacher then removed his helmet to reveal the well known Mourn for which was thought to have gone into hiding or dead. Sakura did not know Mourn by his face but by his name. At that moment she was taken back by his appearance, so similar to her own that she was a little frightened by it. She recalled that he had asked her where her family originated from. None of her family had, what she consider, the birth-defect. She stepped forward to get a better look at him in the dim light.
“Are you surprised, my dear?” Mourn replied.
“Who are you?” She said.
“Mourn.” Meg sneered. “It seems you’ve got yourself another pet.”
Sakura glanced at Meg then to Mourn.
“Did he prattle on about how much he loved you just like he did with Osa.” She laughed rather cruelly as she continued to go on about Mourn and Osa.
Sakura shook her head. “Whatever feelings I might have harbored for you, Preacher, changed the day you tried to kill a young child.”
“Yes, that almost blew my cover.” He replied.
After some discussion over a great many things, Sakura came to the conclusion that she hated Meg. She could not shut her mouth long enough to give Sakura a moment to think. Her mind was going everywhere at once. Mourn explained his plan to bring down a vampire lord name Foebane. Sakura could not pass up the chance to take down an undead creature such as him. She ended up joining him for such a task. He explained that he was trying to get his dead wife back. They were sent on a wild chase throughout the castle at blue river. The task had given her a great headache. In turn when they finally found Foebane, they were exhausted. Meg bowed down before Foebane making Sakura’s loathing for Meg even worse. Beside Foebane was Rina, Mourn’s wife. Mourn went for her but Foebane pushed her into the portal and Foebane followed not long after. Sakura followed, though her fear was great she forced herself to move on. Meg followed behind.
They traveled the realm of hell itself. They fought many creatures of great power and finally succeeded in finding Rina and Foebane next to another portal. Foebane pushed Rina again through the portal. Only this time he asked for a favor in return for Rina. After much talk they agreed to find the vampire woman (Crap, forgot her name) and destroy her.
They then exited the realm of hell back on Talus. They made their way through the castle. Sakura knew now that defeating Foebane was no longer the goal.
“Do you really love her, Mourn?” Sakura finally asked.
“Yes, I do.” He replied.
“For the sake of love I wish to help you, on one condition.”
Mourn looked at Sakura in surprise. “Yes?”
“If we get her back, you must promise me that you will love her and take care of her.”
“That was my plan all along.”
“Then I shall help you until we have succeeded. However, if this is but a trick I shall strike you down.”
Thus the deal was made and they set out to defeat the vampress in the dark caves where she resided. The task took some time, having to remove armor so that they could swim across in the waters in the cave to reach the desired place. Once they destroy her coffin after defeating her, they headed back to blue river castle and found Foebane once again. Again, teasing Mourn with Rina, he headed back into the realm of hell.
They again fought around the realm, searching and bickering with each other. Finally they found a gruff looking demon that held Rina on a twisted looking tree. She screamed in her agony.
“A soul for a soul.” The demon replied.
Much to their surprise, Meg offered herself as a trade. Sakura didn’t know what to think about such an act.
“I belong here anyway.” She replied when Sakura tried to express her protects.
There was a brief exchange of souls and Rina appeared before them. She could hardly speak. She fell to her knees and Sakura healed any wounds she had. Then she looked to Mourn who seemed to be very distant. She glared at him angrily, not understanding him at all.
“Can you carry her?” She said.
“Yes.” Mourn picked her up and they proceeded back to the gate and the castle. Once there Mourn touched Rina on the face and Sakura excused herself, while still in ear shot range. She then turned and looked just as he opened a bottle with the soul of a genie. Mourn then expressed his wish to restore an undead village, which Sakura assumed was where Rina and Mourn had lived, back to the way it was. The genie said that all would be restored but everyone turned undead would remember all that had happened. Mourn wasn’t satisfied with this, but he knew it was the best he could do. He also explained that there was another named Mourn that should be the one to be restored there.”
“Mourn?” Sakura said, but he ignored her.
He then approached Rina and spoke softly to her. She nodded with tears in her eyes. Then the genie cast the spell and was gone, along with Rina. Mourn fell to his knees. Sakura ran to him just in time to keep him from falling. He groaned as his battle wounds reopened. She gently healed him and helped him to his feet just as the ground around them began to rumble.
“Quickly!” She exclaimed.
“We better move.” Mourn said as the same time.
They ran through the castle, lost in the maze of it. They fought of several undead creatures as they made their way out. Finally they reached the orchard and kept going pass the river. They both stopped, panting heavily. Sakura took a moment to gather her thoughts before she looked to Mourn.
“You lied to me, Mourn.” She finally said.
He turned and looked to her.
“You broke your promise. You were the one suppose to take care of her.”
“She is with the one she loves, the Mourn that made all the choice I should’ve made.”
“I don’t understand you, if I had been you, I would held her and told her how much I loved her, but you barely even looked at her.”
Mourn growled and raised his hand but stopped just before striking. He slowly lowered his hand. “Had I done that, it would’ve made what I did all the more difficult. You couldn’t possibly know the joy or the pain it requires to love someone.”
“You miss the point of me having you make the promise in the first place. If you really loved her you would’ve given up everything to be with her. You would’ve changed yourself to be the man she deserves.”
“What’s done is done. The choice was made long ago.”
“Yes, you made the choice and you broke your promise, now prepare yourself, Mourn.” She drew her scimitar and shield and faced him.
Mourn looked at her. “Are you really going to strike me down?”
”I will hold you for crimes against Sune. Such blasphemy will not be tolerated.”
Mourn sighed as he walked to the forest and slumped down against a tree. “Can you at least give me a rest before you deliver justice?”
“I hold you to your promise, if you wish to free yourself of it then fight me. Should you will you are free, should I win you will be required to get Rina back and fulfill your promise.” She stared at him. “But for now I’ll allow you to rest.” She then walked up to the forest herself and leaned against her our tree, resting her head against it.
“Are you going to watch me?”
She shrugged. “There are still undead around.”
Mourn sat a moment thinking about what happened. “I don’t know if I even have a soul now. The genie might have taken it to put in the other Mourn.”
“How do you feel?” Sakura said.
“Cold… sad… and empty.” He replied.
“Do you want to test yourself?” She suggested.
“It couldn’t hurt.” He then raised a hand to her.
She blinked a few times, not expecting this. She slowly reached up and touches his hand; the color of their skin exactly the same. They both blinked.
“You are warm.” He said off-handedly.
“What do you feel here?” She pointed to his chest. “You do feel something?”
He nodded.
She subtly squeezed his hand as she slowly got up. “I believe you have a soul, however small it is.” She turned in the rain as tears welled up in her eyes. “You’ve gone through enough this day. I will come for you when the time is right to deliver you justice.”
"I will be waiting.” He replied.

[Divineheart]

“Where HAVE you been?” Sakura said to her little sister.
Nimue had been speaking with the halfing Milo Fleetfoot when Sakura approached. Nimue stiffened a bit as if she was a child in trouble with her parents.
“Here and there.” She replied, trying to repress whatever anxiety she had.
Sakura’s face relaxed into a smile. After all, she could not punish her sister for exploring, for she, herself, had been off doing rather dangerous things and had lost track of her sister. If nothing else, she would be to blame if anything were to happen to her sister.
“I suppose I have been clinging too closely to you.” She replied to Nimue.
Nimue blinked in surprise. “What happened to my sister? Something big must’ve happened.” She said.
“Yes,” she lowered her head which was covered with a hat, “something big has happened.” She was upset that she could not stay with her sister. She had other matters to attend to. “Well, I suppose you should spread your wings a little more. I must be going.”
There was a great sadness the fell over her. She had been with her sister for a very long time. Though she had proved to herself that she could handle it without her, she still missed her greatly. However, her mind was on other things.
She found a river for which to listen to the beautiful sound of the flowing water.
“Meg.” She said aloud. Why was she still thinking of such a creature, even now? By the very right of Sune she got what she deserved and yet something inside Sakura’s paladin heart found her fate to be unwarranted perhaps even unlawful. There was something inside her that couldn’t justify the exchange of Meg’s soul for Rina’s. How on Talus would she get Meg back if she were to make such a choice? How would she even get to her without making some horrible deal with a vampire, or worse yet, a demon? This matter uprooted a great many questions but she would have to find a way. Her heart could not allow such an injustice. It was not for love, for she knew that Meg loved someone that did not return such love, or so it seemed to her. What was the real reason then?
“For honor?” She said aloud. “For justice?” She thought that all these things were beautiful and ugly in their own right, but as a paladin she must uphold them.
She stood up from the rock she had placed herself upon as she stared at the river.
“I must go back to Blue River Castle and find her. Perhaps my soul would be enough.”

[Divineheart]

A Cleansed Mourn?
She held on tightly to Mourn as their mind reflected on the past.
The young pale boy fell onto the snow, face down, fallen from a tree. A young girl ran to him and stopped as he got to his feet. The young girl had a hood on her head and she was hiding her face. The little boy got up and walked away. Then he was suddenly pummeled in the back of the head with a snowball. He turned to see that the young girl was giggling and she then removed her hood to reveal that she too was a very pale looking elf. He smiled at her and they began a huge snowball fight.
Sakura, as her elder self, gasped when she saw the imagine.
"This was you?"
Mourn too was surprised. "I...had forgotten." He replied.
Her mind remembered how much she enjoyed those times. In fact, it was the only time in her childhood that she remembered being so happy. Where was that boy now? She closed her eyes as they both fell into their own minds.

“I agreed to this.” She thought to herself as she sat inside the mind of a shadow, or so he called himself. Now he was so much more. She and purged him of the darkness. What was left now? There was no way of telling. He now trembled before her, knowing all too well that his past habits would change her. She knew it was true and he had every right to be afraid. She was afraid too, but she wasn’t going to allow that to stop her. She knew that no matter what happened that light and love would prevail. She rested her head on his shoulder as he remained in a coma.
Her mind drifted off and she found herself back in hell. She stood before Meg. She knew that such a poetic justice would server her well, but her soul must be free to accept her punishment. Her thoughts returned to Mourn. She could not leave him there, the way he was. He was vulnerable and could be easily guided into darkness instead of light. She with drew as the conflict rose inside her.
“Sakura.” She heard in the back of her mind. The guilt grew as Meg’s imagine began to fade.
“No!” She held out her hand. “It was my fault! Meg! No!”
Then she remembered. Osa was once Meg’s friend. Meg betrayed her; however, perhaps Osa’s judgment will decide what Meg’s fate should be.
This did not break the guilt she felt.
“Sakura.” She heard Mourn’s voice more clearly this time.
Sakura jumped from her sleep and found herself back in the Snow City Temple as Mourn remained in his coma state. His were eyes moving rapidly under his eye-lids.
“Mourn.” She said tenderly.
“Don’t be sad.” He whispered.
Her eyes began swimming as she rested her head on his chest. “Come back to me.”

[Divineheart]

Michael Tristessa laid dead on the floor and Vanessa Tristessa pressed a hand to the closet door where Nimue and Sakura were hiding. The huge orc elder stood over the dead body of their father. Standing beside the huge orc was a human boy for which the orc called his son. He held a long katana over his shoulder as he looked at their father.
“It is a shame it had to come to this.” The orc said as he wandered over to the table and grabbed an apple and took a big bite out of it. He then looked at the mother then to the corpse. He then spit an apple seed out.
“It will be a shame that your children will grow up without parents.” He looked to Vanessa whose eyes widened when he said this.
Meanwhile, Sakura held her little sister, Nimue, close to her as she attempted to protect her young mind from the horror that befell them. Nimue hid her face into Sakura’s shoulder.
The orc then walked up the Vanessa and slapped upside the face. She fell and he crushed her neck.
Sakura held her sister tightly to her as she too took her eyes away. Was this the reason their uncle left? Could he not withstand the cruelty of the orcs?
The orc grabbed a locket from off of their father’s dead body. He turned to the young boy and said, “Clean up this mess.” He then left.
Sakura only relaxed a small bit, still holding her young sister close to her.
The boy sighed and walked up to the closest and knocked on it before he quickly opened it. He held his katana to Sakura’s throat.
“Out!” He commanded.
Sakura glared at the boy before she slipped out, pulling her sister with her. She hid her face as they headed to the door. Nimue managed to slip out of her grip as they headed for the door.
“Wait!” The boy said then tripped Nimue. Sakura turned around and ran to her but it was too late. The boy held his blade to her throat.
“NO!” Sakura had hardly enough time to react when she saw her father’s scimitar on the floor next to her.
The boy drew a little bit of blood as he sneered. “Now, scream in pain for me.”
Sakura dashed for the scimitar and held it awkwardly. “No!” She screamed again. Her sister was all she had left. She wasn’t going to let him kill her.
Nimue obeyed him and screamed loudly.
The boy then sneered before he let her go. Nimue fell to her knees and Sakura ran to her, dropping the scimitar. She gripped her shoulders as Nimue held her throat. She wasn’t bleeding badly. Sakura couldn’t help but let the tears flow down her face, but she kept herself from sobbing.
“Who are you?” She asked him.
“I am Kin’e Sin. I don’t kill children.” He said. “Grow up big and strong and come after me if you want.”
Sakura lowered her head. “Maybe I might just do that.”