For Something Different

Walking. Up the winding stairs. Not thinking straight. Feeling disconnected. Numb. Perhaps my head isn't meant to have that many consciousnesses in it. A laugh escapes my throat. Not feeling well. Hysterical. Cold. Pull my hood closer. A cold draft of air. The opening is close. Wait. If there is wind, the door must be open. I lift Aida up in my left hand and Utrennyaya on my right. The grip feels right. I edge around the corner. The door is... closed? Then where is the air coming from? Go forward. Feel around. The air just seems to come from the door. Odd. Shrug. Open the door. Into the store. Look around. The curtains are closed. Jack. He is lying back on a chair and talking to the air. Weird. He sees me and jerks. He stares at me. Do I look different?
"Hello Jack." The words are like heavy lead, falling from my mouth. My body doesn't respond as fast as it did.
"Hi. I take it that you know about Alice?" He asks awkwardly.
"Yes. Where is she?"
"She... Is currently out. You won't be able to find her. It's best to wait." He takes a butterfly knife out from his pocket and smoothly flips it open. I want to laugh. The weapon looks horribly inadequate as compared to Aida and my trusty morningstar.
"Don't try to stop me Jack, you'll just get yourself hurt."
And Jack laughs. He laughs, a laugh so full of irony and hurt and bitterness directed at nobody and everybody that I am compelled to weep.
"Hurt? You don't know what hurt is. You don't know what hurt is and you never will, you noble-born."
Wait, why's the kid pissed about you being a noble?
People hold grudges for various reasons?
I think he's simply stating the obvious. You will never know his pain on account of your bloodline status.
Oh.
Funny.
I stare at his outstretched arm, knife pointing towards me. It is covered in scars, something I have never noticed before. The scars are in some sort of intricate pattern and I remember the time Alice told me that Jack is extremely proficient in rune magics-
Hit the deck!
Libys' warning is too late as the scars winding around his hand glow bright cyan and unleashes a crackling discharge which hits me with incredible force. I am not hurt. I do not feel any hurt. But... I cannot move.
Aw hell, immobilisation. Feeling pretty helpless yet?
Jack sighs, all traces of anger melting away. "I'm sorry Raewyn. You've always treated me better." He grabs my arms and proceeds to drag me over to a chair. "Just wait, okay? Just wait till Alice gets back."
He sets me on the chair gently and goes back to his seat. I can barely make out his words.
"Sorry you had to see that. Yeah, I know, but at least I wasn't rough with her. Please, I do mean what I said to her. Can we please not argue? You're the only one who listens to me. Yeah, ironic, isn't it?"
I do not understand his words, nor do I know who he is talking to. All I know is that Aida has managed to break through several key points of his magic and is attempting to cut through the rest. Libys remains quiet.
"What... What are you talking to?" I manage to croak out, my vocal components straining against the magic.
Jack looks over. He doesn't look too surprised that I've broken through the bonds. He probably suspects Libys. He gives a sad, tired smile.
"I hear things, you know? I hear..." He trails off into silence.
Funny. I also hear things. I hear voices in my head. Annoying voices. I don't move, even though the magic is completely broken through. He is still staring at me as though I have changed outwardly. The door opens and Jack comes through. Wait a minute... Jack?
Jack walks forward. I am confused. Is not he sitting right ther- Oh. Alice. I can sense Libys rolling his eyes at me mentally.
Jack-Alice closes the door and sees me sitting there, legs crossed. Her features melt and change. She morphs into the Alice I've known for ages. She looks at me oddly. The little, innocent, angelic girl. That sadistic bitch who tried to kill me just now.
"Alice. What. The. Hell. First you try to kill me, then you throw me this sword and screw up my head. What is wrong with you?" I almost shout.
She is calm, inordinately so. I suppose seeing someone half-crazed wielding a sword and a morningstar shouting at you doesn't have much effect. I feel a laugh bubbling up again and I force it down. I am definitely not well.
In that lilting voice that is just wrong when paired with such a cruel mind, she says, "It was in your best interests in giving you the sword. However, I didn't expect any problems with the bonding. I take it that there are three sentiences within your body. You, Libys and the sword."
"Yeah, don't you think that might just be a little too much?"
"Perhaps." She concedes smoothly and continues staring again. What is wrong with me?
"That's it? That's your response? Perhaps?" I stab Aida into the ground and use my free hand to cast a spell. Hasty, uncalled for and utterly rude. Libys would be proud. Oh, and he is. Alice just watches as a moment later a fireball flies towards her. Of course it doesn't affect her. She would obviously have spellshields more than able to deal with such weak spells. It just splashes against empty air several inches away from her.
"I gave you all the answers you want. What more do I have to say?"
And she is right. I'm irrational. I just want to hurt her.
"Why do you stare at me like that?"
Her answer is simple, one word. "Look." I look down to where she points, my collarbone. I scream.