Chapter Eight: Voiceless
Oblivious to her surrounding, Cagalli has yet to smell the camellia Athrun handed to her. It was as if, there was something holding her back, something she feared might come. But at the same time, its crimson color was tempting her, begging her to take a taste of its fragrance…
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes as she sniffed the flower. The moment the fragrance entered her senses, a cold chill took hold of her whole being, tapping inside her sleeping core. Her surrounding changed in an instant, into a wilted rose garden. The whole garden was empty of life. The dangling vines on the ceiling, the rose bushes, were all but dead. Even the walls, brick paths and fountains were dilapidated, along with the plants. Yet amidst the dead silence, a faint nostalgic sound of a music box begins to play from afar.
'This song…' Questions began to flood her innocent mind as the song continues to play, innocent questions from the past she cannot remember.
'Do you wish to remember?' It was a faint yet familiar voice. She wanted to reply yes, but a different question came out.
'Who…are you? Where…am…I?'
'I am the forgotten you…and we are in the place you have lost…Allow me to guide you to the answers you wish to seek…' A little blonde girl appeared out of nowhere, dressed in a bloodstained white chiffon dress. The little girl held her hand tight, and pulled her deep into the rose garden.
'…Remember…our lost memories…' The moment she took the step into following the little girl, something inside her broke, slowly releasing a seal of fate.
Meanwhile, to the eyes of Heine's familiar, she appears nothing to be but in a dazed sight, staring blankly at the azure sky. Yet the small red fissures appearing on her skin proved otherwise. Small fissures that seem like cracks began trailing down on her arms, as she unconsciously dropped the camellia. Unaware of what has begun to stir.
The girl led her out of the dying garden and into large suite. Meekly, the girl pushed the door open, and ushered Cagalli in. Inside were a couple and boy playing with a blonde toddler. Their faces seemed familiar, but she could not remember where or when had she seen their faces.
"Ah! See how your little sister smiles? She has the same eyes as I do, does she not?" The man exclaimed as he lift the toddler up.
"Do be careful dearest, our little princess is too fragile. I do not wish her to be hurt!"
"Father, I want to play with her too! Can I take her outside? The sky is too perfect to let it pass by!"
"Silly little prince. She is not yet of age to go and play outside. Wait a little more time, and soon she will be able to run along with you."
Hearing the voices of these people has send little fluttering to her heart. It seemed like she knew this people, yet she just could not remember anything. Why? Why can't she remember?
"Do not dwell on such thoughts yet. We will soon arrive on that question." The little girl pulled her again, this time leading her to another door. This time it lead into a meadow, where the same boy, this time a little older and a familiar pink haired girl and another blonde were playing.
"Was it true? Your sister would be the betroth of the heir of Zalas?" The blonde girl seemed upset over something. "I thought she was going to marry one of our relatives? Is it not our tradition to marry our own bloodline?"
"My father has decided that my sister's engagement to the Zala's heir would bring end to the centuries old feud. I cannot argue with such decision if it would bring harmony to our empire."
"My, My! My dearest fiancé seems so mature now!" The pink haired girl giggled as she held the hand of the boy.
"But has she met the Heir of the Zala's?"
Before she could hear the response to that question, the little girl had pulled her away and into another door. This time it led into a small simple garden. She could hear a little girl crying, as she took a step, and a young boy's voice, comforting her. Behind the rose hedge, was a little girl sprawled on the ground crying, and slightly older looking boy.
"I humbly apologize. I did not mean to push you hard. Here—" The young boy, with midnight blue black hair and emerald eyes glimmering with gentleness, tore his sleeve and tied it around the little blonde child's bleeding knee. With his own handkerchief, he wiped the little girl's soiled face along with her runny nose and tear stained cheeks. He even dusted her dress, and helped her up. "Does it still hurt?" The young boy asked as he aided the girl into the bench. The girl nodded no. "Then why are you crying?"
"Because you tore your shirt." The boy smiled and patted the girl's head. "If it would make the pain go away, I would gladly shred my clothes for you. So stop crying…it doesn't suit an Imperial Princess…"
She wanted to watch the two more but the little girl pulled her away. It was then when she realized that the child who was crying and the girl who is pulling her right now are one and the same. She wanted to ask something but before she could even open her mouth, she was ushered into another door.
This time it led to a dimly lit room. She recognized the man sitting as the one who was playing with the blonde toddler and another man stood by him. Whatever they were talking about seemed gravely serious, as the tone of their voices brought shudder to her body.
"So they still harbor ill intentions despite our actions?! Tell me, what options do should I need to take to appease their anger over us?"
"Forgive me, Your Imperial Majesty, but I do not know the answer to that question."
"I apologize. It is understandable that a simple marriage of our families is not enough to quell this feud. Such a measly act will not extinguish the fire of hatred burning within them. I am not surprise if a coup breaks out, but I want to make sure my family's safety. Do prepare the arrangements for this matter as soon as possible. "
"As you willed, Your Imperial Majesty."
The girl pulled her from the room, as it shut close, and led her into window. There she saw the little blonde girl and the emerald-eyed boy, sitting by a pond. Now that thought about it, the boy seemed familiar to her. But, again, who is he? Why can't she remember?
"If I move away, will you forget me?" It was the little girl. She seemed upset over something, as the emotion was obviously plastered all over her face.
"You were my first friend. Why would I forget about you? And what are you talking about? Did your family did something wrong? My father is a Imperial Minister, surely he can help you." The boy stood up and began picking flowers, weaving them into a tiara.
The girl kept her head down. "No. It is fine. Although I am not fully aware of what is happening with my family, it is wise if I just follow them. Surely it is for our good. My father would not choose an option that will put us is risk. And besides, Mother said it would be just like a vacation."
"Then, why the sad face? If it's just like a vacation, then surely, we will meet again! If not, I will ask my father as soon as I go over the ritual of the Coming of Age the permission to visit you. Do you know what place you are moving to?" The boy stood up and showed her the finished tiara. She forced a smile as he crowned her with the tiara.
"I am sorry, but I do not know." She quietly bowed down, sending the tiara falling. Without any warning, the boy embraced her tightly. "But, you will stay in contact right?"
The girl smiled, as she returned the embrace. The boy tightened his embrace, but the girl pushed him off. And gave him an innocent peck on the cheek. "Please do not forget me…do not forget our shared memories…"
Cagalli wanted to see what would happen next, but the girl pulled her away from the window. Instead of finding answers that this child promised, more questions began piling up inside her mind. And one of them carelessly slipped.
"Hey… I do not understand…does that boy think you're a daughter of a servant? Why did you not tell him the truth that you're of nobility? And what is the deal with you moving away?" She couldn't stop herself from asking. As the girl led her to another door, she patiently waited for an answer. The girl stopped in front of the door they opened earlier.
"I was told to never tell anyone of my true rank in the society. Although he was my best friend, I could not tell him. I could only lie to him. I couldn't even give him my real name. I was told that there are people who wanted to hurt my family, and me and that I am not to tell anyone my true bloodline. Even to him. I could do nothing but lie to him. Because of that…I was too scared to ask his name." The girl bowed her head down as she opened the door. Cagalli wanted to ask another question, but a familiar hymn broke her thoughts, as the door revealed the room inside. This time the dark room changed into a familiar room. Again, although it felt like she knew this room, she could not remember what association she had with it. As she was about to rake her mind for answers, the little child held her hand, and ushered her inside.
There, she saw the lady who was playing with the blonde toddler, singing lullabies to the child sleeping on the bed. It was the blonde child who got wounded. The lady, with her long brown hair and gentle amber eyes seemed so sad as she combed the sleeping child's hair with her fingers. Suddenly the door opened, and the boy from the meadow came bursting.
"Mother! I want to know! Whatever will happen to her? Surely we cannot just leave her to the human's care? She has not even reached the Age of Sanctity!"
"Hush, Dear Kira. Or else you'll rouse her. Come, let us talk about it somewhere outside."
"And let you divert the topic? No! Such reckless decision! I cannot allow my little sister to be entrusted to a human much less a vampire slayer!"
"My dearest Kira. He has changed his ways. He does not harbor any animosity against our blood, and I surely believe he will take good care of our little princess. And besides, it is just the last alternative, in case we have lost all other options. It is nothing to be concerned of, as of now."
"Huh. As of now eh?" She felt the sharpness of the sarcasm in those words as the door shut. The questions in her heart have gotten heavier but she decided to keep it low as the girl led her into another door. This time it lead to a lobby of a mansion. There, she saw the blonde girl from the meadow and the pink haired girl with her father, a blonde older man welcoming the family of the harsh boy from earlier.
"We humbly apologize for the simplicity of our humble mansion. It may not be as the same size of the Imperial Palace, but we assure you that it is safe. I'm afraid that that is only assurance I can give you for now."
"Oh Hush, Imperial Minister Clyne. We cannot ask for something as grand as from before. After all we are nothing but a family of exiled souls. Tis is far enough than what we needed." The harsh boy's father shook the man called Clyne's hand, as they followed the servants who were carrying the luggage.
"Oh and Stellar dear, I have heard that you are to be the new fiancée of the new Imperial Prince Zala. I am really happy for you. I am sure you will be a great imperial wife!"
"Oh course I am, Lady Via. I will be far more greater than you or anyone else." The tone of that girl Stellar really annoyed her as the door shut close. If it weren't for the door closing, she would have stepped in and slapped that Stellar hard.
Meanwhile back in the realm of reality, the familiar has called the attention of its master, Heine. With out any second to spare, the trio immediately rushed into the garden only to find it gone. Under the gloom of the clouded skies, is a grove of red and white crystallized plants bearing pure immaculate white rose-like flowers. All the beautiful plants and flowers had all been encased in crystals, while the hedges and trees where destroyed by the buds of crystals. And at its center are huge pillars of crystals surrounding the unconscious Princess, encased in a coffin of blood red crystal. A surge of an intoxicating sweet scent overwhelmed their nostrils as they approached the garden.
Lacus gasped in utter disbelief as she recognized the white flower, and it's unmistakenable scent.
"The Moon Flower…" Her whole body shaking with utter disbelief as crumbled to the ground. Cold sweat beaded her forehead as the nostalgic scent ragged her body, as a spiraling kaleidoscope of colors filled her dazed mind. If it wasn't for Heine's familiar, she would have lost consciousness, right then.
Like Lacus, the young Prince was also overwhelmed by the overpowering scent of the flowers. He stood petrified in both disbelief, and horror upon the sight of the encased Princess. Trying to deny the truth of reality that is now facing him, he unconsciously lost control over his powers, as he began releasing his aura, at the same time, baring his fangs.
"Do you recognize this scent Athrun? I am most certain you do…" Heine watched the malevolent aura of the young prince dissipate. "Do you know believe us?"
He did not replied to his question. Instead, he rushed head on into the grove of crystals, blinding his senses with the luscious scent of the flowers in search of that child. A silent smirk appeared on Heine's lips as he watched the foolish prince run head on. To think that that little princess could have such an affect on him even with such a little time of being together. He watched in silent amusement as the Young Prince tried to free the sleeping beauty from her crystal coffin with his bare hands. The scent of the Prince's blood began to mix with sweet scent of the flowers, ignoring the cuts and bruises he's been receiving from sharp edges of the crystals. The glint of a strange aura shimmering in the Prince's eyes was something Heine has never seen. The glint of an emotion rare to his own kind…
Ah. But why should he question that? After all, she was the one who first quenched his thirst for blood, so it is perfectly natural for him to act the way as he is. Although the same thing cannot be told in her case.
"Tell me Heine…are we too late? Will our actions be all for naught?"
"She has not fully awakened yet. There is still time. Go find the Exiled Prince and inform him of the matter. "
"But…" She was too weak to lift her gaze up. Her human emotions have completely taken over. Has she failed both her Father and the Empress' last wishes?
"I will deal with this. Go and send a message now! Although we can use the Young Prince's blood to cure her of her thirst, we do not have the power to seal the monster inside her. Only a vampire with the same blood can…"
"Yes…that is right. We can delay the process. There is still hope…yes...I still haven't failed yet then." A weak smile touched her lips, as she bit her left wrist, drawing blood. She allowed the blood to trickle down on her fingers. "I summon thee! Messenger of Crimson Skies!"
Her hand began to illuminate as inscriptions began to appear on her entire left arm. The light gathering in her hand began to shape into a ball, and the inscriptions on her entire hand started to move, heading towards the ball. A bouncing odd ball shaped creature was born, and with the snap of her fingers, the creature disappeared into nothingness.
"Now then, with that aside, let's us deal with the matter before us, shall we?" Dusting her gown, Lacus stood up.
"So it seems you have regained your sanity. Well then…"
Cagalli found herself standing in front of another door. Although it may seem like those other door she had been to, this one is tad bit different. It was a door within a door. And unlike earlier, where the girl would open the door for her and stay by her side, the girl only opened the first door, and took few steps back. Somehow, there is something odd that's about to happen. Something…tragic?
As she took a deep breath, the door opened. This time, it was something like a barn. Stalls of hay and sacks of grain were the main furniture of that room. And there, she saw the blonde little girl, sneaking. She had a bottle of water and a loaf of bread tucked under her hood, along with two rolls of blanket. Quietly, she made her way through the farthest stall, the only stall empty of hay or sack.
"Are you feeling better now? Here, I brought some water and bread. And also blankets to keep you warm." It was the emerald-eyed boy. But something is wrong with the boy. Shivering and curled up, with his eyes glowing brightly, like gems.
"I told Lacus about you. She said, you'd need lots of water and blankets. She did warn me to stay away from you, as you are in the same condition as my dear brother was a year ago."
As covered the boy with the blankets and wiped the beads of sweat on his face with her handkerchief. A shy smile touched her lips. "I am happy to see you again…"
As she was about to lay beside the shivering boy, the voice of her brother and mother caught her attention. "I'll be back…"
With those words, the room began to fade away, and another surrounding came into view. This time it was from the outside of the barn. She saw the little girl running towards the barn while the other blonde girl, Stellar left.
Inside, the girl approached the quivering figure huddled in the corner of the barn gingerly. She just went out to get some bandages and before she knew it, Stellar had gone into the Barn. The figure stopped quivering and without a warning, lunged towards the girl, biting her neck hard.The girl flinched against the pain, but didn't fight back. The figure sensed the girl's submission and wanted to stop, but the intoxicating taste of her blood has captured its mind. It could feel the girl's pulse bounding against its palm as it caressed her neck. From its bounding rhythm, it began to slowly mellow down, as it continued to drink her blood.
Mellower and weaker, the girl's pulse was, as the figure continued to feed on her. It could feel the return of its strength as it drained more of hers. More, more! It wanted more! But suddenly it stopped. It carefully licked the bleeding marks of its fangs to stop the bleeding and carefully laid the now weak girl.
"Do…you feel…better…now?" The girl weakly muttered as the vampire stared down on her weak body. Somehow, it seemed like the vampire felt sorry for what it just did, but it was too late. It almost sucked out her life force. The vampire bent down, and gently breath against her now pale lips. The girl inhaled it's breath, and almost immediately, color began to flow back to the girl's face. But still she seemed weak and frail. It bent down again, to give the girl another breath, when all of the sudden, Stellar returned with Lacus. Lacus, with her pink hair tied in curly buns, noticed their friend lying limp on the ground, and instinctively yelled the poor girl's name, scaring the figure off. Without wasting another second, she chanted a memory spell, aiming at the fleeing figure, while Stellar tended the blonde girl's injury.
Cagalli followed the two girls as they carried the limp form of the blonde girl inside the mansion. The adults quickly tended her injuries while the others questioned the two girls.
'Lacus, where you able to injure the vampire who did this to my sister?'
'I tried to use a memory spell on him. My memory spell might not be that perfect, but I can assure you he will have vague memories of what has just transpired.'
Cagalli turned her view to the blonde child's sleeping form, as her parents watched over her. The man called Clyne came in carrying a fresh change of washcloth.
'So it seems their destinies cannot be changed after all. What are you going to do now, Hibiki?'
'So it seems like it. It was Zala's heir who did this to her. Meaning, he had just sealed a contract with her…'
'He has made her his Eternal Bride…' The man held his wife's shaking hands tightly. Her beautiful face was heavily stricken with distraught as she watched over her precious child. 'I thought I can give her a normal life…but now…'
'Listen, maybe the Zala child wasn't aware of his actions. Clearly it was his first taste of blood and seeing as he was dazed by everything…'
'No that brat did it on purpose! He has his eyes on our daughter for so long! He wanted her blood! I just know it!'
'Via settle down! We can still fix this!'
'By how? Casting a memory spell on her? That wont change the fact that she's bound to that brat!'
'Lacus was able to cast a memory spell on him…'
'Her spells aren't that perfect… She has not perfect it yet. I should know. I am the one who taught the spell to her.'
Cagalli wanted to hear more of the conversation but the whole surrounding began to melt, and before she knew it, she found herself standing under the heavy rain, watching the girl called Stellar beat the little blonde girl.
'How could you! It was not suppose to be your blood! I am his new fiancée! He's mine now! MINE!!' Heavy blows landed on the poor child's face as the raging Stellar continued her rage.
'Forgive me…' Gasping for air, the girl desperately tried to claw Stellar's hold on her but it only infuriated her more. Locking her hand on the child's neck, as she tries to crush her airway.
"Your apology cannot undo what has been done! You wretched bitch! I should have sold you to the Empire! You should have been burned along with those filthy humans!"
'Please don't! Please!! ' The girl's face was now turning blue as she desperately gasped for air, choking against the death grip and the hard rain falling down on her.
"I'll make you suffer! I'll make you regret what you have done!"
Cagalli wanted to rush to the child's aid, but her companion held her hand back. 'You cannot do anything for her. What you are seeing now is nothing but a memory from before. Events that has transpired from our past…'
'What did you say?'
'That child is me. The You from the past. The forgotten you.'
'I do not understand…what are you saying?' The girl quietly pointed towards the face of the beaten blonde girl, and slowly she realized the truth. The beaten blonde girl looks exactly alike as this girl. And this girl looks exactly alike as…
'It can't be…'
'Do you understand now? You are not what you think you are. You are not the child of that mortal, and surely you are not an ordinary mortal. You are one of those who craves the life of mortal. You are a vampire. But not just an ordinary vampire…A precious pure blooded vampire, a blood sought by millions who craves for immortality and power, yet your blood belongs only to one…'
The figure that bit her from before became all clear to her now. It was the same boy she used to play with, the same boy she tended to in the barn…the heir of Zala…
'Yes…Athrun Zala…he alone owns your blood, no one else. However he is not aware of that fact yet. But he will come into terms with that as he protects you from those who thirst your blood.'
'I cannot believe this…'
'You will…you will soon awaken to the reality of what is before you. But now, you must hide this memories once more, as it is not time yet for you to fully awaken. I will only let you hold what is needed, the rest will be kept, until the time we meet again…my dear self…'
With his bare hands, he continues to delivers crushing blows to her crystal coffin. He did not care for the cuts or bruises, or the pain that each blows gives him. He does not care about letting his precious blood trickle down his arms, as its scent mingles with the sweet aroma in the air. All that matters to him is to free her from this coffin and lock her in his arms. He could not understand why he is so drawn to this girl even way before knowing that she one of his own. In fact, it made his heart pound loudly upon the knowledge of her being one of his kind. That way, it won't stop him from making her his lover. That way he would not need to worry about harming her whenever he craves for her blood. That way…
He has now a real reason to keep her by his side…
Forever…
A feel of warmth touched his palm, as he finally broke the crystal case. Gathering her unconscious form within his arms, cradling her gently. He wiped the stray strands of hair on her forehead, as he leaned hi face towards her to breathe on her. Just like a prince in a fairytale, after he bestows a breathe of life on her sleeping form, he follows it with an innocent kiss. A simply brush of his lips against hers, to feel her breathe escape from her mouth.
'Athrun…' Hearing the faint name escape her mouth, he looked at her dazed eyes with bewildered eyes.
'Athrun…' Her weak hands sought his, holding it tightly.
'Have you regained your memories now? Cagalli?' She meekly nodded yes, as she smiled. 'I remember everything about you now…'
'What?'
'My beloved Athrun…'
A/N: Yay! Finally! This took with quite a while ...thanks shuide! ANyways, A lot of things has happened.. Lots of revelations and all.. I hope this answered someof your answers and I hope it didnt sparked too much questions and all..
So...Read And rant!
I might update Airen sometime this week...depends on my sked. It's not easy updating you know..And I understand how you guys cant wait. But I'm working on it. So a little patience, I promise I wont drop Airen..
