Tristis Nox

Vay.” I gasped inaudibly. Without looking I asked, “Robby, what color are my tattoos?”
Bewildered, he replied, “White with gold outlining. Why?”
I bit my lip and Vay’s eyes caught mine. He nodded and I turned to my friends. “I’m sorry. Farewell.” I did not hug any of them as I moved through the crowd towards the married couple. “Your majesties.” I addressed them.
Both Sierra and King Able’s eyes were on the strange anomaly that was my friend. However, once I spoke, King Able’s eyes went to mine. “Yes, Lady Tristis?”
“I come one final time to try and persuade you from your decision. Surrender to Carson.” I stood before him tall as if I was his equal.
“Lady Tristis, I have told you before to never speak of this again and I wish you would heed my request.” A little annoyance was evident in his voice.
“I will never talk of it again from here on. Heed my request or all shall be lost.”
“If the treaty is broken I will do everything in my power to prevent Crowned Prince Carson from taking my land and treating my people badly.” *You are firm in your ways, I can’t persuade you. I am sorry.*
“As you wish, you will never hear or see me again. Your path is your own as mine is already laid out. Farewell King Able, Queen Sierra, and Princess Anita, sit tibi mortes et celeries sine dolore.” I turned away from them, pulled the chopsticks out of my hair, and walked swiftly towards the exit. All eyes were still on Vay, except the royals and my friends who wore expressions of confusion and some of betrayal. As I weaved, I looked up once more at Vay and shook my head in defeat. *No one ever listens to a stranger.* His eyes saddened at my defeat and offered a hand as I slowly walked up the marble staircase. Before taking his hand I looked back at my friends and whispered “I’m sorry.” I turned back to Vay, took his hand, and we walked away. As we stepped over the threshold, we disappeared and existed outside of the timeline; back to the grey and white plane. I was back in my Finis uniform with my new dagger strapped to my right thigh.
“You okay, Tristis?” Vay asked.
“I’ll be fine, you know it’s always a turmoil at this point.” I gave him a small smile.
“I know.” He pulled me into a hug. It did not last long as he gave me a pleading look. “I have to return to Lexicon for a little while. I will return when the time comes, will you be okay until then?”
I rolled my eyes and grinned, “Come now, Vay, I’m alone 99% of the time, of course I can handle being alone.”
“That may be, but you know what comes next.” He gave me a stern look.
“I know.” I looked to the floor for a moment before returning them to his swirling silver orbs. “Go, before you get in trouble. I’ll be fine.” *I’m always fine.*
He looked at me hard, deciding whether or not I was telling the truth. I knew he did not believe me, but nonetheless he nodded and kissed my forehead. “I will be back as soon as I can.”
“Godspeed, Vay.” He smiled at me and disappeared, leaving in the dreary plane. *Well, might as well get this over with.* I closed my eyes and reappeared in a world so different than the one I had left. Where there once was brilliant green grass, a shining blue sky, and animals flying and running around, was now brown dead ground, fiery orange and red sky, and the only sounds that could be heard were the crackling of something burning and the cries of those mourning or dying. I walked lightly across the scarred land and felt the need to cry as I passed dead bodies with dried blood caked onto them. I held in the tears as I scanned the bodies for familiar faces. Luckily I found none in the place I was, but I stilled prayed for each and every life lost due to the pointless war I had warned about.
As I waited for the appropriate time, I reappeared at different places that I had come to know well and others I did not. I first went to places I did not know and prayed for the fallen souls to cross over to the celestial plane; to paradise. I hesitantly started going to the villages, towns, and capitals I stayed in while on this world. I first went to the capital that Carson was from and walked through the town. Houses were falling down and burning as bodies of men, women, and children were strewn all over the place; some still gasping for air. *I’m going to regret this…* I prayed for everyone I passed as I headed straight to the Resurrecting Phoenix. I bit on my bottom lip as I searched for the one face I wanted to see the least. I sighed in relief as I did not find the face of my friend. However, my heart stopped when I heard a cry coming from beside the tavern. I ran in the direction and froze when I saw Rob, gasping and crying on the blood soaked soil.
“Rob.” I cried and ran over to him. I gently turned him and placed his oozing head on my lap. “Hey, Rob.”
“Tris? That you?” He gargled out.
“Yeah, long time no see. You’ve grown so much since the last I saw you.” I ran my fingers gently through his hair which was matted with dirt and blood.
“You haven’t changed at all.” He smiled up with pink teeth and red spit dripping from his mouth. He went to say something else, but before he could his eyes widened and he started coughing and gasping; blood flying from his mouth.
“Shh, you need to relax.” I cooed as I titled him on his side so the blood could flow out of his throat. I rubbed his back as he slowly was able to breathe again. “It’s gunna be okay. Shhh.” He stopped convulsing and muttered a thanks. “This is probably a stupid thing to ask but, does it hurt?”
“A little… it only… hurts when… I’m choking…right… now I’m… fine.” We were quite for a little while before he whispered, “Have… you seen my… mom?” I could hear the emotional pain of wanting and not wanting to know.
“I haven’t.” He nodded and started to weep, which brought on another attack of coughing. I tried my best to help him relax, but I knew too well that when it came to emotions, you cannot calm down until you have had your cry. He started to quiet and only hiccuped a little and I placed a hand on his heart; it was failing.