Chapter 16

They went back to the Sanctuary to drop everyone off, Chione got her body fixed up, as did Dexter, then Tanith and Skulduggery took her back to her apartment. It was still in one piece except her beautiful dress that Star burned. Tanith came in after her s she had something to get from the car. She brought in a Lipsy London bag and placed in on the couch next to her.
"Been shopping again Tanith?" Chione asked.
"Yep, and I think you'll like it, Take a look." She looked inside and pulled out the same dress that she had bought 3 days ago. But this time it wasn't black, it was royal Blue, like Mithria would wear...
You'll look beautiful in it, when is the dance? 4 days right?
Chione gasped. "I don't know how to dance...what about the ball...it's in 4 days...."
Tanith thought for a minute "you're right. Dexter is a good dancer, want me to ask him to teach you?"
Chione blushed "No, that's fine, i'll find someone else."
Tanith laughed. "Chione, we all know you and Dexter like each other."
"That obvious huh?"
"As plain as a sheet of paper," Tanith smirked, "I know someone else. I'll ask him to start teaching you tomorrow."
"Oh thank you Tanith!" Chione gleamed.
"You're welcome. Have fun in your new apartment."
"I will, thanks again!" She shouted as Tanith walked out.
"I wonder who the teacher is going to be..." She lay back on the couch and watched some TV then got hungry after a few hours.
"Better go look around the area for some shops..."
She got up and looked down, she was still wearing her bloody dress. She sighed and went into the bathroom to have a shower. She got in and turned the water on. Her body tingled as the water hit her body.
That feels good, Sister.
"You can feel?"
Yes, it is water, it is a part of me and now it is also part of you. You might want to try your new powers.
"I don't think I should do it in a confined space Mithria...I might break something..."
Ah, good point. You know where I learned?
"Where?"
The lake round the back of the old house.
"Oh, that is a good place...but it's too far to walk without everyone find out I'm training my new powers..."
Why wouldn't you want them to know?
"They might be scared I'm getting too powerful."
Not if they're on your side.
"Mithria please...I just don't want to...I'll find a local pond or something out of the way."
Alright, whatever floats your boat.
Chione Laughed
What?
"Boat joke, really?"
Too much?
"Just a tad"
Sorry, i'll leave you for now
She washed her hair  then got out and got dried. She looked in her wardrobe to see what to wear. She pulled out a pair of Black jeans, a silver top with wavy straps and a low back and her leather jacket. She pulled everything on, stuck on her knee-high boots and went out. She walked around and found a street of shops. She went into the local store and bought herself some pasta, a box of cereal, milk, crisps, tomato sauce and a loaf of bread and butter. She walked out with 2 bags and started looking around for a pond or lake. There was a big hill behind her block of appartments so she climbed up to take a look and she laughed at the ironic discovery. There was a reservoir right behind her house. This must be on the very edge of the city. She looked at the water and it sparkled, even in Winter. She would start her training tomorrow after her dance lessons with this mystery man. She went back to the house, put the food away except the pasta and sauce and made herself some dinner. She crossed her legs and sat there, Just watching TV, enjoying her new life. It got boring really quickly though. She changed to laying on her stomach and onto her back until she dozed off. It was lonely being in an apartment by yourself.

Dexter went back to his fancy apartment in the centre of Dublin. He didn't mind the noise of the cars that much, he was rarely in the apartment because he was always working on something or traveling somewhere. He stripped off and went in for a shower. He was an idiot. He was moving way too fast for his feet to catch him if he fell. He loved Chione, he knew that much, but they only met 3 days ago...So much has happened these last 3 days that he couldn't get his head around. He knew one thing: He had to back off for a little while. She just lost her little sister. She needed friends to comfort her, something to keep her mind off her family. She didn't need a relationship. She didn't need him. He got out of the shower and dried off. He looked at the time. 6.43pm. He wasn't hungry. He pulled on a pair of jeans and a short sleeved top and his army jacket an went out for a walk. The air was getting colder and colder. He rubbed his hands together to warm them up as he walked along the bright street. He shoved them into his pockets and headed to the river bank. When he got there he sat on the grass and watched the water glisten. He didn't know how long he spent there but it was night when a voice called him out.
"Dexter," he gave a little laugh, "Thought you would be here."
Dexter remained there, eyes fixed on the water, when Saracen walked over and sat beside him.
"How long have you been here?" He asked
"Since around 7, what time is it?" Dexter replied
"Dex it's 11:25, you've been sitting here for over 4 hours, come on."
Dexter shrugged him off "It's a good pass time", After all, it gets lonely living in an apartment by yourself.

SP fanfic Chapter 15

When morning came, Skulduggery woke Valkyrie and started to walk out. The door was flung open and a girl came running out.
"Valkyrie! Skulduggery!" The girl said.
They reached her and she was about to hug Valkyrie but stopped.
"Ch-chione...?" Valkyrie peered at her.
Chione felt her torn face and gasped.
"Sorry, i forgot." She said.
"What did they do to you...?" Valkyrie hugged her softly so she didn't hurt her.
"It's ok, Star had a change of heart, Mithria convinced her."
"But look what they did..."
"I'm fine Valkyrie, really, it's just a little nippy now."
The others emerged from the tree line. Dexter walked towards her, horrifed. She walked towards him as Star came out with September and shot him from behind.
"Dexter!" Chione screamed. She ran towards him as they continued to shoot, he cried out. She reached him and brought up a wall of ice. She took him into her arms.
"What did they do to your beautiful face...?" he asked weakly and stroked her hair.
"It doesn't matter...i need to get you out of here." She helped him up and he shot fire from behind the wall as she fired spears of ice from the other side, still trying to hold him up. She made a ledge next to him so her could hold onto it so she could concentrate on shooting her sisters. Star fired straight at the wall, ignoring them, beginning to melt the ice. September fired at both Chione and Dexter. Skulduggery and Valkyrie joined in, shooting fireballs back at them. Tanith, Anton and Saracen made their way up to the door and started fighting them up close.
"Mithria get out here!" Star called.
Mithria appeared behind them and sent the three of them into the wall of ice with a wave of water. She gave a quick smile to Dexter and Chione before getting back to helping her other sisters.
"Don't kill Mithria please" Chione said to them, "she's on our side, she's just scared of them."
"We'll kill her if she attacks us porperly." Tanith said.
"Fine" Sighed Chione, knowing that was the best she was going to get from Tanith.
Tanith nodded and went back to fighting Star and September. Mithria stayed back, staring at her sister and the man she loved. She gave a little smile and nodded to herself. She sent another wave, this time keeping it steady. She kept Star and September pinned up against the ice wall as Dexter and Chione were sprayed with water.
"M-mithria" Blubbered Star as she was drowning. Sweat trickled down her forehead as the force of her magic was weakening her. Chione realised this and stood up from her crouching position behind the wall. If she helped she would just freeze them, they wouldn't die. Star would set them free after a while. Mithria was growing paler. She looked at Dexter and he saw the pain of her expression as she knew what would happen if she kept this up. Dexter got up and walked to her. He put his hand in hers as she stood still.
"Pull her away, i'll make sure Star and September don't go anywhere." He said calmly. But it was too late. Mithria dropped to the ground and the water wave stopped. Star and September were gasping for air on the ground as Dexter and Chione ran over to Mithria.
"Mithria?" Chione asked as she picked her little sister up. A moan escaped her lips. Relief flooded through Chione and she held her close. A scream. A sound of fire. A cloud of black. The smell of burning. When Chione looked down again the body of Mithria was gone. She was now kneeling in a puddle of water. Grief struck her, the water pulsing underneath her. Dexter pulled her close and held her as she cried.
"I'm so sorry...I couldn't do anything" He whispered into her hair and kissed her forehead.

Sister, just because my body is gone does not mean that I am dead.

Chione gasped and pulled away from Dexter wide-eyed, A tear fell into the puddle and it rippled. The water began traveling up her body and under her skin.
We have joined together sister. I will always be here when you need me. Farewell for now.
Chione got up, smiling then turned towards Star and September who were staring at her.
"This is for Mithria." Chione spread her arms wide and a Tsunami toppled ontop of them and froze. The water tainted red as there was hidden blades of ice that were now frozen inside her sisters.
Dexter stood gaping at her new powers and she blushed.
"That'll keep them for at most a year. A few months at least." She said
Skulduggery and the rest just sat on the porch watching from when Mithria burst into a pool. Skulduggery got up.
"I guess we can go home now." He said.
"Yes, I'm so sorry for the trouble I've caused."
Valkyrie stood and hugged her. "Sorry about Mithria, Chione. But you haven't bee trouble at all, not for me anyway. I have a new friend thanks to you." She smiled up at her.
Valkyrie was right, now Chione had new friends too. No, not new...there were her first real friends and she intended to keep them.