Crystal Waters
By Amber Michelle


Chapter Six

"Did I really hear right, Sophia? Please...... please tell me I didn't......."

She looked away from his indigo eyes, and the tears glistening in them like stars, caught on those thick lashes of his...... Why did this hurt her so much? The last thing she ever wanted to do was cause pain, but here she was, pushing him away, afraid to even look into his eyes......

"It....." His voice choked. His sword clattered to the floor. "It's true...... then......."

She spun around, ready to run. His strong hands grasped her tightly, holding her back and forcing her to face him.

"Why? Can't you at least tell me why?" His slender fingers tightened, biting into her arm through the silk robes. She squeezed her eyes shut, against the pain of his grip, and against the anguish in his eyes. "What is it that he --"

"Stop!" She shook her head wildly, trying to force him to loosen his grip. He didn't budge, only held on more tightly. "Please don't be cruel to him! He's your friend......" She broke down, pressing her face into his arm, ignoring the uneven bits of his armor. "Strike me, curse me, hate me, but don't lose your love for your friend......"

He stiffened, stunned, and then she felt him relax and release his grip on her arms. He folded her in a hug, still crying silently. "Don't you understand, Sophia? I could never...... hurt you......."

Never....... hurt you...... Never......


"Elehayym!"

Elly jumped, gloved hands tightening about the metal rail of the balcony over the gear docks. She released it with great effort, blinking the tears from her eyes before they could fall and turning to face the source of the call.

Where in the world did that come from?

Her eyes fixed on Dominia, and behind her the strike team usually under Elly's own command. Vance was grinning with his usual smugness, but the others all wore variations of the same expressions -- irritation, depression, and exhaustion. She guessed Dominia had worked them hard; too hard. She tended to forget sometimes, that she was a 'Lamb' just like the ones she exerted her control over.

And while Elly didn't believe anyone had a right to look down on anyone else, even the surface dwellers, the least the Earth Element could have done was treat them a bit better. She wasn't Solarian, no matter how hard she tried to emulate them.

"Hello Dominia," she said, leveling her voice to neutrality. "Was the assignment a success?"

The other woman's diamond hard eyes never wavered, though a slight smile did touch her lips. Not a thing Elly would have believed. "A success? You could say that. Your team performed very well under my command......" She turned and began to stride away, throwing over her shoulder, "I commend you on a training job well done, Elehayym."

And that was all. Her conceit, her patronizing attitude, were all enough to make Elly consider following her, and lashing out. But no...... No, she would not resort to flinging her pain and anger at other people. She didn't think she was that insecure, not yet. The dreams were still coming, both day and night now, but...... they were not terrible dreams. Just so very sad......

Her company stood arrayed before her in various states of attention, Vance and Shenna slouching in their uniforms, and Renk and Deval watching her closely, waiting. She sighed.

"At ease," she said finally, wondering if that dry tone was her own. Shenna smirked.

The team would be changing soon...... She wouldn't be sorry to see Shenna go, but she did wish it her Vance being transferred out with her, rather than Deval. He was almost as bad, and Deval was such a quiet, respectful character...... He treated her like the Lord Commander, not a low-classman from Jugend. Even Renk wasn't that nice......

They all believed the rumors. And they treated her like they would any other 'Lamb' in their classes, regardless of her real rank. As if they had any right to show prejudice, when she was the Gazel and they the dirty surface dwellers who had been granted the privilege of serving......

Elly clamped tightly down on that thought, resenting it, and herself for even thinking it. She was not like the others. And who was to say that the rumor was not true, really? Her parents never really asnwered her when she asked......

"Shenna and Deval, you have orders to report to Command's offices in District Three for relocation. You have been transferred to Company Delta for your excellent performance."

Shenna grinned, Deval smiled slightly, almost a reflection of Dominia. Neither said a thing, much to her relief. Vance's mouth twisted and he glared at his comrades, but he too remained silent.

Perhaps Dominia's methods were harsh...... but they certainly worked......

"Congratulations......" she said, trying to put at least a little emotion into her voice. With another sigh, this one small, Elly waved them off. "You're dismissed."

Shenna left without a backward glance, but Deval -- bless his heart -- did her one last respect, saluting crisply and curving his mouth in a genuine smile before walking off to follow his teammember. She watched his back for a moment, regretting his loss. She didn't even know him very well, yet...... he had been the only decent personality in the company, besides Jen.

And Jen was gone now.

"Do you have a problem, Vance?" she inquired, finally, his shifting catching her eye.

"Do I have a problem?" He snorted. "Why the hell were they promoted? We're the ones that were on surface detail during their supposed accomplishment --"

"That's up to Command."

"Shut up! Who are you to interrupt --" he cut off, jerking forward from the force of Renk's blow.

Elly cast him a grateful glance, desiring once again to take her frustration out on someone. But all she said was, "I'm your commanding officer. Show proper respect or you'll spend your time off in Command's prison quarters."

She turned her back to them, ignoring the glares passed between her two remaining squad members. Oh please, let the new ones be a little nicer, at least...... It was all Command's fault, nursing their arrogance in Jugend until they thought they were lords over the world just because they were here......

All this, because of her hair......? Hair that would normally proclaim a surface heritage, though she knew she was Solarian. She...... knew it.

Maybe I should dye it, or something......

And where...... she gripped the rail again, the sounds and sights of the gear bay fading from her immediate attention. That pale, yet sharp pain still gripped her heart, nearly suffocating her with its dream-like intensity.

She knew the face. She could see it clearly -- the dream, and reality. The dream, and...... Krelian?

No, no...... but it couldn't have been him. He looked so...... different, too young...... too emotional. Surely they weren't the same man. But those eyes......

"Elehayym... it is you......" The minute his soft voice had whispered those words, she knew, intuitively, that although he would speak coldly and refuse to meet her eyes, he would never hurt her......

Those eyes...... the wound......?

She squeezed her eyes shut, as she had in the dream.

What was happening to her......?




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