Kaleidoscope - Chapter 3 : Cellophane Fragments


Zell sat numbly in the near darkness . We were next...... He thought The next to perish 
by their hands.... 
“ Zell , don’t be afraid . After what we told you , do you think we’d kill you now? Just 
when we poured our hearts out to you? ” Aurri rasped , her voice still hoarse from 
weakness.  Slowly recuperating , she sat up and watched the two visitors visibly 
shiver with worry . Victoria stood , pouring a glass of orange juice for them.
“ So , what do you plan to do about those ‘Trepes’?” Squall asked , taking a sip from 
the glass filled with orange liquid that was just handed to him . 
“Nothing . We can only sit back and pass the message onto our Mistress and hope the 
wrath she brings down on us is not too severe....” Victoria sighed and perched on the 
end of Aurri’s bed , staring into the bottom of her cup. “ I don’t know why she even 
does business with Xianian....... That creep......” She upruptly stopped .
“Xianian?” Zell questioned. 
Suddenly , Aurri tensed up , her violet eyes flashing in brilliant purple flashes.
“Oh no!! You must hide!!!!” she harshly whispered . “Mistress is coming!!!”
“Why??! I ain’t afraid of no-” Zell was cut off by Victoria’s hand clasping firmly over 
his mouth and dragging him over to a large wardrobe in the corner of Aurri’s rooms. 
Squall quickly followed him , all the time looking over his shoulder to stare at Aurri’s 
worried form .
“You sure you’ll be all right?!” He watched her slowly attempt to stand to her feet , 
her crumpled wine green dress slowly wavering in an undetectable wind.
“Yes! Just hide now!!” Aurri hissed , her eyes now glowing brightly . Victoria 
slammed the wardrobe door shut and leapt over to where her weak sister stood.

An eerie humming noise filled the air . The two sisters were forced onto their knees 
by an mysterious force . A faint female form began to materialize in front of them . 
“Oh Mistress , we welcome your coming . May the stars bow to your excellence and 
the oceans lap the shores in respect to your power.” They chanted , their voices 
resonating with a metal sounding rasp. 
“My temptress servants........ Come forth with your offerings of energy......” A mature 
female voice filled the air . Slowly , the faint image became a beautiful maiden . Her 
eyes were deep red , shining with intelligence and malice . Her flesh was paler than 
anything a human could achieve . Her face was shaped in perfect proportion to her 
ruby lips and elegantly shaped nose . Her raven black hair fitted into a turtle shell 
crown encrusted with gold and many precious stones. She wore a midnight black 
dress , with fur trim and blood red tassels . All in all , she was most man’s dream 
woman .
Aurri slowly sauntered over to her Mistress , her head lowered at all times to show 
respect .
“My Mistress of the dark spirits , demon vixen of Hell ....... Receive the male mortal 
spirits I have trapped in my web of deceit. Feed well on them and be endowed with 
the vicious power you desire.” She chanted , eyes blazing in the near darkness . 
Slowly , she pulled a vial of black glass out of her hair and slowly unscrewed the lid . 
Mistress’ eyes lit up with glee and she smiled gracefully , her perfectly straight white 
teeth glinting in the low light . 
“By the glory of Rinoa , lady of Shiva’s wrath.... Come forth DESPERATE BEINGS 
OF NOTHINGNESS!!!!!” Aurora shouted , throwing the vial to the floor . 
There was a painful shriek and a faint green vapour arose into the air . Several faint 
forms surrounded Aurri in a whirlwind of terror .
“SUCCUMB TO THE DEMON WEAKLINGS!!!!! APPROACH THE BLACK 
VIXEN!!!” Mistress screeched in an inhuman voice. She spread her slender arms and 
opened her gaping mouth , sucking all the vapour into her body . Her eyes glowered 
like burning coals in the darkness . There was a shrill scream that could curdle blood , 
and then there was silence . Mistress’ face returned to it’s elegant former state and 
she smiled at her shivering servant.
“Aurania , that was a most pleasant serving..... You will be well rewarded for your 
faithfulness....” She smiled again at Aurri , gently touching the palm of her elegant 
hand to the top of Aurri’s flame red hair. There was a brilliant flash of white , and 
Aurri stood again in perfect health , her face maturing slightly . Any slight 
imperfection on her body or face was removed , making her easily the more beautiful 
of the two sisters at that point . Her lips were once again strawberry red , her face 
unmarred or flushed. She stood next to her Mistress and smiled gently .
“ Thank you , oh Mistress of the devils........” She kissed her Mistress’ hand softly , 
and stepped back next to her nervous sister spirit . Victoria squirmed uncomfortably , 
realizing she forgot something very important .
“ Well Victoria ? Where is your offering to my glory?!” Mistress’ silky voice 
questioned. Victoria’s eyes filled with red tears , spilling onto her pale cheeks.
“Mistress of the dark side...... I - I have no offering......” She wavered , trembling in 
anticipation of pain.
Mistress’ face formed into an ugly mask of fury .
“ WHAT????!!!! No offering to your MISTRESS??! HOW DARE YOU TREAT ME 
WITH SUCH IMPERTINENCE?!!” She screamed , vibrating with power . Her eyes 
shone with anger , her teeth forming jagged white fangs .
“Mistress..... I can explain-”
“DON’T YOU DARE EXPECT ME TO LET YOU OFF WITH NO PUNISHMENT!! 
WHO DO YOU THINK I AM ,  A WEAK SORCERESS ?! NO , I AM RINOA 
HEARTILLY , QUEEN OF THE DEMON WORLD!!!!!!!” Mistress roared , her 
hands clenching furiously . She lifted one arm , and by some powerful force , she 
lifted Victoria into the air and flung her against a pale blue wall. Victoria screamed in 
pain , her spirit form glowing with sheer red light .
“ No Mistress!!” Aurri exclaimed , running to her fallen sister . Gently , she cradled 
Victoria’s head in her lap and swirled her hand over her crumpled face . The tips of 
her fingers shone with violet light . Slowly , the twinkling magic fell over her sister , 
relieving her of the pain . Aurri’s face screwed up with the effort of protecting her 
sister , her eyes glowing less brightly . Mistress immediately calmed , a frighteningly 
friendly smile on her small lips .
“Well , that’s sisterly love for you , my temptresses.... But love won’t pull you 
through the next time one of you challenges my fury.....” She whispered in a seductive 
voice . 

Zell crouched in the bottom of the large wardrobe , straining to watch what was going 
on through the tiny crack in between the doors . 
“ ‘Welcome to the beginning of a great night out..’ ” He mumbled . “What bullshit . 
Now I know your idea of a ‘Great night out’ is sitting in the dark in a cramped , dirty 
wardrobe , totally clueless about what’s going on in the outside world!” 
Squall threw a dirty look in his direction .
“Shut up..... I’m trying to hear......” Squall whispered urgently . He squinted in the 
faint light , trying to get a better idea of what was going on outside . 
There was a scream that pierced their ears . Zell was about to cry out in pain , when a 
firm hand covered his mouth . Both young men clambered in unison over to the split 
in the doorway . 
They saw the two sisters cowering in fear , both glowing with vibrant violet light . In 
the middle of the room , a perfectly beautiful woman stood , glistening with jewels 
and power . 
“Well , that’s sisterly love for you , my temptresses ........ but love won’t pull you 
through the next time one of you challenges my fury......” The strangely compelling 
voice whispered , echoing through the thin oak walls of the wardrobe .The stranger  
raised a sharp nailed hand above her head , preparing to bring it down on the two 
sisters .
Automatically , Zell leaped from his hiding spot followed closely by Squall . 
“What are you doing you idiots?!!” Victoria shouted , standing to her feet.
“Helping you..... DUH!” Zell countered , standing in front of their Mistress.
Mistress smiled 
“ Now this is most interesting... Aurania , care to explain?” She smiled at Aurri , who 
was glaring furiously at the two men . 
“Sorry Mistress , but I don’t seem to recognize them..... Should I kill them for your 
pleasure?” She rasped , taking deep breaths.
Squall and Zell exchanged puzzled looks and started to panic . 
“Well my children , I’ll let it go this ONCE seeing that your sister did such a good job 
with those spirits.......” She started fading away slowly . “Until our next meeting my 
servants , I bid thee farewell!!” As quickly as she came , Mistress disappeared in a 
flash of white light. 
“May I ask a simple question Victoria........ WHAT THE HELL??!!” Zell exclaimed , 
totally overwhelmed.
“You nearly got us killed you dumbasses!! What did you do that for?!” Victoria 
screeched , all the time banging on Zell’s head with her fist . 
“Ouch!!” He shouted , running out the back door of Aurri’s rooms. Victoria scowled , 
staring after the frantic young man .
Aurri sighed and turned to Squall . She gently took his hand in hers and smiled .
“I think we should go for a little walk , don’t you?” Aurri said softly , gently leading a 
bewildered Squall out the back door. Victoria frowned , and leapt into a running jog 
to catch the fleeing Zell .
“Wait!!!!” She shouted , hot on his heels .