This is just a what if story. If you don't like it, I suggest you stop reading after this chapter. Good luck, though. No one seems to be writing anything new in this category. Guess it's up to me. Oh and flames will be laughed at.
Samanda
Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Game. Judal-sama does.
The Flower Maiden
Chapter One: To Be Free
Written By:
Samanda Hime-sama
I've sent everyone away.
I told them that I was tired and I needed to think. So I sent them all to their beds, all those that would go anyways. The few that remained were on the other side of the door. I kicked them out when it became obvious that they would not go themselves.
And now I am here as alone as I can be. Duzie is lounging on my bed next to me. I'm not looking at him but I can feel his gaze on me. He's worried but there's nothing more either of us can do.
All the arguments were exhausted and all the tricks we pulled had no effect. There was no way out of this mess that my big mouth had gotten me into. Now there was only one thing left to do and that is to face the music.
But what I had been forced into was life altering, even for a princess like me. I'm not ready for this! I consider tomorrow to be the end of my life instead of a change.
When I thought about marriage; I imagined Darres as my husband. I imagined a fairytale wedding that ended with both of us living happily ever after.
I did not want to marry anyone else.
Especially Yuujel.
Finding out that Yujinn was in reality my cousin Yuujel was a harsh blow. I had trusted him and let my guard down before I discovered what a mistake that was.
"What are you going to do?" Duzell shape shifted into my male twin.
I spoke wearily. "Marry Yuujel. I really have no choice now, Duzie. Keld tricked me into signing my name to the betrothal papers and now it can't be undone."
"You could just run off." Duzell gave another try to the old suggestion.
I was solemn as I looked at Duzie. "And do what, Duzie? I don't have any skills besides causing trouble or running away."
Silenced, Duzell looked away from me.
Finally he spoke. "I hate seeing you like this, Princess. It's like you are dying before my very eyes."
"What makes you think I'm not?" I said softly. "By inches. All I want is for this to be over with."
Duzie, my little kyawl, looked at me forbiddingly. In that moment I saw him as he must have looked five hundred years ago in his last incarnation as Duzell, The Vampire King.
"Death is not the answer, Princess." He said. "Neither is giving up. Fight to your last breath because fully living is the only way you will be remembered."
"Duzie..." I muttered, shocked by his vehement tone.
"Live, Ishtar." He shocked me by speaking my name instead of speaking my title. He only does that when he's exasperated or mad at me. "Stop wasting your life."
His words infected me with the hope I had lost months ago. I stood up and practically ran to my wardrobe. I started rifling around, looking for something.
"Are you even listening to me?" Duzie growled, becoming grumpy.
I peeked at me. "Yes, I am. But I need to pack some things before we go, you know."
Duzie's expression lightened. "Good girl. I knew they hadn't broken you. Hurry up and don't take anything too outrageous."
I found the bulky hidden package lying in the bottom of the wardrobe. I drew it out then unrolled it on the bed. Inside was a few outfits made of homespun like those who had less money usually wore. There was also a plain set of leather boots, a common sword, a hooded cloak and leather gloves.
"Put this on." I told Duzie.
He looked at me funny. "What? I used these to slip out of the castle all the time. Standard holy knight wear. But this... this is for me."
I pulled out a dress hidden way in the back of my wardrobe. It was a little wrinkled but to a closer inspection it seemed fine. It was low cut and it had a higher hemline than ladies of quality wore. It was designed to show a woman's ankles. The material was of linen, marking the wearer of a lower class but still successful in her enterprise.
"Ishtar, you're going to wear that...?" Duzie looked a little shocked.
I laughed a little. "That's right, Duzie. I'm going to walk out of these doors as a free woman. And I'm going to do it dressed as a whore."
"They won't even see you." He said with consideration. "Not as long as your hair is covered."
"I know." I said as I rushed back to the wardrobe and grabbed a few more bundles of cloth. "We're going to take a few more outfits just in case we need to change our disguise."
We didn't have the time so I didn't leave the room as I changed. Duzie kindly turned his back though. I changed into the corset, garter belt and stockings before sliding on the sleeveless underdress. Duzie had to help me put on the linen dress because I couldn't reach the buttons in the back. I looked in the mirror and nodded. It would work. The corset made my breasts look larger and I had taken the precaution of stuffing it just to make my body look as different as possible.
"Now I am Lyra." I told Duzell. And he just nodded. He knew the fiction was important because it would keep us from being caught.
Duzie dressed in his holy knight outfit and strapped Sidia onto his back. It was sheathed and looked enough like an ordinary sword to pass by the bleary eyes of a weary guard. He changed into his true appearance since we both knew he would look too suspicious if he masqueraded as a male version of me.
After gathering the items in two well worn leather satchels that Duzie threw over his shoulder, we were ready. I gathered a few items and stuffed them into my pockets. Nothing that would make me look too suspicious or so I hoped. And we were ready.
Duzell opened the door a crack and checked to see if the coast was clear. It wasn't because Krai, Jill and another guard were standing in front of the door. Duzie cast a quick sleeping spell and shut the door quietly.
Five minutes, he mouthed to me.
Frantically, I made sure we had everything we would need because there would be no coming back after this point. I couldn't see anything, which meant that I had probably forgotten something but it would be minor. Something we could easily replace on the road. A decorative shawl hid my hair effectively and I pinned it quickly between my prominently displayed breasts with the pin all prostitutes were required to wear in Pheliosta. I've always thought a man must have made that law since it was graphically shaped like a naked woman.
Our time was up. Duzie eased open the door and saw my guards sleeping quietly. We slipped out quietly and walked down the hallway. I held onto Duzie's free arm and pressed my body into his side. We took our time moving towards the entrance. There was a few times we had to stop and put on a show for the others still awake but it was easy. A few squeals from me and Duzie pawing me then laughing was enough for them. Most men are so stupid.
Once we reached the back entrance to the castle, we were gone. I was free at last! Both of us took care to vanish like mist.
And I'm sure that when the alarm was raised the next morning, they would think the same in their frustration.
