FMA Fic: "Lines Drawn" 1/1
Title: Lines Drawn
Author: evil_little_dog
Rating: Teenish
Disclaimer: Arakawa and I are just like sisters!...Not.
Prompt: Choose your own. I chose Alternate Universe.
Summary: Their mother died. Alphonse is missing. Edward's skills at sorcery could come in handy...if he could just get his demon to cooperate with him.
X X X
This, Edward thought, this would do it. His studies had led him up to this moment, when he attempted - no, when he called a demon forth. The ingredients for the spell bubbled and hissed in the brazier, the drifting smoke not unpleasant, even though it seemed thicker than regular smoke; not quite as airy. Edward had taken his time drawing the chalk lines, inscribing the circle for holding the demon with warding symbols. It wasn't just Alphonse's life on the line but his own. There were too many tales of wizards and sorcerors forgetting one mark and being destroyed by the demons they'd hope to control. Even though he trembled with hunger - when had he eaten last? No matter - and exhaustion - sleep could wait until the demon answered his call - the lines of his circle and symbols ran true.
Dusting his hands clean on the thighs of his pants legs, Edward turned his attention to the next step. Incantations were always tricky and the last time he'd attempted one...Edward squeezed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, warding off the emotions threatening to swamp him. He couldn't think on Alphonse now. The distraction could be enough to throw him off and either lessen his chance at calling the demon or worse, offer too much and the demon use that against him.
He stepped into his own warded circle, created as a second barricade against the demon. The scroll rested on a narrow lectern, barely large enough to hold the parchment. Edward read the incantation over to himself, blinking his eyes to clear them as he tasted the words on his tongue without speaking them aloud. Each word, no, each syllable had its own place in this spell. He'd memorized it almost six months ago in preparation to this day but still planned on reading from the scroll.
The thick smoke created a dark grey fog which rose to nearly Edward's ankles. It didn't quite obscure the circle laid out in the center of the room. Edward knew he had to speak now, before the lines were obliterated by the smog. He forced a cough to clear his throat then raised the scroll in front of him.
The words all but glittered on the parchment. Edward took a deep breath and began to read out loud. At the first sentence, the room changed. It went from being a gloomy, dank place to something alert and watching. Edward felt prickles on the back of his neck, realizing he was what was being watched. The words rolled out of his mouth like soldiers marching to war and he wondered if they used him or he spoke them. The thought that he couldn't stop reciting the spell crossed his mind.
The smoke began to coalesce, gathering around the edges of the warded circle. It built a wall just at the edge of the chalk line, rising like a towering cloud on a warm summer day. Edward felt the last words of the spell wriggling up through his throat, darting over his tongue, and leaping from his lips. The final syllable clung to the room, growing louder, like the sonorous call of a bell. It seemed to ring into the farthest corners and down to the cracks in the floor, lingering for far longer than normal.
Then the smoke jerked.
Edward snapped his mouth shut. The smoke reminded him of a dressing screen. He could see shadows behind it but nothing very clearly. An impression of wings flitted behind the smoke, a body of great strength turned slowly as if to give him a glimpse of what he wanted to see. Strength, yes, he'd asked for that and more, knowing how difficult it would be go to Below to Death's Kingdom to rescue his brother's soul.
The smoke jerked again, folding close around the figure hidden within it. Edward craned his body, trying to get a better view but loathe to leave his own protective circle. The awful ringing sound increased to nearly a scream, the sound of it seemed to pierced Edward's brain. He kept hold of the lectern to keep from falling out of his circle. Wind rose out of nowhere, whipping the smoke around and tearing books and light-weight objects from their shelves. The wind brought with it the sharp, clear scent of ozone and flashes, like lightning bolts erupting out of it. A bolt sizzled past Edward's nose, making him grunt in shock.
A roll of thunder grumbled lazily around the room and Edward realized he'd looked away from the other circle. He focused on it, watching as the smoke pooled and eddied with the force of the wind, suddenly swirling away, leaving something within the circle.
The demon stretched its wings, spreading them outside the wards though it didn't move beyond those chalk lines. Its back was to Edward when it asked, "Who called my name?"
Edward tried to work up some moisture in his mouth, managing to squeak out, "I did."
Turning slowly, the demon kept its wings unfurled, opening its arms away from its body. Her body, Edward realized, dropping his gaze immediately then forcing his eyes up again. He could ignore the nudity - he could - and focus on the demon's face.
It was an open face, curious, like that of a young woman's. A pretty young woman, a traitorous part of his brain advised him. Edward tried to ignore that. He made himself notice the horns blooming from between the strands of her hair, the sharp teeth which couldn't be hidden. The tail, with its sharp club at the end of it. "Did you call me?" she asked.
"I called the strongest demon," Edward said, keeping his voice stiff.
"Mm." She smiled, and it almost seemed normal. "I am the strongest demon!" She laid her hand upon her breast in emphasis.
"You're a girl!"
Her smile faded into a frown. "Female," she said in correction, "as you are a male."
Edward was all too aware of that. "Can you...gah! Cover up! Fold your wings!" She snorted but obeyed, wrapping her wings around her body, effectively hiding it from his eyes. "Thanks." Edward said it before he realized and the demon's eyes brightened. He had to gain control, and soon. "Your name! What is it?"
"Winry," she said and Edward knew she didn't lie, even if there was always a chance a demon might. This was indeed her name. "And you called me for a reason."
"Yeah." Edward met her eyes this time, wondering at both how similar and how unusual her eyes were - blue was a common enough color, but gleaming like a fire, no. Mentally shaking his head, Edward said, "My brother is Below, in Death's Kingdom."
"The dead can't return to the lands of the living," the demon, Winry, said.
Edward smiled, as if he'd placed a long bet and managed to win it. "Al's not dead. He's alive. And you, Winry, are going to help me bring him home."
Her eyes widened then narrowed sharply. Edward saw the tip of her tongue pass over her mouth. "I will help you," she said, as if she had any choice.
Edward left his warded circle, crossing the room to the one holding Winry captive. He offered her his hand as he smudged one of the lines with the toe of his shoe. Winry's hand tightened around Edward's, hard as horn and hot as a fever. Edward endured her show of strength, growling at her and showing his teeth. "You said you'd help me."
Winry made a noncommittal hum but released his hand. "You are exhausted. You should rest."
"When we find Al."
She sighed at the firm tone of his voice. "I can search for him without your help."
Author: evil_little_dog
Rating: Teenish
Disclaimer: Arakawa and I are just like sisters!...Not.
Prompt: Choose your own. I chose Alternate Universe.
Summary: Their mother died. Alphonse is missing. Edward's skills at sorcery could come in handy...if he could just get his demon to cooperate with him.
X X X
This, Edward thought, this would do it. His studies had led him up to this moment, when he attempted - no, when he called a demon forth. The ingredients for the spell bubbled and hissed in the brazier, the drifting smoke not unpleasant, even though it seemed thicker than regular smoke; not quite as airy. Edward had taken his time drawing the chalk lines, inscribing the circle for holding the demon with warding symbols. It wasn't just Alphonse's life on the line but his own. There were too many tales of wizards and sorcerors forgetting one mark and being destroyed by the demons they'd hope to control. Even though he trembled with hunger - when had he eaten last? No matter - and exhaustion - sleep could wait until the demon answered his call - the lines of his circle and symbols ran true.
Dusting his hands clean on the thighs of his pants legs, Edward turned his attention to the next step. Incantations were always tricky and the last time he'd attempted one...Edward squeezed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, warding off the emotions threatening to swamp him. He couldn't think on Alphonse now. The distraction could be enough to throw him off and either lessen his chance at calling the demon or worse, offer too much and the demon use that against him.
He stepped into his own warded circle, created as a second barricade against the demon. The scroll rested on a narrow lectern, barely large enough to hold the parchment. Edward read the incantation over to himself, blinking his eyes to clear them as he tasted the words on his tongue without speaking them aloud. Each word, no, each syllable had its own place in this spell. He'd memorized it almost six months ago in preparation to this day but still planned on reading from the scroll.
The thick smoke created a dark grey fog which rose to nearly Edward's ankles. It didn't quite obscure the circle laid out in the center of the room. Edward knew he had to speak now, before the lines were obliterated by the smog. He forced a cough to clear his throat then raised the scroll in front of him.
The words all but glittered on the parchment. Edward took a deep breath and began to read out loud. At the first sentence, the room changed. It went from being a gloomy, dank place to something alert and watching. Edward felt prickles on the back of his neck, realizing he was what was being watched. The words rolled out of his mouth like soldiers marching to war and he wondered if they used him or he spoke them. The thought that he couldn't stop reciting the spell crossed his mind.
The smoke began to coalesce, gathering around the edges of the warded circle. It built a wall just at the edge of the chalk line, rising like a towering cloud on a warm summer day. Edward felt the last words of the spell wriggling up through his throat, darting over his tongue, and leaping from his lips. The final syllable clung to the room, growing louder, like the sonorous call of a bell. It seemed to ring into the farthest corners and down to the cracks in the floor, lingering for far longer than normal.
Then the smoke jerked.
Edward snapped his mouth shut. The smoke reminded him of a dressing screen. He could see shadows behind it but nothing very clearly. An impression of wings flitted behind the smoke, a body of great strength turned slowly as if to give him a glimpse of what he wanted to see. Strength, yes, he'd asked for that and more, knowing how difficult it would be go to Below to Death's Kingdom to rescue his brother's soul.
The smoke jerked again, folding close around the figure hidden within it. Edward craned his body, trying to get a better view but loathe to leave his own protective circle. The awful ringing sound increased to nearly a scream, the sound of it seemed to pierced Edward's brain. He kept hold of the lectern to keep from falling out of his circle. Wind rose out of nowhere, whipping the smoke around and tearing books and light-weight objects from their shelves. The wind brought with it the sharp, clear scent of ozone and flashes, like lightning bolts erupting out of it. A bolt sizzled past Edward's nose, making him grunt in shock.
A roll of thunder grumbled lazily around the room and Edward realized he'd looked away from the other circle. He focused on it, watching as the smoke pooled and eddied with the force of the wind, suddenly swirling away, leaving something within the circle.
The demon stretched its wings, spreading them outside the wards though it didn't move beyond those chalk lines. Its back was to Edward when it asked, "Who called my name?"
Edward tried to work up some moisture in his mouth, managing to squeak out, "I did."
Turning slowly, the demon kept its wings unfurled, opening its arms away from its body. Her body, Edward realized, dropping his gaze immediately then forcing his eyes up again. He could ignore the nudity - he could - and focus on the demon's face.
It was an open face, curious, like that of a young woman's. A pretty young woman, a traitorous part of his brain advised him. Edward tried to ignore that. He made himself notice the horns blooming from between the strands of her hair, the sharp teeth which couldn't be hidden. The tail, with its sharp club at the end of it. "Did you call me?" she asked.
"I called the strongest demon," Edward said, keeping his voice stiff.
"Mm." She smiled, and it almost seemed normal. "I am the strongest demon!" She laid her hand upon her breast in emphasis.
"You're a girl!"
Her smile faded into a frown. "Female," she said in correction, "as you are a male."
Edward was all too aware of that. "Can you...gah! Cover up! Fold your wings!" She snorted but obeyed, wrapping her wings around her body, effectively hiding it from his eyes. "Thanks." Edward said it before he realized and the demon's eyes brightened. He had to gain control, and soon. "Your name! What is it?"
"Winry," she said and Edward knew she didn't lie, even if there was always a chance a demon might. This was indeed her name. "And you called me for a reason."
"Yeah." Edward met her eyes this time, wondering at both how similar and how unusual her eyes were - blue was a common enough color, but gleaming like a fire, no. Mentally shaking his head, Edward said, "My brother is Below, in Death's Kingdom."
"The dead can't return to the lands of the living," the demon, Winry, said.
Edward smiled, as if he'd placed a long bet and managed to win it. "Al's not dead. He's alive. And you, Winry, are going to help me bring him home."
Her eyes widened then narrowed sharply. Edward saw the tip of her tongue pass over her mouth. "I will help you," she said, as if she had any choice.
Edward left his warded circle, crossing the room to the one holding Winry captive. He offered her his hand as he smudged one of the lines with the toe of his shoe. Winry's hand tightened around Edward's, hard as horn and hot as a fever. Edward endured her show of strength, growling at her and showing his teeth. "You said you'd help me."
Winry made a noncommittal hum but released his hand. "You are exhausted. You should rest."
"When we find Al."
She sighed at the firm tone of his voice. "I can search for him without your help."