Lind Clouds were torn in two, and a great gale shook the sky. Birds scattered and two planes were shaken as a mighty blur passed them in their domain. Pedestrian's pointed at the peculiar blur left in the sky, but none knew the answer to it; none but me that is. No one can catch me. Three days have passed since the High Seraph's visit, and as he proclaimed my ban has been lifted. Since my powers came back roughly five hours ago, I haven't been able to stop flying. To feel the wind against my face and the world trail beneath me, there's nothing I love to do more. Once I felt the power return to my body I jumped to the sky straightaway; too happy to even say goodbye to everyone. Of course, I understand I shouldn't be flying at such high speeds on earth but this was a time for celebration. Rules can be broken, especially when the High Seraph might be your father in law someday, heh heh. Hmm it seems I've adopted some of Peorth's evil ways...oh well. Gathering more and more speed, I flew faster and faster. I could fly around the world in eight seconds now, nowhere near my best time of 1.23 seconds, but it was still amazing to fly at such a high speed. I flew so fast the air current froze behind me and caused several clouds to freeze as well; when they melt it'll be a snowy day for the lucky country beneath. Ah, it feels good to be back. Finally deciding that I should call it in a day, I started my leisurely fly back home. I started to wonder if the others even knew where I was and what Belldandy was making for dinner; flying uses up more energy than what it seems especially at such high speeds. As I flew I noticed in the distanced two weak impulses of energy; too strong to be humans in a plane and too weak to be a god or demon. Slowing down I approached the impulses and realised them to be trainee gods under the Earth maintenance department. They were arguing intensely but stopped immediately when I flew in front of them. I usually don't interfere in their training but I'm in a good mood and I'm sure they'll appreciate the help. "Lind-Sensei!" exclaimed the trainee god. They both saluted and stood upright. "Where is your sempai? Or leader? Are they not meant to be escorting you?" Just because I felt like helping them out doesn't mean I can't show my authority as a sensei; if I didn't Senya would yell at me until the demons take over heaven. "Well um...She's not your usual leader" he responded "Yeah, she's um special" the girl exclaimed. I raised an eyebrow at them. "Special?" "Yeah, you see she can't really fly yet, so she can't inspect this dimensional rip with us." "She can't fly!" What sort of god is promoted to leader that can't even fly yet? Ridiculous. "What's her name?" "She's a norn. A second class goddess, limited category, in the Operations department" he said. A Norn? There's only a few of them in the operations department. It can't be..."I remember now! Her name is Skuld!" I sighed; I could feel the headache starting in the back of head and it was slowly creeping to the rest of my brain. "I'm not your leader in this operation but I have a solution. Wait here, I'll be back shortly" I exclaimed and they nodded eagerly. I closed my eyes and focused of Skuld's energy pattern. When I located her, I instantly teleported there. She was out in the park sitting on a bench tinkering with a laptop. There were a few children around but they didn't pay attention to me. I simply walked to her and before she could even say hi I picked her up and teleported to where the students were. Suffice to say, everyone was a little surprised when I returned holding Skuld out to them like I would a toddler. "AHHHHHHH!!!!! Lind you BAKA!!!!!!" she yelled, thrashing about. You can't really blame her for yelling really. I was holding her loosely, she can't fly, and we're extremely high in the sky; I would be scared too if I was in her position. "Skuld, do you know who these two are?" I asked. She stopped thrashing about realising I wouldn't drop her and stared at them. ".........OH!!!!! Seiji and Kano right?" she exclaimed cheerfully. They nodded with dumbfounded expressions on their faces. "Do you know that you're meant to be teaching them about dimensional rips right now?" "Yes, but I can't fly so I told them to sort it out themselves! It's such a simple thing. How can anyone not understand dimensional rips?" It took a while but I managed to drill into Skuld's head that since she had her angel back certain responsibilities came with it. She did teach them about dimensional rips, and her explanation was rather good; I didn't expect it. The students flew off back to heaven and we returned home. My arms were too tired to carry her anymore so I made a platform for her to sit on that followed me as I flew. "This is so cool Lind!!!!!" she yelled, swinging her legs off the edge and waving her arms around. I couldn't help but laugh, she wore her goggles and a pilot's hat, and it was adorable. I suppose she still is a child. "I'm glad this experience has proven beneficial to you" I called out. "Are you kidding me? Flying is so cool!!!!" "You should be able to do it now that Noble scarlet is with you." "You would think that but no. Onee-San is to busy to teach me and Urd and Peorth would just laugh at me and torture me if I do it wrong....You can teach me Lind!" We paused in the air. She looked at me with an adorable expression on her face and clasped her hands together begging me. "Please Lind!!!! I'll never use your password to get into the system again!" "You what?" "I'll never give your axe to banpei-kun again!" "My axe!" "I'll never eat the last pot of ramen!!!" "DEAL!...Ahem, I mean deal." Honestly, this girl knows what gets to me; at least now, I know where my axe has been disappearing off to all this time. "ARIGATO!!!! Lind you're the best!" she screamed happily and started swinging her legs so wildly that she almost fell off the platform. "This shouldn't take too long. Jump off the platform." She face faulted. "WHAT!! I'll die!" "Oh yes, I forgot about the incantation." "heh...silly you...baka" she mumbled underneath her breath. I threw her my infamous death glare and she sat up straight and smiled guiltily at me. I stretched my arm out to my side and used a small amount of wind and ice spirits to gather the clouds beneath Skuld and freeze. At least this way is she falls she lands on something. "Right. Flying is simple. Some people think it is natural for us goddesses to fly, however it's not true. That misconception comes from the fact that no one can see the flying incantation going on, since it's a non-verbal spell." "So you guys are actually saying a flying spell in your head all the time?" "Yes. It requires so little energy to perform that you don't even realise your doing it. When you get more used to repeating the incantation you can fly faster." "Cool!!! What's the incantation then?" "Go, go, lift off, go." Her mouth dropped open and she fell off the platform and landed on the clouds. Gathering herself from her fall she started up at me and yelled "ARE YOU SERIOUS!!" "Yes, why would I lie?" "But it sounds so stupid!!!" "Don't complain to me, I didn't create the spell. Give it a go" I exclaimed flying down to her level. Grumpily she crossed her arms and closed her eyes. "Remember non-verbal spell, if you even mumble it, it won't work." 5 minutes passed but nothing happened. Impatient as ever she yelled and blamed me but I encouraged her to continue on. Even I started to get a bit bored when I noticed that a cloud was reacting to her. It spun around her and soon the rest of the clouds did as well. Then she started to float, higher and higher towards the sky until she was flying, genuinely flying. "Lind it's not working," she complained. "Open your eyes." She did and at first didn't realise what she was doing, but when realisation hit her she screamed excitedly yet again. Then she fell down quicker than I could blink and landed in front of me. Even though she was in pain she laughed giddily. "I did it!!! Did you see! I can fly!!!" She leapt towards me in a great hug that tackled me to down onto the cloud. I returned the hug and patted her on the back. It's odd I don't think I would have done so if I hadn't have met Peorth or this extended family of mine. I give thanks to them for changing me, I truly do. "Come on Lind! Let's fly home." I felt that headache of mine creeping up on me again; I had better gather some more clouds. Peorth Hmph. Fly off without telling me eh? Fly off in a giant puff of smoke whilst I'm trying to seduce you eh? Fly off whilst we're in a passionate embrace eh?! Well, someone is sleeping on the couch tonight! I slammed my cup of tea down onto the table, surprising Keiichi but Belldandy remained poised as ever. Urd who was lying in front of the TV watching her usual drama yelled out evilly "Sexual frustration isn't good for you!" Keiichi and Belldandy both blushed furiously at the statement. "Oh yeah well you try having your lover just disappear in the midst of..." I spat back but stopped when I realised Keiichi might pass out if I continued. Standing up abruptly, I exclaimed in my dignified manner, "I'm going to my room!" "I hope it's not for 'that!'" yelled Urd then she burst out in a fit of giggles. Oh she was going to pay for that...I'll make sure of it. Feeling in a western mood, I changed the décor of our room yesterday. Our room now looked exactly like mine in heaven. Red drapes, luxurious furniture and the all-important bed. I don't know how Japanese live with futon's all their lives. I quickly threw myself onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. I grabbed a pillow and covered my face with it, took a deep breath and shouted into it "LIND YOU BAKA!!!" I took the pillow off my face; ah, I feel much better now. Hmph. Cool and stoic my butt, Lind's really a bundle of a giant bundle of emotions and nerves, and she still has the romantic capacity of a teenager! Honestly how can she find flying more interesting than me?! I digress though; I suppose regaining your powers after not having them for so long must feel, euphoric. It probably felt like the first time we gained our powers when we were still in our mother's womb. From the moment we are conceived, the first cell that creates 'you' is blessed with power. We gods and goddesses can feel it; even to this day, we can remember the bliss of the power bestowed upon us. It matters not that we were not even born, or could not even talk or remember anything from the womb, all we know is that wondrous feeling of power and warmth creating us; Yggdrasil's blessing. My heart warms at the sheer memory of it. My phone rang suddenly causing me to jump up in fright. It was the special goddess link phone that Skuld installed for me; it had a direct contact to heaven in case Admin needed contact with us for missions and what not. I reached over and answered it sitting up in bed. "Peorth speaking." "PEORTH-CHANNNN!!!!!" screamed a high pitch voice which destroyed the right side of my hearing. Oh you've got to be kidding me... "Mother! Don't scream like that!" "I'll scream if I want to. After all, I haven't seen my Peorth-Chan in so long. Neh, put your darling on the phone I want to talk to her." "My darling?! Oh you mean Lind." "Of course I mean Lind, unless you have other darlings around?" I could just imagine the smirk on her face. "Oh course I don't!" "Let me talk to her then. Your father said she's absolutely adorable, but don't worry I did yell at him for using so much power against her in the trial. HA! Some High Seraph he is! The moment I start yelling at him, he begs for forgiveness and opts to do the washing up! HOHOHO if only the council knew the truth about whom really is the powerhouse in this family." My mother is scary when she's mad and I mean really scary. I mean she is the real creator of the whip punishment technique that I use for god's sake. I'd be scared if I was father! "Yes, yes I know, father's really a coward when it comes to you. Anyway though Lind's not here right now. She's off flying somewhere." "Ohhhh" she whined disappointedly "I so wanted to talk to her." "You mean interrogate her. I'm not letting you get anywhere near Lind without preparing her first" "I'm sure Lind's not scared of little old me. I'm harmless. Heh heh heh" "I heard that!!! I'm scared for Lind's well being here. I mean when Onee-san first brought back Shinji, you disguised yourself as me and tried to seduce him!" "Oh you know I'm harmless, besides I only do it with my children's best interests at heart." "Yes well, I'll bring Lind home sometime soon, so you can meet her then." "Oh there's no need for that." I swear I just heard an announcement in the background, and did I just hear someone say Goddess express train? "Why?" I asked cautiously. "Why I'm coming to visit you now. I'm on the train, and should be on earth in about an hour. I'm on this great tour package where it includes, lodging, food, shopping and that all-important destination stop on earth. Why I told your father to co..." "WHAT!!!!!!" I interjected. "You can't come to earth!!!" "Why not?" "Because!!! Lind just got pounded the other day by father. God knows what you're going to do!" "Well you better get to her first then shouldn't you?" Then she hung up. She hung up!!!!! Oh crap...For once in my life I'm actually terrified and frozen still. My mother is coming to earth to find Lind. I don't think Lind is ready to meet her. I don't think I'm even ready to let them meet each other. God knows what she'll do to Lind! The woman has no boundaries!!! She plays with peoples minds and controls them according to her will. I can see it now, she'll disguise herself as some voluptuous blond and try to seduce Lind!!! Then she'll put a spell, literally, on her and Lind will be her slave forever. NOOOOOOOOOOO! No one except my sister's husband has managed to sway her advances!! She is an unstoppable menace that not even my father can stop. For all his power in the world, it is nothing compared to the terror my mother can inflict. I jumped from the bed and ran to the living room. "URD!!!" She rolled over lazily to face me. "What?" "Mymothersaidshe'scomingtoearth!!!" Urd's face scrunched in confusion as she tried to decipher what I said, then she just turned blank, inflicted with the same terror that froze me earlier. Then realisation hit her "WHATTTTTT!!!!" "I know!" "I can't have her disguised as me again! Do you know how many stalkers I had after that?!" Urd yelled. "Do you know how many times she's disguised herself as me?" She shivered in disgust "Then I recall one time your mother disguised herself as you and tried to seduce me!" We both shivered. "Quick call in the Valkyries! Call in Kami! Someone needs to stop her!" "There's no time. Let's find Lind first." She nodded in agreement. We both ran outside and decided to quickly fly everywhere to find her. Urd split into her mini-counterparts to hasten our search. Without a plan or second thought to it we quickly flew off into the sky, leaving a cloud of dust in our trail. Lind How odd. The house has a dust cloud covering it. Oh well no use musing about it. I held Skuld's waist lightly in case she fell, but she was flying herself the majority of the journey home. We landed outside and Keiichi and Belldandy came out to meet us. "Onee-san! I flew! I can fly" Skuld shouted as she ran to hug her sister. "That's wonderful Skuld. Did Lind teach you?" asked Belldandy. "Yeah!" "She has more access to her power now so a lot of spells should be much easier for her," I said. Skuld ran up to me enthusiastically "Neh Lind. Can you teach me the spells then?" I gulped. "Me? Wouldn't you rather Belldandy or Ur.." "No way! Not Urd! Belldandy has work and she always needs to look after Keiichi in case he gets himself into trouble. And Peorth is technically working, so you're the only one who really has enough free time." "...I see no reason not to." "YAY!!!! Lind's going to teach some spells that will kick butt! Then I'll be the one zapping Urd with spells! HAHAHAHHA we'll see who will be laughing at who!" Skuld laughed triumphantly. Hmmm, that's not really the best reason to learn. I noticed a figure descending from the sky; I thought it was Urd at first but as they approached closer I realised it was the Daimakaicho. I prepared myself in case a fight would ensue but Belldandy put a hand on my shoulder. Hild landed in front of us in her child form and oddly, Mara wasn't with her, probably at work in the convenience store. "How are all my cute little kittens?" she asked and grinned showing her fang. "We're fine. Though I cannot say much for my temperament if you have malice intent on this visit," I replied. "Oh Lind-Chan, moody as ever. Why I'm here to have a talk with you especially." Peorth Where is she? Where is she? Where is she? Where is she? So much for that speech she gave me about telling me where she is at all times. So far, I had scanned my area and I couldn't sense Lind at all. I suppose I had better see how Urd is faring. I honed in on Urd's energy and teleported to where she was. She must have merged into her normal form; her energy level was much higher than if she was split into her counter parts. I saw Urd and...was she with Mara? They were deep in conversation and seemed to be arguing over something. I approached them and they both acknowledged me but simply continued on with their argument. "You have to listen to me!" yelled Mara. She threw her arm out in frustration and her black cape swished behind her. "No I don't. Because the last time I listened to you my angel was stolen from me and you tried to make me a devil!" Urd shouted back. She crossed her arms over her chest and wore that expression of hers that said she's thunderbolt you without a second thought if you angered her. "I told you I'm sorry about that. I thought I was doing the right thing." "What? By turning me into a devil against my own will? I choose to be a goddess Mara, and if you still can't get over that after all these years then...then I don't think I can talk to you anymore." "What are you trying to say?" Mara asked with fear in her voice. Odd I'd heard her shout, scream and laugh evilly, but hearing a devil like her sound fearful and upset even made me feel their pain. "I'm tired of this Mara. I'm tired of this push and pull game of ours. I mean one of us always does something that really hurts the other, we argue, and then somehow get back together but then it happens all over again. I don't want to go through this pain anymore. I've had enough." Urd paused and I saw her hands grip onto her arms tightly, probably scared to lose herself in her emotions. She was fighting back the tears; after all proud Urd would never let anyone see her cry... the stubborn fool. In my head, I was screaming, "Don't do it Urd!" I was one of the rare people that knew of their relationship, if you could call it a relationship that is. They loved each other that was certain, ever since they were young it's been that way, perhaps not as lovers when they were younger but certainly loved each other as friends. Even I don't know when their secret relationship started, but it didn't surprise me when Urd told me. In fact, entirely the opposite, I was waiting for her to realise her feelings for the devil. However, one of them always does something really stupid to the other. Their intentions are good, but it's always the wrong way to achieve them. In the end, I suppose this was the final straw. God knows I don't want Urd to really break up with Mara, but if this is what she wants I have to stick by her. "Urd come on, I know I've done some stupid things but do you really want to call it quits?" "Mara this is goodbye for real now. We can just be a goddess and demon and carry on with our jobs as normal" said Urd with a pained expression. Mara was phased; she froze for a moment, too shocked to even move. Then it hit her like a speeding train. "Fine! Have it your way!" Mara yelled trying to conceal her tears; she always was the more sensitive of the two. She turned around and said almost inaudibly to us "Hild-sama has thought of a new way to make all of you into devils. She's going to try to use Lind, but that's all I know. She didn't tell me the rest since I refused to be a part of it...I'd thought I'd warn you first, that's why I came to find you." With that, she flew off. Urd watched her leave but she didn't follow. Only when Urd was sure Mara had really left she broke down in tears. I quickly went to hug her and she cried onto my shoulder. I felt useless there was nothing I could do to calm her or stop her tears; all I could was lend my shoulder. For all our power as goddesses, we're still as weak as humans when it comes to matters of the heart. She pushed me back and wiped her tears using her sleeve "Come on, Lind's not out here anymore, she's probably at home." "Urd..." "Come on. Let's go, both our mother's are after Lind." She exclaimed and faked a smile. "You don't have to be strong in front of me you know." "I know, but I'm trying to be strong for me." With that we both flew off back home. I want to help her, but she's right. Our top priority is Lind and the safety of Belldandy and Skuld, things are worse than I thought. Lind Never in my life would I have thought that I'd be sitting opposite the Daimakaicho drinking tea with her, but yet there we were. Skuld sat with Belldandy to my right and Keiichi sat on the left. Belldandy was acting like the perfect hostess as usual, offering tea and snacks as such, but I knew better, I know not to trust demons. "Oh Bell-chan your so adorable, and you too Skuld chan" exclaimed Hild adoringly and pinched her cheek. "What do you want?" I asked impatiently. I refuse to listen to anymore of her small talk and nonsense. She raised her head slowly and stared at me with eyes that would have placed fear in anyone else but me. I am her doublet after all; I'm perfectly capable of a death stare as well. "Oh Lind-chan, so impatient all the time." "With good reason." "So you say. Well I suppose I better cut to the chase, before you attempt to cut me right?" she joked, but oh we both knew that I would do it without a second thought. This is the woman that caused havoc and pain in this household, that almost killed us, that used us in some sick experiment...I would eliminate her if I could. If not for my insignificant power in comparison to her, I would show her the same pain she inflicted on us. Hild took a sip of her tea and continued, "You see I heard from a little birdie, literally, that you are a candidate for the High Seraph position. Can I just say congratulations Lind-chan I'm so proud of you!" "Thank you." I replied monotonously. "It seems you are worthy or being my doublet after all." Keiich and Skuld gasped hearing this, but Belldandy seemed unfazed, she must have known on some level. "So I have an idea, why don't you join me Lind-Chan and have the Seraph position for the Demons? No competitions, no examiners, no trials, the position is yours. Of course you'd have to become a demon." "I refuse." She grinned upon hearing my answer. "You see, I'd thought you'd say that. So how about I give you a little incentive. What if I give you someone that you've wanted to find all your life? Someone that is the soul reason for your lust and desire for more power, someone that changed your life forever." "My desire for power is born from the desire of attaining my complete angel, not from the desire of finding someone." "Oh how adorable." She chuckled then glared at me evilly "You've been so consumed in getting your angels that you forgot why you wanted to have them in the first place. Think back child, think back into the deepest part of your mind, and find that memory of yours that will make what I'm saying clear." I listened to her cryptic message and did think back. What's the reason I wanted my angels? Did I need my angels' power to find someone? Then it hit me. By kami-sama it hit me. The memories of so long ago flooded my mind and suddenly I knew who she was talking about. I remember everything now. I'd forgotten the real reason I needed power. I was so absorbed in attaining my angels; I began to believe that my want for power was to summon them. But really I wanted power to find a demon, I needed my angels for that power, and consequently I thought I needed to be stronger to summon them. Everything though is done to find him, he who changed me forever, he who I shall exact my revenge on. I remember the blood spilled, the people killed, the screams and the shrill laughter of the demon. It won't stop. The memory just keeps replaying itself in my mind, over and over again until the point where I think I'll just go mad. The murder's I witnessed keep playing in my mind...I want to throw up...I was so young when it happened; my subconscious had suppressed it, until now. I wish it had stayed suppressed, I wish it had. For everyone's sake, I wish I didn't remember. Now that I recall everything though, I feel pure grief and sorrow and not even a gift from Kami-sama will make it go away. Something within me awoke. My hand was shaking, my whole body trembling; I quickly put my tea down in case it spilt. What delicious irony. Do I become a demon to find a demon? Do I go against everything I've ever know just to keep a promise to myself? To exact my revenge? There is only one way to rid myself of these feelings and be rid of these memories forever and Hild can give him to me. One would think that being good and not evil would come naturally to a goddess, but no, we choose to be good that is why we are. Temptation is still as strong for us as it is for humans. "Can you really give him to me?" I asked, still trembling. "Oh I'm so happy you remember now! Of course, I can give him to you, easy as that. I don't care what happens to him, so you can do what you like with no consequences. All you have to do is join me. What do you say?" she said and grinned madly again. "Of course Lind won't join you!" exclaimed Skuld looking at me. I couldn't look at her, I couldn't look into those innocent eyes and tell her I wouldn't join Hild, because really I was considering it...I'm a failure of a goddess. If she heard the screams of pain or see the pools of blood, she would understand why I'm considering Hild's offer. However, I would never tell anyone of what I remember, it is not their burden to bear, it is mine and mine alone. "Can you feel it Lind? Can you feel the hate welling up inside you till you think you're going to burst? You'll never be rid of this feeling, never, unless you have my help. The particular demon you're after has gone into hiding and only I know his whereabouts. So what do you say?" "I cannot give you an answer now, I need time to think," I said trembling slightly. Everyone looked at me shocked. I feel so ashamed to have disappointed them so, but I cannot focus on them now, I must think for me for once. "No." Hild replied bluntly, "You will give me an answer now." "I told you I need time to think" "Unfortunately this offer of mine has a time limit, so I need an answer now." She cackled evilly, the sound shrill enough to send shivers up my spine. "This is why you're my favourite Lind! You see I always knew there was something special about you when I found out you had two angels. Your angels represent you Lind, so having two, that must mean you have two personalities. Or you have two sides to you. Think of all the possibilities. Perhaps it's that something caused you to break down just enough to reconfigure your angel. And with that new reconfiguration a little hate was born in your heart bearing you two angels. You're a goddess yet not entirely good or evil. Given enough incentive and encouragement, dare I say you could become evil...a demon. Mah it's only an idea though." Is she right? Is that the reason I have two angels? Did that memory break me down so much that my angel changed as well? Curses! Curse her for making me think like this. She really is the Daimakaicho if she if able to make me doubt myself. I...I am a First class goddess! I will not be beaten by her mind games. I will not give in to her temptation or bribery, no matter how great. I can find that demon myself, now that I remember my true motif for power, I will find him myself. "I refuse Hild-sama." I said proudly. Skuld smiled and hugged me quickly. "I had a weak moment just now, but rest assured that I won't anymore. I will never join the demons." Hild seemed bored not disappointed upon hearing me. She stood up and opened the doors to the garden and stepped out. She turned around and grinned then flew off not before saying all too clearly "But you considered it though didn't you?" Curses. She had opened the floodgates to my memories, and despite acting strong and confidant, I'm scared. The memories won't leave me. Such tear jerking, gut-wrenching memories of my childhood won't leave me. It throbs in my mind like a time bomb and won't leave. No matter how much I will it, the thoughts won't leave me. It won't go away. Peorth We arrived back later than expected. Urd decided to take her anguish out on some mountains by performing destructive spell after spell. I think Kami-sama decided to overlook the fact that she was doing spells outside her ranking, perhaps he knows of her pain as well. Upon arriving home Urd flew to her room immediately. I landed onto the grass and slowly walked inside the house. I prayed that my mother wasn't inside. Making my way to the living room where I knew everyone would be I heard Urd. How odd, Urd just flew to her room, I saw her. Oh no...this must mean. I slid open the doors. "Ah Peorth, you're back already? Urd said you'd be another few hours" said Belldandy naively as usual. I looked at the Urd sitting in the living room and knew straight away it wasn't her. Though the image was a perfect replication, I knew there was no way she would be so happy after such a break up. I summoned Gorgeous rose and muttered the counter spell, and slowly fake Urd showed her true form. Light gathered around her body and spun until she revealed herself to be my mother. Her hair was tied up in a bun and she wore her usual red robes, sleeveless with a giant V cut on the front and long gloves. Great everyone's met my whole circus family now. "Oh Peorth-Chan your no fun" my mother whined. She stood up and bowed formally "Sorry for deceiving you everyone, but I am actually Peorth's mother, Sera." Skuld bombarded her with questions which gave me time to scan the room, Lind was sitting away from the group, and she seemed upset. Other people wouldn't be able to tell because she's always so quiet, but I can tell, I can always tell. I went and sat next to her and she smiled weakly at her. Oh god, has my mother already attacked Lind? "Ahem, everyone. If you wouldn't mind, could you give Peorth, Lind and I some private time?" my mother said. They all nodded and left the living room closing the door behind them. "Mother! What did you do to Lind?!" "Surprisingly enough I did nothing Peorth. You see Lind here had a little visit from the Daimakaicho today." "What happened? Are you ok?" I asked Lind frantically. "I'm fine" she replied. "Peorth you see I have an ulterior motive to visiting you today. Because of certain abilities I possess I was chosen to examine all the candidates for their second trial. I delve into the candidates minds and tempt them things they've desired all their lives. It is temptation at its purest, temptation so great that it would break their resolve as goddesses." "And? Did Lind pass?" "No. You see in some rare coincidence the Daimakaicho did my job for me. She tempted Lind with something on the condition that she joined the demons. Lind considered joining them before rejecting her." "You considered?" I exclaimed, shocked that Lind would think such a thing. "Yes, and I am ashamed of my actions." "Even though she declined the offer, the very fact she considered it means she has failed her second trial. She's not out of the running just yet though so don't worry about it." "I shouldn't even have considered her offer. I am not worthy to be a candidate," Lind said staring at my mother. "Lind if you weren't worthy enough do you think my husband would have chosen you? Do you think we would even let you date Peorth if you weren't worthy?" "...no." "Exactly. Right now though I'm not worried about the trial, I'm worried about your well-being. I'm afraid the Daimakaicho delved a little too far into your mind and now your memories haunt you am I right?" "My memories are now as clear as dawn. I can think of nothing else." "The Daimakaicho my have placed a mind block on you. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about that, you will have to help yourself, but I will give you some advice. Revenge and hate only bears more revenge and hate." We sat in silence for a while and I held Lind's hand and squeezed it affectionately. Suddenly a big flash of light filled the room blinding me for a second. Once I had regained my vision, I saw my mother with a camera in hand. "What was that for?!" I exclaimed at her. Now really isn't a time to take pictures. "My photo album. You see I've made a Peorth x Lind photo album for you to have to look back on later in life. Aren't I a wonderful mother?" Sigh, my mother is such a stalker; she did the exact same thing to my older sister and her husband. "Sera-Sama, how many photos of us do you have? You see Peorth and I are very private about our lives" said Lind. "Why my photo album is half full already! You see I buy the pictures off the person who uploads the pictures of you two onto the dating polls." "Urd" we both muttered. "You two have made me so much money lately on the polls." "I bet that's why you're not causing a fuss over us dating," I muttered. "What did you say?" My mother exclaimed evilly. Her eyes practically turned red and I realised I was about to endure her divine punishment. "Nothing, nothing!" I quickly said, inching nearer and nearer to the door for my escape root. "WHAT? LYING TO MY FACE?! I SEE YOU STILL NEED TO LEARN SOME MANNERS!" She yelled and suddenly she seemed to be standing 10feet tall, towering above me. I quickly slid the door opened and ran outside into the garden. Oh crap, oh crap oh crap! "VALENTINE!" she yelled summoning forth her angel. And in the blink of an eye I was running in circles around the garden evading thousands of thorn whips that were trying to thrash me. "HOHOHOHOHO" my mother laughed. Lind ...I don't believe what I'm watching. Is this for real? Is there actually a person scarier than Peorth when she's mad?...What in Kami-sama's name will I be marrying into? I had better buy some life insurance now. Peorth After my mother was happy with my new manner's she bid us adieu and left laughing at the sight of my face. I managed to evade all of her attacks but stupidly I ran into a tree...hey it could happen to anyone alright? Everyone had retreated to their rooms for the night. I sat snuggled under Lind's arm as we sat up in bed talking about the day. She seemed like her usual self until I brought up Hild into the conversation. "I don't understand Lind. What could she tempt you with that would make you consider becoming a demon?" "..." "Lind?" "I don't want to say. I'm ashamed to even think about it." "I know you're ashamed about it, but you resisted in the end. So can you tell me please?" I lifted her arm off me and straddled her so I could face her directly. "Please?" I asked again purposely staring into her eyes; she's a sucker for the eyes. "Fine" she exclaimed glumly "Hild offered me a demon. Easy as that she would give him to me and I would be able to do what I wish to him." "What makes this demon so special?" "He ruined everything I ever came to know. He is even the cause of my memories haunting me now." I leaned forward and kissed her forehead and sat down again. "Will your memories leave you now?" "No. If a mere kiss would make them leave my mind I would have done so long ago." In pure agony, Lind pressed her head onto my shoulder and gripped my waist tightly. "The screams and tears won't leave my mind. It won't stop," she cried out. I hugged her and stroked her back lightly. "Oh Lind. Talk to me about it. I'm here for you." "You of all people should not be exposed to the horrors of my past." "I am your girlfriend Lind. I love you regardless of your past. So tell me, let me share your burden." Lind loosened her grip on me and looked up with glistening eyes. "Tell me what makes the proud Valkyrie Lind teary eyed?" "The burden to bear is mine Peorth. You wouldn't understand my pain." "How can you say that? You're right I probably wouldn't be able to completely understand, but I'll be able to support you, to help you. You can trust me with this you know?" "I will tell you Peorth, but not now. Do not make me relive it more than I already am," she pleaded. I nodded my head. I understand her sentiment but I'm also disappointed. "Just let me hold you and hopefully I'll have a peaceful dream," she said almost inaudibly. We lay down and she help onto me firmly, it was as if she was worried I would disappear. I rested my head against her as usual and our legs intertwined. Lind fell asleep first, I could tell from the light snoring I heard. She must be so tired. Poor soul. Hild's words have broken Lind and now her memories terrify her and haunt her mind constantly. I feel useless, absolutely useless. Lind is suffering and I can do nothing to help her, there is nothing I can do to ease her pain. She won't even tell me what it is that's bothering her. If I could make it so that she would be happy and smile I would, god knows I would, but such things can't happen. Lind needs time, and I'm not going to rush her simply because I feel inadequate because I can't help her. I'll give her time, all the time she needs. Even...Even if Lind tries to distance herself from me I'll still give her time. I will always be waiting until she can freely tell me what plagues her mind. Because love is endearing...our love is endearing.
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