My love, Broken and Twisted (Tyki Mikk)

Chapter 29

"Please just take the money and drive..." Tyki snapped at the carriage driver, who had been trying to make idol chit chat about the craftsmanship of the Noah's attire. He usually bit his tongue in this sort of situation, he was expected to keep up his family's reputation wherever he went, but it had been four full days, he couldn't find her and his patience was short. "... I'm sorry Sir, where is it you wanted to go?" The driver frowned, peering into the small sac of coin Tyki had placed in his hand. "As far north up the road as you can take me." Tyki replied, he had been trying to track Shaun by sensing her telepathically, like all the Noah can do with the other akuma. He knew vaguely which way she had gone, but he couldn't seem to get close enough to communicate with her. Using the connection between Noah and akuma Tyki was trying speak to her through her thoughts, he knew she was going to hate that but for right now... he had a mess to fix. I promise love... I promise you it's not too late... "Hmm." The driver scoffed, "Might not get ya that far on just this." He sighed opening the carriage door and urging the well-dressed Noah inside. Tyki gave him a curt nod as he ducked his head and entered, he hadn't much money left to spend, he was running low since for obvious reasons he had gotten none from the Earl before leaving this time, and he had given the driver all the hard cash he had left. Sitting back on the plush velvety bench he stared blankly at the opposite seat, dim blue light spilling in from the side window was painting it a soft purple colour. He wondered whether he would be able to go back to his family again, someone would be sent after him that's for sure, he was genuinely surprised he hadn't seen any Noah yet, but he couldn't help but ask himself what he was going to do when he did find her. Run maybe. Fast and far away. He grit his teeth, her broken bloodied body flashing in his memory, reminding him of what might happen if she gets caught again. He couldn't lose her again, not twice... not after what he did to get her back. What he had done to her... her tormented soul ripped back from the void and out of deaths firm jaws only to be dragged back into more pain... what had he done to her? It was a pain he selfishly caused, but still would give his whole world to take away. The Noah smirked to himself, it almost amused him how devoted he was to Shaun, how much he needed her. After countless women tossed aside like toys he had gotten bored of playing with, a few months go by and he's ready to give up everything for just one. Reaching up a gloved hand he fussed with the rim of his hat until the shadow shrouded his eyes from the waning light. Tyki sunk further back into the cushion, truly hoping to whatever god that might be looking down on him, that she would forgive him. He had to keep trying to reach her, whether she wanted to see him or not, but even just within your own mind repeating the words 'Shaun! Love! Can you hear me!' gets mind numbingly boring. Glancing down under the seat opposite he noticed a discarded newsprint, stooping low to pick it up he flipped through a few pages, his eye caught by a name in bold text. "Edgar... Allan Poe...?" He muttered to himself, Maybe if I just read this in my head for a while...

~ ~ ~

"I DON'T GIVE A JOLLY FUCK IF IT'S THE SAME KIND OF FRUIT!" Shaun snarled, "THIS IS A FUCKING. LIME. NOT AN ORANGE. DID I ASK FOR A LIME? NO. SO WHY THE FUCK. DO I HAVE ONE." The furious blonde crushed the innocent green fruit in her fist, juices flying in all directions. "I uhh I-I-I'm sorry ma'am-" The bartender cowered, "- but we're all o-out of-" "Save it." Shaun interrupted him, aggressively throwing down a generous amount of coin, then she smiled, but not sweetly, the kind of threatening smile that says 'cross me and get your throat stepped on'. "Then why didn't you just ask me... to wait while you go to the market... and get some more." She panted, the man blinked at the money, "I uhh-" "If it's not in my room in twenty minutes I'm going to burn the place to the ground... but thanks... for the chicken I mean..." With that she scooped up her plate and left, returning to her room in complete indifference of the six or seven people staring at her in shock. She was almost surprised at herself a little bit, she did nearly rip a man's head off because he gave her a lime. Whatever... She thought as she turned the door handle to her room and stepped inside. Shaun finished up the food she had and let out a sigh, Guess I won't be staying here for much longer after that... Shaun tenderly rubbed at her temples, she felt light headed, nauseous, and not to mention bloated as hell, she didn't even eat that much. With a groan the blonde picked her scythe up off of the wall and pressed its cool metal to her forehead. Why do I feel so horrible right now... Shaun supposed whatever it was might have been why she screamed at the poor bartender, she decided to apologize... when he came back with her oranges of course... Shaun used her weapon as an oversized cane, hauling herself up with it she headed to the bathroom to inspect her newest scar.

The large vanity mirror took up most of the wall from the counter to the ceiling, it was a little unkempt with a few large cracks near the bottom corner, adding to the overall disheveled atmosphere of the place. Shaun stripped off her shirt and bra, inspecting her bare skin in the reflection. Running her fingers along the prominent scar that marked her chest as well as her left breast she frowned, "Bastard..." She pouted, "That was a beautiful boob..." Then out of pure curiosity, Shaun allowed her skin to darken. "Oh for..." She cursed under her breath, even in her akuma form the jagged mark remained. Her eyes traveled around her marred torso, lingering on each wound and the frightening memories attached to them. She remembered telling Tyki, a few nights after they met, how unashamed she was about the scars on her hands. How she wasn't perfect, and wouldn't hide. Shaun let her akuma form take over, staring at the winged girl with wild ebony black hair and soulless black eyes. Staring at herself. For the first time she wondered, truthfully scared to know if he could still love someone so broken. Even if it was his fault she was like this... well more or less... within seconds she was back to her normal appearance, still not wearing a shirt mind you. She turned to the side to snatch up the crumpled ball of shirt she had tossed off earlier, and noticed out of the corner of her eye that her stomach wasn't exactly flat like usual. This put her off a little, it wasn't like shed been letting herself go so why- "Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer-" A voice, growing clearer with each word began to dominate her mind, "What the hell?" "Sir,' said I, 'or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping-" Shaun's face twisted in confusion, it sounded like Tyki! But what in the name of fuck was he babbling on about, it sounded fucking ridiculous! And why could she hear it? What the fuck is happening!? Quickly dressing, Shaun seriously considered for a moment how possible it was that something in her head had finally snapped, flown over the coo coo's nest so to speak. "Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;" Shaun let out a breathy laugh, getting more flustered with each passing line, "Tyki?" She spoke out loud shaking her head. Shaun hadn't expected any sort of response but much to her surprise, she got one. Tyki's echoed voice paused for a long moment while Shaun stood in silence, "Love?" The girl's brow furrowed, eyes wandering around the small room, half expecting the bastard to phase through the wall. "Yeeeaaas?" She blinked, which was answered with a hearty chuckle from the Noah, one that would in any other circumstance make her shiver. This time though it simply pissed her off. Crossing her arms tight over her chest she sneered, "I don't know what's going on right now but you can obviously hear me." The false silvery blue of her eyes flashed, her pupils narrowing into cat like slits, the dark matter's doing, she didn't really notice. "Tell me where you are, you can give me hell when I get there." Tyki laughed, indifferent to her clearly threatening tone, the Noah felt like the world had lifted off his shoulders just hearing her voice. "One... if you don't explain why your voice is in my head in the next thirty seconds you'll get the butt end of my scythe shoved up your ass... two what the actual fuck were you just talking about with the mortal... dreaming... napping bullshit and three..." She paused for a moment, curling her hands into fists. "Three... I'm at eighty two Winchester Avenue, Battle Mare Tavern room seven, it's been four days come get me I've been scared to death..." The last bit came out as more of a whimper, completely trampling on her attempt to stay composed. "It will make more sense if I explain it when I get there..." Tyki soothed, Shaun quietly pouted, angry that she had sounded so weak but overjoyed at the notion of seeing him again with the promise of less pain and death than their last encounter. "...Oh and Shaun love..." The blonde perked up a little, but still didn't reply. "... poetry... it was poetry... perhaps you should put down the weapon and read a book once in a while." A tiny smile ever so slightly played onto her lips, "You're one to talk..." She murmured softly.

~ ~ ~

The Noah shook his head and grinned, leaning forward he shouted for the driver's attention through the small window at the front of the cab. "Yes good Sir!?" He yelled back over the constant trot of the single black horse pulling them along, and the white noise of the crowded street. "How far are we from Winchester Avenue!?" The man flicked the reins of his animal and glanced over his shoulder at the Noah, "Not too far off now!" He replied, Tyki let out a small sigh of relief. "Good, I trust you know the way then!?" The driver laughed and tipped his hat, returning his eyes to the road. "That I do sir!"