Tristesse Chapter 3

Hi there!

So yeah, here's chapter 3 and I hope you all like it. I want to thank 'KatyaElefant' 'cause she (I'm assuming she's a she) made me realize I could use Open Office as my proof reader -.- .... I really had not thought about it and the one I tried to use worked poorly... So thanks!!

Like that I hope the chapter has no grammatical mistakes, or at least just one or two. 

That's basically it... so, please, do read!!

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Chapter 3

Back in the 'amazing' reality, they followed the hallway until it broke once and twice, turning on that one. Leonidas knew the place by heart, and could get there without even trying to remember the path; Is' image tormenting him all the way. What if she had not been able to arrive? What if he was too late? These kind of questions kept pestering him every time such an occasion arose. He should be used to it by now. The adrenaline, the hopeless wonder regarding her well being...but, he simply couldn't. He could not stop worrying about Isara.

Although a couple of random growls were heard here and there, it was obvious those Hounds were still busy with Samuel's group. They had to remain like that, otherwise Leo and his other two improvised musketeers were doomed to even higher risks. Even cornering their fears, as they happened to be trying to do, they could still feel it growing in strength, ready to strike at the slightest provocation, at the slightest hesitation.

A girlish scream suddenly broke through the thin layer of silence that still managed to leak through the annoying Faes alert. Until then the damn thing had not ceased to cry. Even so, the voice somehow managed to release them, even if slightly, from the hold of the so devious reptile that still crawled along their limbs. And for that, they were thankful.

“You bitch!” was the next thing they heard, followed by the sound of several piano notes played all at once, roughly and without care. “I should throw you from this very floor right now!” his raging voice went back and forth all over the place, reaching hallway after hallway. Sadly, alerting not only the trio that still rushed to the music class, but also every single creature near the building. She couldn't have messed up again, could she?

He answered his own question right away... yes, it did sound like her.

They hurried even more, running as quickly as their legs allowed them, following Leonidas' sudden turns and rash stops. It was as if he didn't care about anything else in the world, his friend thought. As if his only duty was to arrive there and remain by her side, watching over her shoulder and fending off any threat that may present. Chester knew little about Isara —having met her just a few times and not even for long— but even like that he could guess she was related to the recent noises.

When they arrived at the the room, Leo was not exactly shocked to found Isara half kneeling on the floor, one hand helping her to maintain balance while the other one rested poorly on the uncovered piano keys. A girl a few paces to her right, seemed to be trying to get quickly to her feet.

She'd probably got in the middle of the two arguing figures, and either backed up Isara or was simply considered annoying, and was moved aside quite roughly. It was only a guess, though, but he was probably right since she kept a hand to her left cheek —a red lump soon to appear.

A brunette guy came even closer to Isara; a threatening demeanor gave away his intentions.

After a quick look at Isara, Leo shifted his eyes to the girl who had finally stood up, and was wearing her demeanor as if major had happened. She was probably Cecily, Leo guessed once again. He remembered Is going on and on about how she spent such an nice time along the other members of the spearmanship club —from which Cecily happened to be the president.

With a gesture, he told her to stand back; and although she seemed to recognize him, she remained close enough, probably in case things got ugly. “What have you done this time?” he asked Isara as he helped her back to her feet, knowingly standing in middle of the apparent conflicted persons —that'd be cute lil' Is and Brunette #1.

Rushing to his arms in a very dramatic way, she yelled his name. She had the clearness of mind to take into consideration the correct volume and pitch of her voice, though. Somehow those damn beasts were sensitive to those kind of things as well. “You're late!” she whispered so only he could hear, upset; and not a trace of cuteness in her voice.

“Shut up,” he told her, releasing himself from her embrace. He took a quick peek, looking for anything out of place. Several teens simply stood over at the sides of the room, as if they didn't want to come any closer to the pair. He noticed a small group of of them, of 3 or so, were kneeling besides a fourth, in what seemed an attempt to look after the wounds that the guy may have; and somehow Cecily was the only girl besides Isara, and Leo's second musketeer, around. Realizing he was getting a bit sidetracked, he returned his attention to Isara, who stared at him back and smiled mischievously.

Yeah, she was just fine.

Little Is happened to be one year older than him, and about a head and a half smaller —thing that she kept measuring. Her long black hair reached just about the middle of her back. Her delicate sharp nose was slightly wrinkled, clearly displaying just how annoyed she was by the whole situation, and maybe a bit of anger towards Leonidas' late arrival. Disregarding her slightly thin chin, her eyes were just astonishing. Those close to purple iris gave the impression she could stare right through you and right now they were not leaving Leo's very own eyes.

Odd, such features shouldn't fit in well, but in her it seemed just too 'exact', too beautiful; as if her very frame had been sculpted from the delicate marble that made up her skin. He had always compared her to the twisted side of a querubin.

“Move!” the brunette commanded “Now. I'm not done with her.” she turned towards Leo, once again.

And there it was, her delightful smile at the edge of a smirk. He had to actually bit his own lip as to remain as serious as he could. “I said, I'm not done with her!” the brunette re-stated, grabbing Leonidas' shoulder, with considerable pressure, to emphasize the idea.

Isara winked at him, an slight spark in her beautiful amethyst eyes. That was all the authorization he needed.

With a quick, but simple, motion he got rid of the 'your hand in my personal bubble' by moving his elbow towards his own body once it was above his opponent’s forearm. Like that, turning his elbow in an awkward position for that articulation in particular -his hand's grip strength long forgotten. Once the hand had been completely removed from his shoulder, he stretched his' -taking advantage of the position as he positioned his own hand below his opponent's arm- seeking his throat.

The whole exchange lasted maybe a second or two

“No, I believe you are done with her.” Brunette #1, obviously surprised, took a moment to realize the turn the situation had just taken. A wonder, actually, considering the lack of oxygen should be enough for someone to react- even if in a pathetic way.

He had to admit: he had enjoyed it; shutting his mouth had been an actual relief. But his attention was turned to a couple of the guys that until recently had done nothing at all to contribute to either party. Almost as if they knew they somehow had to protect that guy, Leo though. Perhaps they belonged to some kind of lesser families that barely were important enough for their children to get into the institute. Whichever was the case, they began walking towards them, probably thinking they'd be worth something in middle of the, really one-sided, conflict.

His own smile —his' being an almost perfect match to Isara's, as Edward often expressed— finally came to light when by a simple stare they remained still and silent- he'd have to give them a cracker later or something. “Think he'll be dead weight?” Leonidas spoke, turning towards his self-named dearest in a very casual way.

“Maybe as bait he'll be worth something.” one more smile was drawn over their features. But, enough with bothering the poor idiot; this would be just what they needed for the plan they'd come up with in silence.

“Don't make me regret this.” was all Leo said before releasing his beaten opponent. In the same silent way, as previously demonstrated, he rose an eyebrow to his friend.

“Very well,” Isara began, “I have already made my choice, I hope you don't mind." She used her finger to quickly point out the few members of her probably improvised team as Leo approved them one by one; not that it was needed -it was simply another precaution. So, the spearmanship's captain and 3 more random guys that he didn't know a thing about but somehow seemed reliable enough, plus the two musketeers he had brought, and of course Isara. Yes, they'd do the trick.

“You heard her. The 'chosen ones', please come this way.” To his surprise they actually followed without making a sound. Every single one of them walked silently and got out of the music class as commanded, leaving only the three previous members, Isara and the rest of the teenagers that happened to not been pointed out. Odd, he thought once again. It was as if they'd lost their own wills, not caring for life nor how did he choose to use theirs.

Was it due to the demonstration of obvious physical advantage? Or did Isara already have this much influence over the present classmates? It was, indeed, possible; he sometimes forgot of her social status, and how well she played the part. They couldn't object the likes of her, even in this kind of situation.

It was what they called a 'a noble's honor', to bow their heads to the next in command, and it was near absolute. That was just ethics though, a silent agreement and one almost no one chose to follow; unless it was threatening to their social standing to disobey, and such kind of scenarios. Still, Leo was truly marveled that such an amount of them followed without much more than a nod from a few.

He motioned towards the door when a crackly voice stopped him.

"Wait!" yes, here it came " what about us?" seemed like he had finally recovered his speech, huh. Breaking him had been almost too easy; what a disappointment.

"You're on your own." Brunette's face was suddenly covered with the crimson of anger; his fists were clenched. He now knew he was no match to this fellow, but he would not accept death that easily, he'd fight, he had to live! He, of course, didn't want to die.

"You can't leave us here," he murmured "you can't!" almost an order, at the edge of a beg.

"Oh, but I can, actually, we are." In a desperate attempt to stop that nonsense, he walked towards Leonidas once more time.

"You're not leaving us behind." he stated.

Leonidas simply moved quickly to his side, with such ease that it seemed more like part of dance than a move one would've practice in order of taking down foes. He easily found the weak spot between his ribs and smashed it with enough strength that it would bend awkwardly without breaking. The effect was immediate and the poor guy fell on his knees grabbing his chest —yes, the sudden lost of air must have shocked him quite a bit.

"I really don't like to repeat myself." he answered. Then, glanced at Isara, who understood and began, once again, acting.

"B-but, where will we go?" her every feature filled with hopelessness; fear shining all over her eyes.

"Do not fear, dear. Although the way we came is blocked by the so-devious creatures, there's still a way;" as if he was telling a secret he lowered his voice "we shall run towards the eastern gate of this building, remaining at all times at the wall's margin so we can run if anything happens."

She rolled, almost imperceptibly, her eyes. Damn fool, always getting carried away with these kind of things. He appeared not to understand the term 'over acting'. Oh well, she might as well follow his lead.

Suddenly Isara rushed, in a very dramatic way, to his arms once again. Did she enjoy doing so? Sometimes he wondered. Of course she did, she was aware, after all, of his aversion to most of physical contact. It was more of an uneasiness, with her at least.

"You'll protect me, won't you?" she asked him, at the verge of what would have been perfectly realistic tears " You must stay with me. Don't you dare leave my side!"

"I won't," he whispered back "I promise."

Brunette #1 seemed to be considered somewhat of a leader for the remaining people. For when the "chosen ones"— plus the newcomers to the room— left, not one of them seemed to attempt chasing after them. They probably wouldn't unless the order was given. Funny enough, said guy, who was supposed to lead them and such, was still trying to catch his breath. Leonidas almost laughed at the sight.

He'd give them 3 minutes, tops.