Disclaimer: I don't own Utena, Ikuhara and Be-Papas do.
The tower rood held only two occupants: the witch who called herself Catherine and her brother. Foreign royalty from exotic lands, they called themselves. Her beauty enchanted lord and knight. He charmed everyone, from serving girl to queen. This dark age, so devoid of truth of any kind, was perfect for their plans. Inside the dimly lit tower, they talked, and conversations in the shadows are rarely pleasant.
"You're leaving me again?"
"Only for a little while, princess."
"I'm no princess. If I was a princess, you wouldn't be leaving."
"It's not that, love. You can't give me everything."
Catherine lowered her head, green eyes downcast. "You're going to be with one of them again. Who is she this time? The scullery maid? The duchess? I'm not foolish. I know what you do with them. I do the same with the men. But you enjoy it. What do they give you? Why do you want them? Why would you spend time with those pitiful pawns?" Catherine was practically shouting now, on the brink of tears. She hated herself for losing control, but she hated his leaving more.
"You don't have to understand, Catherine." His tone was sharper now, with a commanding edge to it. "You just have to do your duty."
The pain in her eyes was apparent, and she cursed herself. "Someday, no one will know when they hurt me," she swore. But she knew, no matter how good her mask, no matter how many idiots thought she loved them, she would never be able to fool him… not completely, anyway. However, she had the same kind of power over him. Perhaps that was why he intentionally hurt her, because it made him angry. Catherine knew how her brother hated to lose control.
It didn't matter, though. Control, power, pain: none of it mattered. He loved her just as much, if not more than, she loved him. And love him she did. He was her life. He was her morning and evening star, and she would not let him leave her.
Almost before she knew what she was doing, she had wrapped her arms around him and pulled his lips down to hers.
"They are nothing compared to me!" Her voice was a throaty whisper. "I will give everything they can." She moved his hand down to her breast. "I will give you so much more." She moved his other hand lower.
The lamps in the room went out. Extinguished by a wind that was not there.
Her brother did not leave her that night.
Author's Notes: I must say I'm not sure about this piece. I'm satisfied with the writing, but not with the setting. When I started this it was set in the middle east during biblical times. Now I think ancient Egypt would have been best. The problem with writing "before Ohtori" fics with Akio and Anthy is that we don't know how old they are, or how far their relationship and schemes had gone at any given time.
The tower rood held only two occupants: the witch who called herself Catherine and her brother. Foreign royalty from exotic lands, they called themselves. Her beauty enchanted lord and knight. He charmed everyone, from serving girl to queen. This dark age, so devoid of truth of any kind, was perfect for their plans. Inside the dimly lit tower, they talked, and conversations in the shadows are rarely pleasant.
"You're leaving me again?"
"Only for a little while, princess."
"I'm no princess. If I was a princess, you wouldn't be leaving."
"It's not that, love. You can't give me everything."
Catherine lowered her head, green eyes downcast. "You're going to be with one of them again. Who is she this time? The scullery maid? The duchess? I'm not foolish. I know what you do with them. I do the same with the men. But you enjoy it. What do they give you? Why do you want them? Why would you spend time with those pitiful pawns?" Catherine was practically shouting now, on the brink of tears. She hated herself for losing control, but she hated his leaving more.
"You don't have to understand, Catherine." His tone was sharper now, with a commanding edge to it. "You just have to do your duty."
The pain in her eyes was apparent, and she cursed herself. "Someday, no one will know when they hurt me," she swore. But she knew, no matter how good her mask, no matter how many idiots thought she loved them, she would never be able to fool him… not completely, anyway. However, she had the same kind of power over him. Perhaps that was why he intentionally hurt her, because it made him angry. Catherine knew how her brother hated to lose control.
It didn't matter, though. Control, power, pain: none of it mattered. He loved her just as much, if not more than, she loved him. And love him she did. He was her life. He was her morning and evening star, and she would not let him leave her.
Almost before she knew what she was doing, she had wrapped her arms around him and pulled his lips down to hers.
"They are nothing compared to me!" Her voice was a throaty whisper. "I will give everything they can." She moved his hand down to her breast. "I will give you so much more." She moved his other hand lower.
The lamps in the room went out. Extinguished by a wind that was not there.
Her brother did not leave her that night.
Author's Notes: I must say I'm not sure about this piece. I'm satisfied with the writing, but not with the setting. When I started this it was set in the middle east during biblical times. Now I think ancient Egypt would have been best. The problem with writing "before Ohtori" fics with Akio and Anthy is that we don't know how old they are, or how far their relationship and schemes had gone at any given time.