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| Doubletake Rogue Music Guestbook (Sign) View Links Page Created By [email protected] |
Caught
Between the Light Where I am, I can see everything. I need no spyglasses or telescope. I am high above everything else except for clouds and birds. This is because I have abilities far beyond normal humans. I am a mutant, or so I have been told. They tell me I have the powers of flight, super-strength, and I am able to create portals to take me wherever I wish. Also, to humans and mutants alike, I cannot be seen at a second glance. Hence the name they've given me: Doubletake. And to add to that, I am immortal. but I am still debating with myself whether to tell them. When most find out, they pity me or stay miles away from me. I have been hurt by my flaws before, and I do not know if I am ready to give them the privilege of one of my many secrets. Although there is one whom I might confide in; he is known only as Montgomery, or Hotshot. The reason for this trust between us both may be because he reminds me so much of Michale. But I will get to that later. First of all, I must tell you who I am. I am from a time when knights were all the rage and a time of darkness. It seems that all I can remember is darkness. That's when all of my trouble began, on just one day of darkness. The day I was born. My mother, I later discovered, had died while giving birth to me. My father; well, no one knew where he was. It seemed that he just picked up one day when I was five and left me on the royal castle's doorstep. I was raised as a slave by a slave. I was told that I was lucky to even have a home. I told them nothing of where I came from, but yet everyone knew. Then, when I was about twelve, a gypsy man named Ramos' came and took the children of the slaves to a place called the circus. I went along with the others, but I did not know what was to lie ahead. myself and 3 three others were "assigned" to the trapeze bars. I didn't come to know any of them save Michale. We became instant friends, partly due to the fact that we were mutants. Michale and I spent weeks preparing for what was to be our biggest performance ever. -Or at least that's what Ramos' said. We continued to perform the best we ever had. Until that day. That dark day. Our act had been going fine until one tragic slip-up. Michale was flipping gracefully in the air, and my hands were poised to grasp a hold on his. But he never came. I couldn't see him, but I still knew that he would plunge to his death if I didn't do anything. I flew, saved him, and then I flew away from there as fast as I could, with him in my arms. 
We landed softly."What are we going to do now?" he asked me. "I don't know! All I know is that we have to run, or they'll hurt us." How do you know, what could they possibly do to us that we haven't been through already?" I looked at him, searching for the source of his anger, and I knew it ran as deep as mine. Just then, Ramos' came behind me and held a knife up to my throat. "If you both come along quietly, we shan't have to hurt 'ya. Now, what'll it be?" The look that Michale gave me at that time was torn. Torn between the safety of the circus or the freedom of the outside. After all, they didn't know he was a mutant, did they? I pleaded him with my eyes, and he did not respond. But, finally, he looked at me with such intensity that I knew what I had to do. I turned so forcefully toward Ramos' that he dropped his knife, and went hurtling into the ground. Just then, the rest of the party who'd been looking for us came and tried to attack me. I threw the first attacker over my head, but I could not resist against the force of the twenty that came down on top of me. They held me to a tree as Ramos' came up with his dagger. "Well, the mutie wants to be difficult, then we'll be difficult, too!" After this was said, he came up to the left side of my face and told me: "This is something to remember me by!" Able to see by the firelight, Ramos' dug the dagger into my face just deep enough and carved the mark of the mutant on my face. He pulled the dagger along so slowly that every time he moved it I cried out in pain. And Michale did nothing. He just let himself be held back by the gypsies. He didn't do anything! Ramos' and the villagers released their grip on me, and we were left alone in the forest, to fend for ourselves. I collapsed on the ground. Minutes passed. I stood up and faced Michale, the blood and anger on my face enough to kill. He looked at me in horror and amazement. "My God! Your blood....it's black!" I touched my hand to my face and looked at the sticky substance that I retrieved from it. "So it is," I said, pausing for a moment. "Are you coming with me or staying here?" "Back to the castle? Never!" He scowled at the ground. "Then stay. But I can't stay here, not after what they just did to me." "Do you need anything before you go?" Michale asked hesitantly, with a twinge of regret. "Yes, there is." And I kissed him. Long and fully on the lips. I had to. Maybe it was my way of saying good-bye. I backed away slowly. We looked longingly and sorrowfully into each other's eyes, wishing we could say more. I couldn't take it anymore. So I flew away. I flew and I didn't look back. Instead, I looked ahead, to my uncertain future. Not knowing what lay in store for me, and not sure it was even better than what I had left behind. * * *
I arrived at the castle early the next morning, just as the sun was coming up over the tall mountains. Exhausted, I collapsed on the very steps which I was first abandoned on. The last sight I took in before I passed out was that of the prince and his finance walking together through the gardens. * * * I awoke in the softest bed I'd ever slept in; in a room I was unaccustomed to. When I opened my eyes, I saw an obese woman, apparently a servant, sitting in a cushioned velvet chair on the wall opposite me. "Well, now. She finally 'wakes! I'll go inform the prince, but first I must ask one question: 'ow did you come to be here?" I didn't know what to say! "I , uh, I come from very far away. I seek refuge, and I thought that if anyone could help me, it would be the noble and kind royal family." She looked at me for a moment before answering. "Well, I suppose that's about all anyone wants, child. How old are you, anyway?" "Sixteen, maam." "-And forced to grow up so quickly, poor darlin'. I'll go fetch the prince now, I'm sure he'll want to know how you're doin'. He's the one who found you, you know," and so-saying, she walked out of the room and down one of the hundreds of seemingly endless hallways. I looked around the room, taking everything in, just imagining what it would be like to actually live in a room like this. The room I lay in was one I'd been in many times, but only to clean it. I was not even permitted to even sit anywhere except in the servant's quarters. The cold stone floors were the same, as were the dark walls. The decor had changed, though. Instead of the black that it had been years ago, my surroundings were a beautiful shade of purple. The prince walked into my room just as I had closed my eyes. I opened them to the most handsome face I'd ever seen. "Are you all right? The way you looked when we found you was quite, uh, sickening." He looked concerned. I looked up slowly, unable to focus. Then I responded,"I'll be fine. I was just....tired." "Well, the doctor said he didn't know where you could have gotten that cut. Although he did do a nice job of stitching up. But it will leave quite a scar. Does it hurt much?" "Only a little," the words themselves brought pain to my left cheek. I wondered why he hadn't said anything about the color of my blood.... "Well, my name is Prince Dion', but you may call me Dion'. What is your name?" "I....I don't have one!" I'd always just been "servant girl," or "hey you!" "You mean you can't remember?" He didn't seem to believe me." "Uh, yes, that's it." I said, looking down. I realized I'd been staring at him. "Oh. Well, I'm sure it'll come to you eventually. In the meantime, you concentrate on getting better. When you feel well enough, you can get up and roam the grounds as you please. You are welcome to stay as long as you like." I was surprised at his generosity. "Thank you, Your Majesty!" "Dion'" "Oh, of course. Dion'" And with that, he left. he left me lying there, gazing after him. Then my thoughts drifted back to Michale. Where was he? Was he all right? I couldn't help but think that things had not gone well when he'd met up with the gypsies again. I tried to focus on my future. Dion' had said I could that I could stay in the castle for as long as I wished. How long did he mean? Probably not long, I thought. I kept thinking about what I was going to do, but by the time I had drifted off to sleep, I still had not come to any conclusions.
I awoke in the middle of the night feeling refreshed and ready to go. Unfortunately, no one else was awake, or so I thought. Deciding that I was strong enough to fly, I went out to the garden. I took off with the greatest of ease. After a few flips and twirls, I flew circles around the grounds. Then, I landed back in the garden where I had started. "Hello," came a voice from behind me. I was so startled that I jumped five feet in the air and remained there. "What?!" "I said, "hello." And by the way, how are you doing that? Dion' looked at me as if I were insane. "Well, I, uh....I just, do it!" I said, matter-of-factly. "I sure can't do that!" "Would you want to?" "Well, yes. I mean, who wouldn't? To be able to soar higher than the clouds themselves; to be free of all life's pressures! You know how it is to be totally free!" "Do I?" I said, looking blankly into the distance. "I sure wouldn't mind being able to fly, 'is all." "You really want to?" I paused. Was this guy for real? "I could take you." "How?" "I'll carry you." "Uh, all right... You won't drop me, will you?" "I'm strong enough, if that's what you mean," I said with a smirk. I picked him up, and we set off. It was the first time I'd touched someone since I'd kissed Michale. "Are you doing all right?" I asked. "Yes, I'm fine. It's just that, well, I'm sort of puzzled." "About what?" I asked hesitantly. "How is it that you came to be here? And with that gash on your face?" "There are some things, Dion', that I may never be able to tell anyone." "Then I won't ask. But I will wonder. It's so odd, you know? Flying here high above everything else. It's amazing that everyone is so small and insignificant. It is like we are the only two beings alive." We looked at each other. "And if we were?" I gazed at him, and he at me for what seemed like days. but it still wasn't enough. He turned away."We...should be heading back now, before we are missed." I said nothing on the way back to the castle. I didn't need to. I had seen the longing in his eyes, and he'd seen it in mine. But all that didn't matter. He was engaged to be married. There was nothing I could do about that. We came to the garden, and I landed and set Dion' down. He held onto my hand. Then he took the both of my hands in his. "You know, of course that I'm to be married." "Yes, I do." I looked down, and away from him. He touched his hand to my chin and turned my face to look at his. "Then you also know that nothing can come of this." "Come of what, Your Highness?" I said looking defiantly at him. "This...." He leaned in and gently kissed me on the lips. Then harder, as if I would never see him again. As he pulled away, he searched for something in my eyes. I knew not what. Dion' pulled away and walked back to his room and left me standing alone. Even that kiss was tiny compared to the trouble that lay ahead. * * *
The morning dawned bright and clear. It was to be a beautiful day. At least, so I thought. I walked downstairs for the morning meal. It took me quite a while to find my way through the many passages of the castle. But it wasn't too hard. I had lived there for over half my life. When I got to the dining hall and was seated, I noticed that Dion' and his fiancee' were not at the table. "Where is His Majesty the Prince and his Betrothed?" I asked a servant. The butler answered. "They were walking in the garden the last time I saw them. They decided to break their fast early and spend some time alone, I suppose." "Oh," I said half-heartedly. "When do you think they will return?" "Soon, I expect. They do have appointments to keep and preparations to make." I finished eating, then I excused myself. I walked all over the palace, searching for someone I knew, or some connection to my past. But, alas, I found none. Not that I was hoping for anything. Suddenly, a hand covered my mouth and turned me around. "What are you doing in this part of the castle?" Dion' asked, flustered. "I...I was just taking a walk!" I managed to spurt out. Oh, no! I thought, I've been caught! But caught doing what? "Why? Didn't anyone tell you not to come into the royal quarters?" "No! It was you who said I could roam the castle as I pleased!" "Oh. Right. I forgot." He seemed to calm down some. "For future reference, though, don't come down here unless I am here with you." "Uh, all right." "Fine then. Let's go out to the gardens, shall we?" I nodded, giving him that "Are you sure you're all right?" look. He then escorted me to the neatly-groomed passageways of the castle gardens. I knew the maze by heart, but I let him lead the way. We came upon a bed planted with many white flowers, near a crystal-blue pond. I looked at our reflections in it. "It is......beautiful!" I expressed breathlessly. "Almost as beautiful as you are. Here..." He picked one of the flowers and held it up at eye-level between the two of us. Our eyes locked for a moment. He was the one who broke the gaze. "I was thinking, and I have come up with a name for you." Dion' took the flower and put it in my hair. "From this day forward, you shall be known as...Calla. For everything else pales in comparison to this beautiful lily." I paused, not knowing what to say. Then, out of nowhere: "Where is your fiancee'?" I asked. "She's getting fitted for her wedding gown, and I, of course, was not allowed to watch..." He looked away, trying to find something to distract him. "What is it?" I asked of him. "It's just that...well, I don't really know if she's the one i want to marry. All of this was arranged by my father; without any discussion with me. I feel as if I've been left out of this entire process. And there is nothing I can do about it...unless..." The bushes behind us stirred slightly; there was no breeze. "Dion'? Could someone be watching us?" "I don't think so. It was probably one of the gardeners." Still, he kept a careful eye on the vegetation surrounding us. "Calla, my darling, it is not safe to be here right now." He moved in closer to me, his voice a mere hint of a whisper. " I suggest we meet here tonight at midnight. The I will tell you what you need to know." He grabbed my shoulders; not exactly a loving gesture, and yet not a hating one. He wanted to get his message across. "All right....I'll be there." I couldn't see his expression as he turned away. but I knew that whatever he had to tell me was worth the risk of being seen. I needed more information, though. I teleported to the room of Dion's fiancee', Rachelle. Well, not into the room exactly, but to the room's window. I hovered below to the side of it, and I could still hear what the people inside were saying. "...I still don't know what's wrong with him, Justina. He never wants to be around me anymore. He Just drifts off to wherever he pleases. I mean, we are to be married, aren't we? How am I even supposed to know him before we wed if he's never around!?" "I'm sure you'll see much more of him when you are wed. Right now, it's prob'ly just weddin' jitters, maam. A man needs his freedom sometimes, we just have to accept that." Justina sounded doubtful even as she spoke the words. "You do have a point, but I just worry, that's all. I worry that one day he'll leave, and never return!." Rachelle moved closer to the window, and I saw that she was as ravenly beautiful as her voice. This was no woman of evil! I thought. All she is is worried about a man she cares about! I wonder if she really loves him, though. I silently lowered myself to the ground. Now I was totally confused! Which one of us did he truly love? * * *
The moon was hidden behind stormy clouds that night, and a harsh wind had begun to blow. It may as well have been an omen. But all I took it as was an approaching storm... "Dion'?" I called out, standing near the white lilies which were blowing in the breeze, "Are you here?" "Calla!" I turned around and there he was. He walked toward me, then held me in his strong arms. I had no idea what to do; no one had ever done that to me before. "Calla," he whispered softly into my ear, "you must leave with me tonight. I don't know where I'm going, but I must leave this place. Say you'll come....please?" Now where had I heard that before? "But what about your life here? You're just leaving, just like that?" I was stalling. "I must choose my own destiny, Calla. As must you. But decide quickly, we don't have time to spare." He backed away, looking steadily at me. I had decided. "Dion'....I-" The reaction I got was one of pain and shock. Then I noticed why. Dion' had been shot through the heart with some kind of arrow! He clutched his chest in surprise. "NO!" I screamed. It was then I saw the shooter. In the lightening of the coming storm, I could make out his features well enough through the irregular flashes. "Michale...." It was more of a breath than a word. I knew fore certain it was him when our eyes met: mine full of anger, his of indignance. Had he been glad to kill him? I turned my attention back to Dion'. "No! You can't leave me, not now!" I sobbed. He looked up at me, and act which took all of his strength. Rain drops began to fall. "But don't you see? I haven't lived for nothing! Because...*ack*I...love...you..-" " I...love you, too, Dion'. Always." I bent over him and cried. Cried for the chance we could have had together. For the chance to finally be happy. And I wept because I had been betrayed by the only other person I'd thought I could trust. The rain was coming down harder, and the thunder was so loud it hurt my ears. Sitting up, I dried my eyes...and closed Dion's. I placed a flower from the nearby plant in his chilling grasp. That way, I'd always be with him. I stood up, only to hear the castle guards coming out to look for Dion'.
I knew that if I used my powers, there'd be absolutely no hope for me. But, if I didn't...they'd assume the worst! I turned to run. "Halt!" yelled one of the guards. It was now pouring. I stood in the downpour. Awaiting the accusations of the onlookers. I could beat them, I thought. There's only ten. But then I decided against it. "He's dead, Cap'n. And she's the only one here," said the guard kneeling over Dion's body. "Very well. We'll take 'er to the dungeon and report this to Her Majesty." "Her Majesty?" I asked. "What's happened to the King?" "No matter now. Even if you didn't know!" Claimed the "Cap'n. "But still," pondered one of the guards, " 'strange, there bein' two deaths in one night, both of 'em in the Royal family!" One of the guards proceeded to chain my hands in front of me, then two others escorted me along in between them. The walk to the dungeon was short, but seemed to last forever. I could feel the looks of the armored knights standing in the dark hallways. silently condemning me. Our procession reached a cell, and a red-bearded guard freed my hands and shoved me into the cold, dark, damp room. I sat upon the stone floor. I waited until they'd only left one guard standing outside my door. Minutes passed... "Prisoner will stand at the presence of royalty!" Ordered the guard. I stood, then I recognized who'd come to visit me. "Why did you do it? Did you think that if you couldn't have him, no one could?" Accused Rachelle. "I have no idea what you are talking about." I claimed coldly from behind the bars. "I didn't kill him." "Well, you may as well have. Although, there's nothing you can do about it now. Except wait for your punishment." She came closer, and looked directly into my eyes, as if to stare me down. "And that which I will grant you is so much worse than death." The bars of the cell cast cold shadows on her once graceful face. Now, it appeared tired...and evil. Very evil. Rachelle turned to the guard, who was standing out of my view. "The prisoner's sentence will be carried out at dawn. No one is to be aware that she was even here. Is that clear?" "Yes, mum. Tomorrow at dawn." "Tomorrow, child." Then, Rachelle turned on her heel and walked down the hallway, her dress swishing as she walked. What am I going to do? I thought. I have to get out of here! I pointed my hand at the corner, and prepared to teleport out of that place. Nothing. Not a single spark. "Oh,and don't even think of trying to escape," came Rachelle's voice inside my head. As long as I'm around you, your powers are useless. Completely."
My dreams came and went that night. And every one re-lived that horrible event in my mind. It was as if someone had video-taped the whole scene, and it was set on constant repeat. The horror did not end until a few beams of sunlight shone across my eyes. Dawn. I rubbed my eyes, sat up tiredly. Looking around the room, I could tell that this was not the same place I'd fallen asleep in. I was now in a dreary cave of some kind. "So, the would-be princess awakens," a woman's voice echoed from somewhere in the darkness. "Show yourself, Rachelle." I was not in the mood for games. "I'm right here," she said, mystically appearing right in front of me. "You really think you can keep me in here? Well, you've got something else coming!" I ran toward her, poised to strike. When I did, I crashed into something very hard and very hard to see. "Oh, yes! Did I forget to mention that?" Rachelle jested sarcastically. "What...what is it?" I said, gingerly touching the clear substance. "It's called plexiglass, but don't worry---it won't be invented for a few centuries yet. Then again, you will be around for that, won't you?" She smiled, or rather, smirked, and crossed her arms. "What do you mean by that?" "I mean, that you'll be alive for a very long time. Forever, in fact. Have a nice sleep, "Calla." " I looked at her in horror and surprise. She raised her hands in a praying gesture, pointed them at me, and said something that sounded like an incantation of sorts. Rachelle's hands began to glow a fiery red, and I started to feel very dizzy. The l sat thing I remember seeing before fading into oblivion is Rachelle's eerie grin, and the glowing red evil..... * * *
"Doubletake?" came a voice from behind me. "What do you want?" "Nothing. Just admiring the view. It's beautiful, isn't it?" "Huh?" I saked, halfway turning to look at him. "The city. With all the colors from the sunset, it really looks magnificent." We were standing atop the home of Generation X. Looking over everything, it did indeed look beautiful. To think I acutally assumed he was talking about me... "I guess," I sighed. I turned my attention back to the orange-gold light that seemed to set everything on fire. "That's all you have to say?" I mean, you spend nearly every morning and evening up here. Taking it all in. And all you can say is, "I guess"?" He crossed his arms over his well-built chest. Even in a t-shirt and jeans, he looked very handsome. The light from the sun set off his auburn hair. I said nothing. No matter what, I thought, I cannot let him know how I really feel. "Well, how do you really feel?" spoke Hotspot's voice from nowhere. My eyes widened in surprise. "You are not to read my mind without my permission! Stay OUT of my head!" And then he kissed me. He spun me around and kissed me. I don't know how long it lasted, but it seemed like mere seconds. We pulled away, and I looked into his multi- colored eyes. "Why did you do that?" I questioned him. "Um, well.....um..." I slowly backed away, a few feet above him. Then I flew away and into the sunset. I left him standing there. Moments later, there came a voice inside my head. "What do you want from me, DT? What do I have to do?" "You never search my mind for anything, got it? " "Yeah. I've got it, Calla." I stopped in mid-air. I portaled to where he was. He was facing in my direction, ready for me it seemed. "How...how do you know my name? I didn't let you in that part of my mind!" He was silent. Not like him at all. "There's something I need to tell you, Calla, and I guess now's as good a time as any. "What do you mean?" I asked hesitantly. "Do you remember this?" He dropped a white lily in my hands. "It's what I've been trying to tell you. You may never forgive me, but Calla...I'm Michale."
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